League reaches semi final stage
Semi Final 1st leg fixtures 23rd March 2012Cup Semi-Finals
Kate's v Widow Pat's
Spell's v McDermott's
Shield Semi-Finals
Central Bar v Hollywood
Flanagan's v Creaton's
Final league table
| Team | P | W | L | F | A | Pts |
| Spell's | 18 | 15 | 3 | 280 | 193 | 83 |
| Widow Pat's | 18 | 12 | 6 | 283 | 205 | 80 |
| McDermott's | 18 | 12 | 6 | 263 | 219 | 70 |
| Kates | 18 | 10 | 8 | 266 | 212 | 69 |
| Creaton's | 18 | 11 | 7 | 259 | 237 | 66 |
| Hollywood | 18 | 9 | 9 | 235 | 249 | 64 |
| Flanagan's | 18 | 10 | 8 | 245 | 232 | 61 |
| Central Bar | 18 | 8 | 10 | 224 | 246 | 61 |
| Chariot | 18 | 3 | 15 | 190 | 289 | 45 |
| Village Inn | 18 | 0 | 18 | 158 | 321 | 31 |
An enjoyable day of darts saw the Martin Kelly Cup being played for in the Hollywood Bar, Roscommon on Sunday last.
Despite an large number of high quality outside entries, it was an all Roscommon final between McDermott’s David Concannon and Mick Egan from The Widow Pat’s.
Despite an large number of high quality outside entries, it was an all Roscommon final between McDermott’s David Concannon and Mick Egan from The Widow Pat’s.
After defeating former champion Aodhagan O Neill (Cavan) 5-3 in the last 8, Egan struggled through with a final leg 6-5 win over Michael Healy (Sligo) in his semi final.
In the final, both players started well with the first four legs going with the throw, leaving the score at 2-2. An excellent fifth leg of darts went to Concannon. The standard of darts was emphasised by the fact that, despite hitting two scores of 100 as well as one of 137, Egan still lost out to Concannon who took out a 90 finish on the bull to hold his throw.
The even nature of the match continued until the ninth leg. The score was tied at 4-4 when Egan took the initiative by breaking the throw and holding his own to take a 6-4 lead. Concannon fought back though, holding his throw and breaking Egan in leg twelve to level the game, 6-6, and bring the match into a 13th and final leg.
Concannon had the throw and played steady darts (60,60,100,59,100) to leave 122, but Egan pressured the Concannon throw from the start (60,81,140,60,100) to leave 60. Concannon tried his best, but missed the bull for a 122 checkout, and Egan stepped up to take the 60 required, hitting double 10 to take the match on a 7-6 scoreline, and the Martin Kelly Cup for the third time.
A 160 checkout for Mark Devlin was the highest checkout of the day.
The results were as follows:
Last 16 (best of seven legs):
JP Feeney (Roscommon) 4, J Bosclaire 1 (Mayo);
G. Murphy (Roscommon) 1, D. Concannon 4 (Roscommon);
M. Murphy (Roscommon) 1, M. Heneghan 4 (Mayo);
M. Healy (Sligo) 4, B. McCormack 1 (Roscommon);
M. Devlin (Galway) 1, P. Carton 4 (Roscommon);
S. McGowan (Sligo) 4, D. McDonagh 1 (Roscommon);
J Crawley 2 (Roscommon), A. O’Neill 4 (Cavan);
M. Fleming 1 (Roscommon), M. Egan 4 (Roscommon).
Quarter-Finals (best of nine legs):
JP Feeney 2, D. Concannon 5;
M. Heneghan 2, M. Healy 5;
P. Carton 2, S. McGowan 5;
A. O’Neill 3, M. Egan 5.
Semi-Finals (best of 11 legs):
M. Egan 6, M. Healy 5;
D. Concannon 6, S. McGowan 1.
Final (best of 13 legs):
M. Egan 7, D. Concannon 6.
History Made as Roscommon Reach All-Ireland Semi Final
Roscommon’s mens darts team concluded their best Intercounty stint with a fully deserved run to the semi-final of the I.N.D.O. All Ireland Intercounty Darts Championships held at The Breaffy House Sports and Events Centre near Castlebar on February 4th/5th 2012.
