Individual Post

Happy Christmas to all our Newry and District Pool League members and friends, both locally and afar. Its a time of the year for chilling out and relaxing if at all possible but we in the blog endeavour to give you something beautiful to read during the festive period.

In this blog we are going to take a look at our Christmas Crackers. The Star's on top of our festive tree. A wee look at our Christmas number 1's.

Yes it's that time of the year to look at our top marksmen. Who is the top scorer in the Premier Division? The elite players around Newry and South Armagh will be revealed.
Most of the big hitters are on the list and of course, just like a really good cracker, there are some nice surprises too.

1. PAT BRADY:
9 wins/2 defeats. He destroyed the field last year and he leads the way this season. He is joined by two other players but small details makes 'Big Pat' our Christmas no. 1.
Brady won his 1st match with a Break and Dish. He lost his 1st game 3 matches in, then lost his next before going on a 7 streak winning run. Brady isn't getting things all his own way this season but he is still top of our Christmas tree. His ability to always play the correct shot means opponents never get an easy chance handed to them. Brady will always be one of the most feared opponents in Newry Pool.

2. MICHAEL FEENAN:
9 wins/2 defeats. Surprise package Michael Feenan is like a new player for Whitecross this season. He has one break finish this season so far. He lost his opening game before winning 5 in a row. A defeat against the Orchard Bar was followed by 4 more wins. Feenan is up there with the elite players in the Premier Division. The big question is can he stay? His stunning long potting ability catches the eye but the big difference for the 'Tornado' is his calmness on the black ball which was always his Achilles heel.

3. KIERAN McMAHON:
9 wins/2 defeats. Kieran McMahon is always there or thereabouts when it comes to our top scoring charts. The snooker ace is the master of consistency. He has an almost identical record to Feenan with 1 break finish which occurred in his opening game of the season. He followed that with 8 wins. 2 defeats in a row stopped him in his tracks but the 'Machine' won his last game to join the leader board. McMahon only got pipped for 2nd place as it was Feenan who inflicted him with his 1st defeat. McMahon has surgical precision when in amongst the balls and is one of the finest positional players in our local game.

4. PADDY CLARKE:
8 wins/2 defeats. Paddy Clarke is widely regarded as the most talented player in the Newry and District Pool League. Clarke won his 1st 2 before missing the defeat to Bears. He returned with a defeat against Trainor's. He sandwiched a win in between his 2nf loss of the season. 5 wins on the spin including a break and dish puts him joint 4th in our top scorer list.

5. SEAMUS McVERRY:
8 wins/2 defeats. Seamus McVerry missed Trainor's opening game of the season but won his next 3 before tasting his 1st defeat. He won his next 5 before a defeat in his final game against CWC A kept him out of the top 3. We only separated McVerry from Paddy Clarke because the latter had a break finish.

6. SHANE PHELAN:
8 Wins/3 defeats. Shane Phelan is our current player of the year and is holder of the Pairs title with brother Cathal. He started his league campaign with a break finish which gives him the edge over the other players on 8 wins. He followed that with defeat against CWC but 5 wins in a row fired him up the scoring charts. He finished the last 4 games winning half of them finishing the half term with a win.

7. TONY McGOVERN:
8 wins/3 defeats. Tony McGovern got off to a sensational start to the season by winning his 1st 7 league games. The Orchard star has seen the wheels fall off a bit when he lost 3 of his last 4 games which will dissapoint him.

8. PADDY TAVEY:
8 wins/3 defeats. Paddy Tavey has adapted to life out in the South Armagh Pub Trainor's like a Duck to  water. Tavey lost his opening game and only won 2 from his 1st 4. 6 wins in a row put him in contention to join the very top of our winners charts but defeat in his final game (which was against his old side CWC) dropped Tavey down the pecking order.

9. NIALL McVERRY:
8 wins/3 defeats. Niall McVerry has been ruthless in his quest for trophies this season as the Trainor's captain. On the baize he won 4 out his 1st 5 games. He then won 4 of his next 5 and lost his final game before the break for a very decent 1st half of the season.

10. HARVEY LAVELLE:
7 wins/2 defeats. Harvey Lavelle got off to the worst possible start losing his opening 2 games before missing the defeat to Bears. Lavelle won his next 6 in a row. He missed the return leg against Bears but ended the 1st half of the season with a win against title contenders Trainor's.

11. MARTIN CONROY:
7 wins/2 defeats. Martin Conroy is the reason McGuigan's holding their own this season with a virtuoso performance so far. He lost his opening game 6 wins out of his next 7 put Conroy right up the leader board but he messed 2 games and a row and then won his last game to finish with an excellent 7 wins from 9 games played.

12. SEAMUS KEENAN:
7 wins/3 defeats. Seamus Keenan is a surprise package to make our top scorers. The 'snail' has grinded out a string of big wins including 2 victories against CWC. Keenan won his 1st 3 games before his 1st defeat. He won 2 of his next 3 games before missing the game against bottom side Nan's. His 3rd defeat was followed by 2 wins from his final 2 games to deservedly make it onto our top scorers chart.

13. JAMIE FLETCHER:
7 wins/3 defeats. Jamie Fletcher has been a breath of fresh for Orchard Bar. His youthful enthusiasm has benefitted the team no doubt about that. Fletcher didn't play in the opening match for Orchard. His 1st game was a win then he received his 1st defeat. 6 wins on the trot propelled Fletcher into contention for top spot but he lost his final 2 games to slip down the table.

14. DAVID CROMIE:
6 wins/0 defeats. Yes it's not a misprint. David Cromie has yet to get that losing feeling in the 2018/19 league campaign. If only Orchard Bar could get him there every game they might be clear in 3rd place. He started with a win, missed game 2, won week 3, missed 2 in a row, won 2 in a row, missed the next before ending with a win. He played 1 game against the top 2 which was a victory against table topping Trainor's Bar. Terrific start for Cromie.