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Dungannon Pool League 2024/25, Dungannon (2026)

04/09/2025

Encouraging turn out at Dungannon Pool League AGM

THERE was an encouraging turn out at the Dungannon Pool League AGM last Wednesday evening as the league set the wheels in motion for the 2025/2026 playing season.

The meeting, which was convened in the Golf Club Dungannon saw a larger than expected attendance assemble to select the committee trusted with guiding the leagues fortunes in the coming year as the league attempts to build on the impressive successes of last term.

Following some lively discussions those in attendance fully endorsed the efforts of last year’s leadership as Chairperson Conor Tierney, Secretary Geoff Gillis and Treasurer Johnny Beggs were all returned to their positions unopposed. There were a couple of changes to the committee as Phillip Tenor and Denver Jardine stepped up to join Darren Corr and Ian Burns for the year ahead.

The upward trajectory of the Dungannon Pool League can be measured by the fact that the league ranks has now swollen to twenty-two teams with the prospect of more to join before the registration deadline expires in a fortnights time.

During the meeting four new premises were welcomed into the league for the coming campaign. Cookstown duo The Cabin and The Railway Bar making their competitive debuts on the local pool scene while former members McAleer’s and Daly’s make an overdue return to the fold following a few years in the wilderness.

It was also agreed the league will follow a similar path to previous seasons with Division One games taking place on Wednesday nights and, the Division Two matches being played on Thursday’s.

Just a word to all participating teams as preparations gear up towards the new season that entry fees and playing team lists will need to be supplied to the Secretary and Treasurer as soon as possible. The entry fee has been set at £80 per team. It was also agreed to close the registration date for any remaining teams still looking to join the ranks on Wednesday week 17th September.

With that in mind there will be another meeting in Dungannon Golf Club next Wednesday evening 17th September at 8pm sharp. During this meeting, the makeup of both divisions will be confirmed with a view to starting the league on Wednesday 1st October and Thursday 2nd October. Please note there will be no exceptions to the registration deadline.

02/09/2025

Reminder for tomorrow nights AGM

26/08/2025

Dungannon Pool League AGM

Golf Club to stage AGM next Wednesday night
Well, how times flies! It seems like only yesterday since the Dungannon Pool League season concluded, but already plans are afoot to set the wheels in motion for the 2025 / 2026 campaign.

As in previous seasons the rumour mill has been rife over the last few weeks with talks of old teams reforming, teams no longer in existence and even new teams looking to join the ranks. With that in mind all teams interested in participating in the new Dungannon Pool League season is cordially invited to an Annual General Meeting, which will be held next Wednesday evening 3rd September 2025 in the Golf Club Dungannon, at 8pm sharp.

During the meeting, the committee to serve the league for the incoming season will be formed and discussions held about the make-up of the divisions before setting fixtures in stone.

30/03/2025

Barry Devlin was the winner of the raffle for the cue and case on Friday night. Thanks to all who bought tickets. That concludes the 2024/25 pool season 🎱 enjoy the break

30/03/2025

Tiffy’s fightback to land Division One League title

Tiffy’s ‘A’ 3 Golf Club ‘A’ 2

Tiffy’s ‘A’ put the disappointment of losing the JPS Construction Division One Knock Out Cup final the previous evening firmly behind them on Thursday night, when they fought back from the brink to deny Golf Club ‘A’ in a pulsating Division One League final encounter.

The Ballygawley men required a sensational last-ditch clearance from Tiffy Quinn to rescue the situation just when they looked destined to taste a second final defeat in less than twenty-four hours.

Play was of the highest standard between two competitive and committed rivals with three eight balls witnessed in the twelve frames played on a night the pendulum of power toed and froed throughout.

Tiffy’s shading the issue seven frames to five and having banged in two of those eight balls to augment Quinn’s match winning heroics, they fully merited their moment of glory.

Chris Beattie smashed home the opening eight ball in rack one to set the tone for the duration of the match as he eased to a straight frame success over Rory Devlin.

