Kearney wins final at the Embassy Snooker Club

Dean Kearney triumphed in the inaugural Davy Cooney Memorial Shield at the Embassy Snooker and Pool Club last Wednesday night. 

Despite a good performance from Benny Traynor, Kearney defeated him 5-3 in an exciting finale.

The tournament was created by Embassy owner Derek Hernon, in memory of his friend who tragically passed away last year.

Hernon owned the Embassy Snooker Hall from 2012 – 2022 before selling it, and buying it back twelve months later.

It has been back open under his ownership since 31st July 2023, and has been thriving ever since, with plans to become a members club on the horizon.

When speaking with the Dundalk Democrat, Embassy Snooker Hall owner, Hernon, said: “This is a new tournament that we ran and it is in the memory of a local snooker player, Davy Cooney, who played snooker back in the 1980's when I first started.

“Davy used to be able to give everybody either 80, 90, or 100 points up, he was that good. It got to the stage that no one would play him unless we got these points off him because the loser had to pay for the light.

“No matter, if you got the points off him he would still beat you, that's how good he was. I knew Davy from 1984 and God rest him, he died by suicide last year.

“He was a good friend of mine and I own a snooker hall which coincides together,” Derek added.

“I asked his family would they mind if I ran a tournament in Davy's name, that is where the name the Davy Cooney Memorial Shield came from.

“The family gave me their blessing to run the competition and it brought a few tears to everyones eyes. And I really appreciated the thanks and kind words his family gave.

The Embassy owner went on state: “As a snooker player I wanted to keep Davy's name alive in snooker because he was that good. He could have been a professional I believe, but he just wanted to play with the lads.

“The trophy is a shield and it has room for about 20 years on the shield so hopefully, if I am still around by then that I will still be running it.”

The final was contested between Embassy regular Traynor, and newcomer, Kearney. The final was contested over the best of nine frames (first to five), and took three hours to play.

Hernon concluded by saying: “Benny Traynor seems to get to a lot of finals, he played Dundalk FC all-time record goalscorer Patrick Hoban in the last final (Embassy Open) and beat him.

“He was in the last seven finals so he is hard to beat. Dean Kearney is a brilliant player and this is his first time in one of our finals.

“The prize money is €900 and I am the only one who really has prize money that high for snooker tournaments now. Second place will take €300 and the winner will get €600 plus the shield.”