Doherty - came from six frames down.
DOHERTY INSPIRED BY DEFIANT UNITED
By John Curtis, PA Sport
Ken Doherty admitted that the never-say-die attitude of Manchester United this
season helped him to believe that he could rescue his Embassy World Championship
semi-final with Paul Hunter as he clinched a heart-stopping 17-16 victory.
Red Devils nut Doherty noted the way that Sir Alex Ferguson's side have
stormed back this season after being written off to be favourites to win the
Premiership.
And it was a similar scenario as he turned around a 15-9 deficit going into
the final session by winning eight of the remaining nine frames.
Doherty said: "It's one of the best feelings over. I wouldn't say it was the
best. It's only the best if you end up winning. But it was certainly the best
comeback I've ever made.
"It was incredible because he was playing so well over the last three
sessions. I had to win eight of the last nine frames and it was really tough.
"I just sort of tried to chip away and give myself a chance. As long as I
kept him on the 15 frame mark I believed that I still had a glimmer.
"Once he got to 16 I was at least in reaching distance at three frames left.
It just worked out for me. The tide was flowing his way for three seasons and
today because I kept banging on the door it just eventually opened for me.
"The tide turned my way and everything went my way in the last couple of
frames. There is incredible pressure out there. You can miss any shot and that's
what makes the World Championships so different to any other tournament.
"You have to keep believing you have a chance. I've been seeing a sports
psychologist called Lee Morgan since November and he has helped me to believe
and to keep a positive frame of mind and keep dreaming that you can do it.
"If you keep dreaming, those dreams can become a reality. I dreamt that I
could come back and believed that I could come back. As soon as you stop
believing, then you've got no chance. I've got a lot of positive people around
me.
"Manchester United have shown that this year, that you never give in. It's
been exactly the same sort of situation. You never give up. They never have.
"If I could win the title and United take the take the Premiership it would
be a great double and cap off a great year."
Hunter was philosophical in defeat and claimed: "I just didn't get any rub of
the green at all. I am devastated but hopefully it will make me stronger.
"Ken stuck in there all the way. I knew he would but at the end of the day
it's only a game and I'll come back fighting well - hopefully. This has been a
great learning curve for me.
"I just tried to think positive and I was like that in the last frame but it
just wasn't to be my championship but hopefully it will be one day."
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