The National Billiards Long-up Championships, preliminary rounds down to the last four, took place at Celbridge Snooker Club on Sunday, 8th April 2018. A total of 10 players contested the event, which meant effectively that only two rounds were played, the last 16 (two matches) and the four quarter finals.
The two eliminations after the first round were Robert McCrum (Portmarnock) and Lloyd Myers (AOH Cork), bowing out at the hands of John Kehoe (Enniscorthy) and Eugene Hughes (Baltinglass) respectively.
The quarter finals in the top half of the draw produced clear wins for No 1 seed Aidan Murray (Ivy Rooms) and Joe Doheny (Borris-in-Ossory), Aidan scoring very strongly in his game against Brendan Devlin (Celbridge) while Joe won a tightly contested game against first round qualifier John Kehoe.
Similarly, the quarter finals in the bottom half of the draw produced convincing wins for current Long-up champion Wayne Doyle (Dun Laoghaire) and past champion Eugene Hughes (Baltinglass), Wayne never being really threatened in his game against Aonghus McAnally (Portmarnock) while Eugene progressed to the semi finals by playing solidly in his game against past multiple champion Larry Drennan (Kilkenny Shed).
Congratulations and best of luck to semi finalists Aidan Murray versus Joe Doheny and Wayne Doyle versus Eugene Hughes who won through to their semi final places to be played as part of the RIBSA Finals weekend in May.
As always, our thanks are due to Phil Martin and the staff at the Celbridge Snooker Club for the excellent playing conditions and for their help on the day.
- Results: Pre-Quarters, 500up, 2½ hour time limit
Robert McCrum 361 -v- 500 John Kehoe
Lloyd Myers 344 -v- 500 Eugene Hughes (Brk: 71, 59)
- Quarters, 500up, 2½ hour time limit
Aidan Murray (Brk: 55, 59, 55, 129, 51) 500 -v- 97 Brendan Devlin
John Kehoe 443 -v- 500 Joe Doheny
Larry Drennan (Brk: 52) 412 -v- 500 Eugene Hughes (Brk: 68)
Aonghus McAnally 262 -v- 500 Wayne Doyle (Brk: 84, 54)
- Semi-Finals, 600up, 3 hour time limit, 12th May 2018
Aidan Murray -v- Joe Doheny
Eugene Hughes -v- Wayne Doyle
- Final, 750up, 3½ hour time limit, 13th May 2018
Winner Semi final 1 -v- Winner Semi final 2
