Road bowling: Last-shot drama as O’Donovan lands Dan Joe Holland Cup

Noel O’Donovan beat Seán Murphy at Ballinacurra. Pic: Cathal Noonan

Noel O’Donovan is Dan-Joe Holland Cup 2026 champion after a thrilling last shot win over Seán Murphy at Ballinacurra.

He led all the way after a great first bowl to the speed limit. Murphy only beat that tip by five metres in two. He raised the ante considerably though with two brilliant bowls past Brinny Cross, which clipped O’Donovan’s advantage to 15m.

O’Donovan regained ground with a great fifth shot to the waterworks and he had 60m odds after six to Perrott’s. That turned into a bowl of odds when Murphy misdirected his next bowl to the right. He compensated for that slip with a big bowl to the hurling alley, which O’Donovan missed by 15m.

O’Donovan regained the bowl of odds in the next exchange to the bridge. Both got exceptional shots past the silver gate, they were out light after another one, with O’Donovan riding his luck to stay a bowl in front. They then beat the junior C line. Murphy finally knocked the bowl in the shots to the avenue.

The excitement went up several notches when O’Donovan missed light with his next one and Murphy went out the last bend. O’Donovan was a shade left with his reply and now had just 20m odds facing the line. Murphy just missed the line with his last throw and O’Donovan beat it.

Mick Murphy rolled back the years to beat, Michael O’Leary and DD Carroll, and claim the Munster veteran (Over-60) C title at Lyre. That win gives him a shot at the overall Munster title later this month against Noel Gould (A winner) and David Walsh (B winner).

O’Leary was well fore of both his opponents after a big opening shot to the farm gates. Murphy leapfrogged from third to second with a great second one, but O’Leary was still in a good lead. Carroll was in trouble after poor third and fourth shots, leaving him a bowl down.

Murphy opened the mason’s bend with a great third throw, which O’Leary missed to lose the lead. It turned into a duel between the two leaders, but Carroll dug in to stay in touch. His big shot down the mason’s hill kept him just a shot off the lead, with O’Leary fore of Murphy.

Murphy made a mistake with his sixth bowl. O’Leary won a big lead when his bowl made O’Donovan’s pillars. He lost most of his gains though when he was too tight left with his next one. Carroll gained traction with a good bowl to the school-sign, knocking the bowl against Murphy and pegging O’Leary back to an even bowl.

Murphy recalibrated with two great bowls in succession. The first, to the school, got him level with O’Leary and he gained a big lead with his next one towards the creamery. Both Carroll and O’Leary got big bowls to the creamery next. That ate into Murphy’s lead. All three were well left with their next shots, with Murphy still in front.

Carroll edged a little closer to the leading pair with his next throw. He was then given a slight lifeline when O’Leary missed the line and Murphy missed O’Leary’s tip by 20m. He wasn’t able to capitalise though, conceding a straight shootout to Murphy and O’Leary.

Murphy played a great last bowl, which got the bonus of a ten metre rub. That presented O’Leary with a formidable target, which he missed by 15m.

PJ Cooney saved his best performance of 2026 for the East Cork – Waterford Junior veteran final at Ballincurrig against Mick Hurley. He raised a bowl when he made clear light with his brilliant first throw. He scorched out the big corner in 11, never giving Hurley a chance to get into it.

It was a second defeat for Hurley, who also lost to Noel Bowen in the feature event of the Baby Jade benefit at Carraig na bhFear. Bowen led at all but one tip. He was a bowl ahead at the creamery and drove on for a convincing win.

Cillian Kelleher won the Gaeltacht Junior A semi-final at the expense of Liam Murphy and Conor Creedon in Macroom. This was closely contested from line-to-line. Kelleher edged in front after eight and was never headed again. A big second last gave Murphy a great chance, but his last throw was not nearly enough.

At the Ted Hegarty academy Dylan O’Shea, Tadgh Hickey and Darragh Ahern were the star performers. Ahern comes from bowling royalty. His grandfather, Tom, was one of the founding members of Ból-Chumann na hÉireann who attended the famous first meeting in Enniskeane in 1954.