SHOOTERS Snooker Club in Cork City was the venue for the RIBSA Intermediate event 2 where 20 players took to the tables on Saturday the 2nd of December in the series on its trip around Ireland.
Aaron Hill also progressed through to the last eight with a good competitive 3 – 1 win over Mark Walsh followed by a three frames to nil victory over local player Dion Burns.
The Crucible’s Shane Hourihane was on good form too seeing off John Dorgan and back to back Munster Intermediate winner David Forde defeated Youghal’s Ger Kelly to make it through to the last eight.
Adrian Morrissey from Wexford defeated Robbie Donovan to book his spot in the last eight and Carlow’s Colvin O’Brien was the last to move into the Quarter Finals with a 3 – 0 win over Darren Brien from Fermoy SC.
Forde was on fire in his quarter final game winning 3 – 0 against Jack Dorgan from Fermoy as was Aaron Hill who won his Quarter Final match by three frames to nil over Willie Cahill also from Fermoy.
In the other two Quarter Final games, the matches weren’t so clear cut and one way as the Crucibles Shane Hourihane played Wexford’s Adrian Morrissey and Youghal’s Dylan Rees was up against Carlow’s Colvin O’Brien.
Morrissey got off to a flyer with the opening two frames and playing well, but back came the young Crucible player to take the third frame, but Morrissey sunk a great pink to win the game and a match up with Aaron Hill.
Dylan Rees had the opening two frames in his match too, but O’Brien fought back to get within one and then took the fourth frame to level matters.
Colvin battled hard in the deciding frame clearing from yellow to pink to book his place in the last four. Forde was first off the mark in his game winning the opener against O’Brien, but Hill made the best start against Morrissey with a 74 break to take the opener and it wasn’t long before the Crucible player was two frames in front with an impressive second frame victory.
Meanwhile David Forde came from well back to take the second frame on the black to go within one frame of the final. Hill wrapped up his semi-final win with a 76 break and a place in the final, but in the other semi-final Colvin O’Brien was fighting back with a 70 break to go within a frame. O’Brien who made the long trip to Cork was in no mood to go home early and wrapped up frame number four to send the semi-final to a decider and O’Brien was unstoppable and went on to win 3 – 2.
The final was between Colvin O’Brien going for back-to-back Intermediate wins and one of the Ireland’s most talented emerging players Aaron Hill. A tough snooker foiled Hill in the opener as eventually O’Brien sealed the first frame. O’Brien again was in control in the second frame and moved to within a frame to secure the victory.
Then Hill fought back to win the third frame, then he added an 88 break to level the final and in the deciding frame where Hill made the early running, but back came O’Brien to get within 20 points with four reds remaining.
Hill to his credit stood up and put together some great pots to seal a fantastic victory.
RIBSA Intermediate ‘2’ Results
Last 32
Darren Brien 3 – 1 Keith Linnett
Dylan Rees 3 – 0 Alan O’ Connor
Ger Kelly 3 – 0 Liam Hayes
Robbie Donovan 3 – 0 Ger McGann
Aaron Hill 3 – 1 Mark Walsh
Willie Cahill W/0
Last 16
Colvin O’Brien 3 – 0 Darren Brien
Dylan Rees 3 – 0 James O’Connell
David Forde 3 – 0 Ger Kelly
Adrian Morrissey 3 – 0 Robbie Donovan
Shane Hourihane 3 – 0 John Dorgan
Aaron Hill 3 – 0 Dion Burns
Willie Cahill 3 – 0 Jay Chopra
Last 8
Colvin O’Brien 3 – 2 Dylan Rees
David Forde 3 – 0 Jack Dorgan
Adrian Morrissey 3 – 1 Shane Hourihane
Aaron Hill 3 – 0 Willie Cahill
Semi Finals
David Forde 2 – 3 Colvin O’Brien
Adrian Morrissey 0 – 3 Aaron Hill
Final
Colvin O’Brien 2-3 Aaron Hill
Thank You
RIBSA would like to thank Shooters SC for hosting the event. Referee Don O Donoghue and TD Derek Kiely for making the event a big success. Finally to all the players we wish you a happy Christmas and we hope to see you in event 3 in Youghal on the 10th and 11th of February.
—
Derek Kiely
Secretary
Munster Snooker Council
087-7132-587
