Latest news with #KingoftheRoads
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Field almost set for King and Queen of the Roads
James O'Donovan, Gary Daly, and Aidan Murphy are just one step away from competing in next month's King of the Roads semi-final at Ballincurrig. After two rounds of the Mick Barry Cup, they have the highest points tallies. They will play a three-hand final for the Mick Barry Cup and a semi-final spot in King of the Roads. Reigning King, Colm Rafferty is already in the hat, as is his brother Ethan, as Ulster and All-Ireland champion. Munster champion Arthur McDonagh, German champion Manuel Runge, and Dutch champion Patrick Zieverink are also in the semi-finals. Denise Murphy took a step closer to Queen of the Roads when she defeated former Queen Catriona Kidney, in the Gretta Cormican Cup at Grenagh. She plays Hannah Cronin in the semi-final. Megan Collins and Veronica O'Mahony meet in the other semi-final. The winner will join an impressive line-up in next month's Queen of the Roads. Already in the semi-final are defending Queen, Silke Tulk, All-Ireland champion Kelly Mallon, German champion Anke Klopper, and Munster champion Hannah Sexton. The road in Ballincurrig is currently a 'black-top' asphalt surface. Were it to stay as is, it would definitely tilt the scales in favour of the continental players, who regularly bowl on a similar surface. On Saturday Gary Daly created a new record for the asphalt, beating the line in 14 shots in his win over Martin Coppinger. The jewel in that crown was a sensational 13th bowl from Din Tough's that went almost to the finish line. That perfectly demonstrated the capricious nature of the new substructure of the road. All the old tracks have been ironed out, leaving more gradual planes. Sometimes what looks a well-played bowl yields little, but others deliver exceptional rewards. Daly led from the off. He opened up a big lead with a great fifth bowl to the pony's gate. Coppinger closed the gap with a big eighth shot onto the long straight. He made an heroic bid to level the score with a massive tenth bowl that unluckily missed the big corner. There was an even bowl between them at Din Tough's. Daly then delivered his miracle bowl. James O'Donovan, Michael Bohane, and Séamus Sexton were in a virtual blanket-finish on 15 shots. O'Donovan might have been rivalling Daly, for best performance of the round, but he missed the line with his 14th. Bohane and Sexton went flat out with their last shots, with Bohane filling second place and giving O'Donovan a target to beat for the score. Bohane opened with an exceptional bowl that almost reached Moore's gate and set the early pace. He scorched to Heaphy's in five. O'Donovan had closed the gap to just eight metres there, with Sexton a shot behind. O'Donovan won his first lead in the next shots to O'Riordan's. Bohane lost ground with two poor shots from the top of the long straight to the elbow, this left O'Donovan a shot clear and Sexton fighting for second. Bohane levelled with O'Donovan through two brilliant bowls to the top of the short straight Sexton made an equally dramatic recovery with two great bowls to light at the last bend, that brought him level with Bohane. O'Donovan kept control by opening the bend too with a great 13th shot, but he missed the line with his 14th. Aidan Murphy set the tone from the off against Patrick Flood. He had well over a bowl of odds after six to Heaphy's. He missed light with his next one, but still had a clear bowl on the long straight. The road was playing mind games out to the big corner, with a mix of long and short bowls, where the lead was just under a bowl. Flood reached Din Tough's with two brilliant shots from there to cut the lead to 2m. Murphy held a slender lead with his next one past the serpent and then played a smashing bowl past the last bend, that was unlucky to miss the line. Flood closed with a big one, but Murphy beat it. Timmy McDonagh advanced to the Munster final of the Jim O'Driscoll Cup against Páidín Stokes. He beat Tim Young and Michael Murphy. The race to Drogheda intensifies this week with a series of Munster semi-finals. The junior C takes top billing, with Conor Lucey and Cathal Creedon meeting at Ballinacurra tomorrow and Eoin O'Donovan and Michael Ahern meeting in the other semi-final at Curraheen on Sunday. In the Tim White Cup at Rosscarbery there were wins for Kenneth Murphy over Ger Connolly, for Timmy Murphy against David Hegarty, and Darragh Dempsey beat Andrew O'Callaghan.
