SHOOTERS is to re-open at the start of March, which is excellent news for Cork snooker. The club that won the Cork Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) Cork league last year was suddenly closed at the start of the Cork snooker league season and the stunned snooker public on Leeside were left scratching their heads wondering what was going to happen to last years 'Cork Close' venue in Blackpool, but now the owner of Shooters John Paul Crowley has announced that he will re-open his beloved Shooters snooker club in a new 6,000 square feet facility by the 'South Doc' offices in Blackpool.
John Paul Crowley told Rebel Snooker “Thank God we are on our way back, I don't want to go into what happened last year that is water under the bridge and its time to move on, now Shooters is back and I can't wait to get the place set up and working. We are fitting it out at the moment, I have spoken to the snooker table fitters and in early March we should be back up and running. I have really missed the scene since Shooters closed and can't wait to get back in to it, my players are thrilled and like all of us are looking forward to making a return to the Cork snooker scene”.
Meanwhile the Crucibles Ryan Cronin showed his class in Navan last weekend winning the Under 19 and Under 21 National ranking events, coming out on top winning both events is a massive acheivement.
Cronin who made it through to the last 128 of the recent PTC in Killarney where he met Stephen Maguire showed his ability by making it through to the semi final of the Amateur Cup in Killarney, catching the attention of many snooker fans at the event.
Cronin will now represent the Republic of Ireland in March, when the young Crucible star will make his way to Sofia in Bulgaria.
Also travelling to Sofia is the Crucibles David Cassidy who also competed in Navan this weekend in the under 21 championships and made it to the semi finals, where he lost out to Karl Fitzpatrick who went on to meet Ryan Cronin in the final, but again Cronin was just too good and the fact that the two Cork players are in the mix again shows the strength of Cork snooker at the moment.
Good news for Youghal CYMS too it looks likely that Christopher Cooney may have qualified for the Republic of Ireland under 19 squad for the 'Home Internationals' in Prestatyn in Wales later on in the year.
The CBSA Cork snooker league continues this week with a battle royal between Douglas Snooker Club and the Youghal CYMS 'B', with a spot in the league semi finals still up for grabs.
Douglas showed great resolve last week coming from four frames down to turn the match on its head finishing off with an eight frames to five frames victory.
That is part one of this great end of year battle as Douglas 'A' travel to the Market House in Youghal this week and a victory for the men from the South Side will see them progress into the semi finals, but if Youghal win at home, there will be a toss of a coin and a one match play-off for the place in the last four.
The AOH have booked their place into the last four with The Crucible and Youghal CYMS 'A' following a very impressive performance at home last week.
The AOH had an eight nil win over Douglas 'B' last week and can cause any side problems at this stage.
The coming weeks see some really good tournaments on the horizon. This weekend sees the Cork senior billiards championship, which will be held at the AOH on Sunday starting at 11.30am.
Timmy Murphy will be one of the favourites especially on his own tables, but another AOH man Lloyd Myers who is currently ranked 10 nationally will take beating as will Douglas player Derek O'Neill.
In two weeks time all three men should be competing in the European Open billiards championship in Carlow which is ranking event four in the 'World Billiards' series. Also on the 19th of February the 'Cork Close' will be held in Douglas snooker club. Last years defending Champion Anthony O'Connor who was a part of the Shooters Cork snooker league winning side last year and he will look to defend his title. O'Connor has lived a bit of a nomadic snooker life over the past six months so he will be glad to get back on the tables at Shooters when it re-opens.
Finally the National Masters continued last weekend with Derek O'Neill and Derek Kiely making it through to the Plate semi finals.
Number three seed in the masters Brendan Cooney who recently had a very successful Munster and All Ireland club championships is still on course to wear the National waistcoat again.
CBSA League Table
1 The Crucible 28
2 Youghal CYMS 'A' 25
3 AOH 14
4 Douglas 'A' 12
5 Youghal CYMS 'B' 10
6 Youghal CYMS 'C' 8
7 Douglas 'B' 0
Forthcoming Fixtures
Feb.12th
2012 Cork Individual Billiards C/Ship. AOH
February 19th
2012 Cork Close Snooker Douglas S.C.
March 11th
U/17 Snooker Teams C/Ship Youghal CYMS
March 31st/April 1st
Orme Shield Youghal CYMS
Week-nights March. Cork Billiards Teams C/Ship Home or Away
For all snooker information in the City and in the County check out www.corkbilliardsandsnooker.com or if you any snooker information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
