The National Senior Billiards Long-up Championship took place on Sunday 17th April at the Snooker and Billiards Ireland Academy of Excellence in Carlow. With 8 players taking part and two rounds of games played, the day ended with Aidan Murray and Wayne Doyle booking their place in the final on finals weekend which will take place on 21st-22nd May.
In the quarter finals reigning champion Aidan Murray overcame a tough test against John Kehoe by 394 – 300 while Wayne Doyle finished strong in his win over Eugene Hughes producing a 76 break at a crucial stage of the game. Larry Drennan had a comfortable win over Robert McCrum while Aonghus McAnally had a close game with Joe Doheny to win by a mere 27 points when the time clock expired.
The semi-finals Wayne Doyle and Larry Drennan had a tight contest with Wayne edging the match by 16 points on a scoreline of 571 – 555 with an impressive 109 break even though Larry himself producing a nice 69 break of his own before eventually falling short of claiming victory.
In the other semi final Aidan Murray played solid billiards producing the highest break of the day with 135 to overcome a tricky test against Aonghus McAnally to emerge victorious by 600 – 314 to book a final meeting with Wayne Doyle on finals weekend 21st-22nd May in SBI HQ in Carlow.
• Quater finals: 500up or 2 and half hrs:
• Aidan Murray 394 – 300 John Kehoe
• Aonghus McAnally 477 – 450 Joe Doheny
• Larry Drennan 499 – 314 Robert McCrum
• Wayne Doyle 500 – 343 Eugene Hughes
Semi-finals: 600up or 3hrs:
• Aidan Murray 600 – 314 Aonghus McAnally
• Wayne Doyle 571 – 555 Larry Drennan
• Breaks:
• Aidan Murray 135
• Wayne Doyle 109, 76
• Larry Drennan 69
• Aonghus McAnally 51