Glencolmcille Darts League

: Last Updated: 10 December 2024

We had our 6th league night in John Eoinín's on Saturday November 30th. For some players, it was their final league night of the year, as several have already surpassed the checkpoint total for 2024. It’s easy to tell that the first major of the southwest was approaching, as the usual contenders displayed excellent form in preparation for the Paddy Byrne Memorial competition.

Cartha continued his steady performance, maintaining his lead on the table. He secured 10 out of 12 points, though Hugh Jnr and Conor McKiverigan had opportunities to take points in their matches against him. As he has shown throughout the season, Cartha's high-level finishing ensures he capitalizes on such chances and claims critical points. Hugh Jnr, in particular, was very unlucky, scoring heavily in his first four matches. Facing four county A starters, he would have likely gained more points against different opposition, as he put on some exceptional displays.

The standout performer of the night was Andrew Gillespie, who scored 18 out of a possible 20 points—a remarkable average considering his opposition. His match against Stephen Harron, who himself scored 12 out of 16 points, was a highlight of the night. Both players demonstrated high-quality darts, including potential 14-dart legs. Stephen also recorded multiple ton-plus checkouts, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw, showcasing the level of competition.

John Con continued to add to his tally of 180s and secured 14 points out of 20. His unpredictable yet dangerous form makes him one to watch for next weekend. John Meencha also performed well, hitting numerous ton-plus scores, including a 150 checkout in a 15-dart leg against Stephen. He secured 8 out of 12 points, consolidating his position in the top 8 despite facing two top-10 players.

Other players, including Conor McKiverigan, Hugh Jnr, James Boyle, and Darragh Gallagher, played strongly even though their points totals might not reflect their efforts. These players are keeping the pressure on the county players, and any dropped points in these games could prove crucial in the later stages of the league.

There were no league darts last week due the Paddy Byrne Cup taking place, our first local major of the season. Well done to Paddy’s family who hosted this event between both venues on the day, the competition was open to past and present players of the Glen Singles League and the South West League. It was good to see it supported by all participants! Well done to Stephen Harron for beating fellow county star Cartha Boyle in the final in what turned out to be a clash between the 2 men who are currently 1st and 2nd in our league! We hope to return to Roartys for the final league night of 2024 on December 14th.

We were back in action at Roarty’s on Saturday night, where Mary B had all five boards set up and ready to go, allowing us to quickly progress through the evening’s matches. The new chalking system introduced by the league, as supported by Stephen Harron and endorsed by Norman, has been well-received and is proving to be a great addition to the competition.

Cartha Boyle now sits at the top of the leaderboard after securing 14 points out of a possible 16 with consistent and steady performances. However, he won’t have much time to rest on his laurels as Stephen Harron, fresh from Killarney with another All-Ireland medal from the 5-man team event, is just a point behind with a game in hand. Despite not feeling 100% and enduring some friendly mind games from Club Tyrone, the former champion remained focused, dropping only one point on the night.

Several players in the top half of the table will likely feel disappointed about losing crucial points, though their overall winning averages remain around 75%. Kenneth, Declan Quinn, Dermot, Des, and JP Byrne are keeping the pressure on the leaders, with JP settling in well and throwing impressive darts.

The standout performer of the night was undoubtedly James Byrne from Carrick. He claimed an impressive 17 points out of a possible 20, achieving some unexpected results against high-quality players. Known locally as a fierce competitor, James is well-regarded throughout the region for his contributions as a top tournament organizer. In Glen, when he gets the chance to focus fully on his game, he’s a force to be reckoned with, taking no prisoners on the oche.

To make the most of the evening, we played a few matches from last week’s schedule, completing six extra games. Going forward, expect earlier starts during these darker evenings to help players catch up on matches before the mid-December checkpoint. Illness and other commitments mean a few players still need to reach the checkpoint target.

There will be no local darts next weekend as the Donegal Open takes place in Ballybofey on Saturday, the 23rd. Best of luck to all players attending and safe travels! There was talk of a bus on Saturday night, so keep an eye on the WhatsApp group for updates. The next league night is scheduled for November 30th at John Eoinín's.

The fourth night of the league took place in John Eoinín's on Saturday night. It was a challenging evening for organizing, and I’ll post more details on the players WhatsApp page—make sure to get the kettle ready, Meencha! To the darts action: Cartha kept up his relentless pursuit, taking advantage of Stephen’s absence while he was in Manchester, likely on a Coronation Street tour or maybe at a football match wearing a red shirt. Cartha was steady and took maximum points, now sitting just 2 points behind in 2nd place.

All the county players performed well, with the top 5 spots now held by County A players. Andrew Gillespie had a strong night, with a close match against Jason Cunnea, ultimately earning 4 points, as Jason was in good form. Andrew and John Con shared the spoils in a tight match. Declan Quinn started the night in fine form, hitting high averages against Cunnea and Curran, and was climbing up the table until he ran into Kenneth Kennedy. Big Ken was on fire on Saturday, taking down more than just Declan, proving that when he’s on his game, he’s a tough opponent for anyone in Donegal.

