Concannon Conquers in Kilkenny!!
Ballinaheglish and Roscommon Darts player David Concannon was last Sunday crowned Ireland's Youth Darts Championship winner for 2008 on what was another special Sunday for Roscommon Darts. The finals were held in front of a packed crowd at The SpringhillCourt Hotel in Kilkenny- the same lucky venue in which David captained the Roscommon Youths to their third All-Ireland in March.
Qualification for Sunday's finals began last September with seven top class ranked championship rounds taking place at various venues across the island. At noon on Sunday last the battle commenced with 32 men, 8 women and 16 youths in four different grades.
Roscommon's only representatives were at youth level. David Concannon, Mark Finneran and Gary Concannon took part in the Youth Championship for the overall title while Thomas Concannon took part in the Youths Plate section in which he ran out easy winner- winning in the final on a 3-0 scoreline.
Gary Concannon made an early exit to a decent performance from Kilkenny's Paddy Meaney. Mark Finneran progressed to the semi's by beating Kildare's John McKenna 3-0. David Concannon was very impressive to see off Cork's Ryan Courtney in his opening challenge of the day hitting a 180 with his first three darts with winning legs of 14,16 and 23 darts. David maintained this form in the semi-final beating Kerry's Jason Hahessy 3-0 with 17,22,and 24 dart legs. In what was the performance of the day by a Roscommon player Mark Finneran beat Paddy Meaney 3-2 having been 2-0 down. Three priceless checkouts of 49, 70 and a match winning effort of 61 left the Kilkenny player reeling. Finneran had defeated Meaney in similiar fashion to win Roscommon that All Ireland in March.
Although the Championship title was already going to Roscommon- the on stage final between Mark and David was as tough as the earlier rounds. David got the better start winning the first leg. Mark replied with a 22 dart leg but failed to build on that. In what was a short format for a final both players were improving as the game wore on as David took the third in 23 darts and took out the winning leg in 21 darts with Mark sitting on easy finishes.
The Senior mens title and the top prize of over €2,000 went to Antrim's Daryl Gurney after he ended his dominant day with a 6-3 win over Dublin's Gareth Gray- accounting for last years winner Paul Irving along the way. Kildare's Sharon O' Brien captured the womens title after a deserved 4-2 win in the final against Fermanagh's Denise Cassidy.
Television coverage will be broadcast on TG4 on Saturday the 6th of September.

Upcoming Fixtures.
September 13th and 14th:The W.D.F. Ranked Irish Open Singles, Whites Hotel, Wexford. Prizefund €6,000.
September 20th and 21st: I.N.D.O. Irish Masters Weekend. Prizefund €3,000.
Details of both and more on RTE 2 teletext page 426.