Fine wins for Wagon Wheel and Clarke's 'B' ahead of semi-finals

There were some great games in the final round of the Westmeath darts league at the weekend, with two of the top three teams getting overturned.

The Maypole Inn, Collinstown were in Ballynacargy for a clash against The Wagon Wheel and came up short after a great match (5-4). While the visitors got the first games of doubles on the board after a bout of 'finishing fever', Derek Maguire and Joe Crotty levelled it up; John Penrose and Thomas Murtagh then gave The Wagon Wheel the lead.

Derek Maguire, John Penrose and Joe Crotty claimed three of the singles and that was enough to secure a fine win for the home side. It follows their excellent away result against Mullingar Shamrocks the previous week and they are finding some form at the opportune time. The problem now is the element of surprise is gone and they face the forewarned defending champions from Mullingar in the semi-final.

The result doesn't dramatically change the table as both sides were already through to the semi-final - Maypole Inn finished third on 91 points and The Wagon Wheel were fourth (87).

The official top four are: Mullingar Shamrocks, The Grand Hotel, Maypole Inn and The Wagon Wheel.

The semi-final line-up is as follows: Mullingar Shamrocks vs The Wagon Wheel; Grand Hotel Moate vs The Maypole Inn.

The semi-finals are over two legs and it will be a six-man team (with doubles and singles) on the first night, while the second leg will involve a seven-man team to ensure the tie is finished. The first team to reach seven games making the final. Reigning champions Mullingar Shamrocks will travel to Ballynacargy for the first leg of their semi-final on Friday.

Elsewhere, last weekend, Clarke’s B had a great win over second placed Grand Hotel from Moate. Tom Crowe reeled in the years with some delightful darts on the 19s and his brilliant 126 checkout was the highlight of the match. Allen Gilgan also had a nice two-darter (89) in the doubles along with Killian Kelly and Clarke’s had the lead going into the singles.

Sean Watters and Mark Dolan claimed wins for the Moate side, but there was a fine display by Killian Kelly to deny Ben Corcoran.

While Anthonly Blacoe impressed for Moate, Terry Kelly denied Damien Claffey to give the Mullingar side victory.

Overall, it was a great match and the standard remains high ahead of the semi-finals.