Charity Shield is a clash of the Titans and Times Bar Scorpions

Clash of Titans: Charity Shield to Kick Off New Season at Whiteabbey Legion

The wait is finally over for local sports fans as the official curtain-raiser for the highly anticipated new season has been locked in. In what promises to be an explosive opening fixture, league champions Titans will go head-to-head with the formidable Times Bar Scorpions in the traditional Charity Shield match.

The blockbuster clash is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 25th August, at the iconic Whiteabbey Royal British Legion club on Shore Road. As the very first match of the new campaign, the fixture carries immense weight, offering both teams a golden opportunity to secure the first piece of silverware of the season and lay down a definitive marker for the months ahead.

A Battle of Giants

The Titans enter the match riding a wave of momentum following their spectacular league-winning campaign last season. Known for their tactical discipline and clinical execution, the reigning champions will be eager to prove that their hunger hasn't diminished over the summer break. Winning the Charity Shield would provide the perfect launchpad for their title defence.

However, the Times Bar Scorpions are not to be underestimated. Having pushed the

champions to their absolute limits in their previous encounters, the Scorpions are hungry for redemption and silverware. Sporting a focused line up and a fierce determination to disrupt the champions' dominance, the Scorpions will view the 25th August showdown as the ideal stage to make a statement.

Playing for a Vital Cause

Following a democratic league-wide vote involving all participating teams, Impact Network NI has been officially named the Charity of the Year. The proceeds raised throughout the evening and throughout the season will go directly toward supporting this vital regional organisation.

Originally established to drive community development, Impact Network NI works tirelessly to tackle the severe impacts of poverty and economic hardship across Northern Ireland. The charity provides crucial hands-on services focusing on:

• Mental health and emotional wellbeing initiatives
• Suicide prevention programs and community training
• Health inequalities and community transformation support
• Structured volunteering and local development planning

The Perfect Venue

Hosting this prestigious curtain-raiser is the Whiteabbey Legion, a venue renowned for its welcoming atmosphere and fantastic community spirit. Local supporters are expected to turn out in large numbers to pack the club room and witness this fierce rivalry ignite once again. We also hope to have a live stream for anyone who cannot make it to the impartial venue.

With tribal pride, early-season bragging rights, and a prestigious trophy all up for grabs, the Charity Shield clash between the Titans and the Times Bar Scorpions is set to be an unmissable start to the sporting calendar. Mark your calendars for 25th August—the new season officially starts here.

CDPL History Made: Record-Breaking 19 Teams Enter the Field

CDPL sponsored by SKC Gaming NI History Made: Record-Breaking 19 Teams Enter the Field


Welcome to the most monumental season in our pool league’s history! This year, we are officially shattering all previous records by welcoming an incredible 19 teams to the green baize.

We are thrilled to welcome a massive field of contenders this year, featuring Alpha, Bay City Bowlers, Enthusiastic Amateurs, Grange Ballyclare, Greenisland Colts, Greenisland Galacticos, Kilroot True Blues, Pink Ladies, Q Club Larne, Q Club Queens, Q Club Titans, Railway Blues, Sharpshooters, Spartans, Times Bar Scorpions, Times Tigers, Top Guns, Whiteabbey Legion, and Whitehead Trojans.

The Ultimate Test: Everyone Plays Everyone

With a single, massive grid of 19 teams under the Premier Division banner, the initial phase of the season will be a true test of skill and consistency. Every single team will face off against one another. There are no easy draws and no hiding places. To climb the leader board from these zeroed-out stats, you will need to bring your absolute best game every single week.

The Mid-Season Split: Two New Divisions

To keep the competition fierce and fair for everyone, we are introducing an exciting format twist at the halfway mark. Once every team has played each other once, the league will officially split into two distinct divisions based on the standings:
The Premiership: The highest-ranking 9 teams will battle it out for the ultimate championship title.
The Championship: The remaining 10 teams will compete for a dedicated divisional trophy and crucial bragging rights.

