Minnesota reach All-Ireland semi-finals

The seven-man team was delighted to reach the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual runners-up QE1, who were subsequently beaten by Celbridge in the final.

"If we had been offered a semi-final place before we went down there, we would have happily taken it," said Sota skipper David McClintock.

"Everyone played really well and we exceeded our own expectations.

"We beat last year's winners in the quarter-finals which was probably like the final for us," added David.

Sota finished runners a qualifying group which included Q Club Wicklow (Leinster), Roadstone 'A' (Dublin) and Ballina 'A' (Connacht).

It meant they had to play another qualifying game against another group runner-up to secure a place in the last eight of the competition and the Ballymena boys proved they were up to the task by beating 147 Wexford 3-1.

Minnesota reserved their best performance for the quarter-finals where they eliminated defending champions St Matthews 3-1 but the semi-final against QE1 proved a bridge too far.

LEAGUE ROUND-UP

Meanwhile, the latest round of matches in the Ballymena and District snooker league proved to be very profitable for all the home teams.

Only one visiting team managed to avoid defeat in the six matches that were played.

Fountain Aces were the only away side not to succumb to defeat with a draw against Dunloy United in the Dunloy clubrooms.

After Brendan McTaggart had edged out Leonard Clewer in the third frame to put Dunloy in front Aces captain Liam Kelly defeated his Dunloy counterpart Michael Crilly to draw the Antrim men level.

Aidan Bradley then put the visitors ahead with a straight frames win over Paul Kelly. Martin Crawley, having a poor season by his normal standards, secured a draw for the home side with a hard fought three-frame victory over Anthony Watson who is having a good debut season for the Aces.

That draw, however, was good enough to put the Fountain side back on top of the table as previous leaders Minnesota A stumbled to a 3-1 defeat in Ballymoney against Rafters Runners.

A deciding frame was not needed in any game as Sean Gray, Dylan Murray and Richard Clyde gave the Rafters team their first win of the season against the reigning league champions. Minnesota A had won the previous league meeting and also a Charity Shield quarter final earlier in the season. David McClintock's defeat of Chris Cunningham gave the Ballymena men their sole point of the evening.

In the Minnesota clubrooms Minnesota B defeated Minnesota Strikers 3-1 to put themselves right into the chase for the league title.

Strikers' most consistent performer Dean Greer put them in front with a good win over William Dobbin before Jordan Millar restored parity with a hard earned win in the deciding frame against Stewart McClelland.

Davy Swann, by his own admission having been fortunate to pinch the opening frame against Trevor Alexander, showed he is still a very handy player as he eased to a comfortable win in the second frame to put the B team ahead.

Andrew Hutchinson hasn't played too often this season and he was taken to a deciding frame by Colin Perry. Andrew, however, used his experience well in the decider and aided by a 44 break, he secured a third point for the Minnesota B team who have come on strong in the league after losing their opening two games.

In Division Two Rafters Potters are the new leaders after beating Dunloy Cowboys 4-0.

The result looks like a convincing win for the Ballymoney men but they will be thankful they came out on top in two crucial black ball deciders. Dessie Lees edged past Gerard McAuley on the black in the third frame and Mark Heggarty did likewise against Aidan McErlaine.

The other winners for the Potters were Lee Gibson who defeated John Joe O'Neill and Ryan O'Doherty who claimed the scalp of the recent Division Two Individual handicap winner Randal McDonnell.

In the Parochial clubrooms, the host Hawks defeated the 147 Rockets 3-1 to maintain their push up the league table.

Captain Danny McGarry required a deciding frame to see off Paul Brammeld and Parochial's other points were secured by Pat McNally and Niall McElroy. Rockets, who slipped to only their second loss of the season, had the consistent Robert Hamilton to thank for their point.

The all-Rafters clash went in favour of tAces against their Hotshots clubmates.

Kevin Clarke from the Aces prevailed in a 3rd frame decider against Andrew McAlonan. The Aces other points came from Jimmy Davidson and Uel Wylie who squeezed past Cedric Hargin and Gary Kirkpatrick on black ball deciders. Ryan Maxwell was the lone victor for the Hotshots with a straight frames win over Billy Moore.

The match between Fountain Jokers and Parochial Lions was postponed.

DIVISION ONE

Dunloy United 2, Fountain Aces 2: (45] B McTaggart 2, (50] L Clewer 1 (39-68, 55-48, 63-44); (55] M Crilly 0, (20] L Kelly 2 (66-72, 54-82); (65] P Kelly 0, (55] A Bradley 2 (35-66, 35-47); (25] M Crawley 2, (50] A Watson 1 (56-66, 53-51, 63-52).

Rafters Runners 3, Minnesota A 1: (10] S Gray 2, (15] B Hannaway 0 (72-42, 68-29); (15] C Cunningham 0, (15] D McClintock 2 (31-59, 58-65); (15] D Murray 2, (25] M Thompson 0 (84-29, 74-38) (20] R Clyde 2, (15] R McFall 0 (70-26, 57-45).

Minnesota B 3, Minnesota Strikers 1: (35] W Dobbin 0, (45] D Greer 2 (43-68, 36-70); (35] J Millar 2, (65] S McClelland 1 (64-81, 90-68, 65-46); (20] D Swann 2, (40] T Alexander 0 (56-52, 84-53; (15] A Hutchinson 2, (65] C Perry 1 (97-77, 44-84, 91-62). Breaks A Hutchinson 44, D Swann 27c, 22, 22, 24.

DIVISION TWO

Parochial Hawks 3, 147 Rockets 1: (60] P McNally 2: (55] K Coogan 0, (54-48, 52-27); (55] N McElroy 2, (65] S French 0 (49-39, 77-46); (55] D McGarry 2, (50] P Brammeld 1 (34-45, 64-37, 55-35); (45] P Casey 0 (50] R Hamilton 2 (35-62, 33-61).

Rafters Potters 4, Dunloy Cowboys 0: (35] L Gibson 2, (60] JJ O'Neill 0 (63-36, 61-54); (50] D Lees 2, (55] G McAuley 1 (47-63, 45-32, 55-52); (45] R O'Doherty 2, (25] R McDonnell 0 (73-53, 73-45); (50] M Heggarty 2, (75] A McErlaine 1 (47-57, 83-64, 53-49).

Rafters Aces 3, Rafters Hotshots 1: (55] K Clarke 2, (50] A McAlonan 1 (27-46, 68-3, 53-28 ); (55] J Davidson 2, (60] C Hargin 1 (62-40, 36-45, 39-33); (65] U Wylie 2, (60] G Kirkpatrick 1 (43-29, 19-50, 35-28); (45] B Moore 0, (60] R Maxwell 2 (55-70, 43-65).

FIXTURES

Matches next Monday, February 8, are:

Division One: Fountain Aces v Rafters Runners; Minnesota A v Minnesota B; Minnesota Strikers v Dunloy Galaxy; Bye - Dunloy United.

Division Two: Parochial Hawks v Fountain Jokers; 147 Rockets v Rafters Potters; Dunloy Cowboys v Rafters Aces; Rafters Hotshots v Parochial Lions.