NW SNOOKER: McFadden celebrates high-profile title breakthrough

Despite exhibiting the qualities of a sizeable break-builder for several seasons gone by, the 33-year-old Letterkenny player cued-off the current campaign still graded in the intermediate ranks, his non-senior status reflecting lack of inconsistency rather than talent. Indeed, he offered little clues about his ultimate title triumph during the qualifiers, showing characteristic hit-and-miss form and just about survived the preps via a tie-breaker for the eighth and final play-off place.

As it was, McFadden belied his uninspiring qualification credentials when he got his act together in the knockout stages. He claimed the select scalps of three-time champion Peter Doherty and dual scorer Gerald McCloskey in the quarter and semi-finals, before climaxing his breakthrough conquest with a 3-1 victory at the expense of higher-graded CYMS Club companion Phelim McClafferty.

PLAY-OFF FINAL – Making a return visit to the ultimate stage (2007 runner-up), McClafferty made an encouraging start in his bid for belated compensation, compiling a few small double-figure runs (topped by 21) to take the opening frame in decisive fashion (61-14).

He again had to settle for silver, however, as McFadden subsequently ‘cantered’ to the three-frame winning post (69-24, 61-27 and 49-25), bagging the best-match breaks of 40 (second) and 33 (fourth).

Finally, the NWIABSA committee convey grateful to Shantallow House for hosting the play-offs.