Collinstown and Mullingar sides on course to meet in league final
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Katelyn Conway and Aidan Reilly, Mullingar Shamrocks, pictured at the Westmeath darts singles competition, won by Ross Kelly.Image 2 of 3
Sean Ward, Bridge Bar, and Sean Farrelly, Mullingar Shamrocks darts team.Image 3 of 3
Pete Doyle and Loughlin McHugh, McHugh's darts team, Raharney, pictured at the Westmeath darts singles competition.The Maypole Inn, Collinstown are closing in on a place in the final of the Westmeath Darts League, following their fine victory over the Grand Hotel, Moate Friday evening March 15.
After a great evening of darts, the Collinstown side are leading 6-3 heading into the second leg of the semi-final and while they have to travel to Moate, six games gives them a massive chance of reaching the decider.
The darts were of a good standard as expected. Paul Radford and Stephen O’Farrelly were denied in the first game of doubles by Ben Corcoran and Mark Dolan, whose experience showed. However, Derek Delaney and Dan Beegan won the next game to level it. In the third doubles, Barry Kiernan and Ray Enright denied Damien Claffey and Mickey Evans to ensure the Maypole Inn led heading into the singles.
Ben Corcoran shot a couple of maximums as he denied Stephen O’Farrelly in the opening singles joust, while Paul Radford hit back to overcome Graham Corcoran.
Ray Enright faced Mark Dolan then and Dolan edged it, so it was now nicely poised at 3-3.
Derek Delaney took a crucial win over Damien Claffey at this juncture and Dan Beegan went on to deny Mickey Evans with some fine darts. That made it 5-3 to the Maypole Inn.
In the finale, Barry Kiernan faced Anthony Blacoe and in a great game, Kiernan produced three tons in the final leg before finishing on 44, with Blacoe sitting on 96. It was a big win and ensures them of a 6-3 lead heading into the second leg in Moate next Friday. It’s still just half-time in this semi-final and Moate, with all their quality and experience, could easily turn it around on home soil.
Defending champions in control
Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, defending champions Mullingar Shamrocks secured a 6-3 victory over The Wagon Wheel, Ballynacargy and that win, coming away from home, sets them up for a repeat appearance in the final. The second leg is in Springfield on Friday and the Ballynacargy men will have to reproduce the form that earned them an away win at the same venue in recent weeks.
There was an exceptional game between Ross Kelly, the Westmeath singles winner, and John Penrose, with Kelly just edging it after some terrific scoring that included a maximum. Kelly, Sylvester Keane and Brandon Gilsenan all took crucial games, while the visitors also edged it in the doubles and chalking up six games puts them in a strong position.
The Wagon Wheel managed two of the singles as Derek Maguire and Gerry Keon prevailed, while the secured one of the doubles through Joe Crotty and John Penrose. With just three games on the board, allied to the 'away game' factor, they face a considerable, though not impossible task on Friday and the doubles will be crucial in the overall scheme of things. At 6-2 this was potentially all over, but 6-3 is not insurmountable given the format.
Elsewhere, in the Shield competition, Clarke’s B meet The Bridge Bar on Friday, while Bagnall’s, Rochfortbridge, have a 5-4 lead on The Western Gem, Ballinalack.