It was the start Tiffy’s wanted and when Niall Hamill produced a delicious eight ball clearance in the opening frame against Phillip Tener Golf Club must have been fearing the worst. However, the visiting skipper relished the challenge and responded in superb fashion as he bagged successive frames to level the match at one apiece.

Boosted by Tener’s display Golf Club continued to dominate the exchanges as Dee McClements rattled home the third eight ball in six frames to establish control against Martin Shortt. Shortt battled hard in the second frame, but McClements kept him at bay when clearing for a 2-0 win.

It was backs to the wall time for the defending champions but that was when their battling qualities surfaced as they came thundering back into contention. Conor Colhoun making light work of Dave Wilson as the contest headed into the final pairing between Tiffy Quinn and Barry Devlin.

It made for a grandstand finish as two in form players shared the opening two frames leaving everything hanging in the balance. Devlin held the upper hand when laying a snooker, but Tiffy illustrated his class by swerving out of the snooker to pot the intended ball and mopped up the remaining two colours before downing the match winning black. A quality final and while Golf Club will reflect on this loss they were the first to admit Tiffy’s were full value for the win.

30/03/2025

Davison’s secure Division One Knock Out Cup
Tiffy’s ‘A’ 5 Davison’s 8

Top billing of Wednesday night’s JPS Construction Dungannon Pool League finals week went to the Division One Knock Out final with Davison’s delivering in style to stop Tiffy’s quest for a clean sweep at the first hurdle.

The Ballygawley men entered the first of their three major finals as firm favourites to topple Davison’s, but the Castlecaulfield outfit hadn’t read the script as they continued their Cup odyssey with a thrilling 8-5 win. While many spectators anticipated a feast of eight ball clearances they endured a grind. The night littered with deliberate, slow, and over analytical play that stretched long into the wee hours of Thursday morning.

Ian McWilliam handed Davison’s the lead and, at the close of play, he was one of the standout performers of this final having won his three assignments against Conor Colhoun, Tiffy Quinn, and Niall Hamill. That in itself was no small feat but underlined the determination of the underdogs to prevail.

Having surrendered that opening frame, Tiffy’s gradually forced their way back. David McCrory was unfortunate with his attempt to clear an obstructing red over the centre pocket with his last yellow and a grateful Martin Shortt pounced to restore parity. Shortt banging a red into the bottom right corner before driving the black into the centre but even at this stage it was clear it was going to be a long night.

Pat Doherty and Niall Hamill got embroiled in a tactical frame with ‘Dutch’ playing a loss of turn shot for a cracking snooker. Hamill strung for his object ball and managed to get a snooker back and when Doherty failed to escape Hamill looked set to nudge his team in front only to miss the black. Doherty couldn’t punish the error as he hung his final yellow allowing Hamill off the hook.

Frame four required the first rerack of finals week as Dearan Maguire and Chris Beattie locked horns in a gruelling tactical battle. With cue ball in hand Beattie worked effortlessly through the yellows only to snooker himself on the last one and having lost the white into the middle pocket he could only watch as Maguire mopped up the table to square proceedings for the second and last time in the match.

As the two teams battled for control Johnny McCann missed a yellow with the black a formality to the middle, but despite a determined counterattack Tiffy Quinn hung his second last red before McCann demonstrated his potting ability with a stunning last yellow to leave a simple black.

McCann then won his second successive frame on the turnaround when he eventually overcame Colhoun in the longest frame of the entire week. It took thirty-nine plus minutes of torture to settle the frame as a cluster of balls covered both corner pockets with each player having control of a pocket. It was a hard watch and after ‘Fluff’ finally wasted a glorious frame winning chance McCann grasped his with both hands and a 4-2 lead.

A quality black to the corner saw Martin Shortt reduce the gap but try as they might Tiffy’s were unable to get back on level terms. Hamill was in total control of the exchanges against McCrory, but McCrory somehow created a frame winner out of nothing. Two difficult reds bettered by a cross double on the eight ball for a 5-3 cushion.

