Glencolmcille Darts League

Details: Last Updated: 04 December 2025

Division One

John Meencha holds on to the top spot for another week after steady night in Glen on 75 % legs won which to tell the truth is the new norm. Highest points total on the night was Stephen Harron but the extra game for him shows 12 points earned with the percentage the same as Meencha.

Cartha 9 from 12 with a slightly higher average is second, Dermot, John Con, Curran and the Byrnes all shared point while McMenamin, McGettigan had a tough night which was due to themselves more so than opposition.

Ronan Kennedy had a better night so mid table is close, Andrew on 8 from 16 was happy enough on his first night back after injury as some of the mid table players relish a crack at the county men this was evident when local legend J P Byrne took on Stephen Harron, James who was on for 11 darter and did the 12 had great tussle with Stephen with both players on a high average, rumour has it JP received a surprise “major” birthday cake in Killybegs at Thursday cards night was working hard to keep the old man out and show he hasn’t lost the ability to hit hard when needed.

It’s the usual story mid table with lads taking points against the top men unexpectedly and then not following up when playing their own peers leaving the league a lottery with some games impossible to predict. Meencha and Cartha have slight edge at the top but if Stephen takes his games in hand the race for the top spot will only tighten as we head to round two, it will be the same at the other end of the table it’s impossible to predict when the games in hand are played.

Thanks to Kevin Squires for the music box and background music. The place is quieter than usual as Mary B is not around, we wish to congratulate herself and John on the birth of their Baby girl Holly Mae a great lift for Malinmore coming to Christmas.

No league darts this week as the Paddy Byrne is on for South West League players past and present along with Glen league players past players, see John’s poster and get entries in early start at 4pm.

Division Two

Division two is really tightening up now after the weekend’s fixtures, as predicted Brendan Kennedy is settling in well and he took 7 from 9 on Saturday to put himself right into the mix at the top with Furey, McHugh, Hugh Junior having a night off. Still the highest average goes to our fixtures man James Bracken in the mix as well, Gabriel Boyle as well has become one of the toughest to play in this division also had good win average.

Young gun Kealan McGuire had a good night to join with David McGettigan and Eoghain Hegarty expect these to have influence on proceedings as well head into round two of the fixtures. Peter Mascenik also had a winning night and is improving all the time so the dead cert points are quickly disappearing with results impossible to predict.

Youths

The juniors were back in action in Roartys on Saturday night with four groups and nineteen involved. Good tight games in all groups however it’s the lads coming over the road from the Malins who were tops when the groups were decided.

Kealan McGuire and Lewis McNelis who both featured in last year’s three man senior final had 10 from 12, followed by Noah who was in a four man group on 7 from 9, LJ McShane’s late start to the league is not hampering his progress as he won his 4 games took 8 from 12.

Conal Hegarty also had a good night. There were no shocks and a lot of the mid table lads know the checkout ratio is probably the only difference on pushing to the top 8 places in the table, no junior darts next week due to the Paddy Byrne memorial tournament.

Division One

With the bulk of Division One players at the Donegal Open in Jacksons there was a chance for players in catch up mode to get a few games under their belts, not much to report here, Martin McMenamin was the top performer keeping to his 75% leg win average and moving him several places up the table, next were Curran and James Boyle a man on a mission to climb the table with some good darts, Ronan Kennedy and Conor McKiverigan were also in action and probably rued missed doubles to up their legs win average.

There’s two big nights in Division One to complete round one in 2025 with two players having their second meeting of the campaign completed, we need the county men for these nights as the spring with county commitments and get togethers it’s really fragment this Division, hoping for good numbers on 29^th November and 12/13^th December to get as many games as possible played. Very competitive top half of this table some players can’t wait to see developments in the second half.

Division Two

Fragmentation won’t be the issue in Division two it’s very tight at the top after the weekends matches, top performer on the night was Eoghain Hegarty he was 9 from 9 in legs won moving him well up the table in action against seasoned campaigners in Melly and Darragh, last year’s top junior in the league stages was hitting the 60s hard and had high check out average.

Following him the “loose looking “ Joe Furey on 10 from 12 moved to top two again, Hugh Junior just keeping his nose in front here and as predicted a few weeks back Brendan Kennedy moved up seven places with some great legs of darts, Darragh Gallagher who had the darting Gods asking the question again about another pastime then did what Darragh does and threw in a 13 darter which is a 115 average, he’s perfectly capable with Liam Melly of having a big say in proceedings in this division along with young Eoghain and John McHugh, good battles here before St Patrick's day. But it evident that mid & lower table players are enjoying their more than the previous couple years!

Youths

Twenty juniors played Saturday night in the round robin league, this week the players were in action against those on similar points after the previous four weeks. On board one Aiden Gallagher took 10 out of 12 followed by Lewis McNelis, Alex Cunnea was scoring well on this board with Noah maybe not his usual self and Evan trying hard.

