An Englishman, an Irishman and a Frenchman...

So I make it to Dublin on Saturday by train, plane and automobile, accompanied by Salmon and PC.

Salmon usually has some trick up his sleeve and this was revealed to me at Manchester airport - Salmon and PC changed into "official Trainglot supporters t-shirts", with an unflattering photo of me on the back and a witty slogan on the front, "Instant Idiot - Just Add Beer".

I leave the boys in the hotel, as I have to meet the Boylepoker reps at the Jackpot club, before a pre-tournament lunch. Most of the other finalists are present at lunch and I sit with Lars, a really nice guy from Denmark (but reassuringly bearing little resemblance to Gus Hansen) and a quiet French guy called Thierry - no really.

Thierry appeared to speak very little English and at first I was convinced this was just pretence to avoid any "handball" arguments but he actually does speak very little English. In fact Thierry's English is limited to the words "Raise" and "All In" which he become increasingly fluent in, as the afternoon progressed.

Interestingly to me, I appeared to be the only finalist who had an alcoholic drink with lunch - I didn't know whether this was a good sign or a bad sign.

Thought I'd share a couple of interesting hands from the final as this is supposed to be a poker blog.

The first one was a hand I wasn't in but actually put me on tilt. My research of the other finalists led me to believe that John Weafer was my most dangerous opponent and I was keen to see him exit as soon as possible (sorry John!).

John got in a hand with the only complete novice on the table, Jason, who had been very tight/passive throughout. John kept betting, Jason kept calling and when John reluctantly tossed his last 1500 chips into the 8K pot on the river, I was praying that Jason would call because he had to have the goods - the board was 8 high with no flush. Jason thought, then folded QQ saying to John "You must have Kings or better". John showed JJ and I went on internal tilt.

Jason's a lovely guy but his lack of live experience showed a few hands later. He announces "All in" in early position, the lovely Clodagh says, "Good luck" and Jason announces with a beam, "Don't worry - I don't need it this time". I glance at John and the words, "Narrow calling range" can be seen forming across both our foreheads. Luckily I didn't have a tricky spot with , as I quickly folded my .

A few rounds later and I have the opportunity I have been waiting for. John had folded to re-raises a couple of times and his stack is down to 8,400 chips, with the blinds 300/600. John is under the gun and I am on the button with 13,500 chips. John pushes all-in and I look down at suited. I don't normally overplay this hand but I put John on quite a wide range for his push - his M has just dipped below 10. John is the only guy on the table I am happy to race with and there is a chance I have a K9-J dominated.

If I call and lose, I still have 5k of chips. Most importantly, if I win this hand I knock out the most dangerous opponent and will have over half of the chips in play 4 handed. I therefore re-raise all in and the blinds fold. John shows su and my hand holds.

The rest is history, or at least is in the BOSP 2 Live Updates Blog. At one stage 3 handed, Thierry, Noel and myself all have 15K chips each but I get the run of the cards in a quick heads-up with Noel who was a tough player - it could easily have gone Noel's way but I am very glad it didn't.

The Boylepoker team was superb and treated all the finalists like royalty. I have decided that my first two tournaments will be the IPC in Galway next week and, much closer to my home, the GUKPT in Bolton in January.

I hope to make the most of this amazing opportunity and represent Boyle's proudly and successfully.

In saying that, my loyalties to Boylepoker will have an early and severe test if my home town Barrow (where I write this from) beat Oxford in a FA Cup replay next Tuesday - the winners are drawn away to Sunderland in the 3rd round! We played Middlesbrough away in the same stage last year and we broke their ground record for the most away supporters ever - Sunderland prepare yourselves!!

Which brings me to today, 1st December - I answer a call on my mobile though I don't recognise the number. Turns out it's Padraig Parkinson phoning to congratulate me and arranging to meet up with me when I arrive in Galway. I apologise for blabbering like an idiot Padraig but it was a complete shock to me - I don't even remember writing to Jimmy Saville....