Niall looks to All-Irelands after Westmeath pool win

Sarah Slevin

Niall Moran will now compete at All-Ireland level after taking victory in the Westmeath Pool Championship, at the Dark Horse bar in Athlone on April 3.

The Streamstown man took his first tour win with the Westmeath title.

Niall overcame Rob Malynn in the final, and is now preparing for the All-Ireland Pool Championship in May.

“There could be hundreds involved, around 20 counties,” Niall told the Westmeath Examiner.

“There will be team events as well as solo matches. There could be around 40 or 50 tables set up.”

The championship is run by the Irish Pool Association, who organise eight-ball pool events and competitions across the country.

The top 16 seeds in Westmeath went straight through to the championship on Sunday April 3, while lower ranked players began playing a few days earlier.

Niall was the sixth seed, after playing a number of ranking events since September 2021.

Niall, alongside his friend and fellow pool player, Sean Slevin, have been using Paddy Ryan’s in Horseleap to practise.

Niall’s interest in the sport goes back a long time.

“I have three older brothers, and my father had a table, and I would’ve been sitting on top of the table when I was five or six years old,” Niall said.

Niall will compete in the All Ireland Pool Championship in Killarney next month, when he will be competing in the top solo men’s competition and the top teams event.