The New Institute Snooker Club Nenagh played host to a RIBSA Regional Intermediate Ranking Event on Saturday. This was the second Saturday in succession, that the club hosted an event, from the RIBSA calendar. Following the success of the Munster Close Championship the week before, many of the same faces returned for what proved to be another day of top quality snooker action.
Report Written By Niall Farrell
Due to a total of 32 entries, play commenced at the rather early time of 8.30am. The standout tie of the 8.30am matches was that of Frank Sarsfield of the St.Johns club in Limerick and Colvin O’Brien of Ballinasloe. This was an unfortunate draw for both players, with both playing some outstanding snooker on the morning. However the rub of the green went to the Ballinasloe man, as O’Brien advanced by 3 frames to 2. Elsewhere Sarsfield’s club mate Kevin McMahon was the subject of a small upset, as Nenagh’s Jason Burns ousted his more experienced opponent 3-1.
Additionally former Irish Under-21 international player Andy McCloskey was pushed all the way in his opening match, against Freddie Chute from Thurles. Andy began brightly and took the opening frame, before a couple of lackadaisical shots in the second, allowed Freddie to gain in momentum and level the match at 1-1. The match continued to hang in the balance in the third frame, before McCloskey sealed it on the pink ball. The final frame was not as close, as McCloskey found some of his previous form to seal a 3-1 win and safe passage to the last 16.
Last 32 Results:
Daniel O’Regan (Crucible, Cork) 3-0 Billy Kelly(New Institute)
Kevin McMahon (St.Johns, Limerick) 1-3 Jason Burns(New Institute)
Frank Sarsfield (St.Johns, Limerick) 2-3 Colvin O’Brien (Ballinasloe)
Tony Seymour (New Institute) 3-0 Dessie Roche( Shooter’s, Cork)
Dominic Kelly( Shooter’s, Cork) 0-3 Mark Walsh(New Institute)
Darren Delaney (New Institute) 1-3 Jason Waters(Crucible, Cork)
Michael O’Sullivan (Shooter’s, Cork) 0-3 Dave Garrett( New Institute)
John Donnellan (New Institute) 2-3 Alan O’Connor ( Shooters, Cork)
Dean Callanan (Crucible, Cork) 3-0 Tom Forde (New Institute)
Freddie Chute(Thurles) 1-3 Andy McCloskey ( New Institute)
Dylan O’Shaughnessy ( Shooters, Cork) 0-3 Tommy Treacy( New Institute)
Marc Cunningham ( New Institute) 0-3 Sean Burns( Crucible,Cork)
Damien Shoer ( New Institute) w-o Shane Hourihane ( Crucible, Cork)
Martin Kelly (New Institute) w-o David Forde ( AOH, Cork)
Mark Coonan (New Institute) w-o Arthur Greer ( Ennis)
Patsy Farrell (New Institute) w-o James Whelan (New Institute)
The last 16 produced a number of long encounters, with many players from the New Institute facing each other in the round. The first of these was the clash between Mark Coonan and Tommy Treacy. Tommy has gained in reputation for his slow but steady performances and this match proved to be no different. Both player’s started tentatively, sharing the early exchanges before the more experienced Mark Coonan rolled back the years to win the opening frame. Tommy began to grow in confidence and produced an excellent potting display to clamber his way back into the match and level at 1-1. The third frame reverted back to the opening stages, as both played the safety game, with neither trying to give away the advantage to their opponent. However, some clever play by Coonan enabled him to regain the lead. The final frame moved more swiftly, as Treacy fought well to try and level the game, but this time was unsuccessful as Coonan powered home to a 3-1 win.
Elsewhere one of the New Institute’s newest players, Martin Kelly, took on the much more experienced Andy McCloskey. This match looked as though it was going to be the shock of the day, as Kelly powered into a 1-0 lead, with McCloskey seemingly well below par. The second frame continued the trend of the first, with the frame coning down to the black ball. However, McCloskey’s luck appeared to change, as Kelly fouled in off the black ball, handing Andy the frame. Martin though recovered, as he stole the third frame from under his opponents nose, to take a 2-1 lead. Andy once again levelled the match, forcing an agonising final frame. However, Andy began to find his form, as he put pay to Martin, who put up an extremely credible and promising performance, exiting the competition on a 3-2 scoreline. Sean Burns, Dean Callanan and Alan O’Connor, who were seeded 2,3 and 4 all exited the competition at this stage, as a result of defeats to Patsy Farrell, Damien Shoer and Dave Garrett respectively.
