Cathy Dunne from Dublin won the Kildare Snooker Open recently at the Celbridge Snooker Club making it her first win on the tour this season. Cathy was runner up on two other occasions during the season and along with this win she moves into number 2 spot provisionally on the National Rankings.
The prelim match between Stephanie Foley from Carlow and Delia Keane from Dublin went all the way to a black ball finish in the 3rd frame with Stephanie taking the black for frame and match to advance to the Quarters.
In the Quarters, Annette Newman from Carlow and the number 1 seed had to dig deep to overcome a great challenge from Jackie Trulock from Dublin in their match, Annette took frame 1 and Jackie replied well in the second to take the frame on a black ball, Annette was ahead in the second when Jackie got in and had a good break of 19 to go ahead on the colours, Annette drew on experience to keep it close all the way to a black ball which she potted to take the win in a very close encounter and a place in the semis.
Grushenka Arnold from Dublin kept her cool against Stephanie Foley from Carlow in their Quarter Final bout with the match level at 1-1 it would come down to yet another black ball finish in the competition and this time Grushenka potted black for a place in the semis against Annette.
In the bottom half of the draw Christine Carr from Kildare had a comfortable 2 nil win over the youngster Savannah Keane from Dublin for a semi final place. The number 2 seed Cathy Dunne from Dublin had a good 2 frames to nil win over Veronica Hallahan from Dublin to meet Christine and complete the semi final line up.
In the semis, Annette played well against Grushenka and took the match 2 frames to nil for a place in the final while on the other table Cathy had to call on experience against Christine who played well in the first frame and had chances to take it however Cathy came through with a 2 frames to nil win to meet Annette in the final.
The final would see Annette just needing the brown ball to put Cathy needing snookers in frame 1 however Cathy got Annette in a snooker which she failed to get out of and gave Cathy the chance to clear up, Cathy potted brown and missed the blue, Annette potted blue and had a chance to pot pink but missed and Cathy got in and potted pink and black to take frame 1. Frame 2 would see Cathy play well and take the frame on the colours and the title of Kildare Open Champion 2024
Congratulations to Cathy on her win and well done to Annette on her fine performance. Thanks to all the ladies who participated and supported the event. A big thank you to Joanne, Phil and staff of the Celbridge Snooker Club for all their help and support towards female cue sports