Mid-section board two Darragh Melly and the improving Dillon Gillespie shared top Ryan Con, Shane McLoone and Taylor kept this board tight and all players scored well here, board two another mid table board was very even Corey O Donnell and Lewis Cunnea shared top with Fearghaill O Gara who checked 116 and Keith Carr, Joseph McGinley also had a win on the board. All players shared points in most games here the format suits well. LJ McShane had a good night with 10 from 12 with Declan Ellis had 3 wins on 7 points, Jasmine Byrne, Shay Doherty and Charlie Haughey all took legs here too keeping the share of points tight. There will be some movement in the table after this week and a few players missing due to the Donegal Open, but we hope to keep this format until end of year.

Division One is proving to be a minefield with strange results leaving form impossible to predict where this past 2 years the predictability caused the move to a 2nd tier, more games to tougher opponents has taken the win average of players to the 75 % mark.

Des sits on top after some impressive legs against Cartha, a good recovery from him after Martin McMenamin undefeated on the night took 3 off him, Cartha then went in and inflicted a first defeat on Stephen Harron in league darts in possibly 3 years, Harrons on ten 180s after Saturday with four low dart legs, Cartha is on six low dart legs with a 12 & 13 amongst them.

The tougher opposition from the likes of Ronan Kennedy, McMenamin, John Con when he hits, the Byrnes from Carrick, Kevin Squires & the unpredictable Big Ken are taking points.

Expect tough nights when Meencha returns from “the sun” with both barrels blazing, Dermot McGuire, and hoping two time champion Andrew Gillespie gets back to the oche ASAP.

Some players are well ahead in games here and we’ve set a precedent within the last 2 /3 weeks so players who can’t catch up will see games forfeited, round one must be completed before round two starts so we will need a couple super Sundays and a serious effort to stay on track.

Division Two is proving itself to be a very competitive league with local and travelling players jousting for the top four, for another week the postman from “Mín a Gaoithe” Teelin is on top, John McHugh holding a total of eight behind him, indeed NINE points separate the top ten with James Bracken & Gabriel Boyle plus Hugh Junior keeping the pressure on.

Mid table Joe Furey with games in hand is still lurking with intent, Darragh, Liam Melly & David McGettigan gathering vital points, expect Brendan Kennedy to join this mix in weeks to come as he catches up and a rejuvenated John Holden to sway results a great tight division.

Youths, we had 12 juniors in action Saturday on night, LJ McShane and Dillon Gillespie were the top performers with both taking seven from nine. First night this year for LJ good to see him back, Noah McGuire was just behind on six proving to be one of the toughest competitors and players on five points Ryan Con, the steady Conal Hegarty and the improving Evan O’Donnell with all the lads getting into it now and their sharing the points in a lot of games, with some of the table toppers away these lads tightened up things mid table.

We had a busy night in Roartys on Saturday, though numbers were down for various reasons.

In division 1 county captain Cartha Boyle entered the fray with four solid games with very impressive scoring averages saw him take 13 from a possible 16, he had 6 legs of 15 darts and a few under and capitalised on poor finishing from his opposition.

Meencha moved to joint top with solid night and was the only player to take couple legs off Cartha, he's in joint first with Andrew.

The real battle is in division 2 John McHugh moved back to the top after a solid night while James Bracken also made a push for the top 4 with a solid night and Hugh Jnr was Hugh Jnr steady she goes...

Performance of the night came from Gabriel Boyle with 10 out of 12 legs with very impressive scoring and a couple 2 dart out combos along with 3 / 4 more this will be a very competitive league as these games keep coming.

The most refreshing sight all night was our youths, 25 player's in groups of 5 on their 2nd night of league action, some great play as the top of the table tightens up.

Kealan McGuire tops the table closely followed by Aiden Gallagher and brother Noah, the round robin format is giving plenty of darts to the youngster’s and opportunities to improve.

Young Shane Mcloone from Glenties with Darragh Melly are blending in well with local players, Shane had 180 in his match with Corey, big group in mid table are taking legs unexpectedly and some games here are now impossible to predict.

Theres a long way to go at junior level and at least two more group nights needed to see how the second half of the league will evolve.

The league would like to wish Cornelius Mockler a Happy Birthday which was celebrated in John Eoinins, Cornelius is a south west darts league legend and it's no surprise that some of his grandchildren are throwing in the youth league.

Theres no darts this weekend due to bank holiday, so hopefully November 1st we will be back in Roartys .

The league would like to commiserate with the Byrne family Cashel on the death of Seamus. Ever present on the Main Street at the shop a word for everyone, suimmhneas siorraí do.

Week 3 saw some great darts being played again on Saