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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Ireland Players Championships Grand Finals.
The Ireland Players Championships Grand Finals take place next Saturday August 1st from 12 noon- in the Springhill Court Hotel, Kilkenny. Roscommon county player Mick Egan from Kilteevan is the only Roscommon man to qualify for the finals after six ranking events held over the past 9 months. A total of 32 players seperated into 8 groups battle it out for the mens title- with Egan in a group that consists of John Elder, Dominic Fenlon, and Fred Holligan. Top two in each group go forward to the knockout stages.
Mark Finneran will hope to continue his very good form as he aims to take top honours in the Youths Championship and takes on Tipperary's James Gearon in the 8 player shootout. Mark lost to Ballinaheglish's David Concannon in the Final last year but carries better form into this years event- form which almost landed him a 9-darter last weekend also in Kilkenny. Thomas Concannon will be defending his Youths Plate title in which 16 players take part. Best of luck to all three players. Full draw can be viewed at
www.dartsinireland.com .

Monday, July 20, 2009

O'Connor Takes Park Inn Singles
Luke Concannon, Mark Finneran, Sean Fleming and Mick Egan travelled to Kilkenny, and joined a field of 54 for an open singles at the Park Inn, Kilkenny city.
Luke Concannon and Mark Finneran were first round casualties. Finneran was particularly unlucky when going down to Fermanagh's Brendan Dolan. Finneran was on for the perfect 9-darter at one stage, hitting seven treble 20's, but he missed the treble 19.
Sean Fleming reached the last 16, before losing to Egan. Egan had the best run on the day, beating Jacko Barry (Dublin), Mick Dwyer (Kilkenny), Fleming and John Boisclair (Mayo) to reach the semi-finals. Egan lost out at the semi-final stage to eventual winner William O'Connor (Limerick). O'Connor won out on the day, beating Steve McDonnell (Meath).
Last 16 results:
Johnny Digan 1 - 5 Steve McDonnell; Sean Fleming 1 - 5 Mick Egan; William O'Connor 5 - 3 Denis McCarthy; Johnny Hannon 3 - 5 Brendan Dolan; Mick Meaney Jr 5 - 2 Shane O'Connor; John Boisclair 5 - 0 Connie Finnan; Noel Redmond 5 - 2 Noel Reilly; Shane Nolan 5 - 3 James Dowling.
Quarter-final results:
William O'Connor 5 - 2 Mick Meaney Jr; Steve McDonnell 5 - 3 Shane Nolan; Noel Redmond 5 - 4 Brendan Dolan; Mick Egan 5 - 4 John Boisclair.
Semi-finals:
Mick Egan 3 - 6 William O'Connor;
Noel Redmond 5 - 6 Steve McDonnell.
Final:
William O'Connor 6 - 1 Steve McDonnell

Friday, July 10, 2009



Bronze for Irish at Europe Cup
Well done the Irish team who claimed an excellent third spot at the 2009 Europe Cup in Eindhoven, Holland at the weekend. Managed by Kilkenny's Tom Keogh- Mark Finneran, Thomas Concannon, Martin Heneghan from Mayo and Kilkenny's Paddy Meaney were all in excellent form at the weekend.
In the Boys Singles Mark Finneran lost to the eventual winner Oscar Lukasiak in the Semi-Final on stage on Saturday morning. Mark progressed with wins on Friday over opponents from Wales (3-0), Hungary (3-1), Sweden (3-2) and Russia (2-1). Mark's run was one of the best by an Irish player in the 20 year history of the event. Thomas Concannon was unlucky to be beaten 3-2 in legs by Swedish opponent Birk Kamp in the first round on Friday. Martin Heneghan was beaten 3-2 by Dutch opponent Gilbert Van Der Meyden in Round 2. Paddy Meaney also lost to the eventual winner Oscar Lukasiak in the QF.
In the Boys Pairs- after a 1st round win over an English pair Mark Finneran and Thomas Concannon exited after a last 16 loss to Finnish opponents on a 3-2 scoreline who were eventual runners up. Martin Heneghan and Paddy Meaney exited at the QF stage losing out to eventual winners Oscar Lukasiak and Edmund Torbjonsson from Sweden.
The good form showed by the Irish lads in the Singles and Pairs continued in the 4-a-side Boys Team event. A blistering team effort on Friday evening seen 9-2 wins over Finland and Scotland which were hard fought before they stuffed Turkey 9-0 to reach the QF. A 9-5 win in Friday nights QF against a fast emerging Czech Rep. side proved very tough. Saturday's stage semi final started well for the Irish taking a 3-1 lead. Sewden replied to take a 5-4 lead. Mark Finneran took the 10th game to level but Sewden took the next 3 needing only one more to prevail. Ireland did take one more leg- but Sweden done enough to win out 9-6. Sweden came runner up to The Netherlands.
Day 1 on Thursday last was a decent one for the Irish girls pair. Kilkenny's Jessie Keogh and Galway's Aoife Ryan were knocked out at the QF stage of the girls pairs on Thursday evening. However that result was not to be repeated on Friday as they both suffered early defeats in the girls singles bringing their involvement to an end.
Well done to all involved.
Complete results at www.ecydarts.eu

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Superb support for Europe Cup pair.
McDermott's of Ballinaheglish was packed last Saturday night as over 40 regular, non regular darts players and non players took part in a fundraising challenge to support Mark Finneran and Thomas Concannon who will be two of Ireland's Europe Cup 4-a-side team that travel to Holland in early July. This was the second of two nights of fundraising which seen outstanding support come from their community and further afield over the two nights. Mark Finneran's team won the much coveted Bully's Charity Cup. After the scores were tied at 19 each Mark hammered Thomas in a play-off on a convincing scoreline of 1-0. The following are thanked for their contributions- Peter Owens, Padraig White, Flanagan's Pub Castleplunkett, Andy Fallon, Michael Fallon, Padraig Feely, Pauline Kenny, Spell's of Ballaghaderreen, Marty Concannon, Brian McCormack, Dermot Fallon, Shirley Fallon, Joe and Deirdre Elliffee, Sean Fleming, Martin and Sinead (for Bully!),Luke Concannon and the Finneran family. Thanks also to- Michael Earley's of Bushfield and Sean and Teresa McDermott's in Ballinaheglish for the use of their venues. A massive thank you goes out to everybody who have supported Mark and Thomas in any way- it is very much appreciated.
The Europe Cup takes place in Eindhoven, Holland between the 9th and 12 of July. Mark and Thomas will be joined by Mayo's Martin Heneghan and Kilkenny's Paddy Meaney on the 4-a-side team. Ireland's first attempt in this tournament in Amsterdam in July 2005 was the best effort to date from an Irish side with Ballaghaderreen's Sean Fleming and Noel Tuohy on the team that finished 2nd to the host nation. For those who want to follow live scores at this years event can go to
http://www.ecydarts.eu