The third instalment of the men’s ranking points tournament took place last weekend at the National Training Academy. The two day event started on Saturday at 10am with 47 entries. By the end of the day’s play the field was whittled down to 8 surviving participants.
A great day’s play on the Saturday with some great matches. A couple of examples of this was Cavan’s Aaron Goldrick beating Dublin’s Johnny Farrell by the odd frame 3-2 in the last 32. Number 1 seed, Ryan Cronin, lost out to an unseeded Brendan O’Donoghue 3-0. The former 7 time Amateur Champion missed the second points tournament, which explains his lowly ranked number. Shock of the day, was Roadstone’s Daniel Merrigan white-washed number 4 seed, Rodney Goggins. Other seeds fell by the wayside, number 7 seed, Kilkenny Shed player, Benny O ‘Brien lost a close encounter to Nenagh’s Noel Gleeson 3-2 in the last 16. Number 8 seed, Nenagh’s Tony Seymour lost 3-1 to Carrickmacross’ Johnny Williams. With regards the number 5 and number 6 seed, Michael Judge and John Sutton, family illness and illness kept them away. We wish them and their families better health and a speedy recovery.
For Sunday’ quarter-final’s, Davy Morris stole the show with a virtuoso performance against Noel Gleeson 4-0. The five time Irish Amateur Champion and former professional had breaks of 86, 129, 67 in this scintillating display. Mark Tuite used all his experience in coming back from a 2 nil deficit winning 4-2 over the vastly improved Daniel Merrigan. The young Dubliner will come again in the type of tournament. Brendan O’Donoghue reacquainted with fellow 2012 Irish team mate, when they were part of a five man team that won the Home Internationals, Johnny Williams. The Tipperary man winning the encounter in a scrappy affair 4-1. The last quarter-final match was a sluggish affair with some tough match-play on display, Limerick’s Tommy O’Donoghue beat Dublin Champ, Philly Browne 4-3 on the last black.
The semi-final’s had identical scoreline of each other 4-1. Davy Morris didn’t perform like his quarter-final match, which is a staggering comment because he still made a break of 141 in the third frame, he eventually defeated St John’s Tommy O’Donoghue 4-1. This is the highest break of the 4 year history of the National Training Academy. There was a surprise in the other semi-final, Mark Tuite defeating 7 time Irish Amateur Champ, Brendan O Donoghue 4-1 aided with breaks of 52 and 67 and winning the maiden frame on the final black. It has been a great calender year, 2025, to the original Limerick born man, now living in Killarney, County Kerry. Getting to February’s points tournament final and winning April’s points tournament final, a first for the 56 year old, winning his first men’s ranking points tournament. He will not want the year 2025 to end.
The final showed the best two performers of the weekend. Davy racing into a 3-1 lead, making breaks of 38, 44, 27, 46 with Mark adding to his break tally with 46 & 44. In the fourth frame, Davy escaped, with what looked like an impossible snooker, a three cushion escape with a ball’s width to hit. A brilliant shot, maybe it will be a forerunner for shot of the season. A brilliant fifth frame clearance from Mark, saving the match with a gutsy 33 break edging the frame on the black. Stretching for a brilliant potted last pink was the main benefactor in this last grasp contribution. In the sixth frame, the Kilkenny man put the result to bed coming out with a 4-2 win, with a break of 63, the highest of the match. A fine match with some fine attacking snooker on display. A deserved winner. Davy has won three out of the last four point tournaments including the Irish Amateur’s with that stat.
Mark Tuite vs Davy Morris
50-73 (38), 90 (46 & 44)-4, 0-86 (44 & 27), 27-63 (46), 66 (33 clearance)-56 (30), 29-68 (63)
SBI would like to thank TD Shane Mason, National Coach PJ Nolan and all the referees, Neil Shanahan and Declan McCarroll. Congratulations to Declan also, who completed his referee training and passed his Grade 3 referee’s exam.
They also would like to thank Leslie Carroll and Rodney Goggins for the sandwiches, apple tart and biscuits.
SBI would like to say happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year to all it’s members.
