Defending champions Shamrocks remain on course in darts league
As the second phase of the Westmeath darts league continues apace, Mullingar side Shamrocks are top of the table and are making a strong bid to defend the title they won last year.
On Friday, they enjoyed a 6-3 victory against the Grand Hotel, Moate (away game) and they play McHugh’s, Raharney next Friday where they will be aiming to extend their lead at the top.
The team is producing some impressive darts so far. In Friday’s game, in the doubles, they won two of the three games on offer. Sylvester Keane and Keith Mahon lost the opener, while the second pairing of Ross Kelly and Aidan Reilly won. Mickey McJKnight and Brandon Gilsenan also took the spoils, leaving them 2-1 ahead.
In the singles, Brandon Gilsenan overcame Mark Corrigan in a great game. There were great scores, including a 180 from Brandon Gilsenan. After that, Sylvester Keane lost to Ben Corcoran, still a very strong player. Ross Kelly then overcame Damien Caffrey.
Ger Mcloughlin prevailed against Graham Corcoran, while Mickey McKnight lost to Mark Dolan. Aidan Reilly took the last game against Mickey Evans.
Victory ensures Shamrocks are top on 78 points, with McHugh’s, Maypole, The Bridge Bar, Mullingar and The Wagon Wheel to play.
In second place are Maypole (Collinstown) on 66 points, following their victory over Bagnall’s (Rochfortbridge) at the weekend. The Collinstown side are certainly among the leading contenders in a competitive league.
Moate are third (63) and Ballynacargy side, The Wagon Wheel sit in fourth place (58). The Wagon Wheel lost to Clarke’s, Mullingar (5-4) on Friday and that result gives the latter an outside chance of fourth as they are on 45. Every game won is a point on the board under this year’s rules and doubles are now a key part of the game, with every player getting prominently involved.
The top four teams will contest the semi-finals and currently it reads: Shamrocks, Maypole, Grand Hotel Moate and The Wagon Wheel.
Singles event
The Westmeath singles are on Sunday February 11 in Mullingar Shamrocks club house and this promises to be a great day’s darts.
Westmeath county darts
Westmeath enjoyed a good weekend in Wexford for the Leinster darts where the ‘B’ team exited in the group stages, losing to Dublin and Wexford, while the ‘A’ team won 9-4 against Meath and lost to Laois 9-4. They then played Wexford ‘C’ and won 13-0. Offaly, the eventual winners, beat Westemath in the knock-out stages.
The county sides are now preparing for the All-Ireland darts in Trim on February 16/17/18.