Dingivan victorious in McGrath Memorial final
The annual Miko's Bar sponsored and hosted Brian McGrath Memorial Pool Classic 10th anniversary final took place at the ' home of pool' venue recently and was again for a credited third time, won by local man Darren Dingivan.
32 players in total kicked off the pool classic back last August. All players contested 15 (best of 3 games) matches resulting in 240 matches (720 games) played that saw the classic group stages completed by early December. After the Christmas break, the knockout stages took place and by late January we were ready for the grand final where the previously mentioned Darren Dingivan and the in-form top pool player Alan Murphy, returning to this pool classic after a few years absence, went head to head to be crowned 20230-2024 BMM Pool Classic champion.
The night got underway with the final of the B competition which saw the two finalists come through the knockout stage of the 8 in qualifiers from group A and the 8 non qualifiers from group B. This saw Kildorrery man Brian O'Driscoll take on Mitchelstown man John O'Donoghue, who was going for back to back competition wins, having been crowned winner in 2002-2003. O'Driscoll got the ball rolling by taking the first game for a 1-0 lead. However, O'Donoghue hit back with a vengeance, taking the next three games for a 3-1 lead. Back came O'Driscoll taking the fifth and sixth games to level the match at 3-3. A tight seventh game saw O'Donoghue just shade it over the Kildorrery man to leave local veteran O'Donoghue 4-3 ahead and just one game away from retaining the B competition title. O'Driscoll gave it everything in the eight game but the ability and confidence of O'Donoghue won through in the end, taking the first prize with a 5-3 win.
The much anticipated Pool Classic final took place immediately after the B competition final was completed. Right from the start it was very clear that there was a battle of all battles in the offing as both players were at the top of their game.
Murphy was the first to show his colours by hitting the ground running, taking both of the opening games for an early 2-2 apiece. Two time former champion Dingivan continued to impress the large crowd in attendance, as Dingivan just about shaded the seventh game to go ahead once more 4-3 and just one game away from victory. This final had all the hallmarks of going to a winnertakes-all ninth game decider when Murphy went on a potting spree right from the break of the game. All 7 balls were potted one after the other, leaving Murphy with just the black ball to pot with all of Dingivan's 7 balls still remaining on the table. The position of both the black ball and white ball showed that should Murphy take on the black to the right hand corner pocket, the white would be odds on to disappear down the opposite left hand corner pocket. In the end after a lot of sizing up and thought he took it on but unfortunately paid the price for his courageous if not Russian roulette like attempted pot that ended a great final, giving Dingivan the victory that was required to become the Brian McGrath Memorial Pool Classic champion 2023-2024.
Before all presentations were made both co-pool competition organisers, John O'Beirne and Seamus Kilmartin, thanked all 32 payers for not only their participation but also their continued support of all pool competitions that are played in Miko's Bar. They also said a big thank you to Annie McGrath, wife of the late Brian McGrath, for once again coming along on the night to present the Brian McGrath Memorial Shield to the night's eventual winner. Runners-up, competing semi-finalists and quarter-finalists were then presented to all by Annie McGrath and Miko's Bar proprietor, John O'Beirne. SPRING POOL CLASSIC FINAL THIS COMING SATURDAY
Once again 32 players competed in a Miko's Bar pool competition and this time it is the Spring Classic that started 8 weeks ago and now sees the final taking place next Saturday night, April 20th at the 'home of pool' Miko's Bar, kicking off with the B competition final at 7.30pm, followed by the Spring Pool Classic final at 9.30pm.
At the time of TheAvondhu going to press both competitions are still in the process of completing both quarter-final and semi-final matches. What we can tell you is that
Brian McGrath Memorial B competition winner John O'Donoghue is through to the Spring Pool Classic final following 4-2 semi-final win over Kevin Walsh. He plays the winner of the other semi-final between Kevin Crowley and Maurice Rice, which will have been played last Tuesday night and preceded by B competition semi-final between Dave Murphy and Mike Whelan. Wednesday
(last night) saw the B competition semi-final match between Jim Roche and Tim O'Brien while Thursday (tonight) sees the second B competition semi-final match between Kildorrery's Kevin O'Neill against Dave Murphy/Mike Whelan commencing at 8pm.
Hope to see you all in ' the home of competitive and entertaining pool', Miko's Bar next Saturday. If you love pool, it's the place to be.