Gamers from the size and breadth of the county descended on Letterkenny’s Radisson Blu Resort on the weekend for the annual county pool championships.
On Friday night it was the younger and not-so-young who battled it out within the Beneath-23s and Over-40s occasions. Ballybofey’s Darragh Gallagher – not but 15 – as soon as once more showcased his precocious skills with some excellent shows; not least his 7-2 victory within the closing in opposition to Daniel McHugh.
A really spectacular turnout of thirty gamers competed within the over-40s competitors. Because the mud settled – and the arthritis began kicking in – it was Letterkenny’s Gareth Kirwan (pictured above) who took the honours, defeating Culdaff’s Damien McFeely within the closing on a scoreline of 9 frames to 7.
Gareth wasn’t achieved there, although. On the Saturday, the 2023 males’s champion performed a pivotal function within the Staff Occasion. His group – Moore Metallic Fabrication – have been unbeaten all through the group levels and defeated the Prime Ten Membership (which McFeely was additionally a member of) in a top quality closing.
A large twenty-six groups competed in Saturday’s two occasions. Within the B closing, Doherty’s Bar, Ardara, edged out McGuigan’s, Stranorlar, in a tense closing encounter that would have gone both manner.
And so to Sunday, and the battles to be topped Donegal’s greatest female and male gamers for the following yr. That man, Damien McFeely, was once more to the fore. He dropped treasured few frames as he progressed by means of to the ultimate. Donegal city native (and former finalist), Matthew Mahon, proved to be his most formidable opponent. Certainly, Damien needed to dig deep to show a 6-4 deficit right into a memorable 9-6 victory for the Inishowen man, as he grew to become solely the fifth participant to ever maintain the title.
Within the women’ occasion, there have been numerous new faces making their debut. However, come the tip, it was a case of “as you have been”, with the peerless Helena Melly as soon as once more taking the honours, regardless of a really valiant effort from Annette Pearson.
Pool: Prime gamers on cue at Donegal Championship Finals was final modified: April ninth, 2024 by
