The fourth RIBSA Billiards ranking event of the season took place on Sunday 13th January at the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club in Carlow as reigning national senior 150up champion Aidan Murray came through to take the event adding to the event he won back in October. This event was a best of three 150up format and an open draw.
Joe Doheny was eliminated in the only preliminary round of the event to eventual winner Aidan who booked his place in the final with further wins over Lloyd Myers who had the only bye of the draw and took Aidan to the wire but just came up short and Aidan’s semi-final victory over John Kehoe who beat a resilient Brendan Devlin by a single score but found Aidan too hot to handle.
His opponent in the final came as no surprise as Monkstown Maestro Wayne Doyle strolled through with wins over Larry Drennan who had the consolation of winning the plate and in the semi-final Wayne made little work of his brother Ross Doyle which included the highest break of the day with 99 to book a fourth straight final showdown of the season with Aidan.
The man from Hollywood in Wicklow however got his revenge for the previous final event loss to Wayne by winning two straight 150 games with a 64 break for good measure with Wayne producing his own of 53 and taking home some consolation with the high break of the day of 99. By virtue of winning the event Aidan goes back to the top of the rankings with two more ranking events and two senior championships still to come this season.
Thanks to Marian Leacy and Ivy Rooms on hosting the event and the evergreen Brendan Devlin as Tournament Director. The next billiards ranking event of the season will take place at Celbridge snooker club in Co. Kildare on Sunday 3rd February. To enter text or call Brendan Devlin on 086-6062420.
Pre Quater:
Aidan Murray 150, 150 – 67, 123 Joe Doheny
Quater finals:
Wayne Doyle (58) 150, 150 – 110, 127 Larry Drennan
Ross Doyle 127, 150, 150 – 150, 89, 71 Robert McCrum
John Kehoe 80, 150, 150 – 150, 66, 148 Brendan Devlin
Lloyd Myers (78) 150, 126, 57 – 149, 150, 150 (51), (50), (53) Aidan Murray
Semi finals:
Wayne Doyle (99) 150, 150 – 51, 54 Ross Doyle
John Kehoe 45, 88 – 150, 150 (61), (50) Aidan Murray
Final:
Wayne Doyle (53) 106, 85 – 150, 150 (64) Aidan Murray
High Breaks:
Wayne Doyle 99, 58, 53
Lloyd Myers 78
Aidan Murray 64, 61, 53, 51, 50, 50
● Report by John Kehoe