ONE Event that will not be falling foul of the inclement weather is the forthcoming Munster Snooker Club Championships which take place in the Gleneagle Hotel here in Killarney on the 22nd until the 24th of January. By Derek Kiely in Killarney/ Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

The Gleneagle Hotel/Ladbrokes sponsored event welcomes 24 teams from all six counties of the Province of Munster which includes six Cork teams that are involved in this year’s event.

It has been just over a decade since the Youghal CYMS team amongst scenes of mass celebration with their many travelling supporters saw the East Cork men lift the Munster Snooker Club Championship trophy. In the years that have followed there have been very significant performances from the likes of the Crucible Snooker Club from the North Side of Cork City, Fermoy CYMS and the AOH.

Cork’s representatives this year are the Crucible Club, Fermoy CYMS, the AOH from Morrison’s Island and Youghal CYMS who provide no less than three teams for the Killarney showpiece.

The draw which was held in Fermoy recently has thrown up some really tight groups making it a hard one to call this year.

In Group ‘D’ Fermoy are pooled against the AOH, with Group ‘E’ pitting the Youghal CYMS ‘A’ side against the young guns of the Crucible Snooker Club.

The Crucible will call on the services of top class Irish International Greg Casey and his young team mates who will all play snooker with little or no fear of the lightning fast green baize of the INEC.

Youghal CYMS under the guidance of top Irish International Brendan Cooney have the experience and the ability to win this event, with a nice blend of seasoned campaigners and young talent in their ranks. The AOH Club from Morrison’s Island and the Fermoy CYMS teams are not short of quality in their ranks either, but the draw has put four of the Cork sides into direct opposition proving the point that doing well in Killarney and getting a top five seeding has its benefits.

Tournament Director Connie O’Sullivan told Echo Sport, “The draw this year has thrown up all kinds of possibilities with some of the more established sides looking as strong as ever. The Cork sides are always formidable and bring a lot of passion and pride to Kerry. The current champions the New Institute have lost two players this year to the professional scene, so that can open up a few chances for the other sides and I suppose offer a little opportunity for those brave enough to take it. The Cork snooker scene is in my opinion as competitive as ever and I wouldn’t be completely surprised if one of those well established Cork teams caused a bit of a shock in Killarney”.

The top four teams including the host team the Cue Club from Killarney will make it through to the 2010 All Ireland Championships which take place exactly one week after the Munster Championships also at the Gleneagle Hotel.

The draw for the 2010 Munster Club Snooker Championships:

Group A

New Institute ‘A’ (Tipperary) (1)

Shannon ‘B’ (Clare)

St John’s (Limerick)

Waterford ‘C’

Group B

Waterford ‘A’ (2)

Youghal CYMS ‘B’ (Cork)

Thurles  (Tipperary)

Cue Club ‘A’ (Kerry)

Group C

Waterford ‘B’ (3)

Venetian ‘A’ (Limerick)

New Institute ‘B’ (Tipperary)

Cappoquin ‘A’ (Waterford)

Group D

Fermoy CYMS (Cork) (4)

AOH (Cork)

Shannon ‘A’ (Tipperary)

Carrick-on-Suir (Tipperary)

Group E

Youghal CYMS ‘A’ (Cork) (5)

Crucible (Cork)

Venetian ‘B’ (Limerick)

Masters ‘B’

Group F

Youghal CYMS ‘C’

Cue Club ‘B’ (Kerry)

Venetian ‘C’ (Limerick)

Cappoquin ‘B’ (Waterford)

The competition will run as a Group Stage, round robin event with the top group sides with the exception of Group F will automatically qualifying for the Quarter Finals. The Group runners along with the winners of Group F will play a series of knock out games to fill the remaining three quarter final spots.

The 2010 Ladbrokes Munster Snooker Club Championships starts Friday January the 22nd at 11.00am at the INEC Arena at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney and ends on Sunday evening the 24th of January.