Lyric Snooker Knock-out Cup
The Knock-out Cup began last week with a large entry of 16 teams. There were some notable victories with the most interesting match taking place in Killea where the home side were hoping to gain revenge for Convoy A nicking the final place in the Top Four the previous week. But Darren Ponsonby's lads did it again and defeated the home side 5-3. Convoy B went to Donegal Veterans and won 5-3 in a close encounter. Donegal B travelled to CYMS A and were thumped 5-0 by Phelim McClafferty's boys. Donegal A fared just as badly, losing 5-0 at home to CYMS B for whom Aidan Devanney and Mickey Duffy were outstanding. Pat Bonnar defeated Dan Deery in a play-off to ensure that North West C progressed against Twin Towns B, while CYMS Veterans lost 5-3 at home to North West B. Ramelton A defeated their B side 5-2 in a local derby. The quarter-finals will be played this week.
Donegal Town lost four nil to North West A in the second leg of their Top Four semi-final. Only Charlie Murphy won a frame in what was a very subdued performance by the southerners. North West's winners were Anthony Bonnar, Joe Devine, Gerry McCloskey and Gerry McKeever. The only promising thing from a Donegal perspective was the performance of 15-year old Brian Heeney who gave as good as he got against an in-form Gerry McCloskey.
North West will meet CYMS in the Top Four final after the Letterkenny men defeated Convoy A 2-0 in the second leg to win 5-1 on aggregate. It should be a great couple of games between the two rivals.
The County League are running an Under 17 County Championship on Monday, May 7th beginning at 10a.m. It will be hosted this year by North West Snooker Club. Entrants must have been 16 or under on the 31st of December, 2000 and must be resident in the county. The entry fee is £2 and should be in by May 3rd. Anyone interested in participating should contact North West at 074-21384.
The sad death of Dan McLaughlin, Life President of the CYMS club in Letterkenny cast a long shadow over the snooker scene in County Donegal last week. Although he had been seriously ill for some time, Dan still maintained his interest in everything which was billiards or snooker-related. His death will be felt most of all in the CYMS club and the Donegal Snooker League join with them in mourning Dan's passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
As a mark of respect to Dan, the Junior Knockout matches last weekend were postponed till this Saturday coming. North West C will face Twin Towns D in Letterkenny, Donegal B meet Convoy B in Donegal and Twin Towns C meet their A side. The previous round's highlight was the victory of Convoy B over a fancied Donegal A side.
Results...last 16: NW C 7 CYMS D 1; DON B 5 CON A 4; CON B 5 DON A 3; CYMS C 1 NW B 5; TT E 3 NW A 5; TT B 2 TT C 5; TT A 5 CYMS A 3; CYMS B 3 TT D 5.
Last 8: NW B 6 NW A 2
In the senior cup competition CYMS B travelled to North West C and won 5-4 in a thriller with Adrian McFadden winning a play-off against Brian McAleer. Convoy B defeated Ramelton A 6-2 while North West B defeated Convoy's A side in a play-off with Willie Breen bested by Paul Doherty. In the battle between the top two, North West A had a comfortable 7-1 victory over CYMS A. The semi-finals see CYMS B face Convoy B on Tuesday, while North West A take on their B side on the same night.
North West A have one hand on the Top Four Shield having beaten CYMS 3-1 in the first leg of the final. Joe Devine defeated Player of the Year Chris Gibbons, Anthony Bonner defeated Phelim McClafferty and Gerry McKeever defeated Paddy McGroarty. Adrian McFadden gave CYMS some hope by beating Gerry McCloskey. The second leg is in the CYMS hall this Wednesday night.
