The usual high standard of excellence on the green baize was enjoyed by all at the Youghal C.Y.M.S snooker and billiards finals on Thursday the 2nd of February. The climax of both competitions brought Noel Landers against local Ross Bulman and Killian McCarthy against Adam Bulman. In a very competitive snooker match Ross took the first frame however the Cork under 14 champion Noel Landers came back to claim the next two frames and become this years winner of the ‘Dan the Baker’ trophy.

On the other table Killian McCarthy beat Adam Bulman in the Youghal C.Y.M.S Billiards final. In the first to 100 points Killian crossed the line with Adam trailing by 25 points. Congratulations to both players on reaching the final and all the other players who participated in this exciting and new venture for the junior players in the revived Junior Billiards tournament. Hon. Vice President Brendan Cooney and Secretary Ray Phelan acted as referees.

WHAT an exciting weekend it was at the Gleneagle Hotel – Ladbrokes sponsored Munster Snooker Club Championships, that had its share of shocks along the way and as always the tension surrounding the event had its bearing on several players throughout the three days of play.

There were 24 sides at the very first break off on Friday morning last and immediately the top seeded sides began well securing early wins, but when Saturday came, the changes rang out especially for the Cork sides who definitely began to bed themselves in to contention and by the end of play on Saturday evening no less than six Cork sides were in the knock out stages.

The defending champions the New Institute from Nenagh Co. Tipperary were in awesome form, as were the previous six time winners the Victoria from Limerick.

The story of the knock out stages had to be Fermoy CYMS who had a great championships and made it through to the quarter final after defeating Douglas A. The win was remarkable in so many ways, because this was the first competitive outing for Fermoy this year as a team and considering that the North Cork club were not participants this year in the Cork snooker league it was a great effort and hopefully this will re-ignite some interest in re-forming a side for next years league in Cork.

Youghal CYMS had both their A and B sides in the knock out stages and the A side breezed past Carrick-on-Suir to the quarter finals, meanwhile the Youghal B side were a black ball away from victory against Ennis, but the Clare men progressed through to meet New Institute.

The Crucible were excellent against Thurles and set up a match against against Fermoy and were equally impressive to make it through to the semi finals.

Waterford A pulled off the result of the quarter finals defeating the Victoria A from Limerick, meaning for the very first time there would be no Limerick representation at the ‘All Ireland Snooker Club championships for the very first time.

Youghal CYMS also booker their place into the semi finals and All Ireland qualification after a very impressive win over New Institute B.

The semi finals were tense as always and the New Institute A side prove just a little better than Youghal CYMS on the day winning their semi final match and they stood just one match away from retaining their title.

The other semi final was a much closer affair with the Crucible from Cork coming out against Waterford A, but it took some Greg Casey Magic to secure the victory in the deciding frame.

The final is always tense, but it was a very difficult match to call with both sides draped in International players.

Leading Senior number one ranked player Brendan O’Donoghue won his match impressively for New Institute to take a one nil lead in the best of five match format, but the Crucibles Ryan Cronin was quick to restore balance with a very strong win in his game.

The next match went to New Institute who now had the narrow advantage, but despite a Greg Casey victory which included a 101 break it wasn’t enough because Tommy Gleeson potted the winning balls to secure a Tipperary victory.

Next weekend is the All Ireland Championships weekend and Cork Snooker will have to very able representatives available in the Crucible and the Youghal CYMS side.

Greg Casey and his Crucible team mates came to within a frame of lifting the Munster title so they will be very confident coming into the championships.

Youghal CYMS leader Brendan Cooney and his team mates will also feel that they can make a big impression in the tournament.

There will be a break in the Cork Billiards and Snooker Association league will not be played this week due to the All Ireland Championships, but will resume in two weeks time, with Youghal CYMS B, the AOH and Douglas B all trying to secure the two available semi final spots

The article below is an excerpt from the Munster Snooker Special Preview in Next Friday’s ( 20th Jan 2012) Weekend Sports Magazine in Cork’s Evening Echo.

