Walsh crowned Brian McGrath Memorial champion
It was with great relief and delight that we finally got the Brian McGrath Memorial Pool Classic in Miko’s Bar back up and running last January after what turned out to be a two year postponement due to the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2019.
The 2019-2020 competition got underway in October 2019 and had got to the quarter-final stages before it had to be shut down.
However, thanks to the efforts of the competing players we got things underway again when, to their credit, all 16 players returned to play the quarter-finals of both the pool classic and the B competition.
B COMPETITION
Quarter-finals: Cian Surgey 0 Dave Bell 3, Egidijus Grubkauskas 1 Philip Fitzgerald 3, Scott O’Brien 2 Charlie McCarthy 3, Mike Darcy 3 Cillian Dollion 1. Semi-finals: Philip Fitzgerald 1 Dave Bell 3; Michael Darcy 3 Charlie McCarthy 2.
FINAL MATCH REPORT
The B competition final saw the meeting of local man Michael Darcy and Glasgow born Dave Bell. These two guys had been big potters throughout the competition so a close match was expected but this unfortunately did not turn out to be the case. Poor safety and missed pots cost Bell early in the opening two games, with Darcy taking a 2-0 lead.
Confidence was high for Darcy while it was obviously lacking for Bell and with only four games in all (best of 7) needed for victory it was not long before games 3 and 4 went to Darcy, who to his credit played a high standard of pool throughout while Bell never really recovered from a poor start. He never produced the pool he is capable of. Final score Mike Darcy 4 Dave Bell 0.
BRIAN MCGRATH MEMORIAL
Quarter-finals: Darren Dingivan 4 Kevin O’Neill 3, Kevin McGrath 2 Brian O’Driscoll 4, Kevin Walsh 3 Andy Rice 4, Shane Walsh 4 Pa Mullins 0. Semi-finals: Darren Dingivan 4 Brian O’Driscoll 0, Andy Rice 2, Shane Walsh 4.
FINAL MATCH REPORT
The last two standing to face each other in the pool classic final saw defending champion Darren Dingivan, who was playing in his third final in a row, take on Kildorrery man Shane Walsh, who despite just squeezing through to the last 16 finishing eight in his group, saw off two very good players on his way to the final. This had all the makings of a David versus Goliath affair.
The first two games were both tight with mistakes creeping in on both sides with Dingivan taking the opening game and Walsh the second to level it at 1-1. The next two games were again very close and the winning and losing of them came down to two mistakes. One in either game by Walsh saw defending champion Dingivan take the opportunities that came his way to lead 3-1. Walsh upped his game in the fifth frame to pull it back to 3-2, putting in a fine finish. However, Dingivan hit back immediately, pulling ahead again by two frames.
With the match at 4-2 and the final the best of 9, Dingivan was now just one game away from defending his title. But his opponent was not going to give up without a fight and fight he did over the next two frames. To his supporters’ delight, he took both games to square the match at 4-4, taking it to a sudden death winner takes all final frame.
The final frame was very tense and nervy for not only the players, but the family, friends and supporters of both players. It all came down to a missed opportunity of a finish by Dingivan, giving Walsh a great chance of a winning finish and the Tankardstown man did not disappoint, potting his two final reds and finishing with the black to the top left hand corner pocket to cheers of delight from his travelling support. Final score: Shane Walsh 5 Darren Dingivan 4.
The large attendance stayed on for the presentations as secretary/PRO and co-organiser Seamus Kilmartin got proceedings underway. First he congratulated both players on a very exciting final. He went on to thank all 32 competing players for their co-operation and support during this lengthy competition. He said a very big thank you to the late Brian McGrath’s wife Annie, for giving her permission for both himself plus co-organiser and proprietor John O’Beirne to put the pool classic in Brian’s name.
John O’Beirne also thanked everyone for making the competition the success it was and has been over the past 7 years. He also thanked Annie for allowing us to name the tournament the Brian McGrath Memorial and paid tribute to his friend Brian, who was not only a player and supporter of the competition but also represented Miko’s Bar as a player for many years.
Annie McGrath also said a few words in which she thanked both organisers for all their hard work and all 32 competing players. She also thanked everyone for turning out on the night, especially her family and friends for their continued support.
Presentations were then made to both of the finalists. First presentation was a cash prize which was presented to runner-up Darren Dingivan. This was followed by the presentation of the winning cash prize and the Miko’s Bar perpetual trophy by proprietor John O’Beirne and the Brian McGrath Memorial Shield by Annie McGrath to the 2019-2021 pool classic champion, Shane Walsh.
SPRING POOL CLASSIC
Following the completion of the Brian McGrath Pool Classic there was a massive demand for another competition by a large number of players who had a hunger for more competitive pool. They got what they wanted with organisers drawing up a new format for a 12 week competition to be known as the Spring Pool Classic.
A full report on the competition will appear in next week’s issue of TheAvondhu. It is currently at the semi-final stages of both the Spring Pool Classic and the B Competition.
The last of these semi-finals will be played tonight, Thursday in Miko’s Bar. The semi-finals of the Spring Pool Classic sees Kevin McGrath take on Seamus Kilmartin and Darren Dingivan goes head to head with Andy Rice (Thursday night’s match). The B competition sees Annie McGrath against Liam Sheehy and John O’Beirne v Mike Whelan.
POOL CLASSIC FINAL
Both the Spring Pool Classic final and the B competition final take place next Saturday, May 14th in Miko’s Bar. First off will be the B final which gets underway at 8.30pm. The Spring Pool Classic final will get underway immediately after the B final.
Miko’s Bar – the home of competitive pool.