Tipperary's Brendan O'Donoghue won his fifth Irish amateur snooker title in 2022

Brendan O’Donoghue underlined his credentials as one of the country’s finest amateur players of all time by winning his fifth Irish title in 2022.

He was rewarded for his achievement by being chosen by the Tipperary United Sports Panel for an Annerville award, sponsored by Bulmers, and which will be presented at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel on Saturday night, January 21.

The New Institute, Nenagh clubman defeated Ryan Cronin by seven frames to four in the final at the Snooker and Billiards Ireland Centre of Excellence in Carlow to retain his crown for the first time.

The number one seed began his campaign with opening round defeats of Hughie O’Donnell (4-0) and Sean King (4-1) before he eliminated four-time winner Martin McCrudden 4-2 in the last eight. In the semi-finals he ended the challenge of Greg Casey by six frames to four.

Brendan’s opponent in the title decider was number two seed Ryan Cronin, who was appearing in the final for the first time. The Cork player had been impressive on his way to the showpiece event, dropping only two frames in four matches and having whitewashed David Cassidy 6-0 in the other last four tie.

Cronin claimed the opener in the best-of-15 frame final but that would be the only time he held the lead. Brendan took four of the next five frames to carry a 4-2 lead into the second session, and the 40-year-old from Nenagh went on to seal a 7-4 victory.

During the year he also made his mark internationally by winning five rounds on his way to the quarter-finals of the IBSF World Amateur Championship.