The last Cork side to lift the coveted ‘Munster Cup’ were Youghal CYMS back in the year 2000 when the East Cork side created a real piece of history for the club, beating the red hot favourites Cork Victoria in the final, where Paul Butler famously finished off the match with some incredible pots sending the fanatical Youghal supporters into a frenzy which started a celebration that lasted quite a few days.

This year is another historic one for the Youghal CYMS who are making their 25th consecutive appearance in the event which is a fantastic achievement in itself for the club who have only four tables, but are impressively entering no fewer that three teams and could have entered a fourth side, such is the strength of the Youghal Society.

Youghal CYMS President William Kelly a player in Youghal’s ‘B’ side in Killarney said “We love going to Killarney and we get incredible support down there, it seems that everyone who is involved in snooker in the town in one form or another travels down for the weekend of the ‘Munsters’ and we appreciate that. We are going down a quarter of a century this year which is a hell of a thing for us, it would be great to win it again it really would”.

All the latest news and updates, high breaks and results will be posted on Facebook checking out Munster Snooker Club Championships, plus they will be here on www.youghalonline.com and on www.ribsa.ie

Munster Snooker Club Championships 2012

Venue 1 = INEC Lobby  Venue 2 = tables 1-5 in ballroom Venue 3 = tables 6-12 in ballroom

Tournament format = 5 groups of 5 teams, with 3 teams qualifying from each group.

(Thats 10 matches per group, and 50 group matches total.)

Winners of group A go straight into the quarter final stage at 10.00am on Sunday .

The remaining 14 qualified teams will play a knockout match to reach quarte final (best of 3)

The winners of groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be drawn against  4 of the 3rd place finishers.

The 5 group runners-up will join the remaining 3rd place finisher in the final 3 last 16 games.

All group matches and top 16 matches are best of 3 frames on each table

The quarter finals and the semi finals are best of 5 frames on each table.

Friday—(Group games)

3 Matches, in venues 1, 2 and 3 at 10am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm  = 21 Matches(7×3)

2 Matches in venues 2 and 3  at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm = 10Matches        (5×2)

Saturday

Group games

3 Matches in venues 1, 2 and 3  at 10am, 11am, 12am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm  = 21 Matches

Playoffs at 5pm

Last 16 at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm  (7 Matches – 2 matches per session)

Sunday

2 Quarter Finals at 10am   (INEC and Ballroom)

2 Quarter Finals at 11.30am (INEC and Ballroom)

2 x Semi-finals  at 1.30pm   (INEC and Ballroom)

Final at 4 pm in the INEC.

The launch of the Youghal C.Y.M.S. Calendar 2012 took place at the society’s premises with guest, FÁS supervisor Mary Carson. Speaking at the launch the President of the society William Kelly congratulated all those involved in the making of the calendar and particularly thanked FÁS supervisor Mary Carson and Cathy O’Mahony, resource tutor with the Youghal Adult Learning Centre. Mary Carson, FÁS supervisor, said that she was delighted to be associated with the wonderful work that the Youghal C.Y.M.S. do and could see this especially with the young teenage members as an invaluable place to go within the centre of our community. The President William Kelly and committee of the Youghal C.Y.M.S. would like to wish all the members of the society, the generous sponsors and supporters and in particular the people of the town a very happy and holy Christmas.

