WORLD Ranked number one snooker professional John Higgins was in Youghal last Saturday evening for a rare exhibition match at the Youghal CYMS and the ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ didn’t disappoint the huge crowd potting a maximum 147 break on his way to a devastating evening of top class snooker. Derek Kiely reports for Youghalonline.com sports | Photo: Michael Hussey Youghalonline.com

There was a Civic Reception afforded to John and a packed Mall House heard the praise ring out for one of snookers famous sons, but this was different than other receptions that I have been to as there seemed to be a fantastic atmosphere and a real affinity with the man, as one person said to me “Sure he’s like one of our own” and I couldn’t agree more, John Higgins really does have that aura about him, they makes you feel like you’ve known him all your life.

The three-time and current reigning World Snooker Champion is just four weeks away from defending his World Crown at the Crucible in Sheffield and looks like he is in fantastic form going into the event.

At the Youghal Town Council Civic Reception Lady Mayor Sandra McLennan rang out the praises for Higgins saying “It is very important that we recognise the significant contribution John Higgins has made to the World of Snooker. It is important that we in our community recognise his achievements in the game and this really is a list of achievements”.

Higgins has won the World Championships three times, won 21 ranking tournament events and has over 400 competitive century breaks to his name as well, astounding when you think about it.

The Civic Reception was something the John Higgins didn’t expect and as I met him for the first time on Saturday afternoon in Joe Dan’s as he was locked into the Celtic Scottish Cup Quarter Final match, he seemed genuinely surprised by the gesture “I am really honoured, I wasn’t aware of the Civic Reception until earlier this afternoon, it really came as a bit of a shock and to tell you the truth I was a bit emotional when the Lady Mayor Sandra McLennan presented me with a beautiful Waterford Crystal memento I was thrilled” Higgins told Youghal online.

There are many great ambassadors in sport throughout the planet and John Higgins definitely ranks highly in that regard. Not only is he patient, polite and respectful to all he meets, but the man came across as genuine in every department.

“Steve Davis was my role model in every respect, he was a gentleman on and off the table and if I could emulate that I would be very happy indeed” said Higgins.

Of course the Scot who is a well known Celtic FC fanatic has Irish roots, with his grandmother Peggy Doyle originally from Magherafelt in County Derry and over the years he would have made many trips to Ireland as he still has a lot of relations in County Derry, but last Saturday night was the first time that John Higgins had been to East Cork and he clearly enjoyed the experience.

“I love coming to venues like the Youghal CYMS because they really are true snooker venues, where people like Brendan Cooney and his committee look after the youngsters and help to teach them good values. It is great to see the young kids here tonight, I remember when I was very young and started to play snooker I was one of those young lads looking at those superstars of the game, and who knows it might be one of these kids one day” Higgins said.

The future of the game of snooker looks bright as far as John Higgins is concerned with Barry Hearne now at the helm “With Barry Hearn now re-vitalising snooker it will be great for our game, we have already seen the difference that he has made to the game recently at the Masters at Wembley giving Jimmy White a wild card, so I think he will have a big impact on the sport” Higgins told Youghal Online.

With just four weeks to go to the top event in world snooker Higgins believes his preparation has been good ahead of the Sheffield showdown “It’s been going good, I have had a good season, I only had one bad result all year and I have reached the semi-finals in most of the tournaments this season, I have been really please the way things have been going and hopefully I can keep that going into the World Championships in Sheffield next month. From here on in now I will just practice as hard as I can, I have just moved clubs and joined the ‘Cue Club’ in Glasgow and I am based now alongside the likes of Stephen Maguire and Marcus Campbell who are top Scottish players which will be good for me and I can train against them every day and sharpen my game” Higgins added.

Playing an exhibition match is indeed a rarity for Higgins, so when the audience in the Youghal CYMS witnessed six 50+ breaks including two centuries and a magnificent maximum 147 the Scot was delighted as the room gave him a rapturous standing ovation, “I have never been very big on exhibitions because I have always been the type of player that put all my time into fully concentrating on practice and I have always put my time into playing tournaments where you make your living really, but since I have won the World Championship there have been a few more people wanting to see me, which is great and when I can do that I will and I was delighted tonight getting the 147, it was brilliant, I think the crowd really enjoyed it”.

Higgins flew in from Edinburgh especially for last night’s exhibition match and really was blown away by the warm reception he got on arrival in the East Cork Town. Higgins plans to return soon to Youghal with his wife and three children.

Higgins told Youghal Online “I really love Ireland, when we visited my Grandmother down through the years she would always have the Irish music on and I love those tunes right through to today. I am a huge Celtic fan, my Grandfather would go Parkhead, my Father went and I go as often as I can, it really is a family thing. I am coming back to Ireland and next year myself and the family will hire a car and drive around to get a real look at the country and I definitely plan to return to Youghal, the welcome I have had here has been wonderful, everyone I have met have been really brilliant”.

Youghal CYMS President Brendan Cooney who praised the Scot above all previous visiting snooker stars “We started these exhibitions back in 2002 and we have had many great players in our rooms and previous World Champions, but never have we had a reigning World Champion and the standard of his play tonight was astonishing, plus a very first 147 at the Society, it was just fantastic” said Cooney.

It seems the ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ became the ‘Wizard of Youghal’ last Saturday night after an astounding display of top class snooker where the canny Scot didn’t drop a frame.

The players who played against Higgins were Adrian ‘Pepper’ Landers, Christopher Cooney, Aaron Tobin, Derek ‘Mr Maximum’ Aherne, Killian McCarthy, Lee Walsh, Aidan O’Neill, William Kelly, Trevor Flaherty, Gerard Kelly and Brendan Cooney.

On the night John Higgins complied breaks of :

147 v Derek Aherne

104 Against William Kelly

85 Clearance v Christopher Cooney

88 Against Trevor Flaherty

76 Against Brendan Cooney

76 Against Adrian Landers

56 Against Aaron Tobin

56 Against Gerard Kelly.

Needles to say the World Champion was undefeated.

Youghal Town Council accorded a civic reception to reigning world snooker champion John Higgins at the council chambers on Saturday Night (13th March 2010). A large audience representing members past and present of Youghal CYMS were present to honour the world ranked number one snooker star.

Click on image to enlarge