Embassy close gap on leaders
THE Embassy were the big winners in the Tuborg Dundalk Snooker League last week as they closed to within a point of league leaders Gonnelly Signs.
They took on Nature’s Water in the first match of the night, knowing that w in would see them leapfrog their opponents in the table.
Dominic O’Connor was first up for Embassy and looked in control against Alan Thompson, but the latter capitalised on a missed brown by O’Connor to clear the remaining colours and put Nature’s Water one up.
But that was as good as it got for Nature’s Water as fine wins for Davey Moran and Mickey Ralph over Joe McEnaney and Ken Byrne respectively turned the tide for The Embassy.
With the wind in their sails going into the doubles Mickey Ralph and Gerry Rogers took on Tomas Geroc and Shane Gorham and The Embassy boys made no mistake, closing out a 3-1 win.
League leaders Gonnelly Signs now had the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table, but they met an improved Mallon Property side.
In the opener Gonnelly’s Aaron Callan took on Mallon’s Stephen O’Hanlon with O’Hanlon cruising into an early lead.
With his back firmly against the wall Callan clawed his way back into the frame to force a black-ball-decider, but O’Hanlon came up trumps with arguably the best single ball pot of the season up the rail to put Mallon Property one up.
In the second frame David J McArdle continued his fine form for Gonnelly Signs beating Mallon Property’s Brendan O’Hanlon to level proceedings at one apiece.
However, Tiernan Mallon restored Mallon Property’s advantage beating Steve McBride.
The league leaders needed to win the doubles match to force a draw and they did just that when Mark Laverty and Mickey Kelly dispatched Stephen O’Hanlon and Anthony Fee to make it 2-2.
In the final match of the night bottom side Charlie Chaplin’s needed a win against Cusken Ltd.
Chaplin’s haven’t been getting the rub of the green, but they know how to battle.
Their struggles looked to be continuing when Cusken’s James Coburn edged out Glen Duffy in an excellent opening frame.
But Kevin McDonald showed Chaplin’s battling qualities with a fantastic performance to see off Keith Morris.
Next up for Chaplin’s was Justin McArdle taking on his old rival Paddy Hayes for Cusken and it was Justin who dug deep to put Chaplin’s in the lead heading into the doubles.
However, Lady Luck deserted the Chaplin’s pairing of Maddy Hoey and Patsy Muckian as Cusken’s Hayes and Morris forced a 2-2 draw on the night.