How do you see the state of snooker in RoI?

Joe_ Public · 13-06-2021 12:04pm

Main tour dream sadly over for Ross Bulman for another year. Loses a very tight match 4-3 to fall agonisingly at second last hurdle. Gave it a good go at least, there'll be more chances hopefully.

TheRedDevil10 · 14-06-2021 4:51pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

That's great news.

Up to Cross Guns now on Thursday. Can't bloody well wait.

How have they managed to get away with re-opening?

FR01 · 14-06-2021 7:28pm

TheRedDevil10 wrote: »

How have they managed to get away with re-opening?

You could ask the same question to every snooker club in Ireland bar a couple that have remained closed..

BonnieSituation · 14-06-2021 7:46pm

TheRedDevil10 wrote: »

How have they managed to get away with re-opening?

What do you mean "get away with"?

TheRedDevil10 · 14-06-2021 7:58pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

What do you mean "get away with"?

They are not supposed to be open yet is what I mean. The proposed date of reopening under the roadmap is the 5th July.

TheRedDevil10 · 14-06-2021 7:59pm

FR01 wrote: »

You could ask the same question to every snooker club in Ireland bar a couple that have remained closed..

So there are others that are ignoring the current restrictions?

FR01 · 14-06-2021 8:08pm

TheRedDevil10 wrote: »

So there are others that are ignoring the current restrictions?

Sure are, in fact there’s a couple in Co Louth that reopened early May. The rest reopened June 7. To be fair the clubs were permitted to reopen when gyms etc reopened after the previous two lockdowns and with gyms open again I presume they followed suit. However I see the updated restrictions now include snooker halls, I’m sure though that the owners may argue that they are clubs and not halls ? I know I’d have no issue having a few frames of snooker and there’s no problem social distancing at a 12ft x 6ft snooker table

BonnieSituation · 14-06-2021 11:15pm

TheRedDevil10 wrote: »

They are not supposed to be open yet is what I mean. The proposed date of reopening under the roadmap is the 5th July.

Nope. They have been allowed to be open since June 7th.

bradolf pittler · 22-09-2021 1:46pm

Great to see snooker officially returning after the covid restrictions. The over 40's Championships for 2021 are on in the crucible in Cork and the are 2 Reopen Events in Darcy McGess and Tralee SC happening this weekend. Hopefully they are supported and the new purpose built HQ gives the game the shot in the arm it badly needs.

Joe_ Public · 04-10-2021 8:17am

Best of luck to Ross Bulman and the others starting out in the European 21s this morning in Portugal, seeking to follow in Aaron Hills footsteps from 2 years ago.

No joy for the 18s but good run from Alex Currid to reach qf where he lost to the experienced and top seeded Ben Mertens of Belgium. Alex is still just 15, so plenty to look forward to.

Joe_ Public · 06-10-2021 11:00am

Down to the last 16 in Portugal and one left standing in Ross Bulman which is no big surprise. Decent performance by Aaron Goldrick to reach knock out stage though, he'll be happy with his weeks work.

Big day ahead for Ross. He'll either be down to the last 4 or making preparations for the journey home! Needs to up his performance a good bit, but is capable of it.

Fergal Quinn also still there and going well.

Joe_ Public · 06-10-2021 3:29pm

Disappointing for Ross, losing 2-4 to the Austrian Florian NuBle. Missed 2 absolute sitters in the last frame, should have been 3-3, was visibly disgusted with himself. Just a shame really.

End of Irish involvement for now anyway, though Fergal Quinn giving Mertens a good game on other table. Looks like 2 Belgians will be in last 8, got a few decent young players there.

bradolf pittler · 15-10-2021 2:00pm

Great to see Limericks Frank Sarsfield having a fantastic run to the final of the European Seniors (over 40s) in Portugal this week.

Unfortunately he ran into the brick wall that is Darren Morgan from Wales and lost 4-0.

