Hustlers almost produced a miraculous result when the Division 1 side took
unbeaten Premier League leaders Different Strokes to a decider in the Cunningham
Cup.
Little old Hustlers with seasoned campaigners Kevin Magee & Cathal McCoy have a
tight camp and are shaping up nicely for promotion to the Premier Division while
Different Strokes have a 100% record with perennial winners such as Pat Brady,
Paddy Clarke & Harvey Lavelle. Add in multiple South Armagh individuals winner
and Irish International Paul Kelly and you have a devastating potting juggernaut!
Niall McVerry has the Rolls Royce cue action but he's not always been the most
consistent when the pressure is on. Willie Brown is certainly one of the players that
Hustlers will have targeted, and the fluent McVerry came up trumps to put
the hosts 1 - 0 up.
Paddy Clarke restored parity with a sublime performance against Hustlers talisman
Kevin Magee. 1 - 1.
Former Trainors star player Sean Murray should fear no player and this talented
cueist took out the attacking, former Newry Singles runner-up, Raymie McKenna and
the Hustlers dared to dream. 2-1.
Different Strokes who play out of Carrickcruppen Social Club steamed ahead taking
the next 3 Pair matches to lead 4-2. 1 more frame and it was a semi-final to plan
for.
Paddy Clarke & Harvey Lavelle oozed class and composure when they toppled
Cathal McCoy & Kevin Magee, although it went to the wire as Magees final ball cross,
hugged the middle pocket but would not drop.
Niall McVerry & Sean Murray had the skills but not the luck and Stephen Gorham
with the youthful Bernie Magee edged it.
Dee Kearney was out of sorts with Gary McLoughlin. The misfiring duo fell to Willie
Brown & Paul Kelly as Different Strokes hit their groove.
When Pat Brady went shopping for new talent for his team he didn't go to the Pound
Store. He shopped Harrods style and acquired one of the best in the country. Paul
Kelly is proper Ferrari-style shopping list stuff but it was the techno-wizard Cathal
McCoy stormed to the finish line sinking the last of his yellows and a pressure
black and it was game on. 4-3.
Tucker Hughes realistically had no chance against Pat Brady. A betting man would
be looking very long odds on an upset but the joy of pool and especially 1 framer - it
gives the outsiders a chance. Tucker was in superb form and after some brilliant pool
he stunned the traveling Different Strokes and the Premier Division leaders were
looking down the barrel of their 1st defeat of the season. 4-4.
It was all down to the wire as Dee Kearney and Harvey Lavelle would battle it out for
a place in the last 4. Harvey had the harder ball set and Damien looked like he was
all set for a famous victory against his ex-Armagh teammate. Hustlers held their breath
as Dee's cue action started to twitch and boy did it twitch. It was a pressure cooker
time and just when you needed a calm head, Kearney imploded and Lavelle was on
hand to mop up for a highly uncomfortable 5-4 win for Different Strokes.
The Premier side will know they dodged a bullet and will be well glad to see the back
of this formidable Hustlers side.
Different Strokes will be joined by CWC A, Indo, and Trainors A in the semi-final
draw.
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