SNOOKER/Irish Professional Championship: Ken Doherty put the memories of last year's final defeat behind him when he was crowned Irish Professional Snooker champion at the Spawell after a 9-4 victory over Michael Judge.

Doherty lost his title to Joe Swail last year having held it for 12 years while the competition lay dormant, and was visibly ecstatic with his victory over Judge. He earned a €7,000 cheque for winning the event and another €1,000 for the highest break - the 140 he compiled in the eighth frame of the final.

"I cherish this tournament," he said. "I was on the other end of the stick last year and was getting a bit worried when Mick won the first two frames (of the evening session). He was flying and I didn't do a lot wrong, but I was just delighted to win."

Judge settled well early on and shared the first four frames with Doherty, compiling breaks of 53 and 64 to level in the second and fourth, but the Bray native could never get his nose in front.

Doherty reeled off the last four frames of the session to take a commanding 6-2 lead into the evening session, finishing off in scintillating style with a brilliant 140 clearance.

Judge looked like making a fight of it by winning the first two frames of the evening session with breaks of 98 and 69, but Doherty cancelled that out with two grinding wins and finished off the match with a break of 89 for victory.