This split guarantees that the second half of the season remains highly competitive for every player. Every team will have a meaningful trophy to fight for, right down to the final frame of the season.

Get your cues ready, practice your breaks, and let’s make this record-breaking season our best one yet. Good luck to all 19 teams!

Our League Opener is the the Charity Shield which will be contested between the Titans and the Scorpions on 25th August.

 

A mindful Celebration Event Pool Together

On Friday 26^th June The Carrick & District Pool League, sponsored by SKC Gaming NI Ltd, held their much anticipated ‘Pool Together’ event. This was the last night of the 2025/26 season.

Over 100 registered players and their families came to Greenisland Working Men’s Club to a celebration and mindfulness themed entertainment. A massive thanks to Councillor Bobby Hadden for presenting the trophies.

Impact Network NI supported the men’s mental health theme and there were several products at each table promoting Lifeline. They will also be supporting mental health training this year for players.

The accolades were spread across the teams and players.

Where the trophies went:

Wooden spoon - Pink Ladies.

Ladies singles - Jean McIlroy.

Mixed doubles - Richard Kitson and Saralou Graham

Under 23s - Riley Patterson

Bottom Half singles - Aaron Watters

Grand Masters - Stephen Johnston

Masters –  Steven Mclaughlin

Seniors – Chris Carson

Open Championship – Paul Kerr

Player of the year – Paul Kerr

Doubles - Chris and Jack Carson

Three a sides – Steven Herron, Johnny Mackay & Wayne Lewis

Amber Castle Harbour Cup – Bowlers

Knockagh Cup – Q Club

Castle Cup - Grange

Mulholland Funeral Services Players Memorial Shield - Spartans

Acorn Blinds Knockout Cup – Titans

Charity Shield – Galacticos

League Champions - Titans

A massive thank you to all players, proprietors, venues, sponsors and fans for making this a special season.

Our Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday 1^st August in Greenisland Workingmen’s Club at 8pm. At this meeting you can register your team for the new season. Have a lovely Summer.

The first fixture of the new season will be the charity shield between The league champions, Titans and the runners up, Time Scorpions. Tuesday 25^th August and the first league match will be Tuesday 1^st September.

 

Riley is the Under 23's Champion

It’s another competition and another win for the Titans golden boy, Riley Patterson. He was crowned the CDPL U23s champion last night in one of our league’s finest venues, Grange Bar.
Quarterfinals: William McCullough won 4-3 against Adam Crossett
Semi Finals
James Robertson won 5-4 against William McCullough
Riley Patterson won 5-4 against Lewis Neill
Final
Riley Patterson won 6-4 against James Robertson
Well done young man.

With that final black we see the curtain coming down on the 2025/26 season kindly sponsored by SKC GAMING NI.

All that's left is the have our end of season celebration event POOL TOGETHER sponsored by Impact Network NI on 26/06/26 and we are done. 

Hopefully see you all there and again in the following season kicking off in September.

Final League Match of the season

The final league match results, league table and player of the year sponsored by SKC Gaming NI Ltd
The Whitehead Trojans welcomed the Larne Q Club to the Rangers club for the last game of the season. The match started with Mark Abram winning with some great potting. The Trojans Stephen Hamilton won the second frame to even up the match but the Q Club then took control of the match by winning the next 3 frames Rorie McAllister, Ian McCalmont and Ciaran O'Toole. The last frame was between Girvan Fleming and Rorie McAllister the match went down to black ball. Q Club player Rorie left the black ball safe on the bottom cushion with white ball half way up the table. Trojans Girvan Fleming saw that there was no good safe shoot so he just hit the ball as hard as he could. The black ball went round the table off four cushions and went into the bottom left pocket. The teams then set down for burgers and chips, thanks to Jared McFadden for cooking the food.
The second half started the same as the first with Mark Abram winning the first frame. The second frame was won by Jared McFadden with 3 great shoot to win the frame the next 3 frames were won by the Q Club . Trojans Gary Fitzsimmons won the 12 frame and the last 2 frame were won by Q Club winning the match 10 - 4 . Top players of the night Mark Abram 3/3 and Ciaran O'Toole
Other results are in the image below:

The final league table is on the left of the homepage. Well done to Titans and tanks to all players and teams for a great season.

