Irish Blackball Association

The Magician, Houdini

Automatic Amusements (www.automaticamusements.com)

I remember we had a pool table in the kitchen when I was growing up. Now our kitchen wasn't that big at all, so the pool table was in the middle of the floor, acting as an all-in-one pool/dinner table. We had a cue that was only about 20inches long to take shots when the white ball was left over near the window or the wall.

The first tournament I played in, was a tournament in the "Cat Dragged Inn" pub on the quays in Dublin. My two brothers were playing in the tournament and I wasn't doing anything so I went in. I was only 11 or so at the time and said I would throw my name into the competition for the craic. I think the youngest player after me was around 20. I end up getting to the final of the tournament and from then on, have been involved with the Irish Pool team.

My dad was a big snooker fan, so I grew up watching a lot of snooker. Back then, snooker was alot more exciting than it is now, so I watched nearly every match of every tournament that was on the tele. As most people back then, Jimmy White was the one to watch. From watching how easy he made the game and how enjoyable it was to play, I got my love for the cuesport.

• HESPC Pool Intervarsities Championships 2007 - Individual Winner
• HESPC Home Internationals 2007 - Pool Masters Champion
  
• HESPC Pool Intervarsities Championships 2006 - Team Winners
• Superleague Ireland 2006, Premier Pub Cup Winners - Penthouse White
  
• Superleague Ireland 2003, Premier Pub Winners - Penthouse Blue
• Superleauge Ireland 2003, Premier Pub Cup Winners - Penthouse Blue
  
• Superleague Ireland 2002, Premier Pub Cup Winners - Penthouse
  
• Welsh Festival Rhyl 2002, Under 21s Nations Cup - Player of the Tournament
• Brenfer 21st Stars of the Future - Under 17s Runner-Up and Under 16s Winner
• Superleague Ireland 2001, Premier League Winners - Penthouse
  
• Nations Pool Championships 2000 - Top Player Youths

• Playing for Ireland at Junior, Under 21 and Senior A levels on a number of International Event occasions
  
• Professional Pool Players Organisation (PPPO) - Professional Apprentice Runner-Up
• HESPC Pool Intervarsities Championships 2007 - Individual Winner
  
• HESPC Home Internationals 2007 - Pool Masters Champion
  
• Qualifying for the IPA Professional Circuit for the 2009.2010 season
  

Five events in total. Got knocked out the first round, got to the quarters 3 times and then got to the final were I was beating by Stephen Dempsey 10-5. I finished ranked 6th overall at the end of the 2009 season.

To become a consistent, confident and feared player across the professional pool circuit.

• I feel I have an all round good game, whether it's attacking going for a finish or whether it's safety, waiting for my chance to get in.
  
• I never give up, and whether I'm ahead or behind, I feel I can rattle of a number of frames in a row. I have a good mentality and play every frame as it comes
  
• I have a good knowledge of the angles so even when I'm snookered, I still feel confident of playing a good shot.

• Always try and practice as much as you can. Set up the shots that you don't feel you are good at and practice them until you feel confident in your ability to play the shot. Practice as if you were practicing for a big tournament. Always treat practice as if you were playing a match.
  
• Never feel threatened by who you are playing, always play the table, never play the player.
  
• Treat everyone with respect and play the same against a bad player are you would against a good player.
• Always learn from your mistakes so the next time you are in the same situation, you will remember how you messed up the last time and fix it this time.
• Try to play against better players as much as you can, watch and learn from their shots and listen to everything they are telling you.
• Work your way up the ladder starting out in local events, then National and then International. It is good to take steps and not be overwhelmed.