The Republic upset the form book today to qualify for their first ever Nations Cup final appearance. The Dublin trio of Ken Doherty, Fergal O'Brien and Michael Judge, pushed to a deciding frame in all three of their group games, overwhelmed 1999 champions Wales 5-1 in Reading today.
"This is our best chance of winning a team competition since the 1996 World Cup final, and we hope we can do it this time," said captain Doherty. "We said all along we wouldn't just be happy with getting to the semi-final. We knew we had a chance, albeit an outside chance, and I'm just pleased we took it. No one could say we were lucky to win 5-1."
Judge, who anchored the wins over England and China, added: "When you play well you seem to get the running, even in the individual events. But it's not just getting the luck; it's what you do with it that counts."
The Republic squad made the most of their good fortune, highlighted by an outrageous fluke in what proved to be the final frame. O'Brien found himself under the cosh against World champion Mark Williams and was grateful to see the final red fortuitously drop into a centre pocket. He cleared up to the final blue to leave Williams needing snookers and then later potted match-ball pink.
The Welsh defeat will ensure World Cup champions Scotland do not under-estimate Northern Ireland in tomorrow's second semi-final. World number 46 Judge got the underdogs off to a great start with victory over out-of-sorts world number one Mark Williams.
O'Brien followed up in a marathon 60-minute second frame by defeating world number six Matthew Stevens, and although Doherty went down to Dale the Irish were not to be denied.
Doherty and O'Brien teamed up to get the better of Williams and Stevens, while Doherty fluked the green in the fifth against Stevens for 4-1.
It was left for O'Brien to defeat Williams and propel the jubilant Irish into Sunday's best-of-11-frames final.
Filed by Seán Folan
