The only National championship that was played before the pandemic was the 2020 Intermediate 150up championship and as the first lockdown took place the final was postponed but eventually it was finally played and Rathkeale’s Anthony O ‘ Flaherty won his first intermediate 150up title and 5th overall as he won the long up format four times before.
He faced a formidable opponent in Aonghus McAnally and Aonghus was edging the first frame early on but Anthony gradually settled and was scoring more frequently than his opponent and duly won the first frame by 150 – 122.
Aonghus started well again in the second frame but Anthony got a timely 62 break and stopped Aonghus’s momentum to take a 2 – 0 lead and he wrapped up the win with a 44 break as Aonghus struggled to find any rhythm but met his opponent who scored heavily at crucial moments in the game.
The final was played on Sunday 24th October at Celbridge Snooker Club while the 2021 Intermediate 150up championship was ongoing. The referee for the game was John Kehoe.
Result:
• Anthony O’ Flaherty 3 – 0 Aonghus McAnally