Joe Furey had a good night as well and deserves his spot in the top half, as does Hugh Jnr., who’s steadily picking up points. This week, we were also joined by J.P. Byrne, who found the competition tougher than what he’s used to in the southern hemisphere, including a long game against Cartha that didn’t fully reflect the effort he put in.

We’ve set the first checkpoint at 16 games, with all players aiming to reach this milestone before the holiday season. After that, we’ll start the new year with everyone level on games played, as agreed at the AGM and ratified by the subcommittee. We anticipate needing three sessions to achieve this. Players who have at least 9 games played are in a good position to reach the target, but those below 9 will have some catching up to do.

Saturday night saw a good count of 180s, with Hugh Jnr. also hitting a 160 checkout. John Con remains the 180 king, adding more to his tally on Saturday, with James Byrne (Carrick) and Ken both aiming for the top half of the table as well.

Currently, we’re playing Saturday nights in Roarty’s, with the next session scheduled for the following Saturday. There will be no darts on the 23rd November due to the Donegal Open Day, and the Paddy Byrne Tournament will proceed on its usual Saturday in December. Keep an eye (or ear) on both WhatsApp groups for further updates.

Lastly, a big thanks to Richie at 501darts.ie for stocking up the shop, and to Kevin Squires, J.P. Roarty, and Micheal Curran for their sponsorship.

After three nights of junior league play, Eoghan Hegarty has opened up a 3-point lead at the top of the table. His steady and focused approach to the game is clear, with his finishing accuracy being a key reason he's only dropped a single leg so far. In the games I've observed, he doesn't hesitate on the doubles and closes them efficiently.

Daniel, Kealan, and Noah are doing their best to keep up, and all players are settling in well, with impressive scoring evident throughout the rankings. Adam, Alex, and Lewis Cunnea complete the top half of the table. As mentioned earlier, if the juniors concentrate on practicing their finishing, the standings could still shift considerably.

Section B is much tighter, with only 5 points separating the top from the bottom. Lewis McNelis, Liam McLaughlin, Ryan Con, and L.J. McShane are all within 2 points of each other, with Jasmine, Keith, and Tyler still within reach of the lead.

Credit is due to the juniors for their improvement, as shown by the increasing number of ton-plus scores on the score sheets. They are efficient and focused on game night, which has kept everything running smoothly.

A big thanks goes to Damien Carr and the team, including Aiden Con, Conor, and Dermot, for their work behind the scenes. The prize card was won by Damien, with Jasmine throwing the winning dart. Damien shared the prize! Thanks again, Coach.

After three weeks of play, Stephen Harron sits at the top of the Glen League with 39 points out of a possible 44. Close behind in second is Cartha Boyle, whose average is higher and has recorded more low-dart legs than any other player. To give some context, for the average reader, a 15-dart leg equals a 100 average. As you can imagine, the number of 12/13 dart legs from several players in the league speaks to the high standard of play. Des and Dermot complete the top four.

The last three games of the night saw the heavyweights share the spoils at 2-2, with Des, Dermot, Meencha, and Cartha, as well as James Byrne "Chippie" and Declan Quinn making his first appearance of the season. Known affectionately as “The Doc,” Declan is playing well, scoring three 180s in his game against James Bracken and adding another, bringing his total to 17 out of 20 points. His 2-2 draw with Dermot McGuire, who has returned to high averages, was a solid match.

Des and Meencha are flying under the radar, with Meencha—sporting the "Sheep Game" shirt—known for striking unexpectedly, much like a left hook out of nowhere. The competition in the top division is fierce and will likely be decided by who drops the fewest points to mid-section players, who are capable of upsets on any given night. Local darts organizer James “Chippie,” along with Conor McKiverigan and Joe Furey—fresh off filming another episode of Killinascully in Dowra with his old coach McManus—proved their mettle when they decided Cartha had earned enough points for the night.

These early league games often set the stage for final standings.

Gabriel Boyle then reminded Joe that nothing comes easy when you make your way down Cashel Hill. Expect more surprises as the time changes, as per usual. We only have one player left to enter the fray: local senior legend JP Byrne, who is currently abroad on a development tour and reportedly racking up the cash.

There will be no darts next weekend as both venues are booked for music events. Players should keep an eye on the WhatsApp group, and we hope to resume action on November 2nd. We have three or four players who need to get in two or three solid nights of play. As mentioned at the start of the season, we have two checkpoints along the way where all players will have played an equal number of games to assess the standings.

Week 2 of the Juniors League sees Eoghan Hegarty move to the top of the standings. He’s been scoring consistently since the start and didn’t drop any points on Saturday night. Close behind him are his Malinmore neighbors, with all the juniors gradually settling into throwing in a public setting. Scoring averages and high scores are improving week by week. Daniel and Noah are just one point behind, with Noah narrowly edging out his brother Kealan in a well-contested, high-scoring game. The A section is rounded out by the Cunnea brothers, Alex and Lewis, along with Lewis McNelis. In section B, Adam and Jasmine are currently leading the pack. However, better finishing from all players could see a shake-up in the standings. As always, keep practicing those finishes and counting skills! There will be no darts this weekend.

