Damien Hanna won the first tournament of the new millennium in an exciting snooker match witnessed by a large gallery. His opponent Tom Plunkett could have few complaints as Damien showed what a fine competitor he is.

Both players had come through tough semi-finals. Damien had been toughened competitively by Sean Boyle who never knows when he is beaten. Having not played in ten years, Damien needed such a battle in order to prepare him for the final. Tom had finally overcome his nemesis, brother Oliver, who had beaten him in their previous encounters in 1999, both finals.

So to the final. After taking the opening frame, Damien then compiled a fine break of 26 to go two up. Tom was playing like a man who knows he is beaten and extraordinary measures were called for if he was to avoid a whitewash. He dug deep in frame three and delighted the spectators by constructing a break of 73, only being denied a total clearance by a jawed brown. Buoyed by this success he started the next frame in similar fashion. This time he pulled out a 64 break quickly followed by a 26.

It went to the deciding frame, as all good finals should. Tom began with a 23 break but things went wrong for him soon afterwards and Damien showed why he was a member of Donegal's winning league teams in the eighties. He compiled two breaks in the high teens to finally shake off Tom's challenge.

Sean McCafferty presented the cup to Damien who on capturing his first trophy becomes the latest member of the Hanna family to enter the winner's enclosure in the long history of the club.

The Plunkett brothers retained their title when they defeated Paul Cannon and Terry Mullin in the final of the Open Pairs Pool Championship sponsored by The Blue Stack, The Dew Drop Inn, The National and Jimmy's Tavern. A large gallery witnessed some excellent potting as all four players showed why they were in the final. Oliver Plunkett beat Terry his old adversary three nil, maintaining his 100% record in singles matches throughout the competition. Tom Plunkett had to dig deep to overcome the fluent-potting and appropriately named Mr. Cannon. Having lost the opening rack, he won the next three on the spin thanks to some judicious snookering tactics. The club thanks its sponsors for coming on board for a second year in succession and hope that the quality of pool played justified their outlay.

Entries are invited to the Millennium County Championship, which will be hosted this year in the newly refurbished Donegal Town venue. The first round will be played on the second weekend of May with the club open from 10 a.m. each day. Entrants must nominate either the Saturday or the Sunday on which to play their opening match and this information should be included on the entry form. If players can play on either day, this too should be noted. The host club will endeavour to facilitate competitors who have difficulties with this arrangement.

Entry forms may be obtained from any of the clubs in the county or by contacting any member of Donegal Town Snooker Club. Players must be resident in the county in order to participate.

The Harry Diver Cup sponsored by Barry Mulreany has reached its final stages and Paddy Kelly has reached the final. In a tight semi-final he dispatched James McAllister after a titanic battle. He awaits the winner of Billy Reid versus Jack Keeney.

Defending champions Donegal received a bye to the final of the Top Four Shield following Ramelton's withdrawal from the semi-final. Donegal will meet either Killea or league champions Northwest.