Beach Tree duo take the title as record numbers attend

JA Shaw & Co LLP Solicitors Westmeath Darts League Doubles

Sunday February 1 saw the first of the five titles up for grabs in this year’s Westmeath Darts League with the Doubles competition taking place in the Beech Tree, Streamstown. In all, 24 pairs from 10 of the teams attended all looking to claim the €300 pair prize, trophies and most importantly, the title of WDL doubles winners.

The format on the day allowed for six groups of four, with each game in the group three legs of 501, with all legs being played in the group. This allowed everyone the same amount of legs (9) and the same opportunity to qualify from the group. The competition was also league wide not specific to Championship/Shield sections as the nature of a Doubles event lends itself to being even across the field.

Once all 6 group winners were decided, they were seeded 1-6 in order of points earned with the top two ranked pairs getting a bye into the semi-finals and seeds 3-6 starting their knockout run in the quarters.

Group Breakdown

Group 1 - Kevin Gilmore/Jamie Nugent topped the group on 7 points ahead of Craig Hayes/Jack Murphy from Bagnalls B and Joe Crotty/Ben Wilson from Wagon Wheel. Liam Croash and Mark O'Connor from the Western Gem were the final pair in the group.

Group 2 - Johnny Broughton/Ian Meares from the Beech Tree went through on 7 points ahead of club teammates Graeme Corcoran/Jay McCann. Brothers were united in this group also as Allen/Davey Gilgan (Clarkes) and Andy/Derek McCormack (Western Gem) made up the rest of this tight group.

Group 3 - Shane Doran/Thomas Murtagh cruised through to Top Seeds with 8 points. The two Ger's - Stokes/Forde from Bagnalls A were the closest to them in 2nd on 4, while Gerry Keon/Martin Keville (Wagon Wheel) and Jason Ford/Ger Brennan (Western Gem) were involved in this group also.

Group 4 - This was one of the tightest groups on the day but Sean Gaffney/Conor Raleigh from McHughs saw off Riaghan Grimes/Dave Hamilton from Bagnalls A to qualify on 6 points. Michael Greaves/Stuart Hayes (Bagnalls) and James Joyce/Dara McCormack (Shamrocks) unlucky to not make it through.

Group 5 - On paper would have been classed as the hardest group but it saw Derek Maguire/Wayne Kelly from the Wagon Wheel go through to the knockouts ahead of Damien Kelly/Bilal Moran (Western Gem), Chris Connor/Niall Boland and Donie Boland/Tom Moran - both from the Beech Tree.

Group 6 - Matthew Willoughby & Rory Matthews (Bridge Bar) qualified on head to head record ahead of Mickey McKnight/Keith Mahon (Kerrigans) on 7 points to take their place in the knockouts. Kerrigans were also represented by Ger McLoughlin/Kevin McKnight in this group with Seamus Mullen/Keith Kilduff (Western Gem) making up the fourth side in this group.

As the above point, the doubles format being a natural leveller on the day there were three pairings from championship sides and three from the shield which ended up qualifying through to the knockouts.

Knockouts results - Quarter-Finals

Derek Maguire/Wayne Kelly 1-3 Matthew Willoughby/Rory Matthews; Johnny Broughton/Ian Meares 3-0 Sean Gaffney/Conor Raleigh.

Semi-Finals

Shane Doran/Thomas Murtagh 1-4 Matthew Willoughby/Rory Matthews; Johnny Broughton/Ian Meares 4-1 Kevin Gilmore/Jamie Nugent.

Final

Broughton/Meares took a 3-0 lead which included an 18 and 21 darter. Willoughby took the fourth on double one before Rory Matthews hit D10 to bring the game back on throw. Unfortunately that was as good as it got for the ‘BB’ pair as Ian Meares took out D20 for a 4-2 win and to give himself and Johnny Broughton their first WDL title and a personal fillip heading into the end of the season. Over €600 in prize money was paid out to the six pairs which qualified for the knockouts.

The League would like to extend its thanks to Graeme Corcoran and all at the Beech Tree for their support and service on the day and once again to JA Shaws & Co LLP Solicitors for their sponsorship of this year’s tournament.

WDL Round 14 postponed game

Maypole, Collinstown, defeated Kerrigan's, Mullingar, 5-4 in the back match from Round 14 of the WDL. Kerrigan's led 4-2 on the night which saw 180s from Aidan Reilly, Sylvester Keane (Kerrigan's) and Jimmy McCormack (Maypole) before Derek Delaney, Barry Kiernan and Gerry Devereaux won games 7-9 to give the Collinstown men the victory and put them back in the third spot. Despite the defeat, Kerrigan's have qualified for a home semi-final and with their form all season will be a hard side to defeat at that stage of the season.

Paddy Gilgan Memorial Cup Semi-Final refix

Beech Tree will take on Wagon Wheel in the final of this year's Paddy Gilgan Memorial Cup with a 6-4 comeback victory to Kerrigan's. Kerrigan's led 3-1 on the night but some strong singles play from the Beech Tree saw them home. The revised date of the final is now set to Saturday March 7 (venue to be decided).

League sponsors

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