KEN DOHERTY, the republic of Ireland's only authentic world class player, won six of his seven frames, including an amazing 54-minute decider, to pilot his tightly-knit trio of young Dubliners to a memorable 10-9 win over England's three top eighters Peter Ebdon, Nigel Bond and Ronnie O'Sullivan in their semifinal of the World Cup at the Amari Watergate hotel, Bangkok.

The epic contest ran for nine hours to 3.40 a.m. local time before the Irish clinched their place in tomorrow's final against either Scotland or Thailand, who meet today.

The Irish supporting cast played their parts. Their quiet, methodical world number 36, Fergal O'Brien, and their world number 61, Stephen Murphy, invariably the life and soul of the party even if he has to start it himself, both won two of their six frames against much higher-ranked opposition.

But Doherty was the hero. At 8-7, he watched Ebdon make 67 to get within a red and colour of levelling at 8-8. Doherty recovered to win that frame on the black for a 9-7 lead, but with O'Brien losing to O'Sullivan's 112 break and Murphy making no impact on Bond, he had to return to the table at 9-9 to play England's nominee for the tie-break, O'Sullivan.

This proved to be an astonishing frame. Doherty potted the yellow which would have left O'Sullivan needing three snookers, but at its last roll the cue ball dropped into a middle pocket. This left O'Sullivan needing only one snooker which he duly obtained.

A few minutes later, he again required two snookers and obtained these, but eventually Doherty potted the brown to give O'Sullivan only his fifth defeat in 24 frames in the competition.

"It was the hardest frame of my life," said Doherty. "The man has two humps on his back from carrying us all night," said Murphy.