Thatch beat Greenisland to land Champions title

Three is the magic number for Thatch as the Larne Pool League and Cup winners lifted the Northern Ireland Pool Association Champion of Champions title for the third year on the spin.
Thatch Pool team celebrate their success. INLT 28-926-CONThatch Pool team celebrate their success. INLT 28-926-CON
Thatch Pool team celebrate their success. INLT 28-926-CON

With 16 of Northern Ireland’s best league teams involved, it was always going to be a big ask to retain their title, but that’s just what happened.

First up for Bryan McWhirter’s men were second favourites ‘Primacy Bar’. A close encounter saw the Thatch edge over the line on an 11-9 scoreline. Larne Individual winner Ryan McKillop won the all-important 11th frame.

With potentially the hardest match out of the way in the first round, Thatch stepped it up a gear, recording a fine 11-2 win over The Oakes (Ballynahinch). They then defeated Ballymena champions, The Inbetweeners, with another convincing 11-4 win.

Greenisland Galacticos awaited in the final but they were no match for the Larne men who never looked like losing and ran out 13-8 winners.

It was a day to remember for the ever-consistent Gerry McCorry and Johnny Nelson who both topped the stats with 11 wins each, providing the backbone of the Thatch’s challenge.

The result capped an incredible year for Larne Pool League on the national scene. They had also won the Willie Lucas Super Sevens Plate and, of course, the three Larne Interleague teams pocketed all the trophies on offer during the Interleague competition in May.

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