Connor's double eight lands league title for Beach Tree
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Matt Cullen, The Bridge Bar, and Graeme Corcoran, The Beach Tree, with the Championship Cup.Image 2 of 7
Keith Kilduff, WDL secretary, presented the runner-up trophy to Matt Cullen, The Bridge Bar.Image 3 of 7
Keith Kilduff presents the Payer of The Match award to Johnny Broughton following Saturday's Championship decider.Image 4 of 7
Semi-finalists, The Maypole Bar and Kerrigan’s receiving their prizes: Derek Delaney and Kevin McKnight with Keith Kilduff, WDL secretary.Image 5 of 7
Matt Cullen, Keith Kilduff (WDL secretary) and Graeme Corcoran.Image 6 of 7
The Bridge Bar darts team, Mullingar, runners-up in Saturday’s Championship final.Image 7 of 7
The Beach Tree, Streamstown, winners of the WDL Championship title, with the trophy following Saturday’s final.McHugh's bar in Raharney will be a venue remembered for some time by the members of the Beech Tree as they became the third team in this new post-covid era of the Westmeath Darts League (WDL) to win the title, overcoming The Bridge Bar, 5-2, in a final filled with quality.
The newly formed Championship has been enthralling all year and the finale was a fitting one. The Bridge Bar, Mullingar, took the first doubles through Rory Matthews/Matthew Willoughby before a 180 by Johnny Broughton and a double one by Ian Meares helped the Streamstown side level up matters. The third doubles was a big swing game on the night that went the way of the Beech Tree, with Willie Moran pinning double eight on the last dart in hand to give his side a lead into the singles.
Mark Corrigan and Kevin Gilmore faced off in game four of the final and with two of the legs shared in under 21 darts, a superb standard was set upfront. Mark took it for the Beech with a last dart double four as the lead went to 3-1 on the night.
Game five also went the way of Beech Tree as Johnny Broughton returned to take out 74 and 89 on his way to a 3-1 win over Rory Matthews. This brought us to match point in game six but Jim-Bob Baker ensured the final would continue with an impressive 3-1 victory over Graeme Corcoran, which included a 180 and 14-darter.
Matthew Willoughby and Chris Connor faced off in game seven on the night and it was Connor who took a 2-0 lead, helped by taking out 201 in six darts, before Willoughby got himself into the game with a double 10 finish. That was to be the last call for the Bridge Bar as Connor teed up double eight and duly took it out at the second attempt to seal a 5-2 win and complete the rarely spotted 'League/Cup double'.
Johnny Broughton was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ as sponsored by J.A. Shaws & Co. LLP Solicitors for his actions on the night and all six Championship sides collected their trophies and prize money before Graeme Corcoran lifted the WDL Title to begin a night of celebrations for the Beech Tree.
Secretary, Keith Kilduff thanked Chairman, Loughlin McHugh: “Many thanks to all in McHugh’s for their support on the night and a special note to wish Loughlin McHugh all the best. After 30 years involved in Westmeath Darts at club/county level, he is stepping away from all administrative duties.”
All sides were thanked for their involvement and the Beech Tree got special praise. “They now become the standard setters and league ambassadors,” added the secretary.