Having been quarter finalists 3 times in the past 4 years similar or better was the ambition ahead of this years championships.
Following on from a successful run in the West Coast Challenge and a win in the Donlon Cup in previous weeks, Roscommon faced into the Inter Counties Competition on Saturday last in confident mood. The day started with Roscommon being drawn in a difficult group against Mayo, Kilkenny and Leitrim. Despite this, the team was confident of qualifing for a fourth quarter final in five years. The top team in the group gaining automatic qualification to the quarters with the second team facing a playoff.
Group Stages: SATURDAY
Roscommon 8 Kilkenny 4
Roscommon got off to an assured start in this game with captain Mick Egan winning his game 2-0. However this was not to last as four defeats on the trot for Thomas Concannon (0-2), Wayne Harris (1-2), Paul Carton (0-2) and Mick Kilroe (1-2) left Roscommon in need of some wins trailing 1-4. JP Feeney started the comeback required, taking out 103 in his last leg for a 2-1 win. Paddy Connaughton and Sean Fleming followed suit with 2-1 wins to level the game, while Joe Crawley brought cheers of approval from the Roscommon crowd with a 111 checkout on the bull for a 2-0 win to send Roscommon into a 5-4 lead. From here David Concannon and Mark Finneran led the way playing some excellent darts. Both players threw 180 with the first three darts in their individual games and both won 2-0. Manager Martin Fleming finished the game on a high with a 2-1 win leaving Roscommon 8-4 victors
Roscommon 10 Leitrim 2
This was without doubt one of Roscommon’s finest ever displays. Not only was the result comprehensive, the quality was stunning. The team were to round off 10x 60+ checkouts in a well deserved win. Mick Egan started again for Roscommon and once again played some excellent darts, coming from 1-0 down to win 2-1, hitting a 180 in the second leg and successive scores of 100, 100 and 140 in the third. The game was then leveled at one a piece when Mick Kilroe was unfortunate to lose 0-2. From here however, Roscommon went on to dominate. Six successive 2-0 victories for Thomas Concannon, Wayne Harris, Paul Carton, Paddy Connaughton, JP Feeney and Sean Fleming put the game beyond doubt at 7-1. Highlights of these games included a 116 checkout for Thomas Concannon to win his game and a 180 and 99 checkout for JP Feeney. Lenny Docherty continued the run with a 2-1 victory while David Concannon took a 2-0 win hitting two 140s in his first leg to help towards an 18 dart leg. Next up Mark Finneran hit a 180 on his way to a 2-0 win and despite a 1-2 defeat for Joe Crawley in the final game, the 10-2 result was a huge confidence booster. Roscommon’s standard of play was put in perspective by the fact that over the 27 legs played Roscommon dropped 6.
Roscommon 4 Mayo 8:
Roscommon now had to repeat the previous performance in this game, but were dealt an early blow when Wayne Harris lost out 0-2. Thomas Concannon leveled the game with a 2-1 win checking out 112 in the first leg. From here on in though Roscommon lost their way as losses for Mick Egan, JP Feeney (both 1-2), Paddy Connaughton, Paul Carton (both 0-2), David Concannon (1-2) and Joe Crawley (0-2) left Roscommon facing a 7-1 deficit. This score line did not do justice to the game as a whole; a number of players were desperately unlucky, particularly David Concannon who played great darts hitting a 15 darter in his winning leg. With first place out of reach, second place needed to be guaranteed, and despite a 1-2 loss for Lenny Docherty, wins for Sean Fleming, Mark Finneran (both 2-0) and Patrick Tansey (2-1) left the final score line at 8-4. As a result the table read as: Mayo 24, Roscommon 22, Kilkenny 18 and Leitrim 8. Roscommon now faced the task of overcoming two teams in the playoffs before reaching the quarter finals, but hopes of success were high given their first two performances.
