Two titans of the local snooker scene get ready for battle

Ronnie O'Sullivan has certainly won his share of honours in snooker over the years - and he clearly has learned some valuable lessons along the way.

"You can't win every match but you can certainly give it your best shot," he once said.

One of those lessons is that while you can savour the victories you have to take the blows too and learn from them if possible: "You can't win every match but you can certainly give it your best shot," he once said.

Two players who have given their best shot in snooker and travelled far in the sport, in more way than one, are James Darcy and Colm Gilcreest.

Both of those accomplished, highly-talented players who have showcased their talents in events both at home and abroad - and both have agreed to take on each other in an exhibition game at the Snooker School, Eureka House, Kells.

The contest will be played out on Wednesday evening, 15th May, 7pm with the aim of generating interest in the sport in the Kells area and beyond.

Snooker is a game that requires tremendous concentration and craft and both Darcy and Gilcreest had their moments in the limelight.

From Navan, Darcy took part in the World Six Reds Snooker Championships in Malaysia just two years ago.

During his career he reached the All-Ireland Club Championship quarter-finals with Potters, Drogheda and is regarded as one of the country's finest short-game players.

Gilcreest is a former professional player who achieved a ranking of 84 during his pro career. He was also a fine Gaelic footballer with his native Kilmainhamwood.

For a time Gilcreest played alongside the best in the world. At the 2000 World Snooker Championships he won six games defeating player such as Philip Seaton and Karl Burrows to reach the final qualifying round.

Arguably his greatest achievement was reaching the final of the 2008 World Amateur Snooker Championships in Wels, Australia where he lost to 7-11 to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.