BRIAN BRADY MEMORIAL

Cowboys

Brian Brady

Congratulations to Hugh McMurtrys Cowboys Pool Team. They stormed to victory in the Brian Brady Memorial Shield last night in the Swift Bar, Carrickfergus. Cowboys became the first team representing the "bottom half of the table" to win the Shield played in honour of former League stalwart Brian Brady.

Always a good night when the entire league comes together under the 1 roof and for 1 night only the managers give over control off selection to the luck of the draw.

The top half of the draw got under way with The Scorpions beating the Hitmen & Her 4-2, a full turn of the black could’ve made it 3 each but it wasn’t to be for the Monkstown team. With the Galacticos and the Doagh Weapons receiving byes, the last remaining semi-final spot was contested between the Spartans and The Swift. The Whitehead lads won the first singles 2-1 and were looking good for the win only for the league leaders to close out the next 3 to win 4-2.

The bottom half kicked off with the Cowboys taking on The Trojans. Hugh McMurtry’s lads showed their intent early on with a 4 nil drubbing of the Whitehead lads. Over on table 4 The Teddy Bears got off to a great start taking the first 3 frames however Clare Roberts’ Warriors won both the doubles to make it 3-2. With only 1 more player available, The Teddy Bears made sure in the next to win 4-2.With  what can only be described as positional pool, The Alpha and The Greenisland Colts played out a 2 and a half hour marathon with the Rathcoole team coming out 4-3 winners.

The Top half semi-finals got underway with The Swift taking on The Greenisland Galacticos, holders of the Shield. With the Greenisland lads sitting 3-1 up Swift manager Paul Roberts took matters into his own hands winning his doubles and the next single to level the score 3 each. With a wise head on young shoulders Dean McDonagh played out a controlled game to put the holders in the top half final. On Table 1 The Doagh Weapons got their evening off to a flyer taking the first 3 frames and looked to be cruising for a whitewash. However, the Scorpions got themselves in with a shout, winning both the doubles, but it wasn’t to be as Rab McCullough closed out the match to book a place in the top half final against his old team.

The Bottom half semi-finals were over in the blink of an eye with The Cowboys ripping out The Teddy Bears 4 nil and the Greenisland Working Men’s Club taking out the Alpha 4 nil also. The final kicked off with the Cowboys winning their ninth straight frame of the evening, Andy Mackey levelled the scores and a good match looked to be on the cards, however, it wasn’t to be as Hugh McMurtry’s lads quickly found themselves on the hill with 2 to play. The Greenisland lads didn’t take their chances so The Cowboys chilled out and awaited the winner of the top half final.

The holders took a slim 2-1 lead after the singles in the top half final, with the doubles shared. The Doagh Weapons needed to win the remaining 2 frames to make the grand final and they didn’t disappoint with Manager Tyler McConnell beating his international manager Trevor Whiteside to level the scores. It was left to their talisman Iain Britton to get them over the line, which he finally did.

A fitting final for the Brian Brady Shield between 2 relatively new teams The Cowboys & The Doagh Weapons got underway. With the Cowboys taking every chance on offer, they found themselves on the hill in double quick time. The Doagh lads got themselves back into contention winning both the doubles to make the score 3-2. With a big fat middle bag for the black, the Weapons looked nailed on to level the score and with plenty still to come they were feeling confident. The occasion, late hour, who knows but the black stayed on the table and the script couldn’t have been better written as Cowboys Manager Hugh McMurtry cleared the table to lift the shield. To think only 4 short months ago The Cowboys were on the verge of disbanding, a very popular team now also have the chance to lift the Knock-Out Cup next Monday as they face league Champions The Greenisland Galacticos in the final.

The Carrick & District Pool League Committee would like to wish all their players and loved ones a very Merry Christmas and look forward to meeting you all on the baize January the sixth.

Top Half of table Last 8
Swift 4  Spartans 2
HM&H 2  Scorpions 4
Eastway 0  Greenisland Galacticos 4
Doagh Weapons  Bye

Top Half Semis

Greenisland Galacticos 4 Swift 3

Doagh Weapons 4 Scorpions 2

Top Half Final

Doagh Weaopns 4 Greenisland Galacticos 3

Bottom Half of table Last 8
Warriors 2  Teddy Bears 4
Trojans 0  Cowboys 4
Alpha 4  Colts 3
Greenisland WMSC  Bye

Bottom Half Semis

GWMSC 4 Alpha 0

Cowboys 4 Teddy Bears 0

Bottom Half Final

Cowboys 4 GWMSC 2

GRAND FINAL

COWBOYS 4 DOAGH WEAPONS 2