Sunday the 2nd of October seen the first Super Seniors over 55’s event of the season take place in the wonderful SBI Academy of Excellence in a beautiful sunny County Carlow.
16 players entered the competition with the notable exception of our current National Champion, Stephen Merrigan. You were missed Stephen & we hope to see you again at the next event on Sunday the 4th of December.
We also seen two new ‘pups’ enter the competition after recently turning 55, Paul Arnold & Simon Scott. Two lovely players & it was great to see them both, you’re more than welcome lads. Both Paul & Simon ended up playing each other in the quarter final with Simon prevailing 3-1 to move in the semi-final where Patsy Farrell ended up stopping Simon’s great run 3-1.
Unfortunately, one player turned up 3 minutes late for his first-round match, being Joe McKeever, & had to forfeit the first frame against John McBride. The rules are the rules & it has to be said, Joe took it exceptionally well being the gentleman that he is. Joe couldn’t settle into his match against John & ended up getting beat 3-0. Joe is off to Morrocco this coming Thursday (6th of October) as Joe is playing in the World Pool Championships. It goes without saying that we wish you well Joe.
As you would expect, there was some close hard-fought matches, Brendan Thomas beating Ernie McMullen 3-1 where the 2nd frame was extremely hard fought, Brendan being down 35 behind with 27 left on the table & boy, did Brendan made Ernie work hard to win that frame!
Anthony Jacob also had a hard fought 3-2 win against the great man that Tommy Murphy is, it’s always lovely to see you looking down a cue in our company Tommy.
Kevin McConville came through another hard-fought affair against Greg Currid, winning 3-2 & the other three L16 matches seen Simon Scott beating Nicohlas Ryan 3-1, where the clearance Simon made to win the first frame was exceptional, & Patsy Farrell beating Jude Cooney 3-0. We hope that you got back to Roscommon safe & sound Jude & we look forward to seeing you again. In the L16 match, Jim Carrick beat Tony Thorpe 3-0 in the Newbridge CYMS ‘derby’. Again, another good match to watch between 2 gentleman Snooker players.
The quarter finals were, as you’d expect, full on. John McBride was 2-0 up against Patsy Farrell after needing two snookers on the pink in the second frame, getting them, & nicking the frame. John had a pink to win the match 3-0, the pink was standing in front of him but John managed to jaw the pink, Patsy was in no mood to let John off the hook, potted the pink & black & ended up coming back & winning 3-2. Well played Patsy!
The battle of the ‘pups’ between Paul Arnold & Simon Scott, as mentioned above, seen Simon win 3-1, Anthony Jacob beat Jim Carrick 3-1 & Kevin McConville beat Brendan Thomas 3-2 in another hard-fought affair.
The semi-finals seen Patsy Farrell beat Simon Scott 3-1 & in the other semi-final seen Kevin McConville beat Anthony Jacob 3-0
The final seen Patsy overcome Kevin in another hard-fought affair 3-2, great match play Snooker was played between both players, bad luck Kevin & congratulations Patsy.
As ever, these competitions cannot be played without people behind the scenes making sure that these competitions take place & take place in a professional environment too. Take a bow Tony Thorpe, who was the Tournament Director & PJ Nolan, both making sure that the conditions were perfect to play in & ensuring everyone was made feel welcome.
Here’s looking forward to Sunday December the 4th.
Always in Sport, Team Ireland Super Seniors
John McBride
