West Coast Cool For Roscommon!
Sunday seen the start of a busy month’s darts for the Roscommon darts team, with the West Coast Challenge played in the Clayton Hotel Galway. Ten teams took part, with two groups of five drawn to play off. Roscommon avoided being drawn against favorites Donegal and Mayo, but still faced a difficult draw with games against home teams Galway ‘B’ and Galway ‘C’ as well as near neighbors Longford and highly fancied Limerick. Fifteen players in all traveled from Roscommon; Martin Fleming (Captain), Sean Fleming, Patrick Tansey (all Spell’s), Mick Egan, Paul Carton (both Widow Pat’s), Thomas Concannon, David Concannon (both McDermott’s), Wayne Harris, Paddy Connaughton, Lenny Docherty (all Kate’s), Gerry Owens, Brian McCormack (Flanagan’s), Mick Kilroe, John Paul Feeney (both Hollywood) and Sean Finan (Creaton’s). With each game decided over three legs, each of the twelve players who took part needed to hit the ground running. First up for Roscommon was Limerick.
Roscommon 4 Limerick 8
Despite an initial loss for Sean Fleming (0-2), Roscommon stormed back with Mick Egan, Thomas Concannon and Wayne Harris putting three 2-0 wins back to back. Concannon in particular impressed hitting a 180 in his win, while Harris also hit an excellent 110 checkout. Unfortunately these wins were followed by three straight losses with Paddy Connaughton (0-2), Paul Carton (1-2) and Gerry Owens (0-2) losing out. Mick Kilroe helped steady the ship with a 2-1 win to bring the game to 4 a piece overall. However Patrick Tansey (0-2), JP Feeney (0-2), Brian McCormack (0-2) and David Concannon (1-2), were unable to build on this, with this losing streak of four games in a row putting an end to Roscommon’s hopes of a winning start.
Roscommon 9 Galway ‘B’ 3
Roscommon quickly got into their rhythm in this game with Mick Egan, Wayne Harris and Thomas Concannon laying down markers with 2-0 wins. Despite Mick Kilroe losing out 0-2 in the fourth game, three more wins were fired off in quick succession by Paddy Connaughton (2-1), Martin Fleming (2-0) and Paul Carton (2-0). The impressive 6-1 lead that resulted was highlighted by an excellent 180 from Paddy Connaughton. Despite Gerry Owens (0-2) and Brian McCormack (1-2) narrowly losing out, confidence was now high in the Roscommon camp and wins for Lenny Docherty (2-0), David Concannon (2-1) and JP Feeney (2-0) sealed the deal.
Roscommon 9 Longford 3
Despite Wayne Harris losing out 0-2 in his opening game, Roscommon started where they left with five successive 2-0 wins from Mick Egan, Martin Fleming, Thomas Concannon, Paddy Connaughton and Brian McCormack to leave the score at 5-1. Despite loses for Paul Carton (1-2) and Gerry Owens (0-2), any hope Longford retained of a comeback was quickly removed with wins for JP Feeney (2-1), Patrick Tansey, Lenny Docherty and David Concannon (all 2-0)
Roscommon 8 Galway ‘C’ 4
Roscommon knew going into this game that five wins was a must if they were to qualify for the semi-finals. If there was pressure on the players going in, there were little signs of it, and a 2-1 win for Mick Egan in which he checked out 160 in the first leg was a sure sign of this. Despite Wayne Harris and Martin Fleming losing out in their games (both 0-2), Paddy Connaughton (2-1) and Thomas Concannon (2-0) helped leave the scoreline 3-2 in Roscommon’s favour. From here Roscommon went onto a comfortable win dropping only two games; Sean Finan (0-2), Paul Carton (2-0), JP Feeney (2-0), David Concannon (2-1), Brian McCormack (0-2), Patrick Tansey (2-0), Lenny Docherty (2-0). JP Feeney in particular impressed with a 130 checkout.
With all group games played the table now read as follows; Limerick (33), Roscommon (30), Longford (25), Galway ‘C’ (23) and Galway ‘B’ (9). With the top two qualifying, Roscommon now faced a difficult semi-final against the winners of the other group, Donegal. The Tír Conaill men were looking to add the title to back to back All Irelands won in 2010 and 2011.
Roscommon 2 Donegal 8
Roscommon were under no illusions over the task which faced them going into this game, and this was emphasized with a 2-0 defeat for Mick Egan in the first game. Wayne Harris rallied with a 2-1 win, but narrow defeats for Thomas Concannon (1-2), Paul Carton (0-2), Paddy Connaughton (1-2) and Lenny Docherty (0-2) put Roscommon on the backfoot again. Despite an impressive win from David Concannon (2-0), three consecutive defeats for Martin Fleming, JP Feeney and Gerry Owens (all 0-2) put paid to Roscommon’s hopes of a final appearance.