Not all bad news for Frank though as he gets a spot in next years World Seniors in the Crucible

Joe_ Public · 15-10-2021 8:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118024290#Comment_118024290

Great stuff from him, Morgan is quality tbf. And a lovely consolation prize, well deserved.

Joe_ Public · 18-10-2021 10:40am

More success for Frank Sarsfield as he lands the European Seniors team title with Mark Tuite. Great end to a fantastic week for him.

At the other end of the scale, congrats to Leone Crowley on becoming national under 18 champion. Beat Alex Currid 3-2 in what was by all accounts a very good match, after losing opening 2 frames. Two nice young prospects there, not all doom and gloom for Irish snooker just yet!

s8n · 18-10-2021 10:42am

I used to live beside a fella in Waterford who played in Sully's

Strumms · 29-10-2021 1:03am

Anybody know what the status is of the young lad Josh Boileau... has he completely given up the game as regards playing as a pro or just taking a break ?

bradolf pittler · 07-11-2021 12:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118088276#Comment_118088276

well in fairness there hasn't been a proper tournament that he could enter since covid happened. Hopefully he enters the Irish Championship next month and gives it another go. Great player

Joe_ Public · 07-11-2021 12:57pm

The Don O'Donoghue memorial is being played in the crucible in cork this weekend, has a decent line up. Davy Morris probably would have been favourite but tough draw first round against Brendan O'Donoghue and lost. Interested to see how far Leone Crowley can go.

Joe_ Public · 16-11-2021 12:07pm

Was a good weekend of snooker action just passed. Ross Bulman beat Leone Crowley 3-1 to become the national u/21 champion in the crucible in cork.

And the new institute saw a good turn out for the Nenagh Open with both Mick Judge and Aaron Hill in the draw. Local man Brendan O'Donoghue won with a 5-3 defeat of Judge in the final. Looking at some pics, it really is an amazing set up they have down there, a model for any community run club in any sport.

Great to see things really hotting up again after the long hiatus.

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 5:22pm

Congratulations to Brendan O'Donoghue of the New Institute, beats Davy Morris 6-5 to win his 4th Irish Amateur title. Sounds like great final, never more than a single frame in it. Saw the last frame on the feed and the new HQ in Carlow looks seriously impressive indeed.

bradolf pittler · 21-12-2021 3:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118347576#Comment_118347576

I called up to Carlow on Saturday and i have to say the new club/venue is absolutely top class.4 Star tables and 4 Shender tables plus some mini tables for coaching the kids.

Pussyhands · 21-12-2021 3:26pm

Standard is dropping which is why the auld lads are still mostly dominating.

Snooker is too hard to be good at. You have to start off very young and practice a lot but what kid is going to be stuck indoors in a dark room playing snooker with other lads while his pals are all on instagram at the beach eating ice creams and chasing girls.

Joe_ Public · 22-12-2021 1:08am

Aaron Hill didn't take up the game until he was 15 and he's handy enough now to be honest.

Joe_ Public · 04-01-2022 1:04pm

Xmas piece with Aaron looking back and forward to rest of season and the battle to keep his card. Tough read in parts as it's the first time I've seen him directly confront the harsh realities of tour life in terms of proving himself and making some badly needed cash. Still, he comes across as a really bright kid with a willing attitude and tons of belief in himself. I've no doubt he'll get there, if not this time, then the next.

https://www.the42.ie/aaron-hill-5628717-Dec2021/

Joe_ Public · 29-03-2022 11:49am

See the draw for the world qualifiers is out. Aaron up against exciting but raw Welsh talent, Liam Davies, and unfortunately would face Fergal second round if he comes through. Jordan Brown, Mark King also in that section so tough looking prospect for the lads as they chase tour survival.

Ken also battling for his card and faces the winner of Rory McLeod and Ng On Yee, evoking memories of his scare against Reanne Evans a few years ago.

