JERRY Murphy is the 2025 vintage winner after a convincing victory over Paul Butler (vintage B winner) and Tom O’Donovan (vintage C winner).

There was a stake of €1320 a-side between Murphy and Butler in this one. After three shots each to Ballinora cross, Murphy led by 25 metres on both his opponents. Butler took his first lead with a good fourth shot, three-quarter way down the hill back of Ryan’s corner. O’Donovan moved himself into second position around Ryan’s bend, and led with his sixth, heading for the bridge.

But Murphy was back in front again at the Bridge. The rising road was now facing them and it was Murphy, the strongest of the vintage grade, that powered on up the hill, rising a bowl on both by the back of the riding school.

Past the riding school Butler did well to keep it under the bowl, but Murphy was rising substantial odds on O’Donovan. At the lane Murphy had one bowl on Butler and two bowls on O’Donovan. Murphy finished with two huge shots to take the title.

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At Rosscarbery in a Michelle Hayes Memorial Cup Junior B tournament score, Shane Shannon from Durrus won by 50 metres over James O' Sullivan from Fairhill; they played for €1200 a-side. Sullivan had the better start and led by 50 metres at the Priest’s house. But poor efforts up the hill for Barry’s boreen  from O'Sullivan gave Shannon almost a bowl of odds that he rose fully past the B&B. Shannon held this bowl advantage out to the no-play lines at Cahermore cross. O’Sullivan played some good bowls from here to the finish, but Shannon had too much in hand and won by the last shot.

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The North East Junior A final could not be classed as high standard for the grade but it kept the spectators entertained to the last shot. It was played in Grenagh between Billy McAuliffe, Eamonn Bowen and Timmy Murphy, for a total stake of €2,300.

Bowen trailed this score from the off. In three shots each to the lollipops, Murphy led McAuliffe with Bowen back in third place. McAuliffe took the lead with a good fourth and should have capitalised on a poor bowl from Murphy but left his bowl right. Both McAuliffe and Murphy had 50 metres on Bowen.

It was tit for tat for the next few throws, nothing separated them but Bowen had yet to lead. At the farm Murphy was just fore bowl and only five metres separated all three. Past the bungalows Murphy put a bit of daylight between his opponents, and McAuliffe and Bowen were on level terms.

Approaching Boula bend, Bowen got an incredible bowl but it just fell short of full sight. McAuliffe and Murphy went full sight. Bowen lofted and McAuliffe got a super bowl just back of the cross that won him back the lead as Murphy was very right of play. Bowen missed the last bend in two more and Murphy was back in front again for the last shots as McAuliffe dropped both his bowls and Murphy won by the narrowest of margins s from McAuliffe with Bowen back in third position.