Blues off to a flyer in 2018 league
IT was all about break-building in the Commercial Club last Wednesday night as the first matches in the 2018 Dundalk Snooker League were played.
In the opening game it was Team Black - Alan Thompson, Joe McEnaney, Ken Byrne and Thomas Geroc - taking on Team Green who comprised Justin McArdle, Glen Duffy and Maddy Hoey.
Thompson, the recently crowned Embassy Open champion, was on top form in frame one and forced an early concession from McArdle to put Team Black 1-0 up.
In the second frame McEnaney played the more solid snooker to double Team Black’s advantage as he beat Hoey.
In the third it was the reigning Peader Callan Summer League singles champion Glen Duffy for Team Green and newcomer Ken Byrne for Team Black and there was no beginner’s luck on this occasion as Duffy produced a scintillating performance to halve the arrears heading into the final doubles match.
Team Black had Thompson and Geroc and they faced McArdle and Hoey for Team Green and it was McArdle’s turn to avenge the earlier singles loss to Thompson, playing some fantastic stuff to level the match at two frames apiece.
Elsewhere, another fine match also ended in a stalemate, with Team Brown playing Team Pink.
Team Pink won the opening frame when David McArdle beat Dominic O’Connor, but Mickey Ralph levelled the scores, beating Steve McBride. Aaron Callan restored Team Pink’s lead, beating Davey Moran, before O’Connor and partner Gerry Rogers beat David ‘J’ and partner Mickey Kelly. That result ensured both sides finished with a point apiece.
The only winners and losers on the night were in the last match when Team Blue took on Team Yellow.
In the first frame for Team Blue it was Paddy Hayes up against Stephen O’Hanlon and it ws O’Hanlon who potted some great shots to put Yellow into an early lead.
His teammate Anthony Fee was unable to increase the lead, losing to newcomer Keith Morris who played great stuff to level up proceedings.
Next up was the long-awaited return of Liam Johnston and he looked as if he was never away, playing great snooker to overcome Brendan O’Hanlon, leaving it 2-1 to the Blues going into the deciding doubles match.
Lining up for the Yellows was Stephen O’Hanlon and Tiernan Mallon and they took on Johnston and Morris in what proved to be a cracking frame.
With Johnson and Morris leading by eight points on the final blue, Mallon had a chance to clear for Team Yellow after potting a great blue and better pink.
However, he rattled the black in the jaws of the pocket and it rolled along the top cushion and came to a stop in the jaws of the other pocket, leaving Morris with the simple black to leave the Blues on top of the table after week one.
The league is still looking for a sponsor of this year’s league. If this interests you or your business, you can contact the Dundalk Snooker League at the Commercial Club on Earl Street.
Week1results
Team Black 2 Team Green 2, Team Yellow 1 Team Blue 3, Team Brown 2 Team Pink 2. A FLYING start paved the way for a wonderful victory for Dundalk RFC under 18 Girls in their Leinster League Division 1 clash against Enniscorthy on a bitterly cold and wet Saturday morning in Mill Road.
Super continuity play from the Dundalk girls yielded an early try finished off with a strong run by Shauna McMahon.
This was followed by further tries from Eva Toal who was unlucky not to get a couple more.
Klara Hjalmers and Zoe Valentine crossed the line as Dundalk cut open the Enniscorthy defence time and time again.
The pressure continued and by half time Dundalk were in a clear lead 24-0.
The cold and relenting pressure Dundalk were putting on Enniscorthy led to a number of injuries on the Dundalk side with Meadbhb O’Callaghan, Aoife McGeough and Niamh Belton having to leave the pitch.
On the back of this Enniscorthy hauled themselves back into the game with a try under the posts.
Dundalk were not finished however as Caoimhe O’Callaghan cut open Enniscorthy with another blistering run for a touchdown under the posts.
Eva Toal converted as she did on two previous occasions.
Enniscorthy finished with a try at the end, but it was Dundalk’s day on a final scoreline of 31-12.
DUNDALK: Meadbhb O Callaghan, Shauna McMahon, Saidhbh McDonnell, Kate Flynn ,Grainne Boyle, Aima Idogho, Zoe Valentine, Aoife McGeough, Clodagh Flynn, Klara Hjalmers, Molly Hughes, Eva Toal, Orlagh Conway, Niamh Belton, Ashling Mathews, Natasha Guest and Caoimhe O’Callaghan.