The annual Christmas draw took place last Sunday 18th December. Youghal C.Y.M.S. Annual Raffle Results:

1st Weekend for two at Killarney Munster Snooker Championships, sponsored by YCYMS- winner Eamon Walsh, Woodview Court.   2nd SuperValu Hamper sponsored by Brooks SuperValu- winner Christy McMahon, Ballinvarrig, Youghal.   3rd Christmas Hamper, winner Róisín Coleman c/o Lower Cork Hill.  4th €50 Fuel Voucher sponsored by O’Neill Oils Youghal-winner Molly O’Neill, Meadowlands Youghal. 5th Sunday lunch for two sponsored by The Quay’s Bar, Youghal-winner Jacob Maggie, Park Lane.   6th Bottle of Brandy sponsored by Bertie’s Bar-winner Des Reddy, Dermot Hurley Estate.  7th Bottle of Vodka sponsored by JD’s Bar, and Christmas Cake sponsored by Biddy Phelan- winner Tommy Curtin c/o Quay’s Bar. 8th Bottle of Whiskey sponsored by Mackey’s bar- winner Mareka McEvoy, Fleming’s Court.  9th Bottle of Vodka sponsored by The Point Bar, plus four Leisure Centre Vouchers sponsored by Aura- winner Ray Phelan, Raheen Park.  10th Four Bottles Wine sponsored by Aspel Centra, Front Strand-winner Brid Lenihan, c/o Moby Dick’s. Congratulations to all the winners, have a happy Christmas and we will see you all in the new year.

 

Related Video: Steve Davis takes an amazing snooker shot at Youghal C.Y.M.S 2005

The Youghal Catholic Young Men’s Society AGM will take place at the society’s premises at market square on Friday 18th November 2011 at 8pm sharp. All members are requested to attend.

Brief History of Youghal CYMS: Founded in 1871, Youghal CYMS is one of the oldest community/sporting organisations in Youghal. The society boasts four full-size snooker tables, a reading room, a meeting room, computer room and a television room. The society was established as a non-profit making organisation to provide and create the proper environment and worthwhile amenities for the young men of Youghal. This is as important today as it was then.

Youghal CYMS Junior Presentation awards – The Cork County U-14 Snooker Championships

Youghal CYMS looking forward to The Munster Snooker Club Championships 2012

The Youghal C.Y.M.S. 2011 Kevin Mangan Memorial Snooker Tournament

The Kevin Mangan Memorial Snooker Tournament took place at the Youghal C.Y.M.S. on  Fri. Oct. 28th 2011.The  tournament is always well supported by Kevins many friends and this year was no different. Almost 40 senior snooker players did battle on the green baize to try and win the coveted trophy but it came down to the former president of the society William Kelly and C Team player Eddie Hickey to try and outshoot each other in the centre championship table. Watched by a packed hall, William Kelly becoming the outright winner.

Youghal CYMS President Mr. Brendan Cooney who was also match referee on the night said he was delighted to see such a large crowd at the society to honour the memory of Kevin and paid great tribute to the memory of Kevin and his family who were present to see the matches being played and to present the cup to the worthy winner.

Kevin’s mother Phil Mangan spoke afterward the presentation and thanked the Youghal CYMS for keeping Kevin’s memories alive. She also thanked all who participated in the tournament and delighted to see by the camaraderie amongst Kevin’s friends and the players.

Kevin Mangan Memorial raises funds for the Mercy Hospital Foundation

By Derek Kiely in Youghal

KEVIN MANGAN’S name will be forever remembered by his close friends and the support of his family as the annual Kevin Mangan memorial golf day was held at ‘Gold Coast Golf Resort’ last weekend, but this year was a little bit special as funds were raised for the Mercy Hospital  Foundation.

 Kevin sadly passed away a few years ago when he died after he suffered from Sleep Apnea and Kevin’s family and friends started a memorial day in 2008, but this time the family and the friends of the fondly remembered Youghal man wanted to do something more and with the dedication of one of his greatest friends Anthony O’Donoghue started to organise fund raising, sponsored prizes and sponsor cards to help raise funds towards a machine at the Mercy Hospital that can help with this condition.

