Gerry's experience helps Maypole Bar reach semi-final

Westmeath Darts League

Play-off season in any code always brings about its own drama and this year's eliminators in the WDL were no different as Maypole Bar, Bridge Bar, McHugh's and Bagnall's B all got over the line to seal their place in the semi-finals of the Championship/Shield sections this year.

The Maypole Bar, Collinstown, earned their last four place with a hard fought, back and forth 5-4 home victory over the Western Gem, Ballinalack. The away side took the first game through Chris Cole/Keith Kilduff before Andy Price checked out 56 (single 16, double 20) to level. Gerry Deveraux pinned double two to ensure Maypole led going into the singles.

Jimmy McCormack and Damien Kelly, fresh off their exploits at the All-Ireland Inter-Counties in Killarney the previous weekend, met in game four. Damien took a 2-1 lead with thanks to a 95 finish (treble/double 19) and 90 (20, 20 bullseye) sandwiched in between a 96 from Jimmy (20, treble 20, double 8). A 180 from the 'Gem man in the fourth leg gave him a 3-1 win as the game levelled up. Chris Cole/Andy Price met in game five with Chris taking it 3-0 to push the Ballinalack crew 3-2 ahead.

Derek Delaney showed his resolve in game six, winning 3-1 against Keith Kilduff and put a stop to the 'Gem's momentum. Barry Kiernan defeated Ger Brennan by the same scoreline to wrestle the game back in favour of the home side. Bilal Moran avenged his defeat to Alan McManus earlier in the season to level up the game at 4-4 and bring all the pressure down on Gerry Deveraux and Andy McCormack to see which side would make the semis.

McCormack came out of the blocks early with a 180 and 78 checkout (18, 20, double 20) to put the Ballinalack side on the front foot, but Deveraux has been around for a long time and showed his experience, clipping a D19 to make it 2-1 before heavy hitting on the 19s helped to bring it to 2-2. With the whole night's darts now on one leg of 501 a nervy affair ensued with the Maypole man checking out 54 (14, double 20) to send them through to a semi-final date with the Beech Tree.

For the Western Gem it’s a narrow defeat to end a season which saw them go from 10th last season into a side that had aspirations of a top four finish this season which is an incredible turnaround. Maypole head to Streamstown with their own side rebuilt this season and still showing the fight for a battle.

Local derby confirmed

Elsewhere, Bridge Bar, Mullingar, sealed their place in the final four with a 5-1 win over Bagnall's A. Home advantage helped as they came from 1-0 down to take the next five games in a match that was a lot closer than the final result shows. Bagnall's (Rochfortbridge) took the first doubles game with Jayzer/Darragh Mullen, before Kevin Gilmore/Jamie Nugent levelled matters. In a tight third game, Jim-Bob Baker/Matt Cullen Jnr put the 'BB' in front going into the singles.

The returning Jason Matthews faced Kevin Gilmore in game four and with the help of a 156 checkout (treble 20 x2, double 18) brought the tie to the fifth leg. However, it was Gilmore who held it together to put his side 3-1 up. This became 4-1 as Matthew Willoughby, aided by a 177 shot, got the better of Bagnall's marquee player Jayzer Moran 3-2 to put them one game away. Finally, it was Rory Matthews who faced Ger Forde with the game on the line. In another back and forth encounter, it was Rory who got the better over five legs with the addition of a 180 on the night to put the 'BB' through to their first Championship semi-final.

Bagnall's will look back on this season with a little bit of regret having been affected by availability of key players, which if they had week on week earning points than, could have been the difference in them being at home in this Eliminator game. The Bridge Bar will now take the short walk around by Cusack Park down to face Kerrigan's (who won the title last year as Mullingar Shamrocks) and will need to have a fast start in order to give themselves a chance.

McHugh's in Shield semi-final

Meanwhile, McHugh's took the spoils over Tom's Bar in the Raharney/Killucan derby by a scoreline of 5-2 to place themselves into a Shield semi-final showdown with Clarke's Bar this Friday. Tom's started the better on the night, winning the first two doubles games to give themselves a foothold in the match before Pete Doyle/Colm McKeogh got McHugh's on the board in the third match. Sean Gaffney continued his impressive season, levelling up matters over Thyge Sutton, and when Conor Raleigh defeated Rory Keyes, the focus on game 6 ramped up.

Pete Doyle and Del McKeogh faced off with the game going all five legs and it was the Raharney men who settled things, putting McHugh's 4-2 up and bringing themselves to match point. Colm McKeogh's experience saw him over the line against Niall Kane to set up a third meeting with Clarke's this Friday night in Mullingar.

For Tom's Bar, a tough first season overall in the WDL, but improvements were seen week on week. Hopefully they are a side that comes back again next season and puts the lessons learned to good use.

Bagnall’s B do the business away from home

Elsewhere, Rochfortbridge side Bagnall's B are the final side through to the semi-finals of the Shield having recorded a 5-3 win over Shamrocks the previous weekend. Key to the victory was the 3-0 lead after the doubles format including a 180 from Jack Murphy in the opening game. Shamrocks needed to fight back and that they did through Dillon Matthews and James Joyce, with a 100 finish from Dillon (treble 20, double 20) before Jason Bradley brought Bagnall's to the hill with a 3-2 win over Dean Penrose.

Chris Matthews took out Stuart Hayes in five legs, but that was as good as it was going to get for the home side and Michael Greaves ensured victory on the night for Bagnall's B, who reached the semi-final, away to the Wagon Wheel, Ballynacargy, this Friday

For this youthful Shamrocks side under the leadership of Sean Farrelly, it's a team full of promise and they will no doubt come back next season better and more experienced again with a foundation built across this year's WDL.

WDL Championship Semi-finals - Sponsored by Stephen Lynn & Co Accountants/Auditors

Kerrigan’s vs Bridge Bar, Beech Tree vs Maypole Bar

WDL Shield Semi-finals - Sponsored by McNamee Tyres

Wagon Wheel vs Bagnall’s B, Clarke’s Bar vs McHugh’s

League sponsors

Continued thanks is given to Stephen Lynn & Co Accountants/Auditors, McNamee Tyres, J.A. Shaw & Co. LLP Solicitors and Geerah's Daybreak Ballinalack for their sponsorship and support for this year's Westmeath Darts League also.

Westmeath Darts League singles

The WDL singles competitions took place on Sunday in Mullingar Shamrocks clubhouse and after a great afternoon's darts, it was Ross Kelly (Kerrigan's) and Killian Kelly (Clarke's Bar) who took the spoils in the respective Championship and Shield events. Ross overcame Alan McManus (Maypole Bar) 4-2, while Killian got the better of Terry Kelly in a father vs son Shield decider.