Niall Heffernan wins Westmeath intermediate title for third time
The 2022 Westmeath Intermediate Snooker Championship final was held in St Mary’s Snooker Club rooms on Bishopsgate Street, Mullingar during the last week.
This tournament is for the intermediate players on the Westmeath snooker circuit each year. In nine years of this tournament only five players have managed to win this event, with three winning the event twice, and now Pat Donohoe has improved his standing as a three-time winner.
Past winners: 2011 Anthony Cleary; 2012 Anthony Cleary; 2013 André Stalenburg; 2014 Pat Donohoe; 2015 Niall Heffernan; 2016 Niall Heffernan; 2017 Pat Donohoe; 2018 Chris Hayden; 2019 Pat Donohoe; 2022 Niall Heffernan.
Pat Donohoe Treasurer and Tournament Director got this final under way between the in-form Niall Heffernan and Barry Mulvaney. It was the best of five frames and the final and Stephen von Beaumont took charge of the scoreboard for the final.
Frame 1
The first frame was serious safety game with both players locked at scores coming to the colours. Barry had a good chance to take the last four balls to win on the black. After a great brown and blue Barry hit the pink too hard and left it hanging over the centre pocket for Heffo to drop it in for frame one. Even though Barry lost, he did look the stronger player, and Heffo was just not at the races at this time.
Frame 2
Frame two again saw Barry take a commanding lead and he managed to make sure Heffo could not find any form from the baulk cushion. Barry was getting stronger in this frame and seemed the more confident of the two players.
Frame 3
Frame three saw Barry open up with a series of really well-taken small breaks, with an odd fluke. Midway through the break he still managed to keep Niall on the back foot, and although Niall again had chances, he was playing the worst snooker of his life and failed to make any advances on the favourite to regain the title.
Heffo was trying to equal Pat Donohoe’s record of three wins in this event, but as this frame was destined for Barry, Heffo had it all to do.
Frame 4
The former champion had his back to the wall, trying to regain this title he last won in 2016. Barry was playing the better standard, but he let Heffo back into the game and this the fourth frame was Barry’s for the taking. Heffo rallied and managed, after a lot of safety shots, to win this frame to level the match.
Frame 5
The destiny of the Westmeath Intermediate Snooker Championship was down to this the final frame, and it was a toss of a coin who was going to come out on top and win the title.
Heffernan managed to get his game together, and he seems to always get stronger the more frames he plays. Barry was a great opponent and a dangerous player, and really it was anyone’s title.
This year Heffo managed to get over the line. Well done to Barry on reaching the final and pushing the new champ all the way.
Result: Niall Heffernan beat Barry Mulvaney 3-2: 61-49, 40-76, 9-62, 56-28, 79-44.
Heffernan now equals Pat Donohoe’s record of three titles, It will be interesting to see who gets out in front on the roll of honour going forward.
Presentation
Pat Donohoe, Treasurer and Tournament Director, presented the 2022 Westmeath Intermediate Snooker Championship Cup to the champion Niall Heffernan. Pat then presented the Finalist’s Voucher to Barry Mulvaney. Pat thanked both players for the spirit in which they played the final, and he looks forward to the Intermediates again next year.
In a statement, the club chairman Michael Kane thanked all the competitors for playing in the event, and sent his congratulations to the new champion.
Mick said he looks forward to the final senior tournament of the year, and the first of the senior events for 2022. The Mullingar Close Snooker Championship (Top 16) kicks off the 2022 season in our club.