Beattie aided by two brilliant snookers crafted the opening for an impressive run out before another match defining moment arrived in frame ten. Tiffy Quinn attempted to play the black into the middle of a red, but it didn’t drop and when he failed to escape from the resulting snooker McWilliam with ball in hand planted his final four reds to tee up a straightforward black. Tiffy’s were feeling the pressure, and it showed as Davison’s punished yet another error to move to within one frame of victory.

Maguire playing an intelligent loss of turn shot to send his yellow over the corner pocket and when Colhoun failed to knock in his red Maguire cleared up for a 7-4 cushion. Shortt’s third win of the final kept Tiffy’s fading hopes alive when he accounted for Doherty but the winners elect were never going to surrender such a commanding platform as they closed the match out in frame thirteen.

Not surprisingly it was the influential McWilliam who sealed the deal as he outplayed Hamill. Davison’s merited victors as they played the better pool and made the most of the opportunities presented to them by the misfiring favourites.

30/03/2025

JPS CONSTRUCTION CUP FINAL

Golf Club ‘A’ stun Tiffy’s ‘A’ in JPS showpiece event.

Golf Club ‘A’ 8 Tiffy’s ‘A’ 3

Golf Club ‘A’ brought the curtain down on an eventful JPS Construction Dungannon Pool League finals week on Friday evening when overcoming defending champions Tiffy’s ‘A’ in the JPS Cup final.

The Springfield Lane representatives were full value for their 8-3 victory on a night they showed the greater hunger and desire to avenge a disappointing Division One League final loss to the same opposition twenty-four hours earlier.

Tiffy’s did have their chances, but the hosts dominated the tactical exchanges and when their opportunities arose, they ruthlessly translated their supremacy into points with Dave Wilson and Dee McClement’s producing two clinical eight ball clearances to underline the quality on display.

Golf Club ‘A’ established early control on the score board as Barry Devlin outmanoeuvred Conor Colhoun, but Tiffy’s responded in emphatic style as Martin Shortt took out an impressive seven ball clearance to square proceedings for the first of two occasions on the night.

The opening eight ball of the bout arrived in frame three courtesy of Dave Wilson. Chris Beattie did have the break but failed to pot, and when Wilson arrived to the table he delivered in spades by powering the final yellow into the centre pocket before adding an equally exquisite black to the bottom right corner that left his opponent with seven reds on the table. Once again Tiffy’s rose to the challenge as a fascinating encounter played out.

Niall Hamill prevailing in a tactical battle against Phil Tener as he took a difficult red to the top right corner before guiding a tricky frame ball into the bottom right for a 2-2 stalemate.

That was to be as good as it got for the Ballygawley men as Golf Club reeled in three successive racks to create a lead, that in fairness, they never looked like surrendering.

That said it could have been so different though in frame five when Bob Herron squared up to Tiffy Quinn.

Herron having missed a red hanging over the corner basket was fortunate to get back to the table and he atoned that error with a slice of good fortune into the bargain. Bob cut his final red into the middle pocket and having sunk the black the small but enthusiastic crowd held their breath as the cue ball trickled towards the corner pocket before pulling up millimetres from dropping.

Barry Devlin added his second frame of the evening when removing his final three reds to tap the black into the middle against Tiffy Quinn. Golf Club now had the breathing space they craved and, when Dee McClements punished Niall Hamill’s dry break with an impressive eight ball clearance they were on their way.

Martin Shorrt kept Tiffy’s alive when getting the measure of Dave Wilson, but the pressure was mounting as their dominant hosts surged to the winning line. Another three frame burst quelling the visiting challenge.

Skipper Phillip Tener leading the charge when he doubled the black ball into the bottom right corner against Chris Beattie.

In frame ten Conor Colhoun lost the cue ball against Bob Herron, but Herron was unable to close the game out. After potting his final two yellows he missed a straight black that offered ‘Fluff’ a counter clearance lifeline. Colhoun worked his way down to the black but overran the white ball and missed the attempted pot allowing Herron the opportunity to move his side to within a point of victory when finding the left centre pocket from close range.

