Signs are good for Gonnellys after vital win
TUBORG DUNDALK SNOOKER LEAGUE
THE Tuborg Dundalk Snooker League was back in full swing after Storm Emma forced the postponement of the previous week’s action.
In the first encounter Gonnelly Signs took on the Embassy with Mark Laverty taking on the experienced Mickey Ralph in the opening frame. A very solid display from Laverty saw him consistently build small, but effective breaks, to put Gonnelly Signs one up.
In the second match Davey Moran tried his best to restore parity taking on Gonnelly’s Stephen McBride. Moran raced into a 40-point lead in what proved to be a high scoring encounter as McBride stormed back to win the frame on the pink and make it two-nil to Gonnelly Signs.
A it looked all over when David J McArdle raced in to a 55-nil lead over Dominic O’Connor in the next frame.
However a missed red to the middle gave Dominic a decent chance and very he nearly took full advantage as he hit back with a fantastic break of 48, missing the last green in a potential 73 clearance.
David now held a 55 to 48 advantage with five balls left and when David made a mistake fouling a Black while trying to play safe on the green the scores were tied at 55 apiece.
Dominic engineered the first decent crack at the green following his earlier miss and he didn’t let the second chance pass him by as he cleared to the pink to pull The Embassy back into the match.
With Gonnelly Signs sporting a 2-1 lead the doubles saw Aaron Callan and Mickey Kelly take on the Embassy pairing of Mickey Ralph and Gerry Rogers.
In a very a close frame Callan and Kelly secured victory with Callan potting a superb final pink to give Gonnelly Signs the overall win on a 3-1 scoreline.
In what proved to be the only stalemate of the night, Keith Morris of Cusken’s took on Brendan O’Hanlon of Mallon Property, where some fine snooker by the latter saw Mallon Property open a one-nil lead.
His brother Stephen was hoping to follow suit in the next frame taking on Cusken’s Paddy Hayes, however Hayes played arguably his best snooker of the season to level proceedings at one-all.
Tiernan Mallon restored Mallon Property’s lead in the next frame beating James Coburn to make it 2-1 going into the doubles.
Hayes and Coburn returned to the table to take on Patrick McArdle and Anthony Fee and they sealed the frame to ensure the spoils were shared.
Alan Thompson was once again at his brilliant best for Nature’s Water when he opened up a one-nil lead over Charlie Chaplin’s with a fine display against Glen Duffy.
Justin McArdle, who has played well all year, restored parity for Chaplin’s, beating Ken Byrne in a frame decided on the black.
Joe McEnaney restored Nature’s Water’s advantage, beating Maddy Hoey in fine style leaving the doubles match decisive.
The in-form Thompson teamed up with Tomas Geroc for Natures Water taking on Chaplin’s Patsy Muckian and Glen Duffy. In a tight frame it was Thompson’s nerve that proved decisive as he and Geroc took the win and the overall victory 3-1.