Knockout Cup down to last four teams

Only four teams remain in the Ballymena and District Snooker League Knockout Cup following last week’s matches.
Snooker.Snooker.
Snooker.

Division 2 side Allstars produced a big surprise as they knocked out 147 Pistols in Coleraine.

Shaw Williamson’s win over Jordan Brown gave the Coleraine men a great start but a draw for John O’Reilly and a win for Jamie Martin soon had the Antrim team back on level terms. Dixie Tweed’s 2-0 win over Ryan McQuillan was enough to book a semi final place for Allstars.

Allstars will now play Minnesota Strikers who won a hard fought match with Dunloy Cowboys by a 5-3 scoreline.

Cowboys had ousted Division 1 side Minnesota B in the previous round and they pushed Strikers all the way before Gary McAleese’s 2-0 win over captain Aidan McErlaine tipped the match the way of Minnesota.

Potters Hotshots shook off a disappointing league campaign by securing a berth in the other Semi Final with a 5-2 win over Parochial Lions in Coleraine.

Richard Russell had got the Lions off to a good start with a 2-0 win over Ricky McMullan. Hotshots were level when Willie Eakin beat James Millar by a similar score and then Stephen McIlroy defeated Gregory Bryans to leave his side a frame from victory. Corey Sweeney took the opening frame against Shane Moody to seal the win.

The closest contest of the night took place in Dunloy where Dunloy United edged out Parochial Hawks 5-4 in a final frame decider.

Cathaoir Cunning and Simon Black shared their two frames as did Brendan McTaggart and Anthony Mitchell. Martin Crawley appeared to have swung the match in favour of United with a win over Niall McElroy only for Hawks captain Danny McGarry to force an extra frame by beating Benny O’Kane.

O’Kane and Mitchell were paired together in the extra frame, where the Dunloy man eased to a comfortable win.