Dramatic end to Cup final

Firstly the committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their support throughout the season: A.McLean Bookmakers for sponsoring the league divisions; Coach were winners of the Premier Division and Market Bar runners up. In the First Division Banbridge Golf Club won at the first time of asking with Shepherd's as runners up.

The organisers would like to thank Stevie Doherty for presenting the cheques and shields on behalf of A. McLean Bookmakers who also sponsored the Eddie Fearon doubles tournament.

Thanks to Denny Rice for sponsoring the 3-A-Side's and The Leader newspaper for the league Individuals; The Halfway House for sponsoring the First Division Knockout Cup and finally The Coach Inn and McAdam family for sponsoring the B McAdam Memorial Knockout Cup.

B McAdam Memorial Knockout Cup Final - The same two teams that appeared in last year’s final assembled again for a return match in the final of the cup sponsored by The Coach Inn.

As per usual the Castle Bar entourage of players, wags and supporters arrived a few minutes later than their adversaries. With the draw made Castle’s Lee McInerny had first break on an immaculately prepared table. Shortly after he also had the first free table when Mucker McMullan went in-off. Although Lee didn’t finish at this stage he put himself into a good position.

Mucker responded by potting six yellows, possibly potted too quickly on the final yellow as he lost position on the black. His missed attempt left the black on the cushion inviting Lee to attempt the cross. Without hesitation the cross was despatched to give Castle the lead.

The second game featured two adversaries’ who have crossed swords on more than one occasion this season. Both Kevin Doherty and Greg Harper certainly know how pot colours.

This game would be the quickest played as the colours were well split, sure enough after only minutes on the clock Greg had first shot at the black, it rebounded from the pocket jaw to leave Kevin what seemed to be a cast iron clearance to square the match. Kevin couldn’t believe it when he too was a victim of the pocket jaw, this time the middle. A straight forward black by Greg made the score 2-0.

With the colours well positioned around the table the third was a mixture of pots and snookers. At one stage Ronnie Hudson attempted a swerve which didn’t have enough on it to hit his colour. With a free table Phillip Magennis played a poor choice of shot which gained no advantage what so ever, his second shot was not much better as stretching the length of the table led to a miss.

Ronnie returned to a congested table, an excellent long pot and positioning of the cue ball had him on his last red, he threaded the colour through a tight gap between the yellows to the corner, the black was dispatched to the opposite corner to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The fourth was the longest game of the match. Both Tom Moore and Jason Harper were giving nothing away as the colours refused to disperse after the break. In fact there were only three colours in the ‘D’ half of the table.

One by one colours were prised from awkward positions as the table began to give up more space to the players. To the onlooker Jason’s colours looked to be better positioned, he failed to take advantage when his colour rebounded from the pocket.

Tom had four tricky yellows to negotiate before contemplating the black, with the first three down only a power stun on his last would hold the cue ball for the black. His execution of the shot was perfect to set up the black to tie the match at 2-2.

At this stage of the final a break was called to allow the Coach staff to serve refreshments, the sandwiches and hot food was very well received by everyone present in the Coach poolroom.

In the next game two Stephen’s took to the stage, Doherty for Coach and Fitzpatrick for Castle. The Coach player never really got into his stride in this one as the other Stevie kept the cue ball closely under wraps. The pressure told when the Coach player failed to lay a snooker. Stevie Fitz made short work of the remaining colours to regain the lead at 3-2.

Thomas Harper was firing on all cylinders in the sixth as everything he attempted came off. Coach captain Stevie Gartland was always playing catch-up as when Thomas wasn’t potting he was leaving the cue ball in awkward positions Stevie had little or no opportunity to make an impact.

When Thomas did pot the black it didn’t even touch the sides of the pocket as it disappeared. At 4-2 down any thoughts of a league and cup double by Coach were now well and truly on the back burner, reality was they would have to win the next game just to extend the match.

Gordy Magennis split the colours around the table, something Barry McGeown didn’t want to see as Barry is an exponent of keeping things tight. Gordy was always one step ahead of Barry who continued to attempt snookers.

Just when things couldn’t get any worse for Coach they just did when the poolroom was plunged into darkness as a power cut took place due to the bad weather outside. The question was asked by a spectator what happens if the power refuses to come back on, the answer was no one knew as a match coming to standstill because of a power cut is definitely not covered by the rules! Thankfully there was not much of a delay when the power was restored accompanied by what was a rather loud cheer from all those present.

Once settled the two players continued from where they left off. All the attention was focused at one end of the table where all the colours had gathered. Barry clawed his way back into the game by laying one snooker after another. Although easy to escape Gordy avoided all temptation to hit his colours hard enough to send them towards the ‘D’ end of the table where there was ample room and free pockets.

His patience paid off when he found himself in a position to lay a snooker of his own, a position from which to put distance between cue ball and one of Barry’s four reds. Barry knew he would have to keep the cue ball tight on his chosen red in order not to hand Gordy an advantage. The mistake was made when he hit the red but in doing so he moved the red out of the way allowing Gordy a clear path to the corner for a yellow.

Gordy checked that particular route was clear before potting a yellow to the middle. It was now a straight shot to the corner where the path had been cleared.

With that one down it was a simple matter of knocking the black into the opposite corner for an emphatic victory to retain the B McAdam trophy.

In his acceptance speech Gordy thanked Coach as worthy opponents and his players for their efforts. He went on to thank referees Seamus McGrath, Neville Reid and The Coach Inn for their hospitality.

Stephen Gartland responded by saying the better team won on the night. With that The Castle Bar entourage, players, wag’s and trophy left to return to the Castle Bar where the real celebrations would begin.