Michael Judge hoping for some cheer to end a tough return to tour life faces first round top seed Zhao Jianbo.

Joe_ Public · 04-04-2022 6:46pm

End of the road for Aaron's first go on tour, bit disappointing to go down 4-6 to Liam Davies after a strong start gave him a 4-2 lead. Davies is a very exciting prospect tbf, just 15 and could give Fergal a rattle next round. Fergals experience should stand to him. Aaron got 6 weeks now to get his head reset for Q school, all not lost yet.

Mick Judge still fighting hard against Zhang Jianbo, 4-4 to come back for a finish tonight.

Joe_ Public · 04-04-2022 11:56pm

Fair play Mick Judge, 1am and he gets it done 6-4 after Zhao, clearing up, stuck the black up. Allan Taylor, practice partner of Aaron's, up next.

bradolf pittler · 05-04-2022 8:12am

A case to too much too soon for Aaron Hill but hes young and even if he doesn't come tru Q school i can see him cleaning up next season on Ireland's amateur circuit.

Joe_ Public · 05-04-2022 3:45pm

Lots of great players didn't make it first time around, hawkins, robertson, bingham etc. No shame at all in it. Dont know will he stay in England if q school doesn't work out, the Q Tour is expanding to 10+ events from next season and there's a pretty decent regular pro am set up to fill in the gaps. I think if his focus is to get back on tour asap, that's where i'd be anyway. But it's his decision and he may have a different take on things.

Joe_ Public · 07-04-2022 11:07am

Fergal gone 2-3 down against young Davies, very tense and scrappy. Going to need to draw on all his craft and experience here with his tour card on the line. Davies is giving him enough chances anyway.

Joe_ Public · 07-04-2022 1:28pm

Fergal has to come back tonight, 4-5 down so needs to win last 2 frames. Davies is some prospect in fairness, wish we had a couple of 15 year olds like that!

Joe_ Public · 07-04-2022 10:35pm

Wow, what a frame of snooker! Not sure there was even a 10 break in it until Fergal mopped up from green to pink. 5-5, one frame to save his pro career. Come on lad!

Joe_ Public · 07-04-2022 11:31pm

Not to be alas, another incredibly scrappy frame goes the Welshmans way this time and that draws the curtain on Fergals 31 year tour career. Gutted for him. Sure we'll see him in tour school so not necessarily the end just yet. As things stand, it's just Michael Judge on tour next season, unless Ken can pull something out of the bag, starting against McLeod tomorrow.

Pussyhands · 08-04-2022 9:49am

Didn't know Fergal and co were on the brink of losing their cards.

Still decent enough money, he got 42k pounds this season. Tough lifestyle with all the travelling though.

Not sure who pays for all the travel expenses?

Players like Mark Davis making 80k pounds. Pretty damn good for playing snooker.

Joe_ Public · 08-04-2022 11:10am

You're looking at the 2 year ranking list there, so divide in half and you're getting roughly the full picture. You'd need to be in top 20-25 to clear 80k in prize money annually and players pay their own expenses, unless they're extremely lucky enough to have a sponsor/benefactor covering some of their costs.

Genghis · 08-04-2022 11:31pm

Sadly Ken is now out too. What will happen now, another 2 year card not likely imho, neither is Q school I feel. Retirement?

Joe_ Public · 09-04-2022 7:56am

No announcement as of yet anyway, so going to assume he's anticipating another wild card as I don't see him turning up for Q School. Have to wait and see i suppose.

Arthur Daley · 09-04-2022 12:00pm

I see Michael Judge was beaten by a decent little pressure clearance from Allan Taylor in the final frame decider.

And not Irish related but Nigel Bond has retired from the main tour. Longest serving player with continuous membership of the tour.

Joe_ Public · 09-04-2022 1:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118902509#Comment_118902509

Saw that, very nice clearance and a pressure black into a blind pocket. Worth 5k that black which is a lot of dosh for these guys to be playing for and, of course, Taylor's card was riding on it. Was hoping Fergal would hang on and eclipse Bonds record, but not to be alas.

