The Senior Billiards 150-up Format National Championships was played at the Ivy Rooms yesterday 7th April. All matches were the best of 5. Aidan Murray made it to the final beating Brendan Devlin 3-0 and Joe Doheny. Due to the late hour the bottom half of the draw played to the semi-final, with Wayne Doyle and Rodney deciding to play their match at a date to be decided before the Nationals weekend. The final will be played on Saturday 25th May at the Ivy Rooms.
A total of 15 players contested the event, which meant that the No 1 seed, Aidan Murray (Wicklow), was the only player to be awarded a bye into the quarter final stages. Among the first round eliminations were Derek O’Neill (AOH Cork), Portmarnock duo Aonghus McAnally and Kevin Christie, John Kehoe (Enniscorthy), Robert McCrum (Celbridge), Liam O’Brien (Borris-in-Ossory) and Kilkenny veteran Larry Drennan, losing in turn to Brendan Devlin (Celbridge), Anthony O’Flaherty (Rathkeale), Joe Doheny (Borris-in-Ossory), Dun Laoghaire brothers Wayne and Ross Doyle, Dun Laoghaire veteran Victor O’Gorman and Rodney Goggins (Wexford), who overcame 2011 champion Larry Drennan, despite a magnificent 97 unfinished break by Larry.
In the quarter finals, The No 1 and No 4 seeds, Aidan Murray and Joe Doheny had convincing 3-0 wins over Brendan Devlin and Anthony O’Flaherty respectively. The No 3 seed, Wayne Doyle, had a similar win over his coach and mentor, Victor O’Gorman, while his younger brother, Ross lost in a spirited game to current champion, Rodney Goggins.
In the only semi final to be played on Sunday, Aidan Murray continued his domination of the top half of the draw by winning his semi final in fine style, not dropping a single game and taking the final game with an unfinished break of 103, the highest of the day. The second semi final, between Wayne Doyle and Rodney Goggins was deferred to a time to suit both contenders. The final will be played at the RIBSA National Championships weekend at the end of May.
2013 is the first year that the Senior Billiards Championships is to be played in both short (150up) and long formats. Initially, there was some concern that playing down to the last two may result in a very prolonged day’s play. In the event, with most matches finishing in straight sets, play was completed by early evening, making for a very satisfactory day of billiards all round.
Congratulations and best of luck to Aidan in the final and to Wayne and Rodney in their forthcoming semi final.
As always, our thanks are due to Jim and Marian Leacy and the staff at the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club for their help on the day and indeed throughout the season.
Results:
Pre-Quarters, best of 5 150up
Derek O’Neill 0 – 3 Brendan Devlin
Anthony O’Flaherty (Brk: 64 unf) 3 – 0 Aonghus McAnally
Kevin Christie 0 – 3 Joe Doheny (Brk: 62)
Wayne Doyle 3 – 0 John Kehoe
Robert McCrum 1 – 3 Victor O’Gorman (Brk: 62)
Liam O’Brien 0 – 3 Ross Doyle (Brk: 91)
Rodney Goggins (Brk: 100 unf) 3 – 1 Larry Drennan (Brk: 97 unf)
Quarters, best of 5 150up
Aidan Murray (Brk: 50, 60) 3 – 0 Brendan Devlin
Anthony O’Flaherty 0 – 3 Joe Doheny
Wayne Doyle 3 – 0 Victor O’Gorman
Ross Doyle (Brk: 60) 1 – 3 Rodney Goggins (Brk: 60, 59)
Semi-Finals, best of 5 150up
Aidan Murray (Brk: 103 Unf) 3 – 1 Joe Doheny
Wayne Doyle – v – Rodney Goggins
Final, best of 7 150up, 6:00pm 25th May 2013
Aidan Murray – v – Winner, Semi final 2
