Mark Farrell winner in Ballymena

Kenny Beggs and Mark Farrell

Round 2 of the Irish Circuit moved onto Ballymena in County Antrim last Saturday 22 March. Since I’ve been playing the Irish Subbuteo Circuit, the numbers playing at Ballymena Golf Club of 24 is, I think, the biggest turnout that I’ve witnessed, which is good news for the game in Ireland. They came from all 4 corners of Ireland as well as the UK mainland and it all ran smoothly and to time.

With Kenny Beggs and Barry Spence running the operation, you have two of Ireland’s more experienced personnel in charge. The players where here to play Subbuteo and that’s what we got. Nothing fancy but put together in a no nonscense way that got the job done.

The format was 4 groups of 6 with the top 2 going into the main KO, 3 and 4 into the Plate and 5 and 6 contesting the Shield.

The first big surprise sprung up with the draw, which saw Beggs and Farrell (Irish Subbuteo’s Celtic and Rangers) drawn in the same group. In the main competition it was nice to see the likes of Lawrence Watson making the last 8 along with Joe Harrington and Shaun Dunne from the UK. In the end, though, the Old Firm of Beggs and Farrell pushed aside the pretenders to go head-to-head in another final. Mark Farrell clinched the trophy with a late, late golden goal.

In the Shield Martin Og, who’s more accustomed to pushing for the main prize, overcame Haverhill’s Gerry Harrington 3-0 in the final. In the Plate it was an all-Tralee affair as the rapidly improving Cian Hogan saw off club mate Dave Elton 1-0 in a tight affair. In the youth section Ellott Fitzpatrick beat his stable partner Kyle Malone 1-0 to claim the trophy.

Once again, the venue, Ballymena Golf Club, did a great job. A first-class room which hosted 12 tables with the option of a bar and bar food for the thirsty and hungry.

(Report by David Elton)

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/ulstersubbuteochampionship

Main results

Quarter-finals: Barry Spence - Kenny Beggs 0-1 ; Shaun Dunne - Joe Harrington 3-1 ; Mark Farrell - Lawrence Watson 2-0 ; Andy Fitzpatrick - John Moore 0-3

Semi-finals: Kenny Beggs - Shaun Dunne 1*-1 ; Mark Farrell - John Moore 5-0

Final: Kenny Beggs - Mark Farrell 1-2sd

Plate final: Gerry Harrington - Martinog Bradley 0-3

Shield final: David Elton - Cian Hogan 0-1

Junior final: Eliott Fitzpatrick - Kyle Malone 1-0