The fourth tournament of the Senior Billiards series was played at Celbridge Snooker Club on Sunday, 8th of January 2017, the format being best of three games of 150up. Eugene Hughes (Baltinglass) having opened his season in emphatic style, started the new year in similar fashion, taking all his matches, including the Final, without dropping a single game.
The semi finalists in the top half of the draw were Aidan Murray (Ivy Rooms) and Aonghus McAnally (Portmarnock), Aidan having had a solid 2-0 win in the quarter final over regular practice partner Larry Drennan (Kilkenny Shed) while Aonghus had an equally impressive 2-0 win over Celbridge player and regular practice partner Brendan Devlin. In the semi final, Aidan was an emphatic winner of the first game and took the second game, having come from substantially behind, to pinch the game after an exchange of nervous no-score visits when both needed just a score for game, thus claiming his place in the final.
The semi finalists in the bottom half of the draw were Wayne Doyle (Q Club, Wicklow) and Eugene Hughes (Baltinglass), Wayne having survived a close quarter final against Robert McCrum (Portmarnock), taking the first of his two games by a single point, while Eugene had a solid 2-0 win in his quarter final against John Kehoe (Enniscorthy). In the semi final, Wayne never really got into his stride and was always coming second to his more consistent opponent.
The final turned out to be quite a dogged tussle, neither Aidan nor Eugene finding anything like top form, each breaking down surprisingly on simple (but key) shots. When Eugene took the first game by 150-95, and then led the second game for most of the way, it looked likely that we could have another 2-0 result. This indeed was how the match turned out, despite some enterprising openings which Aidan created for himself, but which he found difficult to convert into anything like a telling counter challenge, leaving Eugene to claim the honours on the day.
The next Senior Billiards round of the season takes place at Celbridge Snooker Club, on Sunday, 5th February 2017. The format will be seeded draw 400up, 90 minute time limit. Entries will be accepted before 10.30am on the morning of the event.
Our thanks are due to Phil Martin for the excellent playing facilities and to all at Celbridge Snooker Club for their help on the day.
Results (all matches best of 3 x 150up):
Quarters
Aidan Murray (Brk: 68) 150, 150 -v- 139, 24 Larry Drennan
Aonghus McAnally 150, 150 -v- 125, 98 Brendan Devlin (Brk: 53)
Wayne Doyle (Brk: 52, 54) 150, 150 -v- 149, 99 Robert McCrum
John Kehoe 88, 92 -v- 150, 150 Eugene Hughes (Brk: 56)
Semi-Finals
Aidan Murray 150, 150 -v- 65, 148 Aonghus McAnally
Wayne Doyle 115, 94 -v- 150, 150 Eugene Hughes
Final
Aidan Murray 95, 104 -v- 150, 150 Eugene Hughes (Brk: 52)
