Brendan O’Donovan captured the All-Ireland Junior C Road Bowling Title following a pulsating contest against Templemartin’s Trevor O’Sullivan at Courtmacsherry on Sunday.
Brendan, who is originally from Belgooly, but representing his adopted club, Boston, USA, now calls time on his career, with a brace of All-Ireland medals in his back pocket.
Looking back on a career that began at the age of six, he did not forget those who introduced him to the game and coaching him to All-Ireland success
‘I wouldn’t be as good as I am today only for Tim Buckley and his team here at the Jagoes Mills Club,’ he said.
Reaching the pinnacle of his success came through what Brendan puts down to practice and many hours on the road.
Outlining his training programme, Brendan said, ’For me to train there is a road where I live, with no traffic at night and that’s where I did my training.’
As for an additional exercise or going to the gym, ‘I do not go to the gym, My Gym is road work I do over in Boston and that is my work-out,’ he said
Of course, State side the game, which has three strong clubs including, Boston, New York and North Carolina, is played away from the roads and busy traffic, with the Boston club meeting at a local park on Sunday for the weekly Scor.
Having arrived in Boston 21 years ago, the club, which he now heads up as Chairman, was an important organisation to making connections for a recently arrived Irish emigrant.
Founded by the late Con O’Callaghan, the club continues to grow as does the success of its members, including Micheal and Brendan Fleming; Flor and Sean O’Mahony and Roger O’ Riordan.
Having narrowly lost in last year’s semifinal in Waterford, Brendan admits he was determined to take the title in 2024.
‘I told people I was going to come back in 2024 and win the All-Ireland, I did make that commitment,’ he remarked
As for future plans, ‘I am retiring, it is my last year road bowling, I am crippled with pains, hip, my back, and unfortunately this is my last year.
‘I still will be involved in the road bowling and my club in Boston, I will never walk way from it,’ Brendan said.
When asked if he is following in Katie Harrington’s footsteps and going out in a blaze of glory, he has a broad smile.
Also making the winner’s podium on Sunday at the All-Ireland event in Courtmacsherry from Jagoes Mills were Derek Murphy, Paul O’Keeffe, Dan O’ Donovan and Colm O’Regan, who were only a fraction behind the team from Armagh, who took the gold medal in the inaugural team event.
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