Last 16 Results:
Daniel O’Regan 3-1 Jason Burns
Colvin O’Brien 3-1 Tony Seymour
Mark Walsh 2-3 Jason Waters
Dave Garrett 3-1 Alan O’Connor
Dean Callanan 2-3 Damien Shoer
Andy McCloskey 3-2 Martin Kelly
Mark Coonan 3-1 Tommy Treacy
Patsy Farrell 3-1 Sean Burns
The first of the quarter finals to get underway was that of Daniel O`Regan and Colvin O`Brien. With O`Regan seeded No.1 and O`Brien playing some superb snooker, after defeating the soon to be Irish International Tony Seymour in the last round, this was bound to be an entertaining contest. As a result of this there was a large viewing crowd, all around the clubs show table. Both players shared the opening two frames, before O`Regan went on to steal a 2-1 lead on his opponent. The fourth frame came down to a black ball game, with O`Brien playing a safety shot, that unfortunately for his opponent dropped into the pocket, leveling the game at 2-2. The final frame was a swift affair, as O`Regans class began to show, allowing him to wrap up a deserved 3-2 victory.
On his return to competitive snooker action, Damien Shoer faced up to club mate Andy McCloskey following the conclusion of the match between Daniel O`Regan and Colvin O`Brien. McCloskey really began to find his form in this match, as he capitalized on his Shoer`s lack of match practice, to wrap up a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Arguably the match of the round was that between two of the New Institute`s old guard, Patsy Farrell and Mark Coonan. With both looking to progress to a semi-final meeting with Andy McCloskey, the match soon turned into a battle of wits and safety play. It was Mark Coonan went on to win the opening frame, before Patsy brought the game back level in the second. Farrell turned the game on its head, as he took a 2-1 lead, before hanging on to win the fourth frame and seal a 3-1 win.
The final quarter-final match was between home player Dave Garrett and Corks Jason Waters. Waters had been in stunning form all day, and this continued in this match, as he potted some stunning balls en route to a 3-0 victory.
Quarter Final Results:
Daniel O`Regan 3-2 Colvin O`Brien
Jason Waters 3-0 Dave Garrett
Damien Shoer 0-3 Andy McCloskey
Patsy Farrell 3-1 Mark Coonan
Daniel O`Regan took on club mate Jason Waters, both of the Crucible Snooker Club in Cork in the first of the semi finals. This was a game of high quality, with both players, knowing each other`s game style inside-out. The match moved at a fast pace, with Waters finding himself 2-1, within the hour mark. O`Regan tried to rally in the fourth frame, but this was to no avail, as Waters went on to claim a 3-1 win and reach his second final in Nenagh in 7 days.
The other semi final pitted two club mates against each other once again, as Andy McCloskey played off against Patsy Farrell. McCloskey was in devastating form throughout the match, as Farrell tried to gamely to contain his opponent. McCloskey won the first frame, before giving Farrell chances in the second to level, only for Farrell to allow him back to the table and take a comfortable 2-0 lead. The third frame was over quickly, with McCloskey playing superbly to rattle off a 3-0 win.
Semi Final Results:
Daniel O`Regan 1-3 Jason Waters
Andy McCloskey 3-0 Patsy Farrell
It was to be the second week in succession that a final in the New Institute was to be contested by a home player and a Crucible opponent. This match followed the same pattern as last week`s Munster Close Final, as Andy McCloskey defeated his Crucible opponent, just as David Hogan had defeated Ryan Cronin 7 days earlier. Andy continued with his blistering form, as he raced into a 2-0 lead, in front of a large crowd in the New Institute. However, Waters began to find the form that had seen him reach the final, as he reduced the deficit to 2-1. However, this was as good as it got for Jason, as Andy went on to seal a 3-1 victory in front of a delighted home crowd.
The high break on the day went to Daniel O`Regan, with a break of 66.
