Troubled Waters for Bridge Bar outfit
Westmeath Darts League
As we reach the halfway point of Phase 1 of this year’s Westmeath Darts League, only five points separate fifth through 10th as the race to those exclusive Championship spots heat up.
It was business as usual for Don’s and Beech Tree as they recorded strong 8-1 wins over Bridge Bar/Tom’s Bar respectively away from home.
Don’s took the first doubles match before Sean Waters came from 2-0 down to win his singles game against Kevin Gilmore. Alan McManus made it 3-0 and the Moate side grabbed the second doubles game as well before Jason Waters averaged 71 in his 3-1 win over Rory Matthews. Games 6-8 all went the way of Don’s before Matthew Willoughby got a chalk on the board for the home side, defeating Ben Corcoran in the last game of the night to keep them in the top six.
The night played out the same for Beech Tree as they took the first eight games of Tom’s Bar. Johnny Broughton hit two 180s in his win over Martin Massey, averaging 72 in the process. Chris Connor continued his steady consistent start to the season with a 69 average in his win also and finished with a 180 of his own on the way to taking the second doubles game.
Mark Shiels was unlucky to wire D18 for a 153 checkout, but Tom Moran got the better of him to guarantee the win for the Streamstown side, before Willie Moran/Enda Serry picked off a singles/doubles combination of their own to make it 8-0 on the night. Captain Del McKeogh, with the help of a 21 dart leg in the dying embers of the night, ensured that Tom’s avoided the brush.
The Western Gem sit sixth after this week’s action after a 5-4 win away from home over top six rivals Esker Inn. Damien Kelly took out 77 to make it 1-0 and followed it up with a win over Riaghan Grimes to double their lead, including a 180 call of his own. Jason Bradley halted the Ballinalack men’s charge with a 3-1 win of his own against Ger Brennan including a 17 dart leg to seal matters.
The score then turned in favour of the Esker as they went 4-3 up on the night with wins for Jason Matthews and Ger Forde, who also hit D5 in the third doubles game. David Egan came from 1-0 down to defeat Darragh Mullen 3-1 to level the tie and Bilal Moran’s D6 ensured victory for the away side.
The Wagon Wheel remain seventh in the standings after a hard fought 5-4 away win over Murray's in Mullingar. The visitors took a 1-0 lead, before Michael Scully came out on the right side of five legs against Regan Maher, checking out 82 himself with Regan popping in a 105 checkout for good measure. Wayne Kelly defied a 108 checkout from Joe Farrelly to put the away side 2-1 up, which became 3-1 after the second doubles game.
Dillon Matthews came from 2-0 down to defeat Derek Maguire, 3-2, only for Thomas Murtagh to make it 4-2 on the night with a win over Billy Conway. Murray's took the third doubles game to bring it back to 4-3 only for Padraig White, with the help of a 17-dart leg, to ensure the win for the Wagon Wheel. Cian Penrose took the last game of the night to keep Murray's in touch with the rest of the top six.
The final game of Week 5 was also in Mullingar. A case of familiar foes from last year as Clarke's hosted McHugh's of Raharney and it was the away side that came out of the traps quickly taking a 2-0 lead on the night. Mel Kavanagh got the home side on the board in game three only for Conor Raleigh’s D10 to make it 3-1. Pete Doyle pushed Killian Kelly all the way in game five including a 84 checkout, but a 20-dart leg from Killian made it 3-2 on the night. Peter Rogers extended McHugh’s lead back to 4-2, overcoming Damien Maher in five legs.
Clarke's weren’t to be done though as they took the third doubles game and Terry Kelly made it 4-4 with a win over Aaron McHugh to set up a captain showdown in game nine between Allen Gilgan and Loughlin McHugh. With the help of D5 in the fifth leg, Loughlin gave his side their first win of the season.
League sponsors
The WDL Committee would like to thank the following companies for their support of the league this year:
Moran Construction & Carpentry – Overall WDL sponsor; Stephen Lynn Accountants/Auditors – WDL Championship sponsor; McNamee Tyres – WDL Shield sponsor; Quality Tractor Parts – WDL weekly fixture sponsor.
WDL Week 6 Fixtures
Clarkes vs Esker Inn, McHugh's vs Tom’s Bar, Wagon Wheel vs Bridge Bar, Western Gem vs Maypole, Beech Tree vs Don’s Bar, Kerrigan's vs Murray's
Paddy Gilgan Memorial Cup Preliminary Round
The first round of this year’s Paddy Gilgan Memorial Cup takes place on Sunday November 8. Historically a competition of shocks and upsets, the preliminary round features the eight sides who didn’t make the semi-finals last season. Clarke's host Western Gem in Mullingar, former winners Maypole will take on Esker Inn in Collinstown, McHugh's will take on the league leaders Don’s Bar in Raharney while Tom’s Bar will face Murrays.
The Format is as follows - 2 x 1001 Trebles, 3 x 801 Doubles, 6 x 501 Singles. Trebles/doubles are one leg shootouts while singles games are best of three.
Westmeath County Darts Trial 12 recap
The final WCD trial for this season which was held in Bartley's Bar, Drumcree brought with it a familiar winner as Cormac Foley took home his third trial victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Killian Kelly, joining Jason Waters in the three-time club this year. The win also sealed Cormac’s place at the top of the county rankings, just edging out Jason and his brother Sean who sit in the number two and #number three spots.
WCD Chairman Ben Corcoran was the lucky recipient of the 50/50 winning ticket and a massive thank you to all players, family, friends and venues for supporting Westmeath County Darts over the last number of months.
Westmeath County Darts A/B team selections
After the conclusion of last week’s final WCD trial, A/B Management of Keith Kilduff, Tommy Dolan, Charlie O’Toole and Tom Duck met to finalise the squads which will represent Westmeath in this year’s Leinster/All Ireland competitions.
A Squad – Anthony Blacoe, Johnny Broughton, Chris Connor, Ben Corcoran, Mark Corrigan, Cormac Foley, Simon Heffernan, Sylvester Keane, Damien Kelly, Killian Kelly, Ross Kelly, Andy Kennedy, Paul Radford, Nick Sheldrick, Jason Waters and Sean Waters.
B Squad – Damien Claffey, Jason Conway, Derek Delaney, Aaron Devine, Brendan Dunleavy, David Egan, Ray Enright, Ger Forde, Aaron Gavin, Mick Greaves, Wayne Kelly, Alan McManus, Bilal Moran, Willie Moran, Ross Muldowney, Padraig White and Kaden Wilson.