The Widow Pat's celebrate first Cup title since 2003!. A large crowd travelled to Hannon's Hotel in Roscommon on Saturday last to see the most entertaining League Cup Final in recent times, as the curtain fell on yet another Roscommon County Darts League season. In a final that provided many twists and turns, The Widow Pat's of Knockcroghery eventually took the title with a 4-3 over Spell's of Ballaghaderreen. Spell's topped this years League table by three points ahead of the Widow Pat's but did what mattered most on Finals night despite Spell's best efforts and misfortune. The Knockcroghery side who won their last won the Cup back in 2003, made a superb start taking the opening two games courtesy of Mick Egan and Jimmy Reilly. Spell's recovered to level 2-2 with Martin Fleming and Denis Coffey wins. Spell's went into the lead when Patrick Tansey won. But The Widow's took the title with Tony Lyons and new found hero Stephen Beirne striking home the winning darts. Totals for the day: Legs played: 66. 100+: 136. 140's: 19. 180's: 4. 16 CHECKOUTS OVER 50. 116,113,113,106,104,102,99,98,77,72,68,65,58,58,56,52. Highest average- David Concannon in Sheild Final- 80.52 in 3 legs. Best legs- David Concannon, Mark Finneran both 15 darters. Game 1- Widow Pat's 1 Spells 0. (Mick Egan 4, Sean Fleming 3). Sharing 17 ton pluses between them in the game The Widow's Mick Egan and Spell's Sean Fleming played out a nervy opening leg which fell Egan's way after 30 darts. Both players were much improved in the following leg which Egan took in 21 darts. Fleming replied to level with 22 and 17 darters. A 72 checkout from Egan in a 21 darter seen him take the lead again but Fleming replied in the 6th leg with 24 darter. Egan's 16-dart winning leg included heavy scoring and no messing on his finishing with Fleming sitting on 154. Game 2- Widow Pat's 2, Spell's 0. (Jimmy Reilly 4, Eugene McDonagh 1). Eugene McDonagh started well in game two with a 20 dart leg. But Reilly managed to take the next four games with legs of 19,27,26,and 22 darts with McDonagh never too far behind. Game 3-Widow Pat's 2, Spell's 1. (Paul Carton 3, Martin Fleming 4). In a game where both players shared 24 ton pluses between them-Carton took a very one-sided opening leg in 21 darts. However, Fleming took the next three in 18,23,and 20 darts to lead 3-1. Fleming continued well, opening up the 6th leg with a 180 but Carton was to take it with a superb 113 checkout in 21 darts. Both players shared good scoring in the 6th leg which also went Carton's way in 20 darts to break the throw. Carton had the darts in the deciding leg and was first to reach the double after 15 darts. But after missing six darts at double and under pressure from Fleming's high scores, Carton had to suffer watching the Spell's Captain take out a 68 checkout adding to his 65 and 98 checkouts from earlier legs. Game 4-Widow Pat's 2, Spell's 2. (Pat Byrne 3, Denis Coffey 4). Neither player played near their best but it was Coffey's better scoring that kept him in touch in this game with twelve of the seventeen ton pluses between them going to Coffey. Game 5-Widow Pat's 2 Spell's 3. (Scobie Connaughton 0, Patrick Tansey 4). Patrick Tansey gave Spell's the lead in the Final for the first time with this win over Scobie in game five. Tansey's finishing being more effective than Connaughton's the key to his win. Game 6- Widow Pat's 3, Spell's 3. (Tony Lyons 4, Paddy Fleming 1). A 113 checkout from Lyons in leg four was crucial to his teams cause. After taking the opening two legs in 27 and 20 dart legs Lyons added the third leg with that crucial 113 in a 21 darter. The third of the Fleming brothers missing his first few darts at double. Fleming took the 4th leg in 18 darts with a 58 checkout but missed doubles in the next leg cost Fleming dear and Lyon's who missed some of his own capitalised on those errors to take the win. Game 7- Widow Pat's 4, Spell's 3. (Stephen Beirne 4, Sean Corcoran 3). This match provided one of the greatest lessons for any aspiring dart player no matter where there from. From the offing Stephen Beirne got stuck in and was rewarded in taking the first leg. All legs continued to go with the darts upto the sixth. Then was to follow one of the most dramatic legs of darts ever seen in the League. Corcoran opened it up with a well timed 180 and was sitting on 100 after 12 darts. Beirne continued down steadily. With both players trying to cope with all sorts of pressures both got stuck on their finishing- something rarely seen in the League. Beirne eventually struck the winning double leading to celebratory jigs and reels from the Widow's faithful. Shield Final. McDermott's, Ballinaheglish 4 Creaton's, Loughlynn 2. Preceeding the Cup Final was the meeting of Creaton's of Loughlynn and McDermott's of Ballinaheglish in the Shield Final. McDermott's done the business in this one. They were boosted in taking the three opening games courtesy of David Concannon, Pat Egan and Thomas Concannon. David Concannon- who was in top class form included checkouts of 104,52, and 36 in his 3-0 win over Tony Thacker. Pat Egan finished very well, with checkouts of 32, 99 and 40 in his 3-0 win over Brendan Scally. Sean Finan was aided by a 102 checkout in leg three of his 3-2 defeat to Thomas Concannon. Concannon's scoring was heavier throughout than Finan's but he was made to sweat it out until the end. Mark Finneran was the better player from the start and throughout in his clash with Joe Crawley. A classy first leg from Finneran included scores of 23,125,100,137,and a 116 checkout. Finneran included a 180 in the second leg but failed to strike double quick enough. Crawley took the third, and took the win while including a 180 of his own in the final leg. Joe Elliffe took out a 106 checkout in his 3-1 defeat to Adrian Doory in game five. But McDermott's secured the win as Andy Fallon beat Pat Reid on a 3-2 scoreline. Presentations. Presentations were made by Chairman of Roscommon County Darts Joe Elliffe to all winners and runners-up. Short speeches were made by Widow Pat's Captain Pat Byrne, and Joe Elliffe. Special thanks to Tommy Beirne, Martin Murphy, Martin Kearney, Patrick Tansey, Joe Elliffe, Martina McKeon, Sean Fleming, Luke Concannon, Thomas Concannon, David Concannon, Robbie Dolan, and Stephen Victory, and Frank Duffy for their help on Saturday. Thank you also goes to the management and staff at Hannon's hotel for their hospitality on the day and throughout the League. Prior to the Finals a moments silence was observed in respect of the late Martin Hannon. Full League related items can be viewed at www.rosdarts.com and on the Roscommon County Darts on Facebook.

