How do you see the state of snooker in RoI?

Have you got a link to the stream?

Well done Brendan O'Donoghue who lands his 5th Irish title with a hard fought but emphatic 7-4 win against Ryan Cronin. That pushes him one clear of Davy Morris and Martin McCrudden in the modern era and likely still more to come. Fair going.

pretty pedantic to claim it's not a continuous run once he qualified again via q school.

To me, it counts as long as the tour card was won on the table, whether that's by winning the World Championship or winning through Q-School.

I'd also argue that if you exclude Fergal from the calculations then you'd also have to reduce Nigel Bonds record by either 1 year or 2. Presumably NB won his first card through the equivalent of Q-School back in 1978 or whenever and it was only at a later date that he gained enough ranking points to maintain it.

The pressure on a match ball off the spot is there all the same, when it's a livelihood on the line.

Jaysus, Ross sure living a charmed life today. Daniel Wells, with virtual match ball red misses and sticks up the frame. In fairness, it was a tricky rail job, not the total gimmee James Cahill had earlier. Into a decider, same as Rodney against Zak Surety. Aaron already through with routine win over a not very good opponent to be blunt about it. Could be a great day yet!

Edit: unfortunately that's as good as it gets as both Rodney and Ross beaten. Best I've seen Ross play for a while, though, if he can tighten up cue ball control, he'd have a chance.

So just Aaron left and Zhao Jianbo between him and reclaiming his card. Definitely a decent Chinese prospect so no easy task.

Attaboy Aaron, follows Fergal in bouncing straight back with 4-1 win over Zhao. Bit nervy in parts, but never really any moment when he looked as if he mightn't win the match, great to see him play with such conviction and poise. Just the 3 frames dropped all week, pretty commanding. Two more years to grow and develop and, hopefully, do himself justice this time around. Roll on August!

Q School wrapped up for another year and overall a fair showing from our lads. Same 4 back again for new season and, if not exactly progress, at least not going backwards either. Shame Ross went out early this week as was in top 3 on Q School Order of merit after Event 2 but has slipped back to 8 excluding those who earned cards. Still, that might get him into one or two tournaments via the top up list so should get some reward for it. And for Leone Crowley some valuable experience and didn't look overawed one bit against Kurt Maflin this week even if he went down 4-1. Rodney played decent and won a few matches. Hopeful for a good season ahead!

Best of luck to all those competing in European championships which are underway in Albania this morning. Last chance saloon for anyone hoping to snag a pro tour card for 2022/23 and emulate Aarons achievement 2 years ago in Portugal. If Ross carries his form from q school forward, he might have a little squeak. Here's hoping for a solid run.

Fair play to Leone Crowley, through to qf of European under-18s where he'll face No.1 qualifier Liam Pullen who just survived a big scare against the incredible 11 year old Matvei Lagondzinschii from Ukraine. Very impressed with how Leone is playing, every chance of more progress here.

And mertens hits straight back with a 70 break. Formidable scoring power this lad.

Yeah, he's over and back all the time and has the full house of junior titles, from 16s to 21s. I'd say it's not for everybody, big decision to uproot your life at 15 but shows how dedicated and ambitious he is and also the necessary support and backing behind him.

Wins the tight frame to square it 2-2. I think mertens for all his superior scoring power isn't so good when he's forced to grind a bit more. No silly mistakes and he can definitely be taken here.

Interesting to see who he meets in final: Kazakov or Davies. Davies is a huge scorer like mertens, better long term prospect I'd say while Kazakov is a real grinder who won his tour card at the WSF champs earlier this year. I'd fancy Leone against him, though, if he reproduces that kind of form. No reason to fear anyone at this stage really!

Not surprised to see him lose his 21s match, that was just rotten scheduling to be fair. Now has probably 20 minutes to freshen up for 18s final, tough enough ask that. And ironically, having already lost to Davies in the 18s group stages, he'll be playing him again in the 21s this evening and will have to win to stay in the competition. He'll be in need of a good sleep tonight whatever happens!

Third frame bit of a catalogue of disasters, first palpable sign of nerves. Quite understandable really.

Well, defeat in the end but no shame in it, Davies probably the best junior in the world right now or certainly very close. Absolute joy watching Leone these past few days, big future ahead of him on this evidence. And still 2 u/21 matches to play today, if he can fit them in, and u-16s starting tomorrow too. Going to be knackered at the end of all this!

Leone wins his last U21 group match but it's not enough to qualify for KO stages. Dont think schedule really gave him much chance anyway, figure he's played close to 25 frames today, must be absolutely knackered. Good sleep and hopefully ready to go again for U16s tomorrow. Might even get another crack at Davies after 3 defeats to him in past two days!

Ross Bulman safely through to KO stage with 3 wins out of 3. Alex Currid from Wexford and Cavans Aaron Goldrick have also qualified so well done to them. Currid had a good win over Robbie McGuigan so good performances all round.

No worries, just glad there's some interest around anyway!

Unfortunately, no luck for Ross Bulman with the draw tomorrow. Win first match and then very likely got Ben Mertens and Liam Davies just to reach sf. Gonna have to have the day of his life to get through all that, I'd say.