Wily old fox Seamus lifts individuals title

Wily old fox Seamus lifts individuals title

11 January 2017

SEAMUS McGivern won the Ballynahinch Motor Factors Snooker Individuals title at the expense of Crossgar’s Robert Pollock.

Seamus, giving 14 away on handicap in each frame, required all his experience to get over the line in a cracking showdown that went to the final frame. 

The first frame started slowly with both players playing a lot of safety, allowing the balls to bunch together along the bottom cushion and restricting scoring opportunities.

However, Seamus was more successful in picking off the reds and colours.

After all the reds had disappeared Robert had the first clear chance to take the frame, but missed the yellow on the spot allowing Seamus to pot yellow to blue leaving him 15 in front with 13 on. 

Robert tried for the snooker, but Seamus knocked the pink into the middle pocket to take the frame.

The second frame was much more fluent, again Seamus getting the better of the early exchanges and with breaks of 20 and 21 got his nose in front. 

Robert managed to get the last two reds with colours to reduce the deficit, but once again 

Seamus pounced on the final colours taking brown, blue and pink to go two up with three to play.

Robert seemed to sense the danger in frame three and amassed an early 36 point lead with some solid potting, but back came Seamus with a 25 break to level the scores going to the colours.

After several exchanges, a great pink down the rail by Seamus and landing plumb on the black, it looked as if the match was over, but a twitch on the black sent it to the near jaw, fortunately landing safe. 

After seven safety shots each on the black, Seamus did the un-imaginable and sent the cue ball careering into the corner pocket to hand Robert a life line keeping him in the match. 

With the score now at 2-1 the match was was still in the balance. Frame four was tense frame, again going to the final colours. 

A great yellow, green and brown from Robert allowed him to get in front at the pivotal time, but as he over cut the blue to middle Seamus looked at the table with a chance of winning the match. 

Seamus ped the blue into the middle followed by the pink to the corner, but once again couldn’t find the pocket for the black, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.

After a further bout of safety play on the black, Robert cut the black to the middle in what may have been the best pot of his career to level the match at 2-2.

The first chance in the deciding frame fell to Robert, but as he jawed the red and left it over the pocket, Seamus stepped up and put himself in the lead quickly overcoming has 14 point handicap. 

As the frame progressed Robert failed to find the pocket as Seamus put a succession of contributions together to amass a 63-17 lead approaching the colours.

With Robert now looking fruitlessly for snookers, the writing was on the wall as he offered his hand and congratulated Seamus on a superb game and a great win.

Seamus thanked all those in attendance, St Pat’s for staging the final and commiserated with Robert who put up a great fight.