Mulhollands' Players Memorial Shield IT'S SPARTANS AGAIN !!!

The preliminary rounds of the Players Memorial Shield, sponsored by Mulhollands Funeral Directors.

Results were: Trojans 2-8 Spartans; Whiteabbey Legion 8-5 Times Bar Tigers; Bay City Bowlers 8-5 Pink Ladies; Q Club Titans 8-5 Colts; Galacticos 0-8 Blues; Q Q-Club Larne 8-0 The Stadium Bar.

First round results were:
Bowlers 4 Titans 8
Blues 3 Q Club 8
Scorpions 6 Grange 8
Spartans 8 Legion 6


Semi finals took place in Q-Club Larne on 9th June.

Q Club 8-6 Grange Ballyclare
It was Memorial Shield sponsored by Mulhollands Funeral Directors, action on Tuesday night as Q Club and Grange played in the first Semi Final.
Q Club got off to a fast start to go 2-0 up via William Irvine and Ciaran O’Toole. Thomas Fleming and Michael Wilson would level
things up though with 2 good clearances. The Grange would take the lead at half time 4-3 getting the best of the 2 doubles matches.
Going into the second half it was the Ballyclare men who kept the momentum going with the pair off Uel Wallace/Gary Neeson making it 5-3. The last doubles match was a must win for Q Club and Ciaran O’Toole/William Irvine edged them over the line to keep the match finely poised. Richard Kitson made it 6-4 to the Grange but the Larne men found a turn of foot and managed to take the last 4 frames to move into the Final. Highlight being the last frame and a reverse dish from Q Club vice captain Rorie McAllister.
In the other semi the Spartans beat Titans 8-5.


The Final was played on Tuesday 16th June in The Times Bar, York Road, Belfast.

Kenny English's Spartans Pool Team added to their impressive record in the Mulhollands Funeral Directors’ Players Memorial Competition by once again bringing the trophy back to Whitehead Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club.
Spartans opponents were the Q. Club, Larne and it was they who raced into a 2-0 lead courtesy of wins for William Irvine and Ciaran O'Toole. Robert Hawkins steadied the ship for Spartans with a double on the black in Frame 3 but Kyzler Todd restored the two frame advantage in Rack 4. When we reached the interval Spartans had moved ahead 4-3, Stephen McLaughlin winning his Singles Frame and the pairings of Kenny English/Billy Pawson and Mark Millar/Alan Johnston winning both Doubles matches.
To the second half and the first two frames of Doubles were shared, Ian McCalmont/Kyzler Todd winning for Q. Club and Robert Hawkins/Stephen McLaughlin for Spartans. Back to Singles Frames next for the rest of the match and although Ciaran O'Toole registered his second win of the night for Q. Club, a fantastic finish from Mark Millar and another win for Stephen McLaughlin put Spartans on the hill. And just as he had done on Sunday at the NIPA Counties Final event it was the experienced Alan Johnston who kept his nerve to reverse dish on a dry break and give Spartans their sixth win in the annual Carrick League Players Memorial.
Big thanks to the Times Bar for hosting the final as we remember all those players who graced our League but are no longer with us.

POOL TOGETHER - SAVE THE DATE

SAVE THE DATE!!!


CDPL POOL TOGETHER celebration on Friday 26th June is generously sponsored by Impact Network NI and kindly hosted by Greenisland Working Men's Social Club

Listening to a meaningful song can improve mental health by reducing stress, lifting mood, and helping people process emotions in a healthy way in the company of friends.

If you will be at this event we ask you to suggest a song for the dj that means something to you to add to the mindful playlist.

