Great success for Offaly Pool teams at All-Ireland finals in Killarney
GREAT success was enjoyed by teams from the Offaly Pool Association at the recent All-Ireland finals in Killarney.
The Offaly Ladies won the All-Ireland Pool Cup while the Offaly Men's A team won the All-Ireland Senior Shield beating Limerick in the final.
Also the Offaly Men's B team got to the quarter finals of the shield and the Men's C team got to round one of the quarter finals shield
The Offaly ladies B team got to the quarter finals of the Shield losing out to Down ladies B team while the Offaly ladies A team won the Ladies All-Ireland Cup beating Wicklow Ladies A in the finals.
Offaly also had three of their players in the singles entry last 16 of the tournament. Those were Elizabeth Lynch, Mark Clarke and Alan Murphy, unfortunately losing in this category.
However Mary Duffy Lowbridge and Katie Kiernan got to the quarter finals of the singles entry.
All week there was a great mixture of emotions whilst in Killarney at the All-Ireland, nearly 1,000 players from all over Ireland taking part in their singles & category event.
“It's a different feeling that flows through you,” said Angela Briggs from the Offaly Pool Association.
Added Angela: “The skills and different types of pool players is just amazing to watch, from the Juniors up to the over 60's it's just fantastic. It's also great to meet knew players every year and this year has been the highest in numbers for the Irish Pool Association and it looks like the numbers will be increasing for next year's event.”
It's also fantastic to see how ladies pool is increasing in numbers with more and more women joining their local county clubs,.
The new ranking season will start again in August and the times and dates will be announced on the Offaly Pool Association facebook page. If anyone is interested in joining young or old all ages are welcome, please just send a message on messenger or text/ring Angela Briggs 085 1913748 for further information. The Cue Academy run a junior's coaching session every Sunday for 2hrs 5pm -7pm
The Offaly ladies now get themselves in preparation for the World Championships that's taking part in Blackpool England in less than two weeks time from June 17 to 27.
Five of the Offaly ladies will be representing Ireland in the World Cup Championship, they are, Mary Devine, Gemma Masterson, Jannette Jackson, Mary Duffy Lowbridge & Angela Briggs, their 6th member of the team is Sandra Bryan from Wexford Pool Association, and their manager is Michael Scally from Offaly Pool Association, We wish all the ladies & their manager the very best of luck & hope that they go all the way & bring the cup back to Ireland.