AS CORK SNOOKER takes its seasonal break, with the Cork Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) Cork snooker league resuming in mid January it is an opportunity to take a look at this seasons action so far in the thriving sport of ‘Rebel Snooker’ down south in Cork City and County.

After International representation in Malta and Canada for David Cassidy and Greg Casey of the Crucible Snooker Club, on return from Republic of Ireland duty the CBSA had their annual general meeting and all officers elected were as before with the exception of Derek O’Neill of Douglas Snooker Club who became the associations new Chairman.

O’Neill to his credit has been very active getting around to as many games as possible as well as attending both the under 14 and under 16 Cork snooker championships this year so far. The league were saddened to hear that last years champions Shooters from Blackpool would not be competing this season, as well as Fermoy CYMS , so Douglas Snooker Club to their credit entered a second side into the CBSA Cork snooker league.

Early games in the league belonged to Youghal CYMS who were unbeaten home or away, and the return of Aaron Tobin to the side certainly gave Brendan Cooney’s team a fantastic option.

It took a while for the Crucible to get going, but right up until the Christmas break last Thursday Jimmy Hussey’s talented side remain unbeaten with an exciting eight frames to seven frames black ball victory against Youghal CYMS in the Market House, gaining a valuable three away points.

The CBSA Cork snooker league is certainly dominated by both Youghal and the Crucible this year, where both sides have qualified comfortably for the league semi finals, but who will join these two sides is the burning question.

Three sides are now in a position to fill those remaining two spots, the AOH, Douglas ‘A’ and Youghal CYMS ‘B’, with the Morrison’s Island men of the AOH looking definite qualifiers and a battle between Youghal and Douglas to be played out in late January for the other spot. Whoever qualifies will be very hard pushed to make it through to the 2012 final, it really looks likely to be Youghal CYMS ‘A’ and last years runners up, the Crucible in the decider.

At under age level within CBSA this year there were two championships played, the Cork under 14 snooker championship was held at Fermoy CYMS and was eventually won by Youghal CYMS player Noel Landers, who won the event without dropping a frame en-route to victory.

The Cork under 16 snooker championships were held at Youghal CYMS and this was certainly a one man show, with Youghal CYMS player Aaron Tobin breezing his way through the field to secure the Cork county title.

The under age structure at Youghal CYMS is incredible and the standard of players coming through is frightening, from as young as ten years of age upwards are very capable players indeed.

2011 saw the return of top class professional snooker back in the Province for the first time in decades as ‘World Snookers’ Players Tour Championship 8 (PTC8) arrived in Killarney last October and Nine CBSA players entered into the event. The standard was very high and all but one Cork player Ryan Cronin made it through the qualifiying stages to play in the last 128 main event.

Ryan a well known player from the Crucible was unlucky in his match against Stephen Maguire in the main event, but put together a great run in the Amateur Cup, making it as far as the semi finals.

All credit to the Cork players who played in the top class professional tournament and if the PTC returns back to Killarney again next year, I am sure plenty of the ‘Rebel Cue-men’ will enter into the event.

Now Cork Snooker is in its break it will give the players and indeed their clubs time to think ahead to January where as well as league resumption the Munster Snooker Club Championship will start on Friday the 20th of January at the Gleneagle Hotel and there are seven Cork sides involved in the tournament and hopes are high for Cork success next year.

Previous championship winners in 2000 Youghal CYMS ‘A’ will be travelling to Killarney for a consecutive 25th year, which in itself is a fantastic achievement.

Youghal have every chance too, if things go their way , but the Cork favourites going into the event will certainly be the Crucible with Internationals Greg Casey, David Cassidy, Ryan Cronin, Daniel O’Regan and the newly acquired Garry O’Sullivan the Crucible look like potentially the team who could go all the way.

Next year also sees the National under 21 and under 19 championship finals in Cork, when they will be played in Douglas Snooker Club in March. The south side club will also host the Cork Close championships on the 19th of February and one other significant date in Cork for the new year is the 8th of January when the Cork under 19 snooker championships will be held at the Crucible snooker club.

