Defending champion Ross Doyle (Dun Laoghaire) was in scintillating form as he successfully defended the U-19 billiards championships in Edenderry yesterday 20/05/12.  The competition was played in group format, with each player playing each other in a round- robin.          

 

The top two after the round-robin would contest the final and the other five contestants playing in the plate competition. Ross came through the group winning all six of his matches.  Mark Nolan (Edenderry) was second, winning five out of six.

 

The plate competition was a keenly contested affair between Dylan Maloney, Shane Lawlor, Aaron Holt, Stephen Connolly all Edenderry and Gavin Doyle from Dun Laoghaire.  Aaron beat Stephen to win the right to play Gavin in one semi-final, while Shane survived a tough challenge from Dylan to reach the final, from the other semi-final.  the plate final was a closely fought contest with Aaron coming out the winner 100 points to 87. Ross's brother Gavin, while still learning the shots, is a player we will be hearing plenty more about in the coming years. 

 

The championship final between Ross and Mark was to be over 150 up, best of three.  Ross got the better start winning the first game 150 to 64, The second game was much closer with no more than 20 points separating the players all the way through.

 

Ross led 146 to 127 when Mark got a break of 19 to level the game at 146 each.  Ross scored a cannon and narrowly missed another for the match.  Mark came to the table, got a cannon and was unlucky that the balls ran safe and he tried hard for the score to win the game but it just didn't happen, and Ross went in off white to win game and match and retain the championship and the no. 1 spot.

 

Congratulations to Ross and of course commiseration to Mark.  My thanks to all the lads who competed throughout the season, and my thanks also to the committee of Edenderry Billiards and Snooker club for allowing me use their premises.

 

 

Ger Murray

Junior Billiards Director.