SNOOKER: Longfield into League Cup decider
DESERTMARTIN side Longfield A have secured a place in the final of the Mid Ulster League pre-season competition following a 6-0 victory over Ardboe B.
The Desertmartin men had to pull out all the stops to claim a place in the final as Ardboe A also claimed a 6-0 victory but unfortunately for them trailed Longfield by a single point.
Ardboe B, who were leading Group B going into the last week, had their hopes dashed by a rampant Longfield team who put up their best showing to date.
Enda O'Hagan claimed both frames against Paddy Teague albeit the first frame went to the black ball. Paul McGuckin finally delivered for his new team in claiming both of his frames quite convincingly, McGuckin also knocked in a finely executed break of 52 along the way.
With news filtering through that Ardboe A had claimed all six frames, the home team's captain Martin O'Hagan knew he had to secure both frames and he duly obliged when defeating Chris Collins 2-0.
Ardboe A blew away newcomers St Pat's C with a 6-0 whitewash in Magherafelt.
Conrad McCann easily defeated Damien Craig 2-0, while on the other table Niall Campbell, making his first appearance this season, struggled to see off Brendan Gilmore but he claimed the first frame on the black and then played a superb double on the pink ball to secure the second frame.
Seamus Devlin was also in fine form as he claimed a 2-0 victory over Brian Milne Snr in the last match.
Group A is in for an intriguing last week as well following the latest round of results. St Pat's A could only draw with St Kevin's at home and therefore face Johnny's in a do-or-die match next week.
Dessie Murray continued his very impressive start to the season by taking the opening two frames against John Donaghy who appeared to be suffering from a lack of practice.
St Pat's looked to be in real trouble in the next as well as Brian Milne Jnr needed two snookers on the green ball against Chris Cassidy.
Cassidy however went in off twice allowing Milne to steal victory from the jaws of defeat by a single point.
This obviously gave Milne a lift as he took the next frame with a superb 116 clearance to set the new target for the high break chasers.
The standard of breaking building has been exceptional so far, the big breaks have been flowing even though the main league is yet to get underway.
Paul Currie played his old nemesis in John Mulholland who seems to be wheeled out for this fixture every year. Currie opened well in easily taking the first frame but he will hate the sight of Mulholland at this stage as again it was the veteran that stole the second frame to give his side a share of the spoils.
Johnny's entertained St Pat's B in a clash that would surely end the interest of one of the teams in this year's pre-season competition.
As it turned out it's the Magherafelt men that can start to focus on the main league in a few weeks while Johnny's can prepare for a showdown with St Pat's A to determine who reaches the final against Longfield A.
Gerry McAuley yet again proved why he is one of the feared players in the league with his third consecutive victory, this time over Hugh Mulholland.
Mulholland was a little unlucky to lose the first frame on the black ball but could have little say in the next as McAuley knocked in a 64 break to comfortably secure victory.
Sean Doyle steadied the ship in the next by sharing with Frankie Trolan but the Magherafelt men's fate was sealed when Dermot McAuley claimed the opening frame against Kieran Cassidy with the help of a 35 break.
Cassidy responded to take the second frame but it appears to be too little to late for the Magherafelt men.
St Kevin's have an outside chance of reaching the final, they would require a 3-3 draw between Johnny's and St Pat's and they would also need to claim at least five frames themselves against Longfield B.
Although it is highly unlikely that both will happen it would still be foolish to disregard St Kevin's.
Group A
P Pts
St Pat's B 24 12
St Pat's A 18 11
Johnny's 18 11
St Kevin's 18 9
L'field B 18 5
Group B
P Pts
L'field A 18 13
Ardboe A 18 12
Ardboe B 18 8
St Pat's C 18 3
High Break List
Brian Milne (St Pat's A) 116
Gerry Mc Auley (Johnny's) 92
Brian Milne (St Pat's A) 83
Gerry Mc Auley (Johnny's) 74
Gerry Mc Auley (Johnny's) 64
Paul Mc Guckin (Longfield A) 52
Fixtures
Mon 9 November
Longfield B v Longfield A; St Pat's B v St Pat's A; Ardboe B v Ardboe A; Johnny's v St Pat's C; St Kevin's Bye
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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