A BRILLIANT team performance by the St. Michael’s B trio stopped Drumaness D from completing a clean sweep of the snooker cups.
St. Michael’s captain Mark McKeown faced opposing captain Gerald Walsh on table one whilst on table two Mark Galbraith was up against Ryan McAleenan.
McKeown, conceding 35 points to Walsh was up against it from the start with Walsh scoring consistently every time he went to the table.
Over on the other table Galbraith, with breaks of 18 and 16, was just edging it with McAleenan. On table one Walsh led McKeown by 49 points with only a couple of red remaining. But then McKeown’s fortunes and that of St. Michael’s suddenly changed. McKeown took the last two reds and then proceeded to put all the colours, the last three in an 18 break to limit the first round deficit to only 12.
Also at this moment Galbraith completed a 26-point win over McAleenan in the opening frame.
In the second frame Walsh again dominated the early exchanges with McKeown again playing catch up. But on table two Galbraith was completely in control against McAleenan. Every time Galbraith went to the table it seemed that he just could not miss. No ball was safe as Galbraith built up a massive lead.
The neutrals could feel sorry for McAleenan as every shot seemed to jaw in the pockets and at the end of the frame he had lost by a massive 85 points and 111 overall after two frames.
Back on table one McKeown again potted the majority of the colours to lose by only five points and 17 overall.
These two results left the St. Michael’s B team 94 points in front with St. Michael’s B cueman Gary McCabe still to play the inexperienced Michael McKee.
If Drumaness were to have any chance McKee would have to start well. However, it was the vastly experienced McCabe who started with a 24 break and that was effectively match over.
Both players finished the fifth frame with McCabe winning by 42. Midway through the final frame the white flag was raised by Drumaness B and Mark McKeown’s team were worthy winners.
• League chairman Seamus McGivern presented the Toals Cup to St. Michael’s B, congratulating them on their win and commiserating with Drumaness B. He also congratulated Gerald Travers on having the tables in immaculate playing conditions for the final.
ST. MICHAEL’S B 433
DRUMANESS D 293