Last week I had the honour of Coaching the Republic of Ireland Juniors to beat the Welsh Juniors in the 2019 International Celtic Challenge Cup in the Ivy Rooms SC on Saturday 22nd of June by 92 frames to 52 and retain their Junior title in style with a session to spare.
This event features the best Under 14 and Under 16 players from the Republic Of Ireland and Wales playing 6 matches of 2 frames each on the day to find the Champion. RIBSA juniors won all 6 sessions on the day.
- Team Captain
Team Captain Jack Newman from Fermoy SC was presented with the perpetual cup by Jim Leacy and Gordon Pantall in front of a large cheering crowd in the Ivy Rooms SC in Carlow and he thanked RIBSA, Welsh Snooker, Ivy Rooms and all the players on a superb day of Junior Snooker and he was delighted to captain the winning Irish Team.
National Coach PJ Nolan said ” he was delighted to see the players play with so much confidence and that all the hard work done by RIBSA in developing our Juniors is starting to achieve more and more success stories each season and he feels this is only the start of the journey for the crop of Juniors”
Session Scores on the day
- Session 1: Republic of Ireland 15-9 Wales
- Session 2: Republic of Ireland 15-9 Wales
- Session 3: Republic of Ireland 15-9 Wales
- Session 4: Republic of Ireland 15-9 Wales
- Session 5: Republic of Ireland 16-8 Wales
- Session 6: Republic of Ireland 16-8 Wales
Overall Score: Republic Of Ireland 92 – 52 Wales
- Live Streaming & YouTube
This year four tables were live streamed via the ribsa web site and you can view the matches now via the ribsa you tube channel. CLICK HERE
- Player of the Tournament
Irishman Ryan McGuirk crowned the perfect day when he won all his matches 2-0 to secure the player of the tournament award on the day and he also had the highest break on the day with a 53 break.
The TD on the day was National Coach PJ Nolan and the action began at 10am with the final session at 6.30pm. The presentation of certificates to all the players and officials was made by RIBSA President Jim Leacy and Welsh Association Gordon Pantal.
- The Irish Teams
Irish U-16 Team: Jack Newman – Fermoy CYMS, Co. Cork – Team Captain, Ryan McGuirk – R&R SC, Co. Meath, Leone Crowley – Cork, Noel Gleeson – Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Alex Currid – Liam Mellows SC, Co. Wexford, Lewis Casserly – R & R SC Co Meath
Irish U-14 Team: Aaron Smith – Potters SC, Louth, Adam Quinn – Edenderry SC, Offaly, Ronan McGuirk – R&R SC, Meath, James O Connell – Cork, Jack O Brien – Rathkeale SC, Limerick and Clayton Cregan – Classic SC, Co Dublin.
RIBSA Team Managers are PJ Nolan and Declan Quinn
- The Welsh Teams
U/16 team : Liam Davies – Oliver Bridle – Bradley Tyson -Dainton Barrass – Jacob Boyle – Harvey Rees. U/14 team: Oliver Briffitt-Payne – Oliver Phillips – Zac Cosker – Riley Powell – Ryan Davies – William Shadrach
- Referees in Action this year
This year RIBSA Referees Pat Mooney and Gerry Russell are in action on the day.