THE CRUCIBLE are the Cork Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) Cork league champions after a thrilling final victory over the AOH last Wednesday evening in the Crucible snooker club in the second leg of this enthralling finale to the Cork league season. The AOH showed tremendous fighting spirit in their league semi final victory over Youghal CYMS 'A' and proved brilliant in the first leg of the final at the AOH club, where they came from five frames behind to just put a single frame between the sides going into the second leg.
The Crucible were favourites to lift the title, but with the quality that the AOH posses it was never going to be easy. The Crucible captain Greg Casey lost out by three frames to nil to Shane O'Mahony, but to counteract that the Crucible Ryan Cronin was in cracking form winning his match against Timmy Murphy by three frames to nil also.
David Cassidy also showed his class with a three frames to nil win over Kevin O'Leary, but with Sonny Stack and Lloyd Myers in front in their matches at one stage it was six frames each on the night and the match was balanced brilliantly at fourteen frames to thirteen frames.
It was the two young guns from the Crucible Cian Corcoran and Daniel O'Regan who got the Crucible over the line for the victory, first Corcoran made it 15 – 13 and the runners up in 2011 were just one frame from victory and then the Cork under 19 snooker champion O'Regan clinched the vital winning frame to send the home supporters wild.
It was a great end of season performance from the AOH who started their league campaign off sluggishly but showed their quality throughout the two legs of the league final.
It would have to be said that the team that won this years league, fully deserved the title. The crucible were completely undefeated all season, winning all twelve league matches, the semi final against Douglas 'A' and both legs of the final.
Now the Crucible will look to defend their Orme Shield title in a couple of weeks time and with the average age of the side at just 19 years, this is a side that could possible dominate Cork snooker for many years to come and it is now up to the other clubs to step up to the plate to put the pressure on Jimmy Hussey's men.
Following the final the owner of the Crucible Jimmy Hussey told 'Cork Snooker' .
“I am thrilled to have won the league, and after the defeat last year we were really disappointed and to come back this year and win it was great. I must compliment the AOH side, they are a great side and they played brilliantly over the two legs of the final and they made us work very hard to get this victory, fair play to them”
Hussey had nothing but praise for his young guns as they showed a fighting quality to see them lift the league title.
“The lads just played their hearts out and they showed a great deal of composure under the pressure and considering they are all so young, I think they played with experience beyond their years which was great. The CBSA Cork league is flying at the moment and I am delighted to see John Paul Crowley's 'Shooters' back in the league for next year, it is all good for our game here in Cork”.
Final score Crucible 16 - 13 AOH (Over two legs)
First Leg AOH 7 – 8 Crucible (First to 16 Frames)
Second Leg results
Crucible 8 - 6 AOH
Greg Casey 0 – 3 Shane O'Mahony
David Cassidy 3 – 0 Kevin O'Leary
Daniel O'Regan 1 – 2 Lloyd Myers
Ryan Cronin 3 – 0 Timmy Murphy
Cian Corcoran 1 – 1 Sonny Stack
Cork Snooker League Final Standings
Played Won Lost Points
Crucible 12 12 0 30
Youghal CYMS 'A' 12 10 2 25
AOH 12 7 5 17
Douglas 'A' 12 5 7 12
Youghal CYMS 'B' 12 5 7 12
Youghal CYMS 'C' 12 3 9 8
Douglas B 12 0 12 0
Home win = 2 points
Away win = 3 points
Semi Finals
Crucible beat Douglas 'A'
AOH beat Youghal CYMS 'A'
It is high noon this Sunday in Blackpool on Cork's North side will see the club that won last years CBSA Cork league open its doors to the public.
Shooters brand new state of the art club will open this Sunday the 11th of March at 12 Noon and with its impressive new lay out and a forthcoming 'Cork Open Snooker Championships' on in late April.
Shooters has 10 Riley championship tables and is fitted out beautifully and has impressed everyone who has been in since the work started. Next week on 'Cork Snooker' we will have a full report on Cork's newest snooker home, when we catch up with its owner John Paul Crowley and get his thoughts ahead of the Cork open snooker championship and the 'Orme Shield', plus his thoughts of re-entering the CBSA Cork snooker league next season.
Forthcoming fixtures for CBSA
March 11th U/17 Snooker Teams Championship Youghal CYMS
March 31st /April 1st Orme Shield Youghal CYMS
Week-nights March. Cork Billiards Teams Championship Home or Away
Sunday 29th of April, Cork Open Snooker Championship Shooters
For more Cork Snooker info check out www.corkbilliardsandsnooker.com
