Date posted: 9 November 2017, 2:55pm

The Bruce Lyster Trophy was snatched from a firm Killiney grasp in a nail-biting finish to another great George/Killiney battle on the baize last Friday night. The contest was in their beautiful Mulvany designed clubhouse sitting at the centrepoint of Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Interestingly the builder, Materson - was also responsible for Sorrento Terrace in Dalkey.

The two clubs – The Royal St. George Yacht Club and Killiney Golf Club have great connections going back a long time – even before Bryan Casserly started wearing long trousers and that’s a very long time ago indeed.

The competition is an annual event hosted alternatively by each club. The team is selected surreptitiously behind closed doors and announced by the chairman – currently Gordon Horsfield – on an unannounced Thursday evening early each season.

Many great players have made the team over the years – such as George Crawford, Joe Nagle, Johnny Hunter and the greatly missed Tom Brett.

Killiney team was selected with a few stars from previous years unable to make the night – Bryan Casserly and Michael Thunder to name two.

The team from the George – selected with skill and experience as its objective.

The competition is the best of five frames in doubles format. Normal snooker rules apply and biting and kicking are frowned upon. Noisy banter is accepted and generally encouraged although Ivan tested its limits frequently on the night.

Killiney lost the first frame to an on-form duo from the George led by Their former Flag Officer Paddy ‘Dolittle’. The recently renovated table encompassing their new Strachan baize was lightning fast and needed the most delicate of touches even against the nap. In the second frame Des Fitzgerald played like a teenager with his own table at home and partnered with Maurice McCudden the two played superbly and made the score one frame a piece.

Into the Library for dinner and we were, as always, treated like royalty to a wonderful meal and small partaking of fermented grapes.

The Tian of crab, then the Hake and Chorizo and the Almond tart to follow before coffee was my personal choice but the menu was excellent and the pink beef looked mouth-watering.

A decisive Black ball game made it two one to Killiney in the first frame after dinner. The George responded with an excellent frame to even the scores once again.

The final frame – Willow Murray and Joe McAvin – a formidable duo against Stephen Day and Chris Curry from the George. The frame toed and froed with great skills from both sides but it was on the stroke of the witching hour that Willow offered his hand in congratulations to his opposition and the George were victorious.

A really super night was had by all and we look forward to hosting the 2018 match in Killiney.

Gordon Horsfield