Anyone who doubted that the new scoring system to determine our 1st division finalists and who thought it cause our top players to relax was gravely mistaken at Roarty's on Saturday night. Understanding the importance of every leg of darts, the big guns who missed the opening night quickly caught up as the darts kicked off five minutes early. With 39 games on the card and five excellent boards, the standard was exceptionally high, resembling the second-to-last night in previous years.

The averages were off the charts. Last year’s champion, Cartha Boyle, started strong with a 4-leg win, checking out 170 with “An t-Iasc Mór”. He later followed up with a 12-dart leg (125 average) and had a titanic battle with the in-form Stephen Harron, where they ended up sharing the spoils. Cartha won 13 out of 16 games on the night. Harron himself was in top form, winning 4-0 in his first match. In his second match, he went ballistic with 13-, 14-, and 15-dart legs, including a 160 checkout and multiple 180s, as well as a 120 checkout under pressure, once again splitting points with Cartha. Harron finished with 14 out of 16 on the night.

Our stats & fixtures man, James Byrne Bracken, also threw a 12-dart leg, one of three 12-darters that night. In total, we saw 6 legs of 12/13 darts, thanks to players like Andrew Gillespie, Dermot McGuire, and John Con. There were 11 legs of 15 darts or less, as well as numerous 16/18 dart legs. There were 11 180s, with John Con earning the nickname "the Chizzy of Glen" after hitting three in one game against this reporter—who might as well just sit back and take notes!

The game of the night was Andrew Gillespie vs. Dermot McGuire. In their four legs, Andrew had a 12-dart leg along with hitting a 180, checking out 132 and 123, while Dermot also hit a 180 and had 13- and 15-dart legs, and both shared the spoils in a fantastic contest.

Special thanks to Mary B for the setup and the new boom box for music, and to Kevin & Dermot for setting up the boards while the boss was away. We’ll be back next week, venue to be confirmed—keep an eye on the WhatsApp group midweek!

Youth League Week One

The juniors league is back after a 5-year hiatus, and it's fantastic to see young players returning to the oche at Roarty's before night 2 of the senior league.

Familiar "in thru" darting surnames like Byrne, McGinley, Cunnea, McGuire, and Carr are joined by others to restart, restore, and rejuvenate the local youth dart scene. For many of these young players, it was their first time throwing and marking games in a public setting.

Mary B, along with her dedicated team, Kevin and Dermot, had all five boards in top condition. The young darters quickly adjusted to the new surroundings, showing no signs of opening-night nerves. Each player had two games to gauge their form and pace, and it's clear that we’re in for a tight battle at the top. Noah McGuire leads with full points, thanks to steady scoring and an excellent checkout average.

Hot on his heels are Eoghan and Daniel, last year’s Norman Blain Youth finalists, along with Lewis McNelis and Kealan McGuire. There was strong scoring across the board, and those sitting in the lower or mid-table positions know that, with a little improvement on their checkout averages, they could easily climb higher. Most players were reaching the checkout zone, so some extra practice on doubles will make a big difference as the league progresses.

It’s also great to see Jasmine Byrne continuing "The Miner" tradition, and she’s holding her own against the lads. We hope to continue next week, so keep practicing those doubles and your marking skills! Soon, we’ll have you all up to playing three games a night.

Keep an eye on the WhatsApp group early in the week for updates.

The Glen singles league started on Saturday night in the Glen Head tavern, the restaurant was busy and warm so start time was back slightly. 20 of the leagues 28 players were present, big welcome back to former chairman Norman Fuller who was his usual quiet reserved self & to new players Gary Gillespie, Conor McKiverigan & Brion Domican. 31 games of 4 legs each and so to the darts. The 1st 5 games set a good standard, John Con was out of the blocks early with 2 x 180s in 14, 16 dart legs & another 180 later.

In the 1st 20 legs we had 4 ton plus check outs. Things settled then and Stephen Harron took up where he finished last year took 11 points from 12 with county team mate Andrew Gillespie following hard.. The best performers though were your seasoned locals Hugh Doherty Jnr, newcomer Brion Domican, both Boyle's James and Gabriel especially who took unexpected points. Joe Furey who “hasn't caught a dart since St Patrick’s day was also hitting hard along with Des and John Con set the early pace.. Good nights darts 10 x 180s & 6 ton plus outs. Darts next week in Roarty's and we envisage having the resurrected juniors league beforehand.

We will contact all juniors in their separate WhatsApp group during the week and the seniors also early in the week.. More info Re: rules changes by subcommittee on players WhatsApp too.

For anyone driving around the Wild Atlantic Way during winter months keep Noel and staff in John Eoiníns Bar in mind for bite to eat, great place to throw and eat as well, good supporters of the league. Players keep eye on WhatsApp both senior and junior early in the week.