Irish Examiner
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Michael Toal's bowling achievements honoured with unveiling of plaque ahead of All-Ireland finals
The bowling world marked the incredible achievements of Michael Toal, winner of a record ten All-Ireland senior men's titles, with the unveiling of a plaque at the start of the Keady-Tassagh road, before last weekend's All-Ireland finals. Toal had a particular connection to Keady-Tassagh. He won his first final there in 1988 and his last one in 2009, having won the u18 All-Ireland there in 1987. He is the only player to ever win U18 and senior finals back-to-back. He won many other honours too including King of the Roads, Joe McVeigh Cup, and a World championship. His first win over Mikey 'Loxie' O'Driscoll was extraordinary in itself. O'Driscoll was at the tail-end of his senior career, yet it was a first senior final for both. O'Driscoll looked to have it wrapped up early-on. Toal fought back and finally edged ahead for the first time three-quarters into the score at the bridge. He powered home from there. It was an astonishing achievement for a teenager against such an experienced player. All of his other nine wins have stories of their own, but some stand out more than others. His last win was almost a mirror-image of his first. He was now the seasoned champion and Aidan Murphy the emerging young star. That turned into a massive battle, which went down to a last shot. Toal closed like he had done so many times with a huge bowl. Michael Toal holding the All-Ireland Cup. Pic: Séamus Ó Tuama. He had done the same to steal what looked like an impossible win off Bill Daly in Béal Átha'n Ghaoirthaidh in 1991. In 1998 he defied Kieran Gould in another wonderous final on the Cathedral Road on the tenth anniversary of his first win. Off the road Toal was almost diffident, but on it he had an awesome presence. He won scores from the front, he fought back and changed scores, but most remarkably he had the capacity to turn an ebbing tide. In that famous score with Daly in 1991 he seemed to be cruising to victory. He then hit a bad patch through the bends winding up into the Céim an Fhia. Daly played what looked an unbeatable last bowl. Toal hit back with one of the greatest last shots of all time. Defying momentum is one of the hardest things in sport, but Toal could do it. With barely time to process some phenomenal bowling at Keady-Tassagh, the focus is already on the 40th King and Queen of the Roads next month and the third All-Ireland series in Drogheda. Italian bowlers will compete in King and Queen of the Roads for the first time in 2025. How they fare with the Irish bowl on a typical Irish bowling road will be very interesting. The Italian game is the international discipline that most resembles Irish bowling. It is also played on roads, but the bowl used is more akin to a large snooker ball than the iron bowl used in this country. Both Megan Collins and Veronica O'Mahony advanced to the semi-finals of the Gretta Cormican Cup in the race to secure wild-card entry into Queen of the Roads. Collins beat Emma Fitzpatrick by two bowls at the Clubhouse and O'Mahony beat Munster finalist, Juliet Murphy, at Béal na Marbh. O'Mahony got the better start there leading all of the first six shots. Murphy won the lead with a big seventh and won the next tip with an equally good one. O'Mahony regained the lead with a brilliant bowl to the rock. She raised a bowl after two more, but Murphy fought back and forced the score to a last shot. In the Munster Junior C championship, Michael Ahern and Conor Lucey advanced a step closer to Drogheda. Ahern beat Diarmuid Hurley in the last shot at Jagoes Mills. He had a good lead after three great bowls through the cross. He had a bowl after two more good shots and he held that to the power-station. Hurley fought back strongly and had the lead down to just 25m for the last shot. Hurley then missed the line and Ahern beat it. Lucey beat Paddy McCarthy at Grenagh. He had 70m lead after three and was still 100m fore past the houses. McCarthy played two huge bowls towards Boula lane and went out light with another to go almost a bowl in front. He raised a bowl with his next one. Lucey got back into it with a massive bowl out the last bend, which cut the lead to 40m. He then beat the line. McCarthy beat that tip, but his bowl was called. His second attempt was not as good and missed Lucey's tip.
Irish Examiner
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Armagh keeper Ethan Rafferty still in the hunt for All-Ireland medal after lifting Ulster senior bowling title
Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty's aspiration of getting his hands on an All-Ireland senior medal this year remains a live prospect after he defeated his brother Colm in the Ulster senior bowling final on Sunday. Rafferty, who was denied All-Ireland football glory by injury in 2024 and by Kerry in 2025, won the All-Ireland intermediate title in a storming finish against Tommy O'Sullivan in Castletownkenneigh last July. He now has a chance to return to that venue next Sunday where he faces 2020 champion Arthur McDonagh in the senior final. Colm Rafferty had a dream year in 2024, winning his first Ulster and All-Ireland senior titles and King of the Roads. He brought that form into 2025 with a comprehensive win over David Murphy in the Joe McVeigh Cup. But his hopes of cementing his place at the top of the bowling tree were smashed by his younger brother on Armagh's famed Knappagh Road. Colm won the first three tips towards Knappagh Angles, but his bowl to there took an unlucky hop to leave him just fore. After two more to the gate-lodge Ethan won his first lead. He went out the planting corner in two more to get a firm grip on the contest. Colm missed that to fall a bowl behind and he faced an uphill battle from there. Ethan added to his bowl of odds lead in two more to the start of Farley's hill. Colm hit back with two great bowls in succession to Farley's to reduce the lead to an even bowl. He kept the pressure up in the next two. He finally got the lead under a bowl with his 16th throw. Ethan missed that well and looked to have two big shots to open the Condy corner, giving Colm what looked like a real prospect of levelling it. Ethan made Daly's next and when Colm was well short of the Condy the contest was effectively over. That was reality once Ethan opened the bend with his next one. He has shown enough form to suggest he will give McDonagh a real test on Sunday. McDonagh beat his first-cousin, Thomas Mackle, in the Covid-19 delayed 2020 All-Ireland final in 2021 at Baile Bhuirne.
