Double Munster Snooker glory for New Institute

New Institute Snooker Club enjoyed another outstanding weekend at the 2026 Munster Championships in Killarney, with both the ‘A’ and ‘C’ teams crowned champions, continuing the club’s remarkable success on the provincial stage.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Nenagh club sent four teams to compete across the Premier and Championship competitions. The ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams contested the Premier Championship, while the ‘C’ and ‘D’ teams competed in the Championship event.

The ‘D’ team, captained by Robert Lazarut, and including Stephen Shoer, Warren Cunningham, Adam O’Brien, Tyler Hogan, and Terence Doyle, exited after the group stages, recording one group victory.

The ‘B’ team, led by captain Dave Garrett, Tomy Seymour, Paudie Kelly, Martin Kelly, and Damien Long — were drawn in a highly competitive group and narrowly missed out on progression after their final match.

The standout performers in the Championship were the ‘C’ team, captained by Gary Power and comprising of Jake Byrne, Thomas Forde, David Lynch, and club stalwart Billy Kelly. They made an excellent start with victories over Youghal ‘C’, Fermoy ‘C’, and Dungarvan ‘C’, topping their group and advancing to the Last 16.

A strong performance against Shooters Shed of Cork saw wins from Byrne, Forde, and Kelly to book a quarter-final place. In the quarter-finals, they defeated Fermoy ‘B’ by a narrow 3–2 margin, with Power, Byrne, and Lynch securing the decisive frames.

In the semi-final against tournament favourites Youghal ‘B’, Byrne once again led from the front with a 2–0 win. Lynch then produced a crucial 24 break in the deciding frame of his match to level proceedings, before Billy Kelly sealed the tie and sent the Nenagh side into the final.

The final saw New Institute ‘C’ face Dungarvan ‘A’. After falling behind early, Byrne delivered yet another 2–0 victory to turn the momentum. Power followed with a hard-fought 2–1 win, leaving the championship resting once more on Kelly. Rising to the occasion, Kelly compiled an excellent 32 break, pulling clear to secure the Munster title.

Premier Championship

The ‘A’ team once again demonstrated their class. After recovering from a slow start, they recorded four wins from four in the group stages to qualify for the semi-finals.

The semi-final against St John’s ‘A’ tested the Nenagh side, but experience proved decisive as Mark Walsh, Brendan O’Donoghue, Tommy Gleeson, Mark Gleeson, and Noel Gleeson emerged as convincing winners.

In the final, New Institute ‘A’ faced a formidable Crucible ‘B’ side led by reigning Amateur no.1 Ryan Cronin.

The Gleeson brothers set the tone early, securing key wins, while the tie ultimately came down to a deciding match. Trailing 2–0 before mounting a comeback, Brendan O’Donoghue showed his championship pedigree by winning 3–2 to clinch victory.

The success marked New Institute Snooker Club’s 14th Munster Premier Championship title, underlining their status as one of the most successful clubs in the province.

Both the ‘A’ and ‘C’ teams now turn their attention to the All-Ireland Championships next weekend, back in Killarney, carrying the hopes of Nenagh with them.