So plenty of top quality snooker to look forward to in 2012, but for now from everyone involved in the game a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. For all Cork snooker information check out www.corkbilliardsandsnookerassociation.com or for all snooker enquiries go to www.ribsa.ie

 

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THE CRUCIBLE SNOOKER CLUB wiped away the disappointment of losing the Cork Snooker League final by winning the prestigious Orme Shield last weekend ( March 26th/27th 2011) in their first outright team victory which was well overdue.

The last major Cork snooker event of the year was played at Youghal CYMS last weekend where the famous Orme Shield was played out for the first time in over a decade.

Youghal CYMS the holders of the Orme Shield which they won in the 147 Club in Blackpool have held the famous trophy on their wall ever since, due to the fact that it hadn’t been played for since.

The re-introduction of the tournament coincides with the new found appetite for the game in Cork City and County on the year the Cork Snooker League resumed, so the standard was high, the facilities and the atmosphere superb it was a feast of great snooker in this three person team event.

The action started last Saturday morning where Douglas 1 beat Youghal 4, the AOH 1 side beat their club mates the AOH 2, Youghal 1 beat Douglas 3, Shooters 1 beat Crucible 3, Youghal 3 beat Youghal 5 and Crucible 1 beat Youghal 2, Shooters 2 and Douglas 2 got walkovers from Crucible 2 and Fermoy into the quarter finals.

The quarter finals were played Saturday morning and victories for AOH 1, Youghal 1, Shooters 1 and the Crucible 1, meant that the top four sides in Cork would meet in the semi finals.

Youghal CYMS played the AOH at 1pm last Sunday and it was a game that went on for quite a bit, eventually the home side came out on top, with wins for Adrian Landers and Derek Aherne over Timmy Murphy and Llyod Myers respectively, with Brendan Cooney of Youghal and Shane O’Mahony locked at one frame each.

The Crucible saw off Shooters in the other semi final extracting some revenge for the league defeat to the Blackpool based club in the Cork Snooker League final a few weeks ago, setting up a mouth watering final.

The final was to prove to be a classic as the Crucibles David Cassidy sunk the black ball to defeat Adrian Landers 3-2, Ryan Cronin won his match 3-1 against Youghal’s Derek Aherne and Greg Casey was 2- 1 up against Brendan Cooney.

Greg Casey told Evening Echo Sport “This is a huge win for us and it’s the first team event we have won and believe you me not many sides could come to Youghal CYMS and beat them in their own club, because they are a very good and experienced team and we are thrilled to win the Orme Shield. The facilities here in Youghal are first class, the tables were excellent and it’s not even like leaving home, because you are treated so well and looked after brilliantly. It’s great to see snooker back in Cork and the re-introduction of the Cork Snooker League, because it has everyone playing competitive snooker all the time which is great for the game and when you add in Killarney along with the Cork Close, snooker is buzzing in Cork and it will only get better”

Casey along with David Cassidy will be travelling to Malta this coming Friday to compete in the first ever ‘European under 21 Snooker Championships’ and with players like Vincent Muldoon from Galway and Jason Devaney from Ballina in Co. Mayo the Republic of Ireland snooker team looks very healthy indeed.

The senior and masters international teams flew out from Dublin Airport at 7am this morning to Malta as their competitions in the European Championships begin tomorrow morning.

The compliments were flying around the rooms of the Youghal CYMS last weekend and rightly so as everything was in perfect order throughout and there is no better venue for a tournament like the Orme Shield than Youghal CYMS, it has a special atmosphere that just reeks of snooker and all of which is good in the game.

Youghal CYMS President Brendan Cooney said “It was a great weekend and I want to thank everyone that came and played or watched over the two days, I would like to thank the Cork Billiards and Snooker Association to let us in Youghal CYMS host the event and I want to pay a special thanks to the referee’s over the weekend and of course I want to congratulate the Crucible Snooker Club on their victory, they are a super bunch of lads and well done to them”.

In Billiards news there is talk that there will be a Cork Billiards tournament organised soon. Billiards is a fantastic game, especially for snooker players,it’s a game of extreme skill and crucial positional play, so it will be good to see the plain and spot on the green baize in Cork again soon.