Playoffs:
Roscommon 7 Tipperary 6
From the off this game proved to be very much tit for tat, with both teams playing solid darts throughout. Mick Egan (2-0), Thomas Concannon (2-1) and Martin Fleming (2-0) each started with wins, but defeats for Wayne Harris, Paul Carton, Paddy Connaughton and Mark Finneran (all 0-2) left Roscommon facing a 4-3 deficit. However Sean Fleming, Gerry Owens and Paddy Connaughton won each of their games 2-1 to leave the game at 6-4 to Roscommon, who needed just one more game to clinch the win. With victory within their grasp, Roscommon were put on the back foot again with JP Feeney (0-2) and Patrick Tansey (1-2) losing out to leave the game at 6 a piece. The unenviable task of deciding the game fell to Lenny Docherty. However he was up to the task and despite the pressure, hit double twenty in the second leg to take a 2-0 win which brought the Roscommon support to their feet. Only Wicklow now stood in Roscommon’s way for a quarter final spot.
Roscommon 7 Wicklow 4
After the first four games this match was left finely balanced, as wins for Mick Egan and Thomas Concannon (both 2-0) were counteracted by defeats for Wayne Harris (1-2) and Martin Fleming (0-2). However, Roscommon went up an extra gear with four successive wins for Paddy Connaughton (2-0), David Concannon, Sean Fleming and Mark Finneran (all 2-1). Finneran in particular impressed hitting his third 180 of the day. This left Roscommon 6-2 up with only one more game required to seal the deal. Defeats for Gerry Owens and Paul Carton (both 0-2) gave Wicklow a glimmer of hope, but this was quickly snuffed out by JP Feeney who with his 2-0 win gave Roscommon a 7-4 victory. With Saturday’s play at a close, attention now turned to Sunday, with Roscommon facing a Quarter Final against near neighbors Westmeath.
Quarter Final: SUNDAY.
Roscommon 7 Westmeath 3
Captain Mick Egan started out this game, and set an example for his team with a 2-0 win. However, losses for Thomas Concannon and Paul Carton (both 1-2) left Roscommon in need of a win which was provided by JP Feeney (2-1) which included a 16 dart leg. Both teams traded games with Wayne Harris losing out 1-2 and David Concannon winning 2-1 to leave the game at 3 a piece. However, like against Wicklow, Roscommon found another gear firing off four wins in quick succession from Paddy Connaughton (2-1), Sean Fleming, Martin Fleming and Mark Finneran (all 2-0). Finneran in particular impressed hitting a 180 to take his tournament total to four. All this meant that Roscommon had made history by reaching an Inter Counties Semi-Final for the first time in the county’s history.
Semi-Final:
Roscommon 1 Wexford 7
Roscommon had went out to Wexford the past two years at playoff and Quarter final stage and would have to play very well to change that record. Early signs were not good, with losses for Mick Egan (0-2), Mick Kilroe (1-2) and Thomas Concannon (0-2). Martin Fleming stopped the rot with a 2-1 win hitting a 180 along the way to get the Roscommon supporters going. However from here on out, loses for Paddy Connaughton, JP Feeney (both 0-2), Wayne Harris and Sean Fleming (both 1-2) brought the contest to an end. A number of players were desperately unlucky on doubles and the score line in no way did justice to the darts played by the Roscommon team. Wexford proved worthy winners however as they almost became champions losing out on a narrow 7-6 scoreline in the final against defending champions Donegal
Overall, a historic three weeks and weekend for Roscommon Darts which will long be remembered by both players and supporters alike. Major progress has been made recently with many targets passed. Well done to player/ manager Martin Fleming and all players who put in huge effort and commitment not only this past weekend but over the last month in the run up to the competition. Roscommon Darts would like to thank Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon for their sponsorship of the team as well as the use of their premises for practice. Special thanks also to the supporters who traveled in such good numbers on both days.