Barry Devlin keeping his composure with an assured clearance against Hamill to spark euphoric celebrations from his teammates as the Golf Club ended a successful year on a winning note.

30/03/2025

Donaghy’s ‘D’ complete league and Cup double

Donaghy’s ‘D’ 3 Boyle’s ‘B’ 2

Donaghy’s ‘D’ added the JPS Construction Dungannon Pool League Division Two League title to the Division Two Knock out Cup on Thursday evening when scraping over the line against a valiant Boyle’s ‘B’.

In a week of finals week drama at the William Street venue this final pairing between the two most consistent teams in this division ranked up among them as the outcome went all the way to the final black of the final frame as momentum ebbed and flowed right to the finish. It all added to the excitement of the occasion before Conor McKee came to the home sides rescue, when potting the decisive black to secure a fully warranted double for his team.

Three of the five matches required a deciding frame shootout to underline just how evenly matched the teams were and it made for a fascinating battle. Interestingly a recent cup semi final also went to a final frame decider so it really should have come as no surprise that this latest instalment should also go the distance.

Boyles made a confident start to the evening as Teeny McNulty’s experience shone through against East Timorian Jonato Boavida whose normally relaxed potting style deserted him. Whether it was nerves, or the occasion just got to the young potting protégé is debatable, but McNulty seized his opportunity with both hands and posted a comfortable 2-0 success to give the Cappagh men the early edge.

Olly McGrath and Niall Tennyson faced off in an extremely competitive second pairing that required all three frames to find a winner. Tennyson showing his composure with a string of brilliant pots as he navigated his way to the match winning black.

The best performance of the night came from Donaghy’s cueist Padraig McNally as he ousted Michael Nugent in straight frames. McNally having took the opening frame showed considerable bottle and character when rolling his final ball down the rail before landing perfectly on the black. While other players would have considered a safety McNally threw all his eggs into one basket and went full blooded for the pot. It was a brave decision in the circumstances because if he had missed Nugent would surely have squared the tie again, but it paid handsomely for McNally as he nudged the double chasers 2-1 ahead.

With victory in sight SP McGuckin charged out of the blocks in his match against Odhran McNulty and looked primed to complete a quality eight ball clearance. Six yellows into his attempt McGuckin unfortunately lost position and, a relieved McNulty benefitted from a number of shrewd safety shots. With ball in hand McNulty trimmed the deficit and managed to keep his nerve in check as the game went to the third frame. McGuckin having chances to close the match out before McNulty mopped up a useful clearance to send a gripping final the whole way.

Given the prize on offer nerves understandably surfaced as Conor McKee and Cathal Corr shared the opening two frames to leave the outcome hinging on the last frame of the evening. It was fitting the result should run the course with ‘Goose’ wasting a glorious chance to win it for Boyle’s. Both men had ample opportunities on the final black before McKee eventually despatched it to complete a deserving title winning double for the jubilant ‘D’ men.

30/03/2025

Donaghy’s ‘A’ triumph in Division One Shield Final.

Donaghy’s ‘A’ 3 Gervin’s 1

Donaghy’s ‘A’ secured the Division One Shield title after getting the better of Gervin’s in a hard-fought final in Donaghy’s Bar on Wednesday evening as the JPS Construction Dungannon Pool League finals week reached the halfway stage.

It may not have been the silverware either team targeted at the start of the season, but nonetheless a win is a win and, on their return to the topflight Donaghy’s will be pleased with their latest success as they added to the title winning exploits of their ‘D’ counterparts the previous night.

The hosts won six of the ten frames played in this final encounter on a night Gervin’s will feel the run of the ball went against them particularly as Finbarr Hughes and Joe Gervin were on the receiving end of 2-1 reversals following extremely competitive jousts.

It had all started so promisingly for the Coalisland men as they took the opening battle in straight frames. Conor Tierney capitalised on a rare error from PJ Barnard, who inexplicably missed a straight black for first frame allowing Tierney to pounce with an impressive counter thrust when sinking his final four reds before guiding home the simplest of blacks.

