The third Billiards Handicap tournament of the season was played at Carlow on Sunday, 16th December 2007.

As a result of submissions from some of the players in the previous ranking event, RIBSA Council amended the format of play by introducing a 90 minute time limit to the standard 400-up matches. While this change was not a significant factor in the tournament results (all matches actually finished within the limit), it did guarantee a pre-arranged timetable for the day and, importantly for a number of players, a pre-arranged finish to the days play. Perhaps this was the factor which attracted a larger than usual participation on the day. Word of the event also attracted some new players to the game, giving a refreshing buzz to an atmosphere that had been somewhat on the wane of late.

It was a particular pleasure to see young players being attracted to the game, and a warm welcome was extended to Jamie S Moore (no relation to the current No 1 and All-Ireland Champion, James Moore, but perhaps a future contender!), Brian O’Donnell and Craig Roberts.

In addition to the influx of new players, another change was that the final was contested by Joe Doheny (Borris-in-Ossory) and Aonghus McAnally (Malahide), neither of whom had reached a final so far this season. Joe’s progress to the final started with a tight win in the pre-quarters against Liam Byrne (Edenderry), and comfortable wins against Victor O’Gorman (Dun Laoghaire) and one of the day’s favourites, Eugene Hughes (Kilkenny). Aonghus had an even tighter win in the pre-quarters, beating Brendan Devlin (Celbridge) by a mere 3 points, a comfortable win in the quarter final against Robbie McCrum (Dublin) and a tight semi final against another of the day’s favourites, James Moore (Navan).

Notable drop outs at the semi final stage were past and current champions Eugene Hughes and James Moore. James started very well, quickly overhauling the handicap start he was giving to Darren McNamee (Edenderry) in the pre-quarters and then in the quarter final, thanks to a magnificent break of 171, he recovered from a deficit of over 100 points behind a free scoring Larry Drennan (Kilkenny. In the semi final, however, James just failed to overcome the handicap start he was giving to Aonghus McAnally, who took the game by a margin of 32 points. Perhaps the pressures of retail business in the pre-Christmas period were taking their toll on James.
Eugene too, having made a good start by winning his first round match against newcomer Craig Roberts (Dublin), including two 90 plus breaks and then taking a tightly fought quarter final against Joe Delaney (Wexford) by a margin of 34 points, seemed to have been totally spent by the semi final stage, failing to keep with Joe Doheny, who, by contrast, was playing ever more freely as the day progressed. Perhaps, like James, the pressures of business were having their effect on Eugene’s game too.

The final proved to be a spirited, well contested and entertaining tussle between Joe and Aonghus, culminating in a close finish which was a verification of their respective handicaps, the decision going to the more experienced Joe by the slender margin of 11 points.

The next Billiards Handicap round of the season, takes place at the Ivy Rooms, Carlow on Sunday, 3rd February 2008. Entries will be accepted before 10.30am on the morning of the event. In the meantime, we wish all billiard players and those associated with the game, a happy and joyful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.