Hot Shots Snooker Club in Galway was the new venue for the fourth SBI Billiards Ranking Event of the season that took place on Sunday 7th January and the format was best of 3x100s in an open draw. 11 players participated and the day finished with Aidan Murray with the spoils and to maintain his No.1 ranking status.
It was the first time in some 20 odd years that a national billiards ranking event was held in Galway let alone in the west region and was a great success. The morning session started with John Kehoe, Wayne Doyle and Aidan Murray winning their matches 2-0 against Larry Drennan, Robert McCrum and Lloyd Myers. Wayne compiled the highest break of the day with 102 unfinished against Robert McCrum but in the quarter finals he failed to repeat that form against his top rival Aidan Murray in a tough game to see Aidan win 2-0.
There were also 2-0 victories for Rathkeale clubmen Anthony O’ Flaherty and Jason Dowling against Ross Doyle and Brendan Devlin respectively as well as John Kehoe overcoming an under performing Joe Doheny.
The Semi Finals saw dominant displays from John Kehoe and Aidan Murray as they booked their final meeting with further 2-0 triumphs against Jason Dowling and Rathkeale clubmate Anthony O’ Flaherty. The final was a tough struggle with Aidan getting the good start and eventually won the first game 100-39. Aidan started well again in the second game and need 21 to win but John had a late surge in the game to steal the second game to take it to the decider. Although John scored first in the third game Aidan hit a timely 43 break to put himself in a commanding position and a few minutes later wrapped up the match to win 3 out of 4 ranking events of this season going into the championships starting next month.
Well done to John on getting to the final with some fine performances and to Aidan on maintaining his No.1 status as well as win another ranking event.Hugh thanks to John O’ Boyle and Hot Shots Snooker Club for hosting a wonderful event and to John Kehoe once more as tournament director.
The next billiards event on the calendar is the Pat O’ Sullivan Memorial that will take place in Celbridge Snooker Club on the 11th February.
Pre Quarters:
- Wayne Doyle (100, 100) – (11, 0) Robert McCrum
- Aidan Murray (100, 100) – (68, 9) Lloyd Myers
- John Kehoe (100, 100) – (38, 91) Larry Drennan
Quarter Finals:
- Anthony O’ Flaherty (100, 100) – (97, 70) Ross Doyle
- Aidan Murray (100, 100) – (80, 63) Wayne Doyle
- John Kehoe (100, 100) – (45, 33) Joe Doheny
- Jason Dowling (100, 100) – (83, 61) Brendan Devlin
Semi Finals:
- Aidan Murray (100, 100) – (38, 93) Anthony O’ Flaherty
- John Kehoe (100, 100) – (74, 17) Jason Dowling
Final:
- Aidan Murray (100, 79, 100) – (39, 100, 45) John Kehoe
High Breaks:
- Wayne Doyle 102 unfinished
- Aidan Murray 75, 52
- Ross Doyle 50
RANKINGS AFTER EVENT 4:
1) Aidan Murray
2) Larry Drennan
3) Wayne Doyle
4) Jason Dowling
5) Anthony O’ Flaherty
6) John Kehoe
7) Lloyd Myers
8) Joe Doheny
9) Ross Doyle
10) Brendan Devlin
11) Annette Newman
12) Eugene Hughes
13) Alan O’ Connor
14) Aonghus McAnally
15) Dylan Rees
16) Robert McCrum