The second frame proved to an error strewn affair as Barnard proceeded to squander another frame winning chance that afforded Tierney the opportunity to work his way down to the black before a black ball safety exchange added to the tension. Barnard unfortunate in losing the cue ball as Tierney tapped the black into the top right-hand pocket.

Donaghy’s response was swift and decisive as Captain Nico Guckin delivered a very composed and accomplished performance to take out Steven Corr in two frames. McGuckin fired home a quality clearance in rack one and when he missed a simple black to wrap proceedings up Corr really should have levelled the argument. However, he lost control of the white and with ball in hand McGuckin applied the necessary finish to bring his team level at one apiece.

Match three featured Finbarr Hughes and Padraig Flanagan in an intriguing tactical encounter that saw both men demonstrating their table knowledge to the full. Hughes easing his way to the opening frame with a couple of outstanding pots before a protracted second frame dominated by safety play highlighted the visitors’ fortunes. Hughes butchered a winning opportunity when missing an easy red for a 2-0 win and ‘Reeko’ took full advantage to restore parity when finding the top right bucket with the eight ball. The deciding frame saw both men enjoying the upper hand before several intelligent snookers presented Flanagan with the frame winning opening, he desired to move Donaghy’s 2-1 ahead.

The meeting Joe Gervin and Tony Skeffington also went the distance with the Donaghy’s ace showcasing his potting ability under extreme pressure in the opening frame. Gervin missed a red to the bottom left corner that would have given him a frame clinching black to the left middle. There appeared to be no danger as the white rolled towards the bottom rail leaving Skeffington facing a length of the table pressure yellow that if missed would have cost him the frame.

Skeffington hammered the yellow in with aplomb before finding the middle with his last ball to leave the black to the corner. Gervin levelled the match again with a solid clearance before a tense deciding frame favoured the hosts. Skeffington missed a title winning black that went unpunished as Gervin gifted his opponent ball in hand as he attempted to take a red towards the centre pocket. Skeffington accepting the present by setting the cue ball on the bottom cushion for the easiest of winning blacks. Donaghy’s ‘A’ consolidating their top tier status with silverware.

29/03/2025

‘Barndog’ rules the roost in Division One.

PJ Barnard (Donaghy’s ‘A’) 5 Dave Wilson (Golf Club ‘A’) 3

Friday night’s JPS Construction Division One Individual Final in Donaghy’s Bar may have provided an upset of sorts as PJ Barnard annexed the silverware at the expense of Golf Club cueist Dave Wilson.

However, that synopsis doesn’t do justice to Barnard’s performance on the night as he produced an irresistible display of potting that simply overwhelmed his more experienced opponent. To put this display into context PJ was unplayable and it is questionable if anyone else would have fared any better against the Donaghy’s star such was his dominance.

An assured and at times clinical showing included two sublime eight ball clearances and a seven ball out to the delight of a sizable home following as the ‘Barndog’ strode purposefully and confidently towards the title.

Throw in the fact that Barnard defeated Division One Player of the Year Niall Hamill in his own backyard enroute to the final he has proven himself to be more than a deserving champion.

As expected in all major final’s nerves played a part in the initial skirmishes and it showed as the normally reliable Wilson with ball in hand failed to clear an obstructing yellow over the bottom left corner when he rolled a red towards it.

Barnard closing the frame out in style when sinking his final two yellows before sliding the black into the centre pocket and he never looked back.

Wilson was unable to get the table time he needed because every time he arrived at the table; he found himself with no clear pots. On one occasion he opted to play a snooker with Barnard having a yellow hanging over the bottom right corner bucket, but Barnard showed his table knowledge with a sublime counter clearance.

Having played the white towards the top rail for an attempted double Barnard not only managed to pot that hanging yellow but he got perfect position on his last ball before sending the eight ball into the bottom left for a 2-0 advantage.

Barnard looked to be in complete control in the next, but Wilson somehow found a way to etch out a win to demonstrate his potential when crossing a yellow over the table to clear a red that was blocking his final yellow. A simple black to the right middle opening his account and as he grew into the match the Golf Club star restored parity at 2-2.