Widow Pat's face Spell's in League decider

The Roscommon County Darts League Finals.

Saturday, April 9th, Hannon's Hotel, Roscommon at 6 p.m.

Shield Final

McDermott's, Ballinaheglish v Creaton's, Loughglynn.

Cup Final

The Widow Pat's, Knockcroghery v Spell's, Ballaghaderreen.

The Widow Pat's and Spell's of Ballaghaderreen meet next Saturday in Hannon's Hotel, Roscommon to decide the outright Winners of The Roscommon County Darts League.

Spell's reached the final with an 8-3 success over Kate's of Castlerea, while The Widow Pat's did so on the back of a tight 8-6 win over Flanagan's of Castleplunkett. Holding a 4-3 first leg lead, Paul Carton's 3-2 win over Gerry Owens tipped the game in favour of The Widow's, putting them 6-5 up, with Jimmy Reilly and Tony Lyons adding the points to put the Widow's through 8-6 overall.

History says the Knockcroghery side last won the Cup back in 2003, and were runners-up in 2004, 2005 and again in 2007. They contested the Shield Finals for the last 3 years, with success against Spell's in 2009, but that was sandwichwed by losses in 2008 and 2010. The Widow Pat's side have been unfortunate not to capitalise on their talents in recent years, topping the League table in 2010, but winding up beaten semi-finalists in the quest for overall honours. 

Defending Champions, Spell's of Ballaghaderreen are back in the final for the second year in a row, and are aiming to win their fourth League Cup title following with wins in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Spell's topped this years League table by three points ahead of the Widow Pat's. In their most recent meetings Spell's beat The Widow Pat's 4-3 in Ballaghaderreen last November. But, the Widow Pat's enjoyed a 4-3 win of their own in the return game in Knockcroghery in February.

Preceeding the Cup Final is the meeting of Creaton's of Loughglynn and McDermott's of Ballinaheglish in the Shield Final. Creaton's were Cup winners in 2005 and will be aiming to beat the Cup runners-up from the past three years. 

Previous results and happenings count for nothing on Finals night. With nothing seperating these teams, there are sure to be some cracking darts. Best of luck to all teams. All are welcome.

Full League related items can be viewed at www.rosdarts.com and on the Roscommon County Darts on Facebook.

Dates for the diary.

Saturday, April 9th from 6pm: 
The Roscommon County Darts League Finals at Hannon's Hotel, Roscommon Town.

April 16th and 17th. 

The I.N.D.O. Spring Festival of Darts. Percy French Hotel, Strokestown. 

16th I.N.D.O. Mens and Ladies Ranked Singles.

16th I.N.D.O. Mens, Ladies and Youths Ranked Singles.