Snooker: Gervins A show nerves of steel to win senior title

Gervins A came up trumps when it mattered most and, thus, they are the worthy new champions of RTM Mortgage Services Seniors League.

In a typical nailbiting climax to the Division One League title tussle, the Coalisland pairing of Darren Gribben and Ciaran Kelly eliminated all the horrible thoughts of the disappointment a week earlier to impressively bounce back and defeat Mitchells A 4-1 at Plater’s Hill, while defending champions Max A could only scramble a 3-2 winning verdict over McKees B in Keady.

The end product of all that is that the top ‘old codgers’ trophy will make its way back to the Gervins club for 2016.

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Seven days earlier, Gervins knew they could put themselves in a hugely commanding position to take the title, going into action against the basement club and needing a win of any description to leapfrog the Keady men to the top of the table, while a big win would have left them that they would even take the title if they lost narrowly in the final round of fixtures.

Darren Gribben, Mid-Ulster Snooker League Senior Individual Champion receives his trophy from, Janet Whiteley, from William Hill, sponsors of the League. Looking on is runner-up Brian Milne.mm1807-163ar.Darren Gribben, Mid-Ulster Snooker League Senior Individual Champion receives his trophy from, Janet Whiteley, from William Hill, sponsors of the League. Looking on is runner-up Brian Milne.mm1807-163ar.
Darren Gribben, Mid-Ulster Snooker League Senior Individual Champion receives his trophy from, Janet Whiteley, from William Hill, sponsors of the League. Looking on is runner-up Brian Milne.mm1807-163ar.

But a shock setback meant the pressure was really all on them to perform last Wednesday night - and, to their great credit, they manfully faced the task and did precisely enough to be crowned champions.

A good start was surely to be of paramount importance and, when Ciaran Kelly beat Paul McGuckin and Darren Gribben outpointed Seamus Mitchell, the momentum was with them. The reserve singles were both equally close and there was a wee hiccup as Gribben lost to McGuckin on the blue. But they won the doubles frame and 4-1 was good enough for them to take the title, Max A dropping two points at home to McKees B - after winning the first two frames. James Conway beat Eddie McKenna and the Gortgonis men crucially defeated the champions in the doubles!

Meantime, Max C won the League Cup Final with John O’Reilly and Francie Mallon a mite too good for Mitchells INF’s Ryan Starkey and Gary McNeill in Cookstown.

Seniors League

Darren Gribben, Mid-Ulster Snooker League Senior Individual Champion receives his trophy from, Janet Whiteley, from William Hill, sponsors of the League. Looking on is runner-up Brian Milne.mm1807-163ar.Darren Gribben, Mid-Ulster Snooker League Senior Individual Champion receives his trophy from, Janet Whiteley, from William Hill, sponsors of the League. Looking on is runner-up Brian Milne.mm1807-163ar.
Darren Gribben, Mid-Ulster Snooker League Senior Individual Champion receives his trophy from, Janet Whiteley, from William Hill, sponsors of the League. Looking on is runner-up Brian Milne.mm1807-163ar.

Division One

Gervins A 4-1 Mitchells A

C.Kelly 54-32 P.McGuckin

D.Gribben 62-41 S.Mitchell

C.Kelly 61-38 S.Mitchell

D.Gribben 42-60 P.McGuckin

Doubles 61-35

Max Keady A 3-2 McKees B

E.McKenna 76-69 O.O’Neill

P.Gribben 75-33 J.Conway

E.McKenna 23-83 J.Conway

P.Gribben 83(42)-65 O.O’Neill

Doubles 56-72

Max Keady B 5-0 Mitchells B

J.Maguire 61-49 R.Conway

J.Shortt 65-55 C.Quinn

J.Maguire 70-52 C.Quinn

J.Shortt 56-46 R.Conway

Doubles 72-52

League Cup Final

Mitchells INF 2-3 Max Keady C

R.Starkey 54-65 J.O’Reilly

G.McNeill 58-35 F.Mallon

Doubles 20-58

R.Starkey 50-40 F.Mallon

G.McNeill 33-82 J.O’Reilly

Seniors Knockout Cup

Max Keady C 4-1 McVeighs A

Doubles 15-52

J.O’Reilly 80-11 D.McVeigh

F.Mallon 65-27 J.McArdle

Doubles 45-21

J.O’Reilly 72(31)-9 J.McArdle

F.Mallon 54-4 D.McVeigh

Frank Hughes Bookmakers

League Division Three

Knockout Cup semi-finals

Gervins C 3-1 Mitchells C

J.O’Neill 2-0 C.Argue

37-33, 69-20

R.Wilson 2-0 D.McGuckin

57-14, 52-23

P.Maguire 2-0 R.Barrow

64-2, 58-15

S.Day 1-2 A.Mulgrew

48-43, 56-41, 39-52

McVeighs B 3-0 McKees C

L.Hughes 2-0 R.McKee

53-43, 43-35

D.Stinson 2-0 F.Hughes

45-33, 59-51

D.Stevenson 2-0 S.Devlin

53-19, 39-30

S.McKeown 1-1 P.Doris

33-66, 49-47

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