THE ‘Cork Billiards and Snooker Association’ (CBSA) Garry McCasrthy trophies sponsored division one final was postponed last week and will be played this evening at Douglas snooker club at 8pm between Youghal CYMS ‘A’ and the defending champions the Crucible.
With the ‘Orme Shield’ competition just finished nine days ago, it was a good decision to postpone the final for another week. Just like the ‘Orme Shield’ the finalists are the same, with the Crucible coming out on top of that three person event, but now it is back to the five person team event over the longer frames format which will be definitely a lot different.
Youghal CYMS ‘A’ are undefeated in this seasons league winning all their matches both home and away. Brendan Cooney will have to use all his wits to get his Youghal side over the line, but with an excellent blend of youth and experience with Adrian Landers and Derek Aherne who have been on the green baize for the seasider’s for many years now, plus the exciting Aaron Tobin, Ger Kelly and Christopher Cooney gaining experience every year, makes for a good solid team.
As for the Crucible, well they are wall to wall Internationals and even though they are a young side they have mostly played at the top level for many years now. Greg Casey, David Cassidy, Daniel O’Regan , Cian Corcoran and Jason Waters are all solid tournament players and Ryan Cronin adds something special to this side. It is very difficult to call this one, it will be very close, of that there is no doubt and it may come down to the last ball or that bit of luck every player needs.
The Crucible’s Ryan Cronin is again on the road representing the Republic of Ireland in the European under 21 snooker championships in Serbia, leaving on St. Patrick’s day and as ever the family of Ryan are financing the trip as best they can in the expensive process of representing your country in certain sports, which in my opinion ir ridiculous and let me add of no fault of the national body RIBSA, who receive token amounts of money to survive on compared to other sports and their sports people who represent the Republic of Ireland.
Families that support their talented children in the game of snooker, need very deep pockets to support their children and many young talented players have never had the chance to go abroad and play for Ireland, simply because it is to many families unaffordable, so in an appeal to interest support in the form of a sponsor or somebody out there who want to get behind this very young and talented Cork player, Ryan’s father Pio and Ryan’s mother are asking for support for their son. If you want to support this talented player contact 086-8636081 or contact the Crucible snooker club.
There was a unique occasion this weekend at Douglas snooker club as the 1997 World snooker champion and Irish number one Ken Doherty was there with the Setanta Sports cameras for the ‘Give a kid a break’ programme, where Doherty works with many young talented players from all over Munster and then decides on who should progress through to the next stage in this ‘Reality TV’ programme which will see a lucky player go to Ken’s academy and travel to the Crucible in Sheffield and meet all the top players of the professional game.
Over the coming weeks following the snooker league final CBSA billiards will kick into play and the national ranking events will start and with such a strong standing at national level at the moment with current Cork based players at under 14, under 16 and under 21 level, some national titles are sure to arrive back on ‘Leeside’ again next season.
Next week on ‘Cork Snooker’ we look back at the ‘Garry McCarthy Trophies’ sponsored league division one final and check in with our Irish international squad before they fly off to the European amateur snooker championships in Serbia. For all your regular Cork snooker information check out www.ribsa.ie or www.corkbilliardsandsnooker.com