Over 40 people turned up and played in the event and the organiser of the event Anthony O’Donoghue said “We wanted his (Kevin) memorial day to be a charity event from here on in, it certainly has grown over the last three years and I hope it gets even bigger and more people get involved. People in around Youghal have been very supportive and I want to thank them for their help and sponsorship, in particular this year to Mr Noel Mackey, he was brilliant”.

The red jacket for the winner was presented to the evergreen Paddy Yellop, who at 75 years young beat the field to the number one spot.

Mrs Phil Mangan the mother of the late Kevin Mangan said at the presentation “People have been great and I want to thank everyone who donated or helped in any way, Kevin Will never be forgotten with his great friends and if we can help to save just one life that would be brilliant”.

The event organiser is already getting ready for 2012 and going by the enthusiasm shown by the group to raise funds for the Mercy Hospital Foundation, this annual event is set to grow much bigger.

The presentation of prizes was held at Noel Mackey’s Central Star last Saturday evening and the top five winners were:

1st  Paddy Yellop

2nd Adrian Yellop

3rd Michael O’Donoghue

4th John Leary

5th Anthony Kelly

Click on image to enlarge

 

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

SHOOTERS Snooker Club are the 2011 Cork Snooker League champions after a stunning performance at the AOH last Thursday night (10th March 2011) where they defeated the Crucible Snooker Club, by thirteen frames to six frames in the best of 25 frames league final.

At one stage the team from Blackpool were an astonishing seven frames ahead after just nine frames played and with the experienced players like Anthony O’Connor and Gary O’Sullivan in top form, it was easy to see where the cup was heading after just one hour of play.

There was a huge attendance present for the final on Morrison’s Island at the famous AOH Club and the tables were in magnificent condition due to the excellent work of Finbarr O’Connor and the atmosphere was really superb too, which all added to the occasion.

One spectator present said “It reminds me of the late 70’s and the early 80’s when snooker was huge in Cork and you couldn’t get in the doors of many of the clubs on finals night, it is great to see that atmosphere back again”.

The final couldn’t have started any better for Shooters with Gary O’Sullivan establishing an early two frame lead against Greg Casey.

O’Sullivan has played very well all year for Shooters and looks a certainty for the Cork Inter-County Snooker Team who will play in National Inter-County Championships this April.

Alongside O’Sullivan was Anthony O’Donoghue who had a re-match of the Cork Close Final taking on the Crucibles David Cassidy who he beat on that occasion in his home club Shooters earlier this year and again the former 147 man was on top leading by two frames to nil after just 35 minutes of play.

Ryan Cronin of the Crucible got an early frame for the favourites, but the lead was short lived as Shooters Gary Bracken rattled off three frames in succession to lead 3-1 on what is definitely the AOH’s toughest table.

Things got tougher for the Crucible when O’Donoghue and O’Sullivan clinched another frame each and the target of 13 frames for victory was getting closer and closer for the Blackpool outfit.

Everyone was expecting the usual Crucible fight back, but all credit to Shooters they battled for every point and didn’t give an inch.

Ryan Cronin, Casey and Cassidy then all clinched a frame each for the Crucible and Shooters nerve was tested, but when O’Donoghue and O’Sullivan closed out their matches with winning frames the writing was on the wall for the Bandon Road men.

 

David Forde of Shooters was locked at one frame all with Daniel O’Regan, leaving the Crucible the almost impossible task of having to win all their remaining frames to claim victory and when on table two Tommy Greaney of Shooters who played against Tony Moore of the Crucible doubled the blue into the corner pocket to secure the all important winning thirteenth frame, he had the final say in this year’s league,.

Ironically for the Crucible, Shooters served the Crucible a rare league defeat on the opening day of the Cork Snooker League, back on the 7th of October 2010 and then last night again they had it over their City rivals on the last competitive game of the season.

