The 2nd SBI ladies ranking event took place in CYMS on 26th November. SBI welcomed back former players Margaret O’Driscoll, Sandra Bryan, Tanya O’Neill and Paula Judge. Ella O’Connor. The ladies split into 2 groups and played a 2 frame round-robin set, with the number 1 on points playing number 4 and the number 2 playing the number 3 in the semi-finals.
The first semi-final saw Michelle Sherwin taking on Margaret O’Driscoll. They split the first 2 frames and Michelle took the next one on the pink to lead 2-1. The next frame was close and Michelle missed some sitters, which Margaret leaped on and went on to win the frame on the blue. Margaret took her opportunities well and picked up points consistently as well as playing some amazing safety and she won the frame comfortably in the end to win the match and advance to the final.
The other semi-final saw pool sensation Ella O’Connor taking on Paula Judge. Ella proved a tricky opponent for Paula, and she potted some amazing balls to keep the pressure on Paula, but Paula leaned on her vast experience and eventually took the match 3-0 to book her place in the final.
As it was very late in the evening it was agreed the final would take place in SBI headquarters in Carlow the following Sunday. Margaret took the first frame on the pink and was looking good for frame 2 with Paula needing a snooker coming to the colours. However, you can never relax against such a seasoned player as Paula and she laid an excellent snooker on the yellow tucking up behind the green. Margaret missed the yellow and it was frame on once again. Paula picked off the yellow to brown and then there was some safety and pot attempts on the blue from both ladies. Paula potted an incredible long blue coming off the back cushion and landed perfectly on the pink to pick the pink and black off to snatch the frame. 1-1. Both ladies were incredible in the next frame, it was an excellent display of safety and potting. It was close till the end and Paula just nipped it again at the final hurdle. The 4th frame was a carbon copy of the 3rd with some fantastic snooker. Margaret was ahead for most of the frame and had a difficult pink to the middle to put Paula under immense pressure as she would be 36 ahead with just 43 on the table. The pink hit the jaw and didn’t go in and Paula was left on a handy red which she potted going on to make a 24 break in that visit. Paula picked off yellow to blue over a few visits and missed a long pink to win the match. After a few more shots each at which both ladies had attempts at the pink, Paula floated in a long pink to win the frame and match.
The whole match was exceptional from both ladies and I would like to congratulate them both on a fine display. A big congratulations to Paula Judge on winning her first ranking event of the season on her return to the top echelon of ladie’s snooker in Ireland. Hard luck Margaret but for sure you will win one of the future events.
Huge thanks to SBI for their continued support of the ladies and for putting on a great event yet again. Thanks to Michelle and Cathal for refereeing the final. Thanks to Colvin O’Brien for the coffees.
Paula personally would like to thank her brother Michael for encouraging her to return to competitive play at the highest level. She would also like to thank everyone at Roadstone S.C. who welcomed her as a lady player with open arms, she is beyond grateful, especially Stephen, Brendan and Mick.
The SBI ladies as a whole would like to thank Mick Judge for his incredible support for ladies snooker. The ladies would also like to express their gratitude to Tommy and Cathal for the amazing work they are doing and also to Sport Ireland for supporting ladies snooker.
