Maguire left to rue failed comeback as O’Sullivan scrapes through to final

SNOOKER: Stephen Maguire admitted he ‘left it too late’ to rescue his Betway UK Championship semi-final clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan. The Glaswegian went into the interval 4-0 down to the game’s greatest frontrunner at York’s Barbican yesterday. He fought back valiantly before eventually being knocked out 6-4 by the five-time world champion. Deflated Maguire (above) reflected: ‘I just didn’t settle until 4-0 down at the interval and I left it too late. ‘I put up a bit of a fight but I’d lost it in the first four frames. I was always positive because I felt as if I was cueing okay and potting the balls. ‘Nobody likes to see somebody coming back at them and I really fancied the job at the end.’ O’Sullivan admitted: ‘I feel fortunate to be in the final. I’ve not played well all week. I’ve been scraping through.’