Despite this defeat the event as a whole was a great success for the men’s team. The fact that Donegal went on to defeat Mayo 7-1 in the final put the defeat and Donegal’s strength in perspective. Also a number of players threw excellent darts and will only benefit from the experience, leaving hopes high for the Inter counties Competition in February.
Away from the men’s run in the competition, Roscommon Youth’s also had a successful event. Three teams in total entered on the day, with two groups being played off. Group 1 contained Roscommon B, Mayo A, Galway B, Clare A and Donegal. Group 2 consisted of Roscommon A, Roscommon C, Mayo B, Galway A and Clare B. Despite an excellent 5-0 win over Mayo B, Roscommon C were unfortunate to come up short in qualifying from their group. Likewise Roscommon B were desperately close to qualification; wins over Galway B (3-2) and Clare (4-1) were not enough as Roscommon B came up short by 4 points despite only losing narrowly to Mayo A and Donegal (both 2-3). Success in the group stages came for Roscommon A however. Having taken 12 points from their first three games, Roscommon A needed Mayo B to take two games against Clare. Their near neighbors did not let them down, and as a result, Roscommon A, like their senior counterparts had a semi-final date with Donegal. Despite a brave comeback from 2-0 to bring the game to 2-1, Roscommon A were unfortunate to lose 3-1. Needless to say the event will have benefited all involved coming up to the Youth Inter Counties in February. A full report on the youth’s involvement will follow in next week’s paper. On a successful day for Roscommon darts, special thanks goes to Youth managers Sean Fleming, Tommy Beirne and Noel MacDermott for their hard work both Sunday and throughout the year. Well done also to all players involved, both Youth and Men’s, for representing their county so well throughout the day. Thanks also to those who traveled to provide well appreciated support on the day. Next up, the coming weekend sees the annual Pete Donlon Cup being played between Roscommon and Longford. This year’s event will be held in the Shannon Bar, Tarmonbarry, Co Roscommon. Following last year’s success on a 7-5 scoreline, Roscommon will hope to retain the cup. However, following Sunday’s success, main focus will be on February 4th and 5th when the INDO Inter Counties competition takes places in the Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The Roscommon Youths will also take part in their Inter Counties competition in February, taking stage in the West County Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare on February 18th.
Sunday seen the start of a busy month’s darts for the Roscommon darts team, with the West Coast Challenge played in the Clayton Hotel Galway. Ten teams took part, with two groups of five drawn to play off. Roscommon avoided being drawn against favorites Donegal and Mayo, but still faced a difficult draw with games against home teams Galway ‘B’ and Galway ‘C’ as well as near neighbors Longford and highly fancied Limerick. Fifteen players in all traveled from Roscommon; Martin Fleming (Captain), Sean Fleming, Patrick Tansey (all Spell’s), Mick Egan, Paul Carton (both Widow Pat’s), Thomas Concannon, David Concannon (both McDermott’s), Wayne Harris, Paddy Connaughton, Lenny Docherty (all Kate’s), Gerry Owens, Brian McCormack (Flanagan’s), Mick Kilroe, John Paul Feeney (both Hollywood) and Sean Finan (Creaton’s). With each game decided over three legs, each of the twelve players who took part needed to hit the ground running. First up for Roscommon was Limerick.
Roscommon 4 Limerick 8
Despite an initial loss for Sean Fleming (0-2), Roscommon stormed back with Mick Egan, Thomas Concannon and Wayne Harris putting three 2-0 wins back to back. Concannon in particular impressed hitting a 180 in his win, while Harris also hit an excellent 110 checkout. Unfortunately these wins were followed by three straight losses with Paddy Connaughton (0-2), Paul Carton (1-2) and Gerry Owens (0-2) losing out. Mick Kilroe helped steady the ship with a 2-1 win to bring the game to 4 a piece overall. However Patrick Tansey (0-2), JP Feeney (0-2), Brian McCormack (0-2) and David Concannon (1-2), were unable to build on this, with this losing streak of four games in a row putting an end to Roscommon’s hopes of a winning start.
Roscommon 9 Galway ‘B’ 3
Roscommon quickly got into their rhythm in this game with Mick Egan, Wayne Harris and Thomas Concannon laying down markers with 2-0 wins. Despite Mick Kilroe losing out 0-2 in the fourth game, three more wins were fired off in quick succession by Paddy Connaughton (2-1), Martin Fleming (2-0) and Paul Carton (2-0). The impressive 6-1 lead that resulted was highlighted by an excellent 180 from Paddy Connaughton. Despite Gerry Owens (0-2) and Brian McCormack (1-2) narrowly losing out, confidence was now high in the Roscommon camp and wins for Lenny Docherty (2-0), David Concannon (2-1) and JP Feeney (2-0) sealed the deal.