 

Orme Shield Results

Saturday the 26th of March

Round 1

Douglas 1  bt Youghal CYMS 4

AOH 1   bt AOH 2

Youghal CYMS 1 bt Douglas 3

Shooters 1  bt Crucible 3

Youghal CYMS 3 bt Youghal CYMS 5

Crucible 1  bt Youghal CYMS 2

Shooters 2 and Douglas 2 were awarded walkovers.

Quarter Final

AOH 1   bt Douglas 1

Youghal CYMS 1 bt Shooters 2

Shooters 1  bt Douglas 2

Crucible 1  bt Youghal CYMS 3

Sunday the 27th of March

Semi Final

Youghal CYMS 1 bt AOH 1

Crucible 1  bt Shooters 1

Final

The Crucible   bt Youghal CYMS 1

THE Venetian Snooker Club from Limerick City became the 2010 Munster snooker club champions this Sunday evening (24th Jan. 2010) at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney with an emphatic win over last year’s champions The New Institute from Nenagh Co. Tipperary. Report: Derek Kiely at the Munster Snooker Club Championships in Killarney

Local hopes were pinned on the Youghal CYMS‘A’ Team who really got off to a flier last Friday afternoon with victory over Masters ‘A’ from Shannon.

The win included some stand-out performances from the likes of Derek Murphy, Brendan Cooney and by far and above Youghal’s most consistent cue-man Adrian (Pepper) Landers.

The opening match finished Youghal CYMS ‘A’ 3 – 2 Shannon Masters ‘A’ and Youghal’s Ger Kelly and thirteen year old Aaron Tobin had their part to play as well.

Adrian Landers showed sparkling form with a 2 frames to nil victory in record time on table 5.

Brendan Cooney won his match two nil as well with his ever patient style and brilliant tactical play. Derek Aherne was impeccable too with a 2 frames to nil in a very important victory.

Ger Kelly was impressive in his frame and was very unlucky to lose out to some very lucky shots from his opponent and young Aaron Tobin made an impressive start to his Killarney Championships knocking in a 50 break, but unfortunately went down in the final frame.

Youghal CYMS followed up in their second match with a tremendous win over another very strong team from Limerick City, the Venetian ‘B’ side.

Again Youghal were powerful and finished Friday on a high as they topped Group 5 on four points.

Youghal went down to the Crucible on Saturday in a game that could have gone either way and the defeat left the group finishing with three teams tied on four points.

The Masters ‘A, The Crucible and Youghal had to go into a draw to complete a one frame per person shootout to see who would win the group and who would finish runners up.

Youghal had a bit of luck and were drawn out first, ensuring that they would play the winners of Shannon Masters ‘A’ and the Crucible.

The Crucible team sent the Masters packing and Youghal had the opportunity for revenge, but it was not to be and Youghal had to settle for second place in the group and that meant a qualification match against fellow Cork opponents Fermoy CYMS.

Brendan Cooney and Co got their championships back on track with a convincing victory over the North Cork men and then progressed through to the quarter final with a best of five frame encounter with the red hot favourites, the Venetian ‘A’ side.

This was an epic encounter, Youghal up against a host of top ranked amateur Internationals.

Ger Kelly was impressive against John Torpey, winning a frame but unfortunately losing his match. Derek Aherne met an inform Frank Sarsfield and Youghal lost on that table too, but Brendan Cooney turned back the clock and destroyed a Limerick superstar Jason Walters with a whitewash victory and ‘Mr Reliable Adrian Landers was again superb in victory.

It all came down to the final table where Aaron Tobin pushed top ranked Irish International Vincent Meaney all the way to the deciding frame, but it was a bridge to far and a very relieved Limerick team made it through and the Youghal dream for 2010 was over.

Credit must also go to the Youghal CYMS ‘B’ and ‘C’ sides who battled well throughout last weekend.

As for Cork snooker, it was another case of so close, but yet so far as all the Cork sides bowed out with the exception of the Crucible Snooker Club who were just a black ball away from competing in this year’s final.

The Crucible will now be Corks representatives at the Gleneagle Hotel/Ladbrokes All Ireland Snooker Club Championships, which begin at the INEC in Killarney this Friday.

