Ethan takes to the road for All-Ireland success in 2025 as Ethan Rafferty shifts from chasing Sam Maguire glory to claiming victory in road bowling, adding another All-Ireland medal to his family’s growing collection. After Armagh’s exit from the football championship against Kerry, Ethan turned his focus to his other sporting love, road bowling, and captured the All-Ireland senior road bowls title in West Cork, beating Arthur McDonagh to back up last year’s intermediate crown.
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Switching Focus After Football Exit Ethan, 31, had hoped to be lining out in the All-Ireland football semi-finals, but after Kerry’s comeback knocked Armagh out, he saw an opportunity to refocus on the roads. The Grange clubman, who comes from a family steeped in road bowling, followed in the footsteps of his brother Colm and cousin Thomas Mackle by bringing the Hughie Traynor Cup back to Armagh.
What Road Bowling Involves For those unfamiliar, road bowling, known locally in Armagh as “bullets,” involves throwing a 28-ounce steel ball along winding roads, aiming to cover a mile-and-a-half stretch in as few throws as possible. Gretta Cormican of Ból Chumann na hÉireann explains it is much like golf, but on roads, with competitors aiming for precision while navigating tight bends. Cork and Armagh have different throwing styles, with Cork bowlers swinging fully while Armagh players opt for a running jump and underhand release.
A Comfortable Win for Rafferty Rafferty’s journey to the title was more straightforward than McDonagh’s, who battled through four matches in Cork. With Thomas Mackle injured, the Ulster championship came down to a best-of-three between Ethan and his brother Colm, with Ethan edging the win to advance to the All-Ireland stage. At Castletownkenneigh in West Cork, Rafferty led from the start, building an early advantage that McDonagh couldn’t claw back despite a late push. Ethan sealed his win with a brilliant final throw, maintaining a lead of a bowl length to secure the title.
Family, Friends, and Future Plans Family and friends travelled with Ethan to watch him compete, adding to the buzzing roadside crowd. As messages of congratulations poured in, including from his Armagh teammates, Ethan shared that many of them were learning about road bowling for the first time. He even joked about organising a charity throw with the team for some fun. With a baby due soon with his partner Danielle, Ethan is uncertain about defending his title next year but shared that road bowling offers a refreshing change of focus from football. For Ethan, it’s about keeping a cool head, staying focused, and enjoying the sport that connects family, community, and competition.
