McGeady wins another title

By Michael Curran

The Norman Blain competition was held in Glencolmcille on April 20th in Roartys and John Eoiníns bars and were well set up with 10 boards available. Over 40 players took part with preliminaries and players divided on 8 boards, play got under way at 4:30 and organizers had allowed for break to watch the big GAA game in Derry.

Best of 7 legs from round one and a new arrangement this year with board finalists winner going to cup & board losers to shield, there were some cracking games early in some rounds as some county A & B players drawn against local hopefuls who went head to head with not many but a surprise or two, refreshing also for the local scene going forward was the amount of young local players and organisers decided to give separate comp to these young lads and give them the experience of a competition at their own level .

And so to the darts board finals Stephen Harron 5-0 Ronan Kennedy, Ronan didn’t do himself justice here as he’d played well all day and just pipped James Byrne chippy 4 to 3 in tight semi final. Des McGettigan 5-3 Aiden McGinley, Des was playing well all day and had great game earlier round just to pip John Con 4-3, Aiden s 1st  year back playing the former Glen youth champion was in shield after coming through tight game 4-3 against James “Bracken “Byrne in the semi final.

Andrew Barron and local favourite Andrew Gillespie went to their board final with ease strong performances all day. It was Andrew Gillespie progressed 5-2. Ciaran McGeady won board 1 defeating Derek Quinn 5-1, this didn’t reflect the great darts all round on this board as the games were closer than this both men had come through tough games against Dermot McGuire and J P Byrne where the local men rued missed doubles.

In the shield semi-finals Derek Quinn beat Aiden “Con “McGinley to progress in the other semi Ronan Kennedy and Andrew Barron went all the way where Andrew won the deciding leg in a tight nervy encounter. Shield Final fair to say Andrew Barron just didn’t get his game going and Derek Quinn took advantage here with very clinical finishing, the Wiley old fox then upped his scoring considerably and is the Norman Blain shield champion 5 to 0.

In the cup both semi were great games Des McGettigan and Ciaran McGeady went to a last leg decider a great game where Ciaran checked to win after Des coming from 2 legs back to bring it to decider but Ciaran deserved through to final 5 to 4 in the other semi Stephen Harron and Andrew Gillespie, Harron was always comfortable here and went through 5 to 2.

In the final Ciaran had the edge all the way here though Stephen was trying hard but Ciaran was averaging 88 to 95 & Stephen 83 to 87, both men had 180 s several 140 s each but as proved in the Leo Molloy and Pat Rawdon, Ciaran is playing exceptionally well and his clinical finishing he took the final 6 to 1 and gets his name on the Norman Blain cup for the 1st time.

In the junior comp we had familiar names in the draw like McGuire, McGinley, Carr, Cunnea most of these played in the senior comp too entry was free for the lads and glad to see the youths enjoying the darts.

Semi-finals Daniel Cunningham 2-1 Noah McGuire and Eoghain Hegarty 2- 0 Caolan McGuire 0 both these young players 1st public final played before senior finals Eoghain Hegarty 2 -1 Daniel Cunningham well done to all youths and Eoghain on winning.

Thanks to both superb venues as usual well lit good board set ups to Aishling Fuller, John Holden, Norman Fuller for paperwork, Michéal Curran MC and score caller to all chalkers and players who arranged for smooth day. To Joan Ellis & Aishling for the raffle ticket selling and draw thanks. On behalf of Una Blain & the Blain, Fuller & wider family thanks to all who support this tournament in Normans memory. We hope to get back to our traditional date next year of 4th Saturday in March.

Results

Norman Blain Cup

Final

Ciaran McGeady 6-1 Stephen Harron

Semi Finals

Ciaran McGeady 5-4 Des McGettigan

Stephen Harron 5-2 Andrew Gillespie

Norman Blain Shield

Final

Derek Quinn 5-0 Andrew Barron

Semi Finals

Derek Quinn 4-2 Aidan McGinley

Andrew Barron 4-3 Ronan Kennedy

Norman Blain Last 16

Ciaran McGeady 4-1 Dermot McGuire

Des McGettigan 4-3 John Con McGinley

Stephen Harron 4-1 Barry Carr

Andrew Gillespie 4-1 John Murray

Derek Quinn 4-2 James P Byrne

Aidan McGinley 4-3 James Byrne (Bracken)

Andrew Barron 4-1 Hugh Doherty

Ronan Kennedy 4-3 James Byrne (Carrick)

Norman Blain Last 32

Ciaran McGeady 4-1 Conor McKiverigan

Dermot McGuire 4-0 Jason Cunnea

Des McGettigan 4-0 Eoghain Hegarty

John Con McGinley 4-1 Jamie McNern

Stephen Harron 4-0 Noah McGuire (135 c/o, Noah 180)

Barry Carr 4-3 John Holden

Andrew Gillespie 4-0 Bernadette Carr

John Murray 4-0 Christy Gallen

Derek Quinn 4-0 Daniel Cunningham

James P Byrne 4-3 Conor McNelis

Aidan McGinley 4-0 Joe Mockler

James Byrne (Bracken) 4-1 Michael Byrne

Andrew Barron 4-2 Ronan Gillespie

Hugh Doherty 4-1 Wilfie Milsop

Ronan Kennedy 4-2 Kevin Squires

James Byrne (Carrick) 4-1 Oisin Byrne

Norman Blain Preliminary Round

John Con McGinley 4-0 Keith Carr

Michael Byrne 4-0 Ryan McGinley

James Byrne (Carrick) 4-2 Clive Aiken (127 c/o Clive, James 180 x 2)

Kevin Squires 4-2 Keelan McGuire

Ronan Gillespie 4-2 Dylan McGrath

Derek Quinn 4-0 Norman Fuller  

Runner up Stephen Harron

Semi Finalist Des McGettigan

Shield Runner up Andrew Barron

Shield Semi Finalist Ronan Kennedy

2024 Norman Blain Saturday April 20th in John Eoinins and Roartys, €1,500 in prizes

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