The fourth instalment of the amateur tour took place last weekend at the Academy of Excellence in Carlow with a good strong entry of 56 entries. An improvement of 26 entries from last year’s event. It proved to be one of the exciting tournaments for a while. Everyone looking for a warm up for Killarney. Delved with star attraction matches from the get go. Top seeds had to be on it. On Saturday (the first day of the event), it was a case of where to look at the eight match tables? With the majority of players and club teams eyes firmly in a fortnight’s time for the All Ireland Club Championships. The top 8 seeds were seeded through to the last 32 with everyone else starting in the first round.
Match of the first round Brendan O’Donoghue defeating he’s Nenagh team mate, Noel Gleeson 3-1. Noel went 1 nil up, a spurred opportunity of a clearance in the second frame paved the way for O’Donoghue to take control of the match and dictate the tune by running out a 3-1 winner. A return to the tour to George O’Hara. He won the first round beating Callum Wheatley and getting a walk over in the next match against Colvin O’Brien. Further highlight wins in the round for junior international Joe Shannon beating Challenge Tour Champion Ken Byrne 3-2. Roadstone’s Daniel Merrigan beat Paddy Brady 3-0. Youghal’s Adam Bulman defeated Johnny Williams 3-1. What has been fairly evident this season with the Youghal players, there playing Men’s Ranking Point Tournaments. Historically this hasn’t been the case, a change of strategy for the two-time Munster Champions outfit. One that they hope will bore to fruition in the next two weeks for the Munster and All Ireland Club Championships.
This brings us into the second round. Rodney Goggins, seeded 5, going for his third consecutive Douglas Jewellers Cups win, had his hopes dashed when he was defeated by the 1993 Irish Amateur Champion and decade long ex pro, Colm Gilcreest 3-2. Many similarities in these two exponents games, especially with the year that they won their sole championships, both won a deciding frame in the final and both were on a winning Irish men’s team for the Home Internationals. Great to see Colm making a return to the scene. Always easy on the eye as a player, with his lovely flowing cue action and fluency. Other notable matches were eight seed, Roadstone’s Michael Judge defeated Nenagh’s Mark Gleeson 3-2. The Dubliner taking a 2-0 lead with his younger opponent closing the gap to 2 all, before the experience ex-pro took the honours in the fifth frame. John Farrell produced an excellent clearance at the end of his match with Jay Chopra 3- 2. A steely ice-cold nerve potted pink with the rest holding for the black in the middle pocket proved to be the dagger in the heart for the Cork man. A match that he felt he dictated and leading all the way and I’m sure he was disappointed to lose. John Farrell, 30 plus years of match play and money player experience, a great exponent of punches reigning down on him and can still stay in a match with his patience and resolve when wanting to. Great to see Phil Arnold back playing, he beat Richie Flynn 3-2. A repeat of last month’s semi-final’s match but roles were reversed of the victor and vanquished, Brendan O’Donoghue defeated Mark Tuite 3-0. Wexford man, Steven O’Reilly, currently ranked 15, did his ranking no harm, when he beat Joe Shannon 3-1. Always great to see the junior players taking the baton and running with the men’s tournaments. A faster way of improvement in their games and a hardened education they will receive. But as they get older, it’s an education they will look back with relish. Tony Seymour continues his consistent season with a great 3-0 win over Daniel Merrigan.
This brings us up to the last 16 on a Saturday evening, Kilkenny team-mates, Davy Morris beat compatriot James Bateman 3-2 in a highly entertaining match. Asterisks moment in the match happened in the third frame, when Davy cleared from 50 odd points behind. Davy had the highest break of the day earlier with a 108. Further Kilkenny team-mates had mixed fortunes in the last 16, Stephen Bateman losing a close encounter with Michael Judge 3-2. Welcome home to Stephen Bateman from his endeavours in Australia. We wish him well. Benny O Brien, another player having a steady season took his allotted quarter-final place, as the number 6 seed with a compressive 3-1 win. A battle of the two 1993 Home International Irish Team winners, Colm Gilcreest taking the spoils with a 3-1 win over John Farrell. Quietly moving through the bottom half of the draw, number 3 and 2 seeds, Philly Browne and Ryan Cronin defeating George O’Hara 3-0 and Adam Bulman 3-0 respectively. John Sutton defeated Nenagh’s Tony Seymour 3-0.
