O'Brien shocks 'Rocket'

Fergal O’Brien caused the biggest upset of this year’s Northern Ireland Trophy so far by dumping out crowd favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The former British Open winner sparkled at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall tonight to grab a deserved 5-2 victory over the ’Rocket’.

“It was a great result for me, a deadly result,” beamed O’Brien.

“Beating (world champion) John Higgins was great, but that tops it.

“Ronnie has been playing so well, but there was probably too much expectancy on his part to follow up after the day he had yesterday.”

O’Sullivan re-wrote the records books with a maximum 147 break and four other centuries in his last-16 victory over Ali Carter.

But confident from his victory over the world number one Higgins, Dubliner O’Brien raised his game to reach his first ranking event semi-final for nearly eight years.

“Five centuries has never been done before (in a best-of-nine match), and it could be years before it’s done again. It was better to get him today that yesterday!”

O’Sullivan looked set to win the opening frame after a break of 60, but it was world number 37 O’Brien who pinched it on the final black with a pressure clearance of 25.

The Irishman won the next too, after O’Sullivan faltered once again. The two-time world champion broke down on a break of 51, and O’Brien impressed with a cool 74.

O’Sullivan levelled the match thanks to breaks of 110 and 44 – but it was O’Brien who raised his game and compiled breaks of 70, 73 and 48 to progress.

“To be fair he [O’Sullivan] played well,” said the winner.

“He came back with a ton. But every time he missed I punished him, which you have to do – because he can steam-roller you.”

O’Sullivan was a man of few words after his defeat but did say: “It was quite tough.

“I’m disappointed … you should be when you lose. Good luck to Fergal – he played well and deserves his chance.”

Local favourite Mark Allen gave his supporters plenty to smile about with a hard-fought 5-3 victory over compatriot Gerard Greene in the last quarter-final match.

The former World Amateur Champion found himself 2-0 and 3-1 down, but rallied with the home crowd behind him to win the last four frames for victory.

He now meets Dubliner Fergal O’Brien in what will be his first appearance in a ranking event semi-final.

Greene had one break over 50, but Allen made sure of victory thanks largely to breaks of 59 and 113, as well as a never-say-die attitude.