2024 Norman Blain Memorial

McGeady wins another title

By Michael Curran

The Norman Blain competition was held in Glencolmcille on April 20^thin 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 1^st 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 1^st 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 1^st 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