Thatch Bar are the McMichael 2011 Larne League 3 A Sides Champions. They successfully defended the crown they won last year in a terrific night of Pool drama in Larne Rangers Club on 4 Baizecraft Competition Tables..
8 teams took to the green baize, all with hopes of becoming Champions, in the first match the Ibrox 98s just failed to overcome the Gatherups 'B' Team losing 5-4. The Thatch 'A' team overcame Ulsterbus 5-2, but if the Busmen had converted some of the openings they carved out it could have been a different story. Gers hammered Feather Pluckers 5-1 and the fancied Larne FC trio strolled past Thatch 'B' by 5-2. Into the Semis now and Larne FC raced into a 4-0 lead against the Gers lads, but they struggled to get over the winning line and Gers came back to level at 4-4. But no better man than Jonny Nelson to go on in a deciding frame and he duly delivered to put the Station Road team into the final. Gatherups 'B' looked strong as they went 2-0 up but Thatch went on a winning streak of 5 frames to book their place in the final for the second year in a row. Larne FC never really got going in the final and The Thatch were 4-0 up after only 20 minutes of play. Nelson won the 5th frame to pull one back, but Bill McIlroy Sr siezed upon a missed black in frame 6, clearing the table in one visit to retain the trophy for his team.
Pictured above are Thatch trio Bill McIlroy Sr, Gerry McCorry and Bill McIlroy Jr with the new McMichael 3 A Sides Trophy. The 4th member of their squad Colin Gavin was unable to make it tonight but was pivotal in getting the Thatch into tonights last 8 at the Qualifiers on Monday 21st March
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