Aidan Corbett
Two snooker players from County Waterford have been representing the Irish snooker team at under 21 level.
Aaron Quinn and Dylan Troy from the Dungarvan Snooker Club jetted off to India this year to pull on the green waistcoat at the World Snooker Under 21 Championship in Bangalore.
Asked what first brought them to the sport, the two young prospects reminisced on a rainy day in Dungarvan.
Surprisingly though, they both started the sport at the same time - roughly two years ago.
"I play every day. It's all I do really," Aaron said. "It's taken over my life to be honest," Dylan stated.
"I went into one of the local pubs in town and there was a pool table, first time ever really playing. Started playing in there every day with Aaron. Then we met Fionn and he introduced us into this place (Dungarvan Snooker Club) and since then, we've come in here every day," Dylan said.
Aaron touched on the difficulty of changing from pool to snooker.
"It was just a different level altogether that's why we have to practice so much because if you don't, it's a waste of time really. You're trying to stay at the level that everyone else is at but it's not easy," he said.
The young prodigies stated they can be found playing for up to four hours a day in the local club. Aaron states it is a different challenge to what he previously found in team sports.
"In snooker you're there on your own. If you mess up it's on you but when you win it's a good feeling. But it's hard mentally. If you come back from a tournament after losing... it's not easy at all."
They agreed that practice pays off when calls to represent your country come through. Both were in the town of Dungarvan when the news came their way.
"I couldn't believe it when I found out," Aaron admitted.
A friendly rivalry exists between the pair having competed in national tournaments. When asked whether a tally is kept in the local club, a wry smile appeared on both players faces.
It has been a journey from a very young age for the two as they both attended play school together.
The laid back duo couldn't resist joking when the final question was asked of what snooker has given them.
"A headache," Dylan said.
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