Pat helps Hawks soar in cup

The veteran Parochial cueman played a key role in inflicting a first defeat of the season on Division One title contenders Fountain Aces, in the opening round of the Knockout Cup.

With his team holding a slender 4-3 lead, Pat used his experience to see off Anthony Watson in the crucial eighth frame in the match thus negating the need for a deciding frame in the contest.

Danny McGarry had recorded a 2-0 win against Leonard Clewer but this early advantage for the Hawks was cancelled out by Aces Aidan Bradley defeating Paul Casey by the same score.

Hawks' Niall McElroy and Aces' Liam Kelly drew their game 1-1 - the Fountain man compiling a nice 58 break - to level the game before Pat McNally took centre stage and sent the Hawks back to Ballymena with a memorable victory.

Knockout Cup holders Fountain Jokers eased their way into the quarter-finals with a comfortable 5-1 success at Rafters Hotshots.

Calvin Brammeld and Nathan Curtis put the Jokers well in control with wins over Sammy Shirley and Paddy Hargin and although Andrew McAlonan pulled a frame back for the Ballymoney side, Jokers captain Joe Bingham ensured his side overcame the first hurdle in defence of their trophy by winning the opening frame against Cedric Hargin.

In the Cullybackey Road clubrooms Minnesota B and Minnesota Strikers advanced to the next round with comfortable wins over Dunloy United and Rafters Aces respectively.

Stephen McFall was in tremendous form for the B team. Having scored well in the first frame of his game with Brendan McTaggart, Stephen proceeded to play even better in the second frame and stitched together a 70 break on his way to an emphatic win.

A 2-0 win for William Dobbin and draws for Davy Swann and Keith Williams secured the result for the B team. Minnesota Strikers came through relatively comfortably against Rafters Aces with Hugh Larkin, signed recently from Minnesota A, recording a good debut win.

In Randalstown, the Minnesota A team also advanced to the next round but they required a play off frame to see off the spirited challenge from 147 Rockets.

Brian Hannaway and Rodney McFall won for the A team. Tony Magill defeated A team captain David McClintock 2-0 and with Robert Hamilton earning a walkover 2-0 victory due to Minnesota only having three players, a play off frame was required to determine the victors. Brian Hannaway held his nerve in the sudden death decider against Robert Hamilton to send the Ballymena side into the last eight.

An extra frame was also needed in the Rafters club as hosts Rafters Potters edged past Dunloy Galaxy.

Lee Gibson and Paddy McCook drew with Michael McPoland and Paul McQuillan respectively and Miceal Murphys 2-0 win for Galaxy over Dessie Lees was cancelled out by Mark Heggarty's 2-0 win over Bobby Darragh.

Mark Heggarty and Miceal Murphy were drawn together to play the sudden death frame with Mark ensuring that the current Division Two leaders took their place in the next round with a 66-29 victory.

Dunloy Cowboys completed the line up for the last 8 defeating Parochial Lions 5-3 with Randal McDonnell's 2-0 win over league chairman Ronnie McCart being the difference between the sides as his Cowboys team mates John Joe O'Neill, Aidan McErlaine and Gerard McAuley drew with Lions Billy Goodall, Rodney McAleese and Dennis Curran respectively.

The winning teams are now joined in the quarter-finals by Rafters Runners, recipients of a first round bye.

RESULTS

Fountain Aces 3, Parochial Hawks 5: (45] L Clewer 0, (55] D McGarry 2 (46-56, 31-62); (20] L Kelly 1, (50] N McElroy 1 (52-67, 72-40); (55] A Bradley 2, (45] P Casey 0 (68-65, 58-27); (50] A Watson 0, (60] P McNally 2 (41-55, 26-58). Break - Liam Kelly 58.

Rafters Hotshots 1, Fountain Jokers 5: (60] S Shirley 0, (45] C Brammeld 2 (24-69, 44-52); (60] P Hargin 0, (65] N Curtis 2 (43-52, 40-56); (50] A McAlonan 1, (60] D Brammeld 0 (63-45); (60] C Hargin 0, (50] J Bingham 1 (35-43).

Minnesota B 6, Dunloy United 2: (35] W Dobbin 2, (25] M Crawley 0 (55-45, 54-11); (30] S McFall 2, (45] B McTaggart 0 (87-30, 112-32); (20] D Swann 1, (55] C Cunning 1 (73-72, 31-73; (50] K Williams 1, (55] M Crilly 1 (47-40, 40-47). Breaks - Stephen McFall 70, 23, 27.

Minnesota Strikers 7, Rafters Aces 1: (60] R Dunlop 1, (55] J Davidson 1 (25-50, 72-34); (35] H Larkin 2, (55] K Clarke 0 (56-29, 65-63); (40] T Alexander 2, (50] P Hunter 0 (74-34, 55-50); (45] D Greer 2, (45] B Moore 0 (71-40, 53-26).

147 Rockets 4, Minnesota 'A' 5: (55] T Magill 2, (15] D McClintock 0 (68-64, 68-40); (50] P Brammeld 0, (15] B Hannaway 2 (58-89, 50-64); (55] R Hayes 0, (15] R McFall 2 (70-79, 73-80); (50] R Hamilton w/o v (25] M Thompson. Play-off: R Hamilton 54, B Hannaway 79.

Rafters Potters 5, Dunloy Galaxy 4: (35] L Gibson 1, (65] M McPoland 1 (79-49, 67-73); (50] M Heggarty 1, (65] B Darragh 1 (60-54, 70-46); (50] D Lees (40] M Murphy 2 (39-48, 37-49); (55] P McCook 1, (60] P McQuillan 1 (43-75, 61-51). Play-off: M Heggarty 66, M Murphy 29.