133

DONEGAL TOWN'S RECORD BREAK

The patrons of Donegal Town Snooker Club were privileged to witness something remarkable in February. Eighteen year old Charles Murphy compiled a break of 133, the highest ever achieved by an amateur in Donegal Town. To achieve this amazing feat Charles potted 15 reds, 10 blacks, a pink, a yellow, a green, 2 blues and all the colours. His opponent Seamus Faulkner could only watch and admire.

The euphoric round of applause when the final black went in showed how significant a break it was. Only one player had previously managed a century break in the club. Niall Keenan had a break of 104 in 1997 and this set the standard by which all future breaks would be judged. Charles had come close in 1998 when he scored a break of 85 in Letterkenny during a league match and in recent times his form has hinted that something special might be around the corner. A succession of seventy and eighty breaks proved that the ability was there. He has held his own in the ultra competitive Derry League this season and he reached the semi-final of the County Championship last autumn. He will surely be a force to be reckoned with when Donegal hosts this year's tournament in May.

Charles has been a senior member of the local club since the age of thirteen and his latest exploit will be inspirational to the hundred or so junior members of a thriving old club. With talent like Charles', the future of snooker looks bright in Donegal Town.

Postscript #1...A month later Charlie followed this break with a 101 against Aidan McFadden.

Postscript #2...John Virgo compiled a break of 139 in a 9-frame exhibition against Dennis Taylor in the Abbey Hotel in 1982.

Postscript #3...The only other amateur to achieve a century in Donegal Town was Niall Keenan who compiled a break of 104 against Tom Plunkett in May of 1997.