The successful Bagnall's team: Dermot Dunne, Charlie O'Toole, Darragh Mullen, Gerard Forde, Charile Guinan (holding a photo of Phil Monaghan), Ian 'Dart Vader' Kennedy, Johnny Daly, Aidan McNair, Riadhan Grimes, Cathal Jessop, Dave Hamilton and Gerard Stokes.

Bagnall's take darts Shield title as final goes to the wire

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The Bridge Bar team: Matt Cullen, Michael Raleigh Snr, Sean Ward, Kevin Gilmore, Matthew Cullen, Michael Raleigh Jnr, Jimbob Baker, Josh Cunningham, Jimmy Corroon, Declan Ward and JP Reynolds.

Damien Maher

Published: Wed 24 Apr 2024, 4:22 PM

Bagnall’s of Rochfortbridge celebrated a terrific victory in the Westmeath Darts Shield final at Springfield (Mullingar Shamrocks GAA club house) on Saturday night as they overcame The Bridge Bar, Mullingar in a gripping game.

The nail-biting final went down to the last game and the proverbial wire, with Dave Hamilton the hero as he denied Jimmy Corroon to win the title on his favourite double - 18.

Ian Kennedy and Darragh Mullen won their first doubles match to get the ball rolling, so to speak. Riaghan Grimes and Charlie Guinan won the third doubles with precision finishing from Riaghan Grimes. However, The Mullingar men kept in touch as father and son combination Michael Raleigh Snr and Jnr won their doubles match.

That meant a 2-1 advantage for the Rochfortbridge side heading into the individual battles.

After the bridge bar won the first two singles with some fine darts from Declan Ward and Kevin Gilmore, Gerry Forde was solid in the third singles to bring back the overall score to 3-3. Gilmore’s fine 99 checkout for Matt Cullen’s side was on the highlights of a pulsating final.

Michael Raleigh Jnr was in fine form as the Bridge Bar regained the lead (4-3) and the tension was building.

Darragh Mullen shook off his nerves to level the legs up in match five of singles against Matthew Cullen Jnr. In a fine display, the Rochfortbridge player shot three 100s and finished his match with a 120 finish to level the score at 4-4.

Jimmy Corroon had the darts in the final match against Dave Hamilton, but the latter sneaked ahead and checked out 74 with a double 18 double 19 combination to lead 1-0.

That meant Hamilton now had the darts in second leg and after hitting 81 to leave 50, Jimmy Corroon hit 60 to leave 137. Hamilton checked out with two darts (single 14, double 18) - his double of choice on the board - to win the match for Bagnall’s.

Overall, it was a very entertaining match for the crowd but nerve wrecking for the players.