Ryan Maher
(pictured right) from Dublin moved up to No. 2 on
the Youths' Rankings after defeating Paddy Meaney in the semi-finals and
Eric Power in the final of Round Three. John McKenna Jr is now at
No. 3 on the Rankings List and he is closely followed by three players tied
on 14 points.
Martin McCloskey wins through to last
16Mon, Jan 4th,
Republic of Ireland's Martin McCloskey marched into the last 16, dumping out 11th seed Steve West 3-2 in 46 minutes
The emerald isle player's never-say-die attitude saw him twice battle back to take the match into a deciding fifth set.
The experienced West blasted in two maximums as he annexed the first set in a speedy seven minutes, leaving the Republic of Ireland skipper a little shell-shocked.
Trailing in the opening leg of the next set West coolly despatched 138, finished on double nine and then followed up with two 60s and double tops to move into a menacing 2-0 lead.
But the red haired and bearded McCloskey, who is nicknamed "The Fox" and lives in County Donegal swept back to level with a 102 checkout finished on double 16, holding his nerve to clinch the set on double three.
The pencil-thin tall Irish player snatched the initiative in the next, taking the opening leg against the throw and taking the next but West roared back taking three successive legs, clinching the set on 65 finished on double tops.
With the throwing advantage, McCloskey raced through the fourth set unchallenged - despite West's third maximum - to take the game into a fifth set.
Defying the odds the County Donegal player took the opening leg against the throw and then nipped in with double eight, West defending his throw in the next.
Hitting a ton and 135 scores McCloskey was first to the double but missed three double 20s for the match, West then squandered efforts on double two and double one, before the grateful Republic of Ireland skipper slammed home the winning double tops.
Paddy
Meaney won the first two rounds of
the Youths' Championship and he has
a comfortable 10 point lead over
John McKenna Jr.
