Emirjeta Doda retained her Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association National under-21 title at Joey’s in Dublin.
It marked her third under-21 crown in four years, a fantastic result for a player who only took up snooker half a dozen years ago.
Doda met new kid on the block – young Grace Byrne from Carlow – in the final and it was a close affair as it went down to the wire for a black ball finish.
Byrne had a few chances to put it away but it was not to be this time for the 10 year-old as Doda potted a great black to capture the trophy.
On her way to the decider, Doda was in fine form with clear wins over Clodagh Walsh (Carlow), Katie French (Kildare), and Kerri Mulleney (Carlow).
Doda remains Ireland’s number one Junior player in the National Junior Rankings over the past three years, with Byrne moving into the fourth spot as she chases the top spot during the season ahead.
On the National Women’s Rankings these young girls are making their way to the top with Byrne in provisional fourth and seeded for the next ranking tournament in Newbridge.
Doda, meanwhile, returns to the top eight and is in seventh provisionally.
A total of 120 young girls have now made the RILSA National Junior Rankings in the past four years, such is the success of the School’s Initiatives in Ireland.
Elsewhere in the RILSA calendar of late, Annette Newman won the third ranking event in the Ladies Leinster Masters, while Rachel Bradley defended her National Special Needs Championship glory at Sharkx.
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