Irish Examiner
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Teenager Anthony Crowley making waves in adult ranks
Just one year out of U18 ranks, Anthony Crowley, is making waves by qualifying for the semi-final of the Munster junior B championship, setting up what promises to be a massive contest with Brian O'Driscoll next Sunday at Clondrohid. He stormed past Brendan O'Neill by two bowls of odds in the quarter-final at Ballinagree. The first half of the score was close, but once Crowley found his range he took complete control. They went out the first bend level. O'Neill won his only lead, by a metre, with his second shot through An Caipilín Bán cross. Crowley shaded the next three past the double gates. O'Neill was left with his sixth bowl to the pink cottage. Crowley replied with a fast, accurate bowl that gave him the first big lead of the score. O'Neill was left with his next one too and he was now a full bowl behind. Little changed in the next exchange past the falling pole. O'Neill countered strongly with a great bowl past the post office. He made light at the quay wall with his next. Crowley cut his bowl out the bend and extended his lead. He pushed on from there and a sensational bowl out the last bend put him two bowls clear. He made the village with his last one. He can expect a much stiffer test on Sunday from the in-form, Brian O'Driscoll. Shane Collins and Mike Desmond play in the other quarter-final on Friday at Castletownkenneigh with Alex O'Donovan waiting in the semi-final. Both Munster senior semi-finals will also be decided this weekend. James O'Donovan and Gary Daly meet on Friday evening in Whitechurch. Aidan Murphy and Arthur McDonagh play at Ballinagree on Sunday. Neither Daly nor O'Donovan have a Munster senior title. O'Donovan is reigning European Dutch Moors champion. Daly's biggest day was winning the 2019 King of the Roads against Aidan Murphy. O'Donovan comes in with better form, including a comprehensive win over David Murphy. Daly's season has been hampered by injury. Both Murphy and McDonagh are previous Munster and All-Ireland champions. Murphy is also a European gold medallist and a former King of the Roads. McDonagh showed some flashes of brilliance in his win over Michael Bohane last time at Baile Bhuirne. Murphy had all the answers for Wayne Parkes at the Marsh Road, but this is a significant step up in challenge. Two brilliant last bowls edged Jimmy O'Driscoll into the Munster junior A Zone C semi-final at the expense of Gavin Twohig at Derrinasafa. Twohig had a good lead after five past the bridge, but missed Ross' in two more, leaving them level there on eight each. O'Driscoll played a brilliant bowl to Cotter's cross and went out the Darkwood turn in two more to go almost a bowl clear. Twohig won the lead with a brilliant bowl past Walsh's lane. O'Driscoll stayed in contention, closing the gap with his second last and taking the last one by 40m. Bryan O'Halloran advanced in Zone B at the expense of Edmund Sexton in Macroom. After a close start he had 80m odds at the flyover. He held that lead out Bantry's cross and all the way to Poundy's lane. O'Halloran raised a bowl with his next one to the railings. They contested that lead to the finish. PJ Cooney leapfrogged into the Munster veteran I final. He beat John Cahalane in the quarter-final at Ballincurra, to qualify for a semi-final meeting with his brother Denis, who gave him a free pass to the final. All-Ireland champion, Andrew O'Leary is in the other semi-final where he will play either Richard or Jerry Murphy. Cahalane won the first two tips well, but Cooney quickly levelled. He had a 40m lead at the waterworks after six. He then played two huge bowls towards the bridge to go almost two bowls clear. He raised the second bowl at Innishannon cross and there was no way back for Cahalane after that. David Shannon, is probably happy that he's on the other side of the Munster intermediate championship draw to Timmy McDonagh. It gives him time to regroup after his defeat at Béal na Marbh before any potential championship meeting. McDonagh plays Michael Murphy in one quarter-final, the winner of which will meet either John O'Rourke or John Creedon in the Munster semi-final. Shannon plays Patrick Stokes in the other semi-final. Shannon and McDonagh were in close contention in the early stages at Béal na Marbh, until McDonagh got a great fifth shot into the hollow. He went past Hubbard's in two more to raise a bowl. After another two he had two bowls of odds.
