The third tournament of the Senior Billiards series was played at Celbridge Snooker Club on Sunday, 10th of November 2013. Wayne Doyle (Dun Laoghaire), having been to every final of the season so far, more than justified his No 1 position in the rankings by taking the event’s honours in a scintillating display of high quality billiards in an absorbing Final.
Early round eliminations were local players Phil Martin, Robert McCrum and Brendan Devlin, Kilkenny duo of James Bateman and Tommy Denieffe, Dun Laoghaire veteran and junior players Dick Brennan and Ross Doyle and Enniscorthy’s John Kehoe.
The semi finalists in the top half of the draw were Wayne Doyle (Dun Laoghaire) and Joe Doheny (Borris-in-Ossory), Wayne having a solid quarter final win over his tutor, Dun Laoghaire veteran Victor O’Gorman while Joe overcame veteran Kilkenny player Larry Drennan in a much closer game, Joe eventually drawing away from Larry in the last 10 minutes of the game. The semi final was a finely balanced match, both players scoring well when at the table, including several 50+ breaks, the game going to Wayne by 51 points in the end.
The semi finalists in the bottom half of the draw were Eugene Hughes (Dun Laoghaire) and Aidan Murray (Wicklow). By contrast with the quarter finals in the top half of the draw, neither Eugene nor Aidan were seriously challenged, both claiming their semi final positions with decisive wins over Lloyd Myers (Cork) and Aonghus McAnally (Portmarnock) respectively. In the semi final, while both players started well, Eugene was the first to show and, never losing his early lead, gradually drew further and further ahead to finish 160 clear when time was called.
In the final, nothing much happened in the early exchanges until Wayne, having brought the balls to the top, treated us to a display of controlled floating white, breaking down at 177 when, attempting to maintain position, he missed a cushion cannon, his ball sliding past the yellow by a whisker. Seemingly unperturbed by Wayne’s scoring, Eugene picked up on the resulting leave but unexpectedly missed a standard pot red. Wayne, however, had difficulty taking advantage and when Eugene’s next visit was a fine 105 contribution, it looked like experience might carry him through. Wayne responded with another century, this time 125, scored mainly in open play. From this point on, Wayne scored by far the heavier of the two, to clock up a total score of 706, the highest we have seen for a long time in a 90 minute game. Every credit to Wayne, holding his game together when the pressure was on, to claim the third tournament title of the season and his second of the season so far.
As consolation for his first round exit, Dick Brennan beat Phil Martin in the final of the Plate, amassing a break of 102 in the process.
The next Senior Billiards round of the season takes place at the Ivy Rooms, Carlow on Sunday, 26th January 2014. The format will be seeded draw 3 x 150up. Entries will be accepted before 10.30am on the morning of the event.
The very best of luck to the Irish team when they contest the Four Nations International Trophy in Vienna next weekend.
Our thanks are due to Phil Martin for the excellent facilities and to the staff at Celbridge Snooker Club for their help on the day.
Results (all matches 90 minutes, timed):
Pre-Quarters
Wayne Doyle (Brk: 51, 52, 59, 64) 402 – 304 Philip Martin
Victor O’Gorman 368 – 293 James Bateman
Ross Doyle (Brk: 74, 65) 268 – 381 Larry Drennan
Robert McCrum 204 – 443 Joe Doheny (Brk: 50, 50)
Lloyd Myers 296 – 214 Tommy Denieffe
Dick Brennan 344 – 514 Eugene Hughes (Brk: 64)
Aonghus McAnally 337 – 291 John Kehoe
Brendan Devlin 171 – 485 Aidan Murray (Brk: 56, 69, 62)
Quarters
Wayne Doyle (Brk: 72, 81, 83) 545 – 169 Victor O’Gorman
Larry Drennan 296 – 335 Joe Doheny
Lloyd Myers 265 – 591 Eugene Hughes (Brk: 80)
Aonghus McAnally 115 – 542 Aidan Murray (Brk: 103, 67)
Semi-Finals
Wayne Doyle (Brk: 51, 59, 83) 435 – 384 Joe Doheny (Brk: 63, 58)
Eugene Hughes (Brk: 82) 402 – 238 Aidan Murray
Final
Wayne Doyle (Brk: 177, 125, 84, 67) 706 – 242 Eugene Hughes (Brk: 105)
