Gerard McKeown, birthday boy Paddy Gibney and Ray Harte of the Stag’s Red team
There’s a saying that “the best way to slow down your competition is to leave them watching you.” This definitely is the mantra that has been adopted by the top teams in the Tuborg Dundalk and District Darts League over the last week.
The standard of darts has gradually and consistently improved over the season and it is reaching a crescendo as the league comes within the last month of fixtures.
Premier Division
“An amazing standard of darts a credit to both teams,” was the way this game was described by Pat Brady – the landlord of the Avenue Inn. The game he spoke about was the eagerly anticipated game between the Avenue Eagles and “The Stags”.
The standard of the game was so high that there was over 45 100+ scores in six games of darts. The Eagles were in a very determined form and they went with all guns blazing as they had Graham Unwin, Owen Caffrey, John Donnelly and Daniel Dunne to thank for an impressive 4-0 lead that won them the game. Each and every game was outstanding and Paddy Kearney for the Stags took the captain’s role and won the fifth game.
Ray Campbell could do no more in his attempt to win a second game as he met Joe Finnegan at his very best. It was a 5-1 victory in the end but the result did not show how impressive the darts were on the night.
David ‘Dinky’ Murden throwing for the Punter’s Sharks
Seamus Rice was voted as man of the match for the Stags in a game of “TV” darts against Owen Caffrey.
Elsewhere in the Division, the Commercial 1896 team travelled to the Stag’s Head to play Stag’s Red – a team captained by birthday boy Paddy Gibney – and with the Commercial Club chasing secondin the table, Paddy wanted to spoil their party and make sure it was a happy birthday for him.
The game was nip and tuck all night with Simon Wykes showing his finishing ability against Ray Harte when he took out 80 to finish the first leg before going on to win. Alan McMahon was in good form against league chairman Brendan O’Rourke and ensured that his team got at least a draw with one game to go.
Once again it came to the birthday boy Mr Gibney to take it home and he started in style with 180 in his first three darts. Brian Fitzpatrick fought hard for the Commercial but Paddy got the present of a well earned point for his team.
On a night where “The Stags” suffered their first defeat of the league and the “Red” team only getting a draw, McEnteggart’s were out to make sure the Stag’s Black didn’t get much out of the night’s darts. Despite Stephen Bailey winning the first game for the Stags, the home team took control in the middle of the match with three wins.
Gavin Hillard produced a strong performance against Wayne Fry to keep his team in it and made the final game between both captains the decider. Kieran Grimes took the “Vinegarman’s ” to a well earned win, despite some strong darts by Andrew Mackin.
First Division
The top of the table cannot get any tighter with both Harry’s Bar and the Stag’s Green having exactly the same stats on the league table with only game difference separating them.
This fact must have been on the mind of the men from the Bridge Street venue when they travelled to Kehoes on the Quay. They went in with their shooting boots on and came out with a 6-0 win, which saw Chris Lennon playing great darts which earned him the title of man of the match.
The Stags Green must have had a spy in the Quay Street venue because they made sure of a win against the Punter’s Dragons when Alan Quigley took out a checkout of 100 to win the game. Alan, who has only returned to darts this year, has proven to be a match winner more than once for the green machine but this one was vital to keep the title charge going.
The Punter’s Sharks are not giving up on the title yet either and Hubert Smith had to score well against Conor Mackin in a great game against Courtney’s. The tale of the tape on this game was that every game on the card went to a 2-1 result and although Gerry Conway and Chris Kearney were the only winners for Courtney’s the result could have went the other way only for missed doubles.
The remaining game in this division was a visit of the Oriel Active team to the Avenue Inn to play the Celtics. The first game of the night saw two of the most promising young players within the league play each other.
Michael McAlester has been in great form all through the year but Stephen Smith has finally found the form he has been showing in practice. The victory was claimed by “Smithy” in what was to be a close game which saw two county players take each other on. Sean “Jabbamax” Kavanagh was to do battle with Carl Thomas and this game was a ding dong affair with the treble being hit regularly.
The result favoured the Celtics man this time but it wasnt enough to push his team to victory.
Shane McDowell made sure of two points for the Oriel team with a win over Finbar Kelly. This division has proven to be very competitive all year and all players are looking forward to the home straight.
Second Division
Top of the table and unbeaten was were Johnny Mason’s found themselves before they walked into the Stag’s Head in this week’s round of games but the “Mighty White” of the Stag’s Head had designs on being the first team to take them to the losers’ enclosure.
Derek Morgan was first man in and he got the Stag’s White off to the start they wanted with a 2-0 victory over Burt Reynolds. This was the score in the next two games as the Stags pushed on. Syl Matthews gained a game back for Mason’s but team captain Paul McCourt secured a victory for the “Mighty White” that reopens the title race in Division Two.
This result, added to drawn match between Castle Bar Knights and Ferguson’s of Gyles Quay, has made sure that four teams are still in the running for at least a runners-up spot if not the title of divisional champions.
The other game in the division was the Malthouse Misfits against the Punter’s Tigers and despite being out of the title race both teams have been putting in good performance as the league nears its end. A 5-1 win for the Misfits has kept up their interest as they prepare for the upcoming Andrew McAlester Open Shield competition.
The Premier Division table
The First Division table
The Second Division table
