The Republic of Ireland National Under 14 and Under 16 Snooker teams have just won the 2018 Celtic Challenge in the Terry Griffiths Matchroom in Llanelli, Wales for the third year in a row after a fantastic display of Snooker that saw the Irish juniors win all six sessions with an overall total 87 points to 57 points over a talented young Welsh team on Saturday the 30th of June.
This annual event features the best Irish and Welsh Under 14 and Under 16 players. The six players on each team play two frames against each other over six sessions of play.
The Under 16 Team was Aaron Hill Cork (Captain), Ryan McGuirk Meath, Jack Sheridan Dublin, Joe La Cumbre Laois, Leone Crowley Cork and Patrick Daly Kerry
The Under 14 Team was Sean Walsh Cork, Noel Gleeson Nenagh, Alex Currid Wexford, Aaron Smith Meath, Adam Quinn Offaly and Sean Paul Crowley Cork.
The Irish team started off with an impressive 16-8 win in the first session and ended in style with another 16-8 win to win the title. Gordan Pantall and John Dobson from the Welsh Billiards & Snooker Association presented the Irish team captain Aaron Hill from the Crucible SC with the Perpetual Cup.
The U-14 Team Manager was Declan Quinn and U-16 Team manager and Team Coach was PJ Nolan. The RIBSA Referees were Ger Murray and Shane Mason. The three mascots were Aoife Gleeson, Marie Gleeson and Shannon Nolan and they all did a superb job on the day.
RIBSA Vice Chairman Ger Murray said he was delighted with the performance from all our Juniors and all the hard work done by RIBSA through our National Coach is paying off with three victories in the last three years in this event.
Match Stats
First Session Ireland won 16 – 8 Wales
Second Session Ireland won 15 – 9 Wales
Third Session Ireland won 13 – 11 Wales
Fourth Session Ireland won 14 – 10 Wales
Fifth Session Ireland won 13 – 11 Wales
Six Session Ireland won 16 – 8 Wales
Aaron Hill, Alex Currid and Ryan McGuirk had the best individual stats winning 10 out of his possible 12 frames. High Breaks on the day were Liam Davies 79 (Wales) in the U-14’s Ireland’s Aaron Hill 68, 63, Ryan McGuirk 51 and Patrick Daly 41 in the 16’s.
In the team stats of the Irish Under 16’s won 45-27 while the Under 14’s won 42-30 to give the Irish teams overall victory 87-57.
National Coach PJ Nolan said ‘’ Well done to all the players for being so professional from the first to last frame. Three titles in a row is amazing but the training for the fourth in a row starts in September again. Congratulations to each player for flying the flag with passion and pride on their fantastic win today’’
Well done Team Ireland!!!