Shooters owner John Paul Crowley told the Evening Echo “It is great to see Cork Snooker back after such a long absence and I think that little bit more experience our lads had paid off tonight. After 30 years of being involved in snooker myself I think it was the best night of snooker for quite some time and the standard in Cork is getting higher every week and when you look at the Crucible they are a fantastic side, full of young International talent and to beat them was a great achievement for my team. Tonight reminded me of the great nights that the late Liam O’Connor put on in Cork and with so many young people now playing the game again it is great for the future of Cork Snooker and I am thrilled and proud that our club has won the league in our first year”.

Shooters now hold the two top titles in Cork Snooker with the league title secured and Anthony O’Connor’s ‘Cork Close’ success before Christmas. Now the Blackpool side look like they will be entering a second side into next year’s league along with the ‘Cue Club’ from Killarney who want to be part of the re-emergence of Snooker in the City and County of Cork.

Cork Snooker League Secretary Tim Murphy told the Evening Echo “I must give tremendous thanks to all the players in our league this season and as far as I am concerned, in my 58 years involved in the game this was one of the best final’s I have ever seen. I want to thank the AOH who made their club available to us and compliment the condition of the tables”.

The next event on the Cork Snooker calendar is the very highly respected ‘Orme Shield’ three person team event, which will be held over two days at Youghal CYMS on the 26th and the 27th of March. The closing date for the number of team nominations is the 15th of March and no teams will be accepted after this date.

The entry fee for the Orme Shield is just €20 paid on entry and teams of three, plus one substitute must be named by the 23rd of March.

Next week on Cork Snooker we catch up with Cork’s two Irish Internationals heading for Malta and the International Team Manager and International referee from Cork Don O’Donoghue.

YOUGHAL GAA Club and St Coleman’s Boxing Club come together for a worthy cause on the 18th of March at Club Aras at Magners Hill for a charity boxing night in aid of the Youghal Branch of St Vincent De Paul.

The Youghal Intermediate Footballers are very much part of the night and fitness trainer and Intermediate player Ken Dempsey said “It’s been a real pleasure training with the lads over the Winter months and to spice things up we had some boxing training in some of our sessions and after speaking to Kevin Walsh at St Coleman’s Boxing Club in Shanagarry we decided to have the night for this great cause and as the night draws closer, some of the lads are getting a little nervous now, but we are all looking forward to it and I hope we get a great crowd to support the St Vincent De Paul”.

The event was launched in Club Aras the home of Eochaill Cumann Lúthchleas Gael by Mayor of Youghal Town Council Mary Linehan Foley who praised both Youghal GAA Club and everyone else involved in the ‘Charity Boxing Night’ in a bid to raise funds for the St Vincent De Paul and said “The work that St Vincent De Paul do is fantastic and the money that goes in all goes straight back into the Youghal Community which is brilliant and I want to praise Youghal GAA, The Cara Ambulance Service, St Coleman’s Boxing Club and John Long Buses (Sponsors) for their great work for this very worthy cause”.

The doors open at 7pm on the 18th of March and on the bill in conjunction with St Coleman’s Boxing Club will be Pa O’Shea (World Military Silver Medallist) and James Murray (Waterford Senior Hurler) and Adam Curley All Ireland Champion, plus members of Youghal GAA and St Coleman’s Boxing Club in what should be a very entertaining night.

Dave Kilgannon the Chairman of Eochaill Cumann Lúthchleas said “We are delighted at Youghal GAA Club to have nights like these, because not only will it be a great night of boxing, but also because it is really for a great cause. Nights like these are very important to the Community and I along with many people have a huge amount of admiration for the work the St Vincent De Paul do and we are delighted to be able to host a night like this. We at Eochaill want to contribute all we can to the community of Youghal and as a club want to continue to be part of the fabric of the Town of Youghal”

So as the bell rings for round one on March the 18th the hope is that everyone will come along to support this very worthy fundraiser.

John Power President of the Youghal Branch of the St Vincent De Paul outlined the work that they were doing to help people in these difficult times and thanked all involved.

The night will be an official boxing night, with medical testing, official referee’s and timing.