Drumaness A take cup final plaudits

Drumaness A take cup final plaudits

22 January 2014

DRUMANESS A claimed the Toals Cup and the bragging rights when they beat their D team in the final.

Ray McAllister and Mark Boyd were paired in the first match and it was the genial bus driver who held all the aces. An early 25 break in the first frame all but wiped out the Boyd handicap advantage with the balls then running awkwardly and the chances becoming scarce.

A loose safety by Boyd let McAllister in with five reds left and the D team captain could only watch as his opponent cleared the table with an impressive 46 break.

The second frame was a similar story with Boyd trying to build on his advantage, but unable to keep McAllister at bay.

The merest of slip-ups let McAllister in again midway through the frame, which resulted in another immaculate 58 break to final black.

Boyd had the satisfaction of potting this last ball, but went down on a 176 to 114 points scoreline over the two frames.

On the second table, the D team’s Stephen Madine was faring considerably better against Peter Gray. The normally reliable Gray was decidedly off-key and Madine seized the opportunity well to run up a good lead in the first frame.

A tidy 23 break and most of the high value colours gave him a useful 100 to 41 point lead at the halfway stage. Gray knew he had to up the ante in the second frame and an early 32 break in this one gave him the impetus to take the frame by seven points (79 -72), but Madine ended the tie happier with a two-frame score of 172 to 120.

The combined results of the first two matches gave Darren Dornan a slender 10 point lead going into the decider with young Eamon Ferris and as the first frame progressed, it was clear that Dornan was not about to risk any slip-ups.

Breaks of 30 and 37 consolidated his lead as he took the first frame 104 to 57. Ferris’ first pots were on the final colours, with Dornan paying him the ultimate respect by keeping the frame as tight as he did.

With a 57 point cushion going into the final frame, Dornan showed his unquestionable class when amassing a lovely 73 break to take the match and the cup.

It was a pity he missed the yellow on the colours, with yet another century break looking likely.

President Billy Watson did the honours in presenting the cup to Raymond McAllister, who thanked the spectators for the support and atmosphere created on another night of high quality snooker in the Dan Rice Hall.

DRUMANESS A 473

DRUMANESS D 37