SNOOKER | Thompson puts the seal on a thrilling final as his team clinches the cup

The final of the Peadar Callan Commercial Club Summer Snooker League Cup final took place on Wednesday night where Alan Thompson, Joe McEneaney and Ciaran McShane faced off against favourites, Stephen O’Hanlon, Stephen McBride and Dominic O’Connor.

Alan Thompson v Stephen McBride

First up was the match between Alan Thompson and Stephen McBride where both players began the frame with a series of long pots followed up by some very tight safety play.

The majority of the match was a very intense safety battle with both players not willing to take any chances but Alan was able to secure the first frame for his team when he took on a shot to nothing that led to a small break, increasing his lead to 27 going into the colours.

He then proceeded to pot the yellow and the green leaving Stephen requiring snookers. After Alan Potted the brown and blue it was all over, his team going 1–0 ahead.

Stephen O’Hanlon v Joe McEneaney

Stephen O’Hanlon faced off against Joe McEneaney in game two and although Joe started well, taking an early lead of 20 points, O’Hanlon fought back to close the gap with a fine display of long potting and good positional play to go ahead by 13.

However, after a poor safety from Stephen, Joe was able to capitalise and clear the last three reds and then continue to clear down to the brown leaving 21 the difference with 22 available.

After another mistake by Stephen, Joe came to the table and cleared the brown, blue, pink and black to take frame two, putting Thompson’s men in a very strong position at 2–0 up.

Dominic O’Connor v Ciaran McShane

In game three, Dominic O’Connor faced off against Ciaran McShane. O’Connor, who had to give a 14 start, broke off but McShane`s next shot saw him go in off, immediately giving four points back and leaving the difference at 10.

Lady Luck continued to smile on O’Connor who fluked a missed red and then proceeded to make small breaks of 14, 18 and 25 to pull away from McShane and leave him needing snookers on the yellow.

After a few safety shots from both players, it was O’Connor who turned the tables on McShane by playing some fine safety play that resulted in some excellent snookers. Unfortunately for McShane, he was unable to find a way out and conceded the frame, bringing it back 2–1.

Stephen McBride/Dominic O’Connor v Alan Thompson/Joe McEneaney

It was all to play for in frame four with Stephen McBride and Dominic O’Connor squaring off against Joe McEneaney and Alan Thompson.

Both teams started well by scoring early, with O’Connor and Thompson potting some good balls, followed up by some tight safety play.

Continuing with some fine safety play, McBride played an excellent shot that forced Joe to make the first real error of the match.

This left O’Connor in with the first real chance of the game, but after a missed black off the spot, it gave Alan and Joe a chance to get back into the match.

Still looking comfortable, McBride and O’Connor continued to play some great safety that created another opportunity but again it was O’Connor who missed a very easy green off the spot, that gave Thompson a chance.

Thompson went on to clear the last four reds with a 30 plus break that saw his team increase their lead to 27, with only 27 available.

Again, it was O’Connor who came to the table, creating a chance from nothing by potting a very difficult yellow along the cushion but once again he failed to pot the green and gave Thompson half a chance.

Out of nowhere, Thompson potted a super long green, and then proceeded to clear the table in style by potting the brown, blue, pink and black to take the frame and the match 3–1.

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