Murray Wins Senior Billiards Event 5

The fifth tournament of the Senior Billiards series was played at The Ivy Rooms Snooker Club, Carlow on Sunday, 18th of January 2015. The format for the event was 400up with a 90 minute time limit, the time limit being restored after last season’s absence. Aidan Murray of the Ivy Rooms, not having won a ranking tournament since December 2012, was back to his winning ways by taking the fifth tournament title of the season.

With a relatively small entry of 10, no doubt due to the prevailing weather conditions, the two who bowed out at the pre-quarters stage were Liam O’Brien (Borris-in-Ossory) and Robert McCrum (Celbridge).

The semi finalists in the top half of the draw were current No 1 in the rankings Wayne Doyle (Dun Laoghaire) and current double champion Rodney Goggins (Wexford). Both progressed to the semi final with convincing quarter final wins against Brendan Devlin (Celbridge) and Aonghus McAnally (Portmarnock) respectively. The semi final was quite a tense game that went all the way to the 90 minute time limit, neither player performing to their full potential, the result going Wayne’s way after a relatively low-scoring game.

The semi finalists in the bottom half of the draw were regular Ivy Rooms practice partners Aidan Murray and Larry Drennan, Aidan having had a good quarter final win against Joe Doheny (Borris-in-Ossory) while Larry had a steady quarter final win over John Kehoe (Enniscorthy). In the semi final, there was not much between the players until, with breaks of 59 and 66, Aidan edged ahead and maintained his lead until time was called.

The final started well, both players scoring solidly when at the table, Wayne making the better progress of the two. Finding himself 50 points in arrears Aidan, in a determined effort to make up the deficit, reversed the position with the day’s high break of 103. An early missed cannon by Wayne in his next visit seemed to inspire Aidan who, from that point on, was by far the more effective scorer in the game, thus claiming a well deserved tournament victory.

By way of compensation for his first round defeat, Liam O’Brien won the final of the Plate against Aonghus McAnally.

The next Senior Billiards event takes place at The Ivy Rooms Snooker Club, Carlow on Sunday, 22nd February 2015. The format will be seeded draw 90 minutes, timed. Entries will be accepted before 10.30am on the morning of the event.

As always, our thanks are due to Marian Leacy for the excellent playing facilities and to all at the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club for their help on the day.

Results(all matches 400up, 90 minute time limit):

Pre-Quarters

Aidan Murray  (Brk:  90, 57)  301  –  208  Liam O’Brien 

Robert McCrum    300  –  319  Joe Doheny 

Quarters

Wayne Doyle  400  –  210  Brendan Devlin

Aonghus McAnally  162  –  400  Rodney Goggins  (Brk: 67, 75)

Aidan Murray  (Brk: 79, 61)  343  –  223  Joe Doheny

John Kehoe  273  –  353  Larry Drennan  (Brk: 52, 53)

Semi-Finals

Wayne Doyle  260  –  202  Rodney Goggins

Aidan Murray  (Brk: 59, 66)  309  –  232  Larry Drennan

Final

Wayne Doyle  171  –  316  Aidan Murray  (Brk: 103)