NW SNR SNOOKER CH'SHIP: Last year's runner-up '˜stumped'
The Glendermott intermediate-graded contender claimed the prized scalp of the host club’s Peter Doherty, a dual silver medallist (including last year) and pretty much expected to be in the thick of the title scrap again.
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Hide AdThe match started as per script, the Shantallow player’s 31 break providing the centre-piece of a comfortable opening frame win. The Cricket Club potter forgot to read the script and, after equalising in grand style (53 compilation), he took the shoot-out frame without undue difficulty (18-57, 66-8 and 61-36).
Title custodian Stephen Brady (Oak) opened his bid to retain the title with a 2-0 win over the very capable Richard Long (Hollywood). The defender soon put the first frame to bed (71 break), but the Waterside cueman enjoyed his full share of table-time in frame two, only to be denied the equaliser on the pink (82-4 and 62-50).
Seamus Cusack (AOH), a three-time silver medallist (2007-08-14), saw his compensation hopes dashed by Paul Keenan (Top Break). The pair swapped the first two frames (black ball verdicts), the Rosemount potter dominating exchanges in the shoot-outer (54-56. 73-69 and 69-14).
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Hide AdAnthony McGill (Tracey’s) won 2-0 against Glendermott’s Jan Biernat (77-26 and 62-51), while Ray Barrow (AOH) beat Hollywood’s Michael Cairns by the odd frame in three (57-45, 51-59 and 68-39).
Joe Porter’s qualification for the Individual League play-offs entitled him to the ‘jollies’ tag to call the shots against Shantallow teammate Harry Logan, but last year’s junior champion was having none of that and decorated his 2-0 victory with a half-century sequence of 54 in the opening frame (68-11 and 50-35).
The remaining eight second-round matches are scheduled to be played next Sunday afternoon and Monday night, the details as follows – NEXT SUNDAY – Phelim McClafferty (Letterkenny CYMS) v Maurice Ferguson (Glendermott), at 2 pm; Gareth Kirwan (CYMS) v Kevin McKinney (Oak), at 2 pm; Johnny Connors (CYMS) v Davy Clifford (Glendermott), at 3 pm; Dean McAleese (Limavady) v James Lyttle (Tracey’s), at 3 pm; Adrian McFadden (CYMS) v Chris Brown (Du Pont), at 4 pm; Simon Cooke (Hollywood) or Chris Gibbons (CYMS) v Liam McDermott (Limavady), at 4 pm; Referees – Seamus Gallagher, Joe Sims. Harry Long and Joe Porter.
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Hide AdMONDAY NIGHT – Sean Devenney (Letterkenny NWSC) v Ralph Dixon (Du Pont), at 7-30 pm; Aidan Devenney (Letterkenny NWSC) v Paul Donaghy (Oak), at 7-30 pm.; Referees – Hugh Brady and Harry Logan.
Next Monday night’s bill also includes four tie-breakers to determine the pecking order for the forthcoming Alfie McGinley Individual League quarter-final play-off – Stephen Brady v Peter Doherty to decide top qualifying spot and Phil McConomy v Joe Porter for third and fourth places (8-30 pm break-off in both matches).
The remaining two games, timed for 9.15pm, are all CYMS affairs – Chris Gibbons v Phelim McClafferty (six and seven) and Gareth Kirwan v Adrian McFadden (final play-off berth). Both matches can be played at Letterkenny on or before next Monday’s deadline date (results to be submitted to John Clifford not later than Tuesday night).
Best-of-two frames tie-breakers, results determined on total aggregate points (final black potted in all frames). Referees- Seamus Gallagher and Joe Sims.