Brendan O’Donoghue won the Irish National Championship on Sunday after a 7-2 victory over Robert Murphy at the Ivy Rooms in Carlow.
It marks the second time the Nenagh native has got his hands on the prestigious amateur title in what was his fifth appearance in the final.
O’Donoghue’s previous triumph came all the way back in 2003 but he was not to be denied in the final for a fourth time as he comfortably outscored Murphy to deservedly be crowned champion.
The 32 year-old was in fine form throughout the Championship weekend and was rarely troubled as he dispatched of Philip Browne 4-0 before ousting a brace of former champions in Colm Gilcreest and Michael Judge to reach the final.
O’Donoghue, who spent a season on the professional Main Tour a number of years ago, also took home the high break prize after a wonderful 142 total clearance.
Murphy had earlier been involved in two tight tussles with Peter Donegan and then John Sutton as he reached the final having played in all but two of the formatted frames across his three encounters.
O’Donoghue now heads to the European Championship next week full of confidence and surely will be one of the favourites for continental glory.
He also earns qualification rights to compete in the World Amateur Championship later in 2015.
Elsewhere, Gilcreest won the Masters event with a thrilling 5-4 victory over John Farrell while Adam Fitzgerald, Andrew Doherty, Ross Bulman and Jamie Lee Gardiner picked up the underage accolades.
Frank Sarsfield took the Intermediate honours and Michelle Sherwin easily captured her 11th Ladies crown.
Meanwhile, at the AGM on Saturday Jim Leacy was elected as the new Chairman of RIBSA.
More will be made about that later but, for now, all congratulations and plaudits must go to the superb O’Donoghue.
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