The Youghal CYMS A and B teams  travelled to Killarney to compete in the annual Munster Club Snooker Championships. The A team came out of their group and were successful in qualifying for the up coming All Ireland Club Snooker Championships which will be held again in Killarney. Well done to both teams and the supporters who travelled to the event. By Ian Bransfield/Photo Michael Hussey(YoughalOnline.com)

Youghal CYMS will entered two teams of five in their bid to emulate their success of 2000 to try and  win the Ladbrokes sponsored event for the first time in almost a decade.Led by current over-40 Irish International Brendan Cooney, Youghal “A” find themselves in a tough group along with Fermoy, Waterford “C” and Masters “B”, whilst Youghal “B” kick off their campaign with a difficult fixture against the 2008 champions New Institute.The competition is made up of six groups of four, with the six pool winners and two best runners-up qualifying for the knockout stages.  The four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the Irish Championships one week later at the same venue.
Speaking at a photo launch last Monday night, club chairman William Kelly was in confident mood ahead of the  big weekend:
“The club revolves around the Munster championships; we spend all year looking forward to it.   Our ambition is obviously to go all the way but that is a big ask.  Right now, we would happily settle for a place in the semi-finals and qualification for the All-Ireland.  Anything after that is a real bonus”

“Barring a huge shock group E should really be a tossup between ourselves and Fermoy.  Waterford “C” are an unknown quantity and whilst the Masters are handy enough, they’re unlikely to challenge the top two.”
“There’s really nothing in it between ourselves and Fermoy though – it’s 50-50.  They have Daithí Whelan who is a current Irish international, and Mark Pine who is a former Irish international.  They have a strong panel and will be looking to compete not only in Munster but on a national level too.  If we beat them however then we will have a very realistic chance of getting to the semis”
“We’ll be looking for a big performance from Brendan (Cooney) because he’s the one player that’s been there and done it all.  He’s made breaks of 130 in both the Munster and All-Ireland Championships.  He’s represented Ireland on numerous occasions and was part of the over-40 team which reached the final of the European masters last year. ”
Kelly, however, was not quite so optimistic about Youghal “B”‘s chances of success:
“Group B should be a formality for New Institute.  David Hogan and Brendan O’Donoghue are current internationals and both quality players.  They are most certainly the team to beat and any team with ambitions of winning the tournament will have to go through them first.”
“The Cue Club have been to the All-Ireland semi-finals in the past so they could also be tough.  Venetian “B” are a new club from Limerick who we don’t know too much about but basically, we will be doing well to pick up any points at all.”
“The opening game will be a real baptism of fire.  On their day I guess anyone can beat anyone but realistically it’s a very tall order.  The most we can hope for is that the lads enjoy themselves and challenge for places in the “A” Team.”
One player to look out for during the weekend snooker bonanza is local lad Aaron Tobin.  At just 12 years old, Tobin will become the youngest player ever to represent Youghal at the event.  He has represented Ireland at under-14 level already this season and is almost certain to do so again next year.  He is also part of an elite three-man development team put together by Irish coach PJ Nolan.
Kelly reveals he is astonished by the youngster’s progress and has high hopes for him in the future:
“Aaron is the upcoming player in Youghal and maybe Ireland.  His brother (Jonathan) has played with us before and was part of the winning championship team in 2000, so snooker is in the blood.  Aoran is maybe unlucky not to have made the “A” team this year but if he keeps improving he’ll certainly be there within the next year or two.”
“He’s playing very well, constantly making breaks of 70 or 80. He’s won two senior tournaments already this year which is unheard of for a 12-year old.  We’re expecting big things from him.”
Founded in 1871, Youghal CYMS is one of the oldest community/sporting organisations in East Cork.  The club has had many homes throughout the years (most notably in the old Town Hall, now the Mall House) and is now situated in the historic Market House in the Market Square.
“Youghal CYMS is about the youth” says Kelly.  “It’s a place where people come to wind down.  Membership is only €30 for the year and of our four tables two are championship standard.  The kids that come here are supervised and we don’t tolerate any messing.”
“We have about 80 seniors and 200 juniors registered with the club, so snooker in Youghal is certainly thriving.  We don’t look to make money, and any money we do make goes back into the club.  We have heaters under the tables, new cloths every year and whatever needs doing generally gets done.”
“We are also by far the best supported team in Munster and teams love to play against us due to the great atmosphere.  All other teams want to beat us in front of our own fans.  The hotel, on the other hand, would obviously be delighted to see us go all the way to the final on account of the extra business”
Here’s hoping for a cracking weekend of snooker then and increased sales for the Gleneagle!

YOUGHAL “A”
Brendan Cooney
Adrian Landers
Derek Ahern
Patrick Kelly
Ger Kelly

YOUGHAL “B”
William Kelly
Trevor Flaherty
James Hennessy
Joe Yellop
Aaron Tobin

Here is the draw for The 2009 Ladbrokes Munster Championships
Date : 16th-18th January,  Venue Gleneagle Hotel
Group A
Waterford “A”
AOH, Cork
New Institute “B”
Carrick on Suir

Group B
New Institute “A”
Venitian “B”
Cue Club “A”
Youghal “B”

Group C
Venitian “A”
Masters “A”
Showboat
St.John’s

Group D
Crucible
Waterford “B”
Thurles
New Institute “C”

Group E
Fermoy
Youghal “A”
Waterford “C”
Masters “B”

Group F
Venitian “C”
Cue Club “B”
Masters “C”
Cappaquinn