The annual Carrick District Pool League doubles tournament concluded last night in Grange Bar. In the first semi final Rab Butler and Derek Whiteside faced off Ryan Scott and Jackie Murdock. Jackie and Ryan eventually progressed 5-3 in this epic battle. They started thirty minutes before the other semi final and ended thirty minutes after that final was over.
The other semi final had Gary Neesan and Richard Kitson taking on father and son pairing of Chris and Jack Carson. The father and son pairing progressed to the final rapidly winning 5-1.

The final was a show of great tactical frames and exceptional finishing. Chris Carson and Jack Carson ran out deserved winners 6-2 lifting their second doubles title in three years. Well done to all and thanks to Grange Bar for hosting in their immaculate venue.

Titans at the double In The corn Blinds KO Cup

The Titans completed a superb league and cup double after sealing an impressive 8-5 victory in a high-quality contest over the Grange.
One of our Carrick & District Pool League’s most prestigious cup competitions concluded last night. The AcornBlinds NI Ltd Knock Out Cup final took place in one of the leagues finest q sports venues, Q-Club Larne.

Grange pool team from Ballyclare travelled to Larne to face the league champions elect, Titans.
Both teams battled hard throughout the night, with several close frames keeping the match finely balanced, but the champions once again showed the experience and composure that has made them the team to beat this season.

There were standout performances all around for the Titans, but the moment of the night belonged to “the crafty pensioner,” Alan Corrigan, who produced a moment of pure class in the deciding stages.
With the pressure on and the frame there to be won, he calmly stepped up and drilled a fantastic long black up the rail to seal the victory in style.
The winning pot sparked huge celebrations as the Titans wrapped up an outstanding campaign, securing the league double and further cementing their place as deserved champions winning 8-5.

Aaron Watters lifts the Bottom Half Singles

A massive well done to the inaugural champion of the Carrick District Pool League bottom half singles, Aaron Watters (pictured in left in red).
In the semis Aaron won the deciding frame 5-4 against Steve Simpsy from Times Tigers.
Phil Watson (pictured right in grey) reached the final by defeating Trojans Girvan Fleming 5-3.
In the final Aaron raced to a 3-1 lead before Stadium’s Philip Watson pegged him back to 4-3. The Colts star held his nerve and took the final two frames becoming a worthy winner.
Well done sir.
A big thanks to Greenisland Working Men's Social Club for hosting the finals night.

Mulhollands Players Memorial Shield draw

Carrick District Pool League are delighted to announce a brand new partnership.

Mulhollands Funeral Directors are sponsoring the Players Memorial Shield. They provide funeral services to communities in County Antrim via branches in Larne and Carrickfergus.

Through this competition we honour those players who have graced Carrick District Pool League.

This annual event helps us to remember and honour our former pool players with dignity and respect.

The prelims are on Tuesday 19th May

1. Trojans v Spartans
2. Legion v Tigers
3. Bowlers v Ladies
4. Titans v Colts
5. Galacticos v Blues
6. Q club v Stadium

 
On Tuesday 26th May
1v2
3v4
5v6
Scorpions v Grange




The semi and final will take place in Q-Club Larne on 9th June.

The format is 5 singles and 2 scotch doubles. then 2 scotch doubles and 5 singles, Randomly drawn If its 7-7 a player will be randomly drawn for a 1 frame shootout.


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Stevie McLaughlin Masters Champion

Congratulations to Stephen Mclaughlin (of Spartans pool team) on winning this seasons Masters tournament sponsored by SKC Gaming NI Ltd
Stevie overcame a tough run to the final taking down Davy Blair, Darren Whiteside,, Aaron Farr and Paul Kerr to meet Gary Neesaon in the final.
Gary in the other half took out Darren Haddock (who knocked out Alan Johnston in prelims), Mark Porter, Harry Warwick and Kenny English to reach the final.
The final was a tactical affair with Stevie McGlaughlin winning 6-4. A big thanks to Grange Bar for hosting it.

Titans are the champions!!!

