CORK has another European champion as Sean O’Connell Walsh is the new 8 Ball U18 2020 European champion following his 7-3 win over England’s Chris Panayoto in Malta.

Walsh already an accomplished snooker player with the famous Crucible club is also an excellent pool player and joins his good friend and club mate Aaron Hill as European number ones.

Sean arrived in Malta just a few days ago but has shown exactly what he can do in 8 Ball Pool with deadly effect and following his wins over Gerard Heaney, Adam Hanlon, Owen McMenamin and Panayoto in the final, he really has set down a marker for Irish pool.

“I am thrilled to win the European title, it was nerve-wracking but I think I played pretty well all week and I will arrive back in Cork on Sunday with the cup and that feels fantastic. 

"I owe a lot to my mother Lorraine and my father Stephen who have backed me all the way and my grandfather Tim Walsh who is in Malta with me, also I want to thank my sponsors Terry Rogers and Nana's bar, who make it possible for me to travel to these events and I dedicate this win to all of them."

O’Connell-Walsh is just 15 years of age and already has national snooker titles to his name and now has made Cork pool history by lifting a European title as cue-sports in the Rebel county just goes from strength to strength all over the world. 

It seems to be a trend now at all the major snooker and pool tournaments is that the Cork-based players are the ones to watch out for.

Sean and his family will certainly celebrate this victory and there is plenty more to come from this talented young man.