Irish Examiner
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Road bowling: Rafferty adds Joe McVeigh Cup with win over Murphy
Colm Rafferty's elite bowling currency surged with a comprehensive win over David Murphy in the Joe McVeigh Cup final at Ból-Fada in Keady-Tassagh on Sunday. In 2024 he won the Ulster, All-Ireland, King of the Roads titles and has now turned the 2025 page by capturing the first classic of the season. In the pinch battles he has lowered the colours of four All-Ireland champions Thomas Mackle, Martin Coppinger, Arthur McDonagh and David Murphy and two European champions William Hobbelink (Netherlands) and Murphy. He may have lived under the shadow of his uncle and all-time great, Michael Toal, and his first-cousin Thomas Mackle, but is now the real deal. Ulster closed out Ból-Fada with three massive wins. Ahead of Rafferty's win, his brother Ethan, defeated Aidan Murphy and Aaron Hughes beat Anthony Crowley. The previous day the Raffertys' aunt, All-Ireland senior champion Dervla Toal-Mallon, beat Hannah Sexton, to give them a weekend to remember. For the Munster visitors the growing stature of Shane Crowley is a significant plus. He overturned one of Ulster's bright-young-things, Oisín Gribben. Michael Murphy showed his indomitable spirit when he pulled off a famous win over Pete Carr in a repeat of the 2024 All-Ireland Junior A final. Ross O'Brien franked his promise with an easy win over Caolan Carr and Timmy McDonagh beat Bryan O'Reilly. Tim Young showed too that he still has plenty to offer when he dismissed Tyrone's top player, Eugene McVeigh. In the Joe McVeigh Cup, David Murphy got the better of all the early shots. He won the first tip by 40m, the lead fluctuated in the exchanges past Twynam's, where Rafferty had it back to just five metres. Rafferty won his first lead, by 60m, with his next one into the hollow and he was never headed again. Murphy played a great bowl up Gillogly's height, but Rafferty extended his lead. Rafferty had almost a bowl at the creamery lane. He looked like raising a second over McGeown's height till he made a mistake at McCann's corner. He pushed clear again down the carnival hill and had over a bowl at McKee's wall. He killed the contest by keeping his lead well over a bowl to the bridge. Armagh keeper, Ethan Rafferty, showed his star qualities when he defeated Aidan Murphy by a bowl. Murphy started well, only losing the lead at Twynam's. It was all Rafferty from there. He gained vital odds up Gillogley's height and had 30m odds at the creamery lane. He held off a strong challenge from Murphy up McGeown's height to lead by 70m at McCann's. He scorched down past the carnival to go almost a bowl clear at McKee's wall and never yielded to the finish. Anthony Crowley is on a steep learning curve. He had to submit to a hard lesson from Aaron Hughes. Hughes is a genuinely special talent, whose ability has not fully registered with Munster supporters. He scorched two clear before halfways, giving Crowley no chance to gain traction. Crowley can file this one under experienced gained as he plots his way through the Munster championship. Dervla Toal-Mallon, may have felt a little like the Clare hurlers, in not having been given full credit for winning last year's All-Ireland senior final. She did her Lazarus revival too in extracting a famous win from what looked a lost cause against Hannah Sexton. It was a big blow to Sexton on the day, but it's exactly the experience that she will bank and benefit from in the Munster senior championship. The South-West Region provided an incredible festival of 23 scores at Timoleague, catering for a host of bowlers from the lower divisions. Jonathan Deane, who was on the Irish youth team in 2024, was out four times, taking two wins and gaining an indispensable wealth of experience. Waterford bowling got a share of the limelight too. Anna Power teamed up with Grace Ahern for a win over Lauren and Aoife McCarthy. Her father, Liam, completed a Deise double when he beat Ger Shanahan. In the Munster intermediate championship, Juliet Murphy beat Marie Russell by a bowl at Macroom and Rachel Kingston defeated Ailbhe O'Shea in the last shot at Béal na Bláth. Paddy Stokes is through to the Zone A final of the Munster junior A championship following a two bowls of odds win over James Cooney at Bottlehill. Kieran Hourihane had a bowl to spare on John Young in the West Cork junior B semi-final at Ardcahan. All-Ireland champion, Andrew O'Leary, defeated Paddy O'Donoghue in the North-East veteran final at Glenabo. The Munster senior championship opens next Sunday with the meeting of former champion, Killian Kingston, and James O'Donovan at Templemartin.