And now it’s official, Q Club Titans are the champions of the Carrick District Pool League after an outstanding, undefeated season.
With 3 points for a win and one game remaining the second placed Times Bar Scorpions are 4 points behind.
Scorpions will finish second as Galacticos fell at the final hurdle against Bay City Bowlers and are now 7 points adrift.
Paul Kerr is officially the player of the year for the fifth time with a record breaking +50 frames under his belt.
A big thanks to SKC Gaming NI Ltd for their continued commitment and support in their partnership with our league.
Match reports will follow.
On Tuesday night Times Bar Scorpions hosted Whitehead Trojans in the Carrick and District Pool League sponsored by SKC Gaming NI Ltd.
Davy Blair took out a great finish to get the ball rolling for the Scorpions. Stephen Johnston soon made it 2-0. Darren Whiteside, Paul Kerr, Darren Haddock, a second for Stephen and a second for Davy Blair and the scorpions went into the half time interval a commanding 7-0 up.
Trojans Stephen Hamilton stopped the rot with a classing black. Paul Kerr secured all 3 points soon after, spurring on his team mates to romp home with the next six frames in a row. Darren Whiteside took the quickest break and dish of the night in under a minute. Darren Haddock and Davy Blair both had hat tricks and great pressured finishes.
Paul Kerr also had a hat trick and his personal tally this season is an outstanding +50 at the top of the player of the year.
Final score Times Bar Scorpions 13- 1 Trojans securing at least second place in the league.

Masters 2025/26

Carrick District Pool League Masters was drawn last night  Live on (1) Facebook

Matches are races to 4. Top half of the draw is in Grange Bar Ballyclare and bottom half of the draw is in Greenisland Working Men's Social Club.

Prelims Start at 7:30 sharp. Players are advised that they will lose a frame every 5 minutes they are late after 7:30.

First round players should be at the venues for 8pm sharp. If a table is free and your opponent is ready to play you will lose a frame every 5 minutes you are late (after 8pm).

If your name is in the draw and you do not turn up you will still be charged £10 for entering the competition.

 
Unpaid fees will prevent you playing in the league next season.

Thanks again to our league sponsor SKC Gaming NI Ltd

Titans March on with the biggest win of the week

The Carrick District Pool League sponsored by SKC Gaming NI Ltd the top and bottom of the table stayed the same.
League leaders Titans romped to an emphatic 3-11 away win against Greenisland Colts.
In the Times Bar Derby between second placed Scorpions and Tigers a cagey frame started proceedings and a great black by David Robert Blair secured the frame. Aaron Leslie was unusually lacklustre in the second but still had a chance and was clinically punished by an on fire Steve Simpsy who would end up player of the match with what turned out to be 3 smashing finishes.
Stephen Johnston won a scrappy third. Paul Kerr was much the same in the fourth followed by another tense frame in which Darren Haddock took out a decent finish.
Simpsy put the white off the table to give Cinto a chance at the reverse dish but he missed the black. Simpsy snookered him and even though Cinto hit the black, Simpsy took them out superbly well.
Davy Blair took out a lovely finish against Bug to make it 5-2 Scorpions at the interval.
Second half started with a great break and dish from Steve Simpsy. Aaron Leslie capitalised on a foul by Sam Sloan to put another one on the board. Paul Kerr made it 7 with a patient frame before Davy Blair secured all 3 points with another great finish (probably finish of the night).
Darren Haddock somehow managed to lose a frame he should never have lost. Paul won another cagey one against Tom McGurk and Darren Haddock wrapped it up when he should have been beat. Final score Scorpions 10 Tigers 4.
This result maintains second place in the league, for now.
Third placed Galacticos could only manage a draw at 5th placed Q-Club Larne.
4th placed Spartans had a 10-4 victory over Railway Blues.
sixth placed Grange put Whiteabbey Legion to the sword with a 10-4 win.
Bowlers went down 5-9 to Stadium Bar in a live streamed match Facebook
Propping up the league, Pink ladies went down to a 12-2 defeat by Trojans.

We go into Easter with a fortnights international break as some of our players head to Gibraltar to represent Northern Ireland in the European Pool Championships.
We wish them all the best of luck.