Thinking about Ken, I suppose he could be waiting for the bbc coverage to make a statement. Part of me thinks it would be a good time to bow out, another really hopes he keeps going, wild card or no. We'll wait and see anyway.

Genghis · 09-04-2022 1:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118902509#Comment_118902509

Supposing Ken gets a wild card, would he take the mantle from Bond? Supposing he didn't, but Fergal had retained his, would Fergal have take it? I think they started pre 1992 so must both be there or thereabouts behind Nigel Bond. Anyone know?

Joe_ Public · 09-04-2022 1:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118902961#Comment_118902961

No, Bond has the record because he was 32 years continuous on tour without ever falling off, no wild cards. Ken has lost his card a couple of times, Fergal would have equalled Bond this season and beaten him the next if he'd managed to hold on.

Edit: Bond was there 89, Fergal 91, so Fergal was 2 years behind, not 1.

Genghis · 09-04-2022 2:08pm

Ah yes, Joe, of course. I was taking Kens wild cards as 'continuous', but by that logic Jimmy would beat Nigel. Continuous merit is the correct way to look at it. So if not now Fergal, would you know who replaces Bond for continuous merit?

Joe_ Public · 09-04-2022 2:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118903017#Comment_118903017

Would be Ronnie and Higgins who came in in 92. Anthony Hamilton was there in 91 but he fell off at least once in the meantime.

Joe_ Public · 15-05-2022 9:32pm

Very best of luck to Fergal, Aaron, Rodney Goggins, Ross Bulman and Leone Crowley setting off on the long road through Q School starting tomorrow. Fergal and Aaron definitely have the games anyway and Ross was within a single frame of qualifying 3 years ago so hopefully one or more can get over the line. Fergal drawn to face Welsh whizzkid Liam Davies in Event One, the kid who beat him in the world qualifiers and knocked him off the tour so a tough one to start! Annoyingly, Fergal, Aaron, Ross and Rodney all drawn in same section for the first event so only one can come through.

Leone is the recently crowned both u/18 and u/21 national champion so should be arriving with confidence anyway. Still just 15, so a big ask, but will all be great experience for him.

Joe_ Public · 20-05-2022 2:54pm

So far so good in Sheffield as both Fergal and Aaron through to last 16 and looking in good nick, two wins from winning back their tour cards. Bit nervy from Aaron, being hauled back to 3-3 from 3-0 v Billy Castle, but produced 114 break in the last to clinch it with some excellent potting thrown in.

Will be disappointed if at least one of them doesn't make it and be great to get the two. Aaron definitely has the more benign looking draw I'd say.

Joe_ Public · 20-05-2022 10:25pm

At the end of the day you just can't beat experience! Ross Muir should've been taking that to a decider but lost the head and allows Fergal to ease home 4-2. Rory McLeod up tomorrow for a tour place and for once, Ferg might not be the slow one!

Sadly, Aaron down 3-4 against Luke Simmonds. Disappointing as thought it looked a match he should win. Nothing for it but to dust himself down and get back on the horse next week.

Joe_ Public · 21-05-2022 11:58am

No messing from Fergal, breezes past McLeod 4-1 and bounces straight back with a 2 year tour card. Great going from what i thought looked a tricky enough draw, hopefully the younger lads can draw some inspiration from that over the next 2 weeks.

Arthur Daley · 21-05-2022 12:03pm

Well done Fergal. Gritty perfomer.

Joe_ Public · 21-05-2022 1:30pm

Seeing a few less than sporting comments regarding Fergals success on social media outlets. I suppose given 3 of the cards won today went to 2 50 year olds and a 41 year old, not everyone going to be thrilled about that. But that's not Fergals problem, the younger guys just going to have to find a way to be better.

How do you see the state of snooker in RoI?

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