A superb pressure black to the middle completing a four-ball clearance and suddenly it was game on.

However, that was Barnard showed his pedigree as he reasserted his authority on the table with a quality six ball clearance on reds. A cracking cross double on the second last red teed up a tap in red to leave the black a mere formality to the left middle.

From that stage to the finish PJ bossed the game. An eight-ball clearance extending his lead to 4-2. It wasn’t straight forward though because he somehow proceeded to snooker himself on his last red.

Barnard not only escaped the snooker, but he potted the ball to leave a black double to the middle.

The Donaghy’s ace should have settled the verdict in the following frame, but the pressure was beginning to show as he missed a match winning black. Dave returned to the table and potted his final yellow but failed to get position on the black. Wilson opted to double it but failed to find the target allowing Barnard a second match clinching opportunity which he failed to take to gift Wilson a lifeline.

That setback may have shaken many other players, but Barnard dusted himself down and secured the title in emphatic style. A stunning eight ball dish from the break confirming his supremacy and with it the honour of being crowned Division One Individual champion. Well done ‘Barndog’

29/03/2025

Beggs crowned Division Two Individual champion.

Johnny Beggs 5 Gary McFall 2

The opening action of Tuesday evening’s JPS Construction Dungannon Pool League finals week in Donaghy’s Bar paired Station ‘A’s Johnny Beggs against Gary McFall (Donaghy’s ‘D’) in the Division Two Individual decider.

Beggs went into this appetising contest chasing a unique double having collected the Division Two ‘Player of the Year’ accolade with a 100% winning record that saw him posting twelve wins from twelve assignments, but given the quality of his astute opponent, he knew he could take nothing for granted.

McFall having come out of the tougher half of the draw was attempting to win this prestigious event for a second time in four years having accounted for SP McAleer in Stewartstown a few years ago, but on the night, the Donaghy’s skipper was left to reflect on a slow start as he handed Beggs an insurmountable lead.

Johnny signalled his intent in the opening frame as he immediately got into a steady potting rhythm when clearing the yellows down to the black ball. His attempted shot on the eight-ball wobbled and stuck over the corner pocket offering McFall a chance of a counter clearance. McFall managed a pot but was unlucky in losing the white into the right middle pocket leaving Beggs with a simple tap in for a lead he never looked like losing.

The template for the clash had been set with Beggs dominating the table time and as McFall struggled to settle Beggs took full advantage when mopping up the final three balls on his way to a 2-0 advantage.

A clinical cross double on the black made it 3-0 before the first major turning point of the evening arrived in frame four.

McFall found himself facing a black on the bottom cushion and with Beggs having his final two yellows on the top rail Gary went for broke when playing safe perhaps would have been the safer option.

An audacious length of the table double hung over the top right corner pocket and as the cue ball drifted up table Beggs capitalised with a tidy finish. A delicate cannon on the final yellow as he potted developed the opportunity to establish a four-frame lead, when it should have and could have so easily been two. Such are the fine margins of pool.

To his credit McFall refused to accept defeat and staged a sterling rally as he sought to put some respectability on the score board. Beggs did have a match winning chance that went astray, and McFall pounced to illustrate his battling traits. He negotiated the final three reds before despatching the black into the corner with authority to finally put a well-deserved frame on the board. Boosted by that clearance McFall applied pressure as a delightful screw back from the middle onto his last colour left a straight black to the opposite middle for a 4-2 deficit.

The momentum was shifting as Begg’s missed a match clinching black allowing McFall a golden opportunity to reduce the gap further. Unfortunately, he failed to get position on the black and after both players had shots on the black Beggs sealed victory with a cracking length of the table double into the left corner pocket.

The Station ‘A’ cueist a fully deserving winner on a night he completed a unique double by adding the Division Two Individual title to his ‘Player of the Year’ award. Johhny only dropped four frames on his way to the silverware two of which came in the final so Gary can be rightly proud of his efforts on a night he was on the backfoot from the outset.

Dungannon Pool League 2024/25

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