Belief in ability remains

SNOOKER/World Championship follow-up: As Ken Doherty left Sheffield for The Belfry to play in a pro-am golf event today, it would be one of his last commitments in what has been a season transformed as much by the manner of his World Championship fortnight as by the fact that he almost landed the second Crucible trophy of his career.Johnny Watterson on why Ken Doherty believes the edge has returned to his game.

In truth Doherty's name has not had the same resonance in recent years as it had in the aftermath of his World Championship win in 1997 and his run to the 1998 final, when he lost to John Higgins 18-12. These past two weeks, if nothing else has realigned his career, hauled it up the important few degrees that separate players who are highly ranked from those who can credibly challenge for championships.

At 33, the Irishman is not yet about to fade into the comfort zone that a world top five position provides. These past few days have shown that his elite status in the game, while wholly accepted, has occasionally been lightly regarded. But Doherty's towering run this year has been no twilight fluke. He may occasionally have had the run of the ball in recent days but this tilt at the trophy was co-ordinated and planned in a deliberate, methodical way.

"I think over the last few months, I've had a bit more of an edge to my game. I definitely think I still have it," he says. "It" being the ability to step out into an arena with Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams, Stephen Hendry or John Higgins and fully expect to win the match.

"Sure, this was one of my great chances. It is my third world final now but I believe that I can still do it. I don't think age is a big thing. I'm only 33, or, 34 in September. I still have another two or three years to give myself a good chance of winning the World Championship. It is still not yet beyond me.

"I believe Liam Moggan has helped me tremendously and Mick (McLean) really drives me forward. He looks after me and is good company. Then there is Pat Caulfield on the other side of the picture with the practice back in Jasons. I remember setting a calendar out 100 days ago, which was the count down to this championship. Then I really worked my socks off even going down in the evening time to Jasons. I really thought this was going to be my year because I have much more belief, more confidence in the way I was playing and in what I was doing. Liam is a good guy. He helped me prepare for this."

As a childhood friend of Doherty's around the streets of Ranelagh, McClean's role is as much one of companionship as managerial while Moggan's reputation in sports psychology straddles across a number of sports. He has worked with the Dublin hurlers under the late Lar Foley and has helped Irish athletes. Brian Kerr has also had him involved with the Irish soccer team.

But Doherty's own intelligence has been significant and it has allowed him recognise his changing requirements and go about building a team around his needs. During his post-match conference following the exceptional come back against Paul Hunter from 11-5 down, the issue of Doherty attending a psychologist was immediately seized upon by the UK tabloids, which more vigorously chase angles on stories than the other newspapers.

If there had been any hesitancy or backing away from the issue by the player, the reporters would have sensed his reluctance and therefore probed much more. The psychology, rather than his tenacious ability would have been the story. The facile link was obvious. Psychologist equals head problems. Doherty gathered himself for a fraction of a second before answering.

"Yes I've been seeing Liam since last October or November," he said. "I think it is a fascinating subject and one that interests me a lot. I also believe that if you can work on something that is going to help your game, whatever it is, then you do it, so I have. Yes, I did talk to him (Moggan) before the last session against Paul Hunter. We had a conversation. No he is not here."

Doherty has also successfully planted seeds of doubt in every player on the circuit by successfully coming back from the precipice against 12th seed Graeme Dott, fourth seed John Higgins and Hunter, ranked ninth in the world. It was one of the many factors Williams was forced to consider when Doherty moved from 10-2 behind to 12-12 in the final day's play. Even though the experienced 28-year-old had already won the world title in 2000 and this season had claimed the two biggest events outside of the world championship, the Wembley Masters and UK Championship, he almost fractured under Doherty's pressure.

"I'd a massive lead overnight and I knew he was going to come back at me," said Williams. "He was good and strong and at that stage I was absolutely shitting myself. At 11-8 it was like I was playing with a different arm. It was always at the back of my mind that he did it to Paul Hunter. He did it three times, I think.

"I knew he was not going to give up. Normally I'd feel comfortable knowing he was coming back but this time I didn't. I felt so many nerves it was frightening. The last few frames anyone could have won. Ken didn't make any mistakes to lose them and I didn't make any mistakes to lose them."

Before attending the Champions Ball on Monday night at The Marriott Hotel, Sheffield, Doherty arrived to the media bar for a drink with his family and friends. The mood was relaxed but the attitude towards him had perceptibly changed since his 1998 defeat by Higgins. Then the Scot bullied the match his way and the view towards the Irishman was one of mild sympathy. On Monday night the snap shots of the final were Williams's audible obscenities as an obstinate Doherty refused to roll over and the 26th frame when he broke for 92 and 12-12 or his seamless 112 for 16-16 after 32 frames.

There was little in the way of sympathy for the runner-up but unusually strong, awesome admiration for his bottle and his ability to undermine the lie that being unerringly affable under stress is a weakness, not a great strength.