Off the table, a few points, thanks to Leslie Carroll for the sandwiches, cake and biscuits also, thanks to Rodney Goggins for the apple tart and biscuits. This is the second time they have done this in as many tournaments. This is to add to the tournament for the players, officials and volunteers. Trying to create a feel-good factor for the tournament with people staying around and having a chat. Also, lovely to see there was no arguments about quarter-finals being played or not, this was largely due to the large entry of 56. All in all, Saturday was a beautiful day, hearts were all in the right place with everyone and countless cups of tea were drunk with tales from years ago of the green baize.
The top half of the Quarter finals, had 15 Irish Amateur Championships and 40 odd years’ experience on the pro circuit. The bottom half, not to the same pedigree, but still dangerous and arduous and steep. Davy Morris was always in command with a 4-2 win over fellow ex pro Michael Judge 4-2. The first two frames took 25 minutes. Breaks of 75, 38, 56, 72 and Judge having 42 and 69. Cormeen Moynalty and Nenagh are strange bed fellows but this was the case in the early 2000’s and mid 2000’s, 100’s of frames were played between these two sparring partners. The 2026 version, not as explosive, but every bit as deadly, produced Brendan winning 4-1 against Colm. He had breaks of 36, 43, 66, 29 and Colm having a sole 41. Philly Browne lost the opening frame to a Benny O Brien’s 61, but then ran out a comfortable 4-1 win. Ryan Cronin defeated John Sutton 4-1, he had breaks of 43 and 76. The third frame was a big frame in this match and it spun it for the 2024/25 Irish Men’s Number 1, Ryan Cronin.
Old acquaintance’s renewed in the semi-finals, Brendan O Donoghue beat Davy Morris 4-1 in a steady display and solid ball striking, breaks of 44, 59, 61 proving this. Four Irish Championship finals they have met (2005, 2006, 2021 & 2025) and countless other important matches through the years. In the other semi-final, for the third time this season in semi-finals, Ryan Cronin met Philly Browne. With the Cork man running out a 4-2 win. With the match level at 2 all. Philly having a 52 and 87 in the first and fourth frames. The Number 2 man took the match narrowly winning the fifth and sixth frames, on the pink and blue respectively.
A repeat of the 2022 Irish Amateur Final, Brendan O’Donoghue and Ryan Cronin. Many a final they had in other tournaments; one thing is definite a tight battle your ensured and two players giving their all with a lifetime of match play knowledge at their helm. Brendan O Donoghue vs Ryan Cronin 59 (34 clearance)-51 (21, 18), 57 (47 clearance)-50, 72 (71)-4, 64 (49)-51 (46) Brendan won a fragmentary first frame with a 34 clearance. Ryan controlled the opening frame, but his grip loosened with the last two reds remaining. It was much to the same pattern in the second frame, but this time Brendan struck the killer blow with three reds out this time with a 47 clearance. Clearances like this can kill a player’s heart and can make the player that’s doing them. Better than any century break, a good routine for any players out there to practice clearing with three or four reds remaining. Don’t ever dismiss that routine of clearing the last few balls on the table. Reardon and Davis were masters at it. Back to the modern game of break-building with a beautifully crafted break of 71. In the final and fourth frame, Ryan opened up with a 46 but once again Brendan caught him on the line with a49 break and a fine potted blue into the black green pocket and a fine potted pink in the middle to get the win. Ball striking and acceleration through the ball was the order of the day. The Tipperary man was whipping through the white effortlessly through the weekend. Must be one of the toughest point tournament wins for a while, given Brendan’s draw, defeating Noel Gleeson, Mark Tuite, Phil Arnold, Colm Gilcreest, Davy Morris and Ryan Cronin. Well done Brendan.
Thanks to our tournament director, Shane Mason and our National Coach, PJ Nolan, who helped with the tournament director duties, taking pictures and updating the SBI Facebook website. Thanks to referee’s Declan McCarroll and Declan Cummins (who reffed the final). Great to see new refs on the scene. Best of luck in the future careers in refereeing. Thanks to the players making this an enjoyable event and supporting the tournament. The next men’s points tournament is the Gerry Stokes Cup on the 21st and 22nd February and will be held at the SBI Academy of Excellence in Carlow. But before that, the Irish Snooker circus, all roads lead to Gleneagles Hotel in Killarney for the Munster and All Ireland Club Championships. Good luck to everyone and all teams competing. New Institute, Nenagh defending both crowns. Also best wishes to current Irish Champion, Davy Morris who will be playing Northern Ireland Champion, Patrick Wallace on the Friday night of the All-Ireland Club Championship week.
Enjoy the Masters on television this week.
Rodney Goggins