Under 17 County Championship
14 year old Johnny Connors is officially the best junior in the county following his victory in the Under 17 County Championship last week in the North West Snooker Club. He was already the League's Player of the Year but he wanted this honour to complete the set. Johnny didn't drop a frame in winning this inaugural title and also compiled the top break of 42 en route to the final. His opponent in the final was Edward McDermott from the CYMS club in Letterkenny. Edward was the tournament's surprise package, defeating second seed Michael O'Hara in the third round, Sean McVeigh in the quarter-finals and Marcus Devlin in the semi. Johnny had disposed of Richard Gerrity and Gavin Toner among others and in the final he outgunned the CYMS lad in three quality frames. The entry of 41 was extremely encouraging, with entries from Donegal Town, Ballybofey, Convoy and Letterkenny and hopefully this tournament will grow in popularity in coming years. The County League Committee thank John Doherty for volunteering to host the tournament and also commend him for his initiative in suggesting it. Next year will see a new host and hopefully the tournament will be just as enjoyable.
North West A made up for the disappointment of losing their league crown by defeating CYMS in the final of the Top Four Shield. Leading three one from the first leg, North West were quickly into their stride in the CYMS club with Anthony Bonnar defeating Adrian McFadden. Chris Gibbons levelled it for CYMS by winning against Joe Devine but North West were not to be denied and Gerry McKeever won the all-important match against Paddy McGroarty to bring the Shield back once again to the Port Road. Congratulations then to North West and it will be interesting to see whether they can add the Knockout Cup to their collection when they meet CYMS B in the final this week.
The semi-finals of the Knockout Cup went as expected with CYMS B whitewashing a gallant Convoy B side 6-0 in Letterkenny and North West A defeating their B team counterparts the following night. Johnny Whyte's boys will be looking for a second title in a week, but CYMS will be quietly confident having won already against a North West side in an earlier round.
This weekend sees the Donegal League team in action in the Irish Inter-County Championships in Tralee. The team of Anthony Bonnar, Gerry McKeever, Chris Gibbons, Phelim McClafferty, Pat Bonnar and Johnny Connors will be hoping to improve on last year's narrow semi-final loss and the snooker-loving folk in the county wish them well. (This was later cancelled by the governing body).
The final of the Lyric Knockout Cup took place in Donegal Town on Tuesday May 15 between North West A and CYMS B. Both teams had won tough battles en route to the final and this match was to be no different. Johnny Whyte got North West off to a good start by taking both frames off Don Ponsonby, compiling a 40 break in the process. New County Champion Aidan Devanney overcame Joe Devine for the second time in a week, this time by a 2-0 scoreline and so levelled the match. Gerry McKeever won both frames against Danny Gibbons to put the North West 4-2 up and needing one more frame for victory. Michael Duffy of CYMS did his best to scupper North West's hopes, taking the first frame off Anthony Bonnar. But the seven-times County Champion hit back in the second and despite some heroic resistance by Michael, Anthony secured the frame and with it the Cup for North West A. Congratulations to them on winning the final trophy of the season and they will receive the cup at a function to be held in Sister Sara's on May 31 at 8p.m. All other senior and junior prize-winners will be honoured on the same night.
Donegal B have reached the semi-final of the Junior Knockout Cup. In the quarter-final they defeated Convoy B 8-0 in a clinical display. Victorious on the night were Brian Heeney, Luke McGee, Mark Mulhern and Kieran Cleary.
A very successful presentation night was hosted by Sister Sara's recently with 14-year-old Johnny Connors the star of the show. He collected the Junior Player of the Year award, the Under-17 County Title, highest break award (66) as well as being part of the winning North West sides who won the Junior League and the Junior Knockout Cup. CYMS received the League Trophy, their first title in several years. North West received the Knockout Cup and the Top Four Shield. Johnny Whyte received the senior high break prize for his magnificent 110, the first century in the 14-year history of the league. Chris Gibbons was the Senior Player of the Year.
Our thanks to Sister Sara's for their hospitality and refreshments. Without support the league would not survive and we thank Lyric for their generosity in sponsoring this year's enjoyable campaign. Finally we thank Darren Ponsonby and John Doherty for acquiring the trophies and Bernard McGuinness for securing the venue on the night.