The competition level was very high this year and there wasn’t much between any of the sides. Youghal CYMS and the AOH both qualified for the quarter finals, but Youghal lost out narrowly on the last match to the eventual winners and the Crucible put a sword to the hopes and aspirations of the Morrisson Island club.

The Crucible will now hope to take it one step further this weekend and despite the disappointment of not making it into this year’s final, the mood of this very young talented side is very upbeat indeed.

The Crucible ranked as Munsters third seed will have to be at their very best as they have been drawn in a tough group which includes the current All Ireland Champions.

The draw for the 2010 All Ireland Snooker Club Championships;

Group 1

St Matthews (Ulster) (1)

The Crucible (Munster)

Spawell (Dublin)

Tuam (Connaught)

Group 2

QE1 (Ulster) (2)

ALSAA (Dublin)

New Institute (Munster)

147 Wexford (Leinster)

Group 3

Venetian (Munster) (3)

Keady (Ulster)

Maynooth (Leinster)

Roadstone ‘B’ (Dublin)

Group 4

Celbridge (Leinster) (4)

Fountain (Ulster)

Waterford (Munster)

CYMS Letterkenny (Connaught)

Group 5

Ballina ‘A’ (Connaught) (5)

Minnesota (Ulster)

Q Club Wicklow (Leinster)

Roadstone ‘A’ (Dublin)

Group 6

Cue Club Killarney (Munster)

West Club (Connaught)

Roadstone ‘C’ (Dublin)

Ballina ‘B’ (Connaught)

As in the Munster Snooker Club Championships Groups one to five are seeded with the winner automatically qualifying into the quarter finals. The runners up of groups one to five will join the winners of the unseeded sixth group to play knockout to qualify for the remaining three quarter final spots.

Plat times for the first sessions of the All Ireland Snooker Club Championships are;

11am

St Matthews’s v Spawell

QE1 v The New Institute

Keady v Roadstone ‘B’

12.15pm

The Crucible v Tuam

ALASA v 147 Wexford

Maynooth v Venetian

1.30pm

Fountain v Waterford

Minnesota v Roadstone ‘A’

Cue Club Killarney v Roadstone ‘C’

2.45pm

Celbridge v CYMS Letterkenny

Ballina ‘A’ v Q Club Wicklow

West Club v Ballina ‘B’

Friday 22nd January 2010 3.05pm

Youghal CYMS ‘A’ Team off to a flier with victory over Masters ‘A’ from Shannon.

Youghal CYMS ‘A’ 3 – 2 Shannon Masters ‘A’

Youghal CYMS got their Gleneagle Hotel/Ladbrokes Munster Snooker Championships under way this afternoon at 1.30pm with a tough assignment against the Masters ‘A’ side from Shannon Co. Clare.

Adrian Landers showed sparkling form with a 2 frames to nil victory in record time on table 5.

Brendan Cooney won his frame two nil as well with his ever patient style and brilliant tactical play.

Derek Aherne was impeccable too with a 2 frames to nil in a very important victory.

Ger Hennessy was impressive in his frame and was very unlucky to lose out to some very lucky shots from his opponent.

Young Aaron Tobin made an impressive start to his Killarney Championships knocking in a 50 break, but unfortunately went down in the final frame.

So Youghal’s A side progress with a victory and top Group 5 alongside the Crucible club.

Youghal ‘A’ will play Venetian ‘B’ this evening at 6.30pm.

Youghal’s ‘B’ and ‘C’ sides are at the table as we speak.

Friday 22nd January 2010 4.58pm

Youghal ‘B’ Lose to Waterford ‘A’

Youghal ‘C’ Beat Cappoquin ‘B’

Latest Friday 9.49pm Youghal ‘A’ will play Venetian ‘B’

Saturday 23 rd 7.45pm: Youghal make it through to the Quarter Finals after a qualifying match.

Youghal will now play the red hot favourites for this year’s championship the Venetian A side formerly the New Vic from Limerick City,

The match will be played at 8pm on Saturday the 23rd.

Latest….Saturday the 23rd 10.02pm: Youghal are knocked out of the Munster Club Snooker Championships going down to a narrow 3 – 2 defeat to the Venetian A team from Limerick

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.