Roscommon 9 Longford 3
Despite Wayne Harris losing out 0-2 in his opening game, Roscommon started where they left with five successive 2-0 wins from Mick Egan, Martin Fleming, Thomas Concannon, Paddy Connaughton and Brian McCormack to leave the score at 5-1. Despite loses for Paul Carton (1-2) and Gerry Owens (0-2), any hope Longford retained of a comeback was quickly removed with wins for JP Feeney (2-1), Patrick Tansey, Lenny Docherty and David Concannon (all 2-0)
Roscommon 8 Galway ‘C’ 4
Roscommon knew going into this game that five wins was a must if they were to qualify for the semi-finals. If there was pressure on the players going in, there were little signs of it, and a 2-1 win for Mick Egan in which he checked out 160 in the first leg was a sure sign of this. Despite Wayne Harris and Martin Fleming losing out in their games (both 0-2), Paddy Connaughton (2-1) and Thomas Concannon (2-0) helped leave the scoreline 3-2 in Roscommon’s favour. From here Roscommon went onto a comfortable win dropping only two games; Sean Finan (0-2), Paul Carton (2-0), JP Feeney (2-0), David Concannon (2-1), Brian McCormack (0-2), Patrick Tansey (2-0), Lenny Docherty (2-0). JP Feeney in particular impressed with a 130 checkout.
With all group games played the table now read as follows; Limerick (33), Roscommon (30), Longford (25), Galway ‘C’ (23) and Galway ‘B’ (9). With the top two qualifying, Roscommon now faced a difficult semi-final against the winners of the other group, Donegal. The Tír Conaill men were looking to add the title to back to back All Irelands won in 2010 and 2011.
Roscommon 2 Donegal 8
Roscommon were under no illusions over the task which faced them going into this game, and this was emphasized with a 2-0 defeat for Mick Egan in the first game. Wayne Harris rallied with a 2-1 win, but narrow defeats for Thomas Concannon (1-2), Paul Carton (0-2), Paddy Connaughton (1-2) and Lenny Docherty (0-2) put Roscommon on the backfoot again. Despite an impressive win from David Concannon (2-0), three consecutive defeats for Martin Fleming, JP Feeney and Gerry Owens (all 0-2) put paid to Roscommon’s hopes of a final appearance.
Despite this defeat the event as a whole was a great success for the men’s team. The fact that Donegal went on to defeat Mayo 7-1 in the final put the defeat and Donegal’s strength in perspective. Also a number of players threw excellent darts and will only benefit from the experience, leaving hopes high for the Inter counties Competition in February.
Away from the men’s run in the competition, Roscommon Youth’s also had a successful event. Three teams in total entered on the day, with two groups being played off. Group 1 contained Roscommon B, Mayo A, Galway B, Clare A and Donegal. Group 2 consisted of Roscommon A, Roscommon C, Mayo B, Galway A and Clare B. Despite an excellent 5-0 win over Mayo B, Roscommon C were unfortunate to come up short in qualifying from their group. Likewise Roscommon B were desperately close to qualification; wins over Galway B (3-2) and Clare (4-1) were not enough as Roscommon B came up short by 4 points despite only losing narrowly to Mayo A and Donegal (both 2-3). Success in the group stages came for Roscommon A however. Having taken 12 points from their first three games, Roscommon A needed Mayo B to take two games against Clare. Their near neighbors did not let them down, and as a result, Roscommon A, like their senior counterparts had a semi-final date with Donegal. Despite a brave comeback from 2-0 to bring the game to 2-1, Roscommon A were unfortunate to lose 3-1. Needless to say the event will have benefited all involved coming up to the Youth Inter Counties in February. A full report on the youth’s involvement will follow in next week’s paper. On a successful day for Roscommon darts, special thanks goes to Youth managers Sean Fleming, Tommy Beirne and Noel MacDermott for their hard work both Sunday and throughout the year. Well done also to all players involved, both Youth and Men’s, for representing their county so well throughout the day. Thanks also to those who traveled to provide well appreciated support on the day. Next up, the coming weekend sees the annual Pete Donlon Cup being played between Roscommon and Longford. This year’s event will be held in the Shannon Bar, Tarmonbarry, Co Roscommon. Following last year’s success on a 7-5 scoreline, Roscommon will hope to retain the cup. However, following Sunday’s success, main focus will be on February 4th and 5th when the INDO Inter Counties competition takes places in the Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The Roscommon Youths will also take part in their Inter Counties competition in February, taking stage in the West County Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare on February 18th.
