SPORTING LIFE
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Domestically it's been a good year. I've won three national tournaments and I'm back to the number one spot. But internationally at tournaments, it's been a bit of a disaster. I didn't play well in Malta, where I was part of a three-man team that represented Ireland in the European team championships where we were beaten in the quarter-finals. A couple of weeks ago, I got beaten in the last 48 of the World Amateur championships which were held in India. I'll have to put that right next time out.
Do you feel a lot of pressure being on top of the Irish rankings?
Well, I never take it for granted. It's always nice to be leading the rankings, but winning the tournaments is what counts. I'd like to finish number one at the end of the season, it would be for the fifth time, but there's still a long way to go yet.
How do you rate the level of competition in Irish snooker at the moment? Who do you regard as your main competition?
On the world stage, Ireland are ranked third behind Thailand and India in relation to winning medals and international amateur competitions. That really goes to show that Ireland is definitely up there. On the domestic scene, the level of competition is good. My main competition is probably from Brendan O'donoghue from Tipperary. I've fought a lot of hard battles with him over the years.
What would you rate as your biggest achievement in snooker so far?
Going in anchor position and winning my match 2-1 to give Ireland a 10-8 victory over England to win the 2000 home internationals, held in Pontins, Prestatyn, in Wales. The place was packed to the rafters and there was an unreal atmosphere. And the lowest point of your career? I got beaten in the European Amateur championship final in 2007 in Carlow. I was beaten 7-2 by a Belgian, Kevin Van Hove. That was a real heartbreaker.
Snooker is perhaps not the most financiallyrewarding sport. Is it your ambition to one day be able to leave work and focus on snooker full-time?
No. I played professional snooker for three seasons but it didn't work out. I got up to 71 in the world rankings, but I wasn't good enough for the top end of the professional scene, plain and simple. The way I look at it is that I'm one of the lucky ones that got to become a professional. I'm glad I tried it and
