Maguire relieved to end long wait

STEPHEN MAGUIRE admitted tournament success had been “too long” in coming after clinching the Northern Ireland Trophy on Sunday night.

The Glaswegian moved up to third in the provisional world rankings with a hard-fought 9-5 victory over Dubliner Fergal O’Brien at the Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

And, having not won a ranking event for nearly three years, it was understandable the Scot wants to build on his recent success.

“I’m over the moon, it has been a long time coming really,” admitted Maguire, whose last ranking win came in the 2004 UK Championship in York, the same year he won the European Open crown.

“It’s nearly been three years, which has been too long to wait. I’ve had a tough draw all week and come through it and beaten some great players.

“Fergal has beaten past world champions in Ronnie (O’Sullivan) and John (Higgins), so I think the two of us deserved to be in the final at the end of the day. Lucky enough I was a wee bit stronger. It means so much to win this event.”

Maguire trailed 2-1, led 4-3 after the afternoon session and went on to win five of the seven frames of the evening session.

And having held himself together under immense pressure, especially with many of the crowd supporting O’Brien, the Scot revealed he had thrived on the atmosphere in the arena.

“I enjoyed the second session, I was playing well,” added Maguire. “But in the first session I just got annoyed with myself.

“Sometimes I’m my own worst enemy, so even at 4-3 up I was in my dressing room and I was gutted. I felt as though I’d actually lost the match. It was lucky I had an hour-and-a-half break, because otherwise I think I’d have gone on and lost the match.

“It just me annoyed me so much in the first session because I missed a red to go 5-2.

“I spoke to my dad and he made me feel better, so when I came back out I felt 10 times better.”

O’Brien has risen 12 places to 19th in the provisional world standings after reaching his first ranking event final for eight years.