Maguire triumphs in Belfast

Scotland’s Stephen Maguire beat Irishman Fergal O’Brien 9-5 tonight to be crowned the new Northern Ireland Trophy champion.

The former UK and European Open champion trailed 2-1 but fought back to lead 4-3 after the afternoon session at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

And it got even better for the Glaswegian as he won five of the seven frames in the evening session to secure his third ranking event title.

As this year’s winner he pocketed the £30,000 (€42, 663) first prize, with O’Brien taking home £15,000 as a worthy runner-up.

“It’s unbelievable winning this title, it really is another dream come true,” said Maguire.

“I’m really tired for some reason. I’m over the moon, it’s been a long time coming. It’s been nearly three years since I’ve won a title and I’ve beat some great players all week.

“I’m just really pleased. I few years ago I was struggling, so to come back and win another title is fantastic.

“It was a tough match, but I was really happy with the way I competed tonight. It was never going to be easy, but I’m so thrilled.”

Appearing in his fourth ranking event final, Maguire had a golden chance to push 5-2 ahead in the afternoon session but missed a long pot on a red and his opponent did not waste his chance to claw closer.

Breaks of 60 and 42 were enough to secure the first frame, before O’Brien hit back to level with a cool run of 84.

It was the Irishman who edged 2-1 ahead with a break of 49, before Maguire won the next to make it 2-2 with runs of 43 and 26.

A superb 135 clearance in the next made it 3-2, which the Scot followed with a pressure 27 clearance to go further ahead after O’Brien broke down on a break of 58.

Maguire looked to be heading for a 5-2 lead, but missed a long red on a break of 56 and O’Brien held his nerve to clinch the frame with a run of 24 to leave all to play for.

However, it was the world No 10 who was the stronger player in the evening session as he won three of the four frames before the evening interval to establish a healthy three-frame cushion.

A composed break of 73 made it 5-3 and the 26-year-old looked good for 6-3, but missed an easy pink on a break of 45 and O’Brien cleared from the last red to reduce his arrears again.

Maguire won a scrappy frame for 6-4 and then runs of 41 and 36 to give himself a three-frame advantage for the first time in the match.

World No 37 O’Brien – whose last and only ranking event win came in 1999 at the British Open – won the next frame with a break of 26 to make it 7-5.

But the end was not far around the corner as Maguire won the 13th frame on points 71-39, before wrapping up proceedings with a break of 56 in the deciding frame.

O’Brien reflected: “I think the better man won at the end of the day. I’ve had a great week, so I can’t complain.

“I didn’t do much wrong to be honest. I missed a couple, but I wouldn’t say I played terrible.

“I won a good frame to go 7-5, but I missed a chance to go 7-6 and then I would have been right back in the thick of it.

“To be fair the break he made to go 8-5 was really good and gave him the breathing space and momentum to push on.

“It was great out there. I enjoyed it, hopefully now this is the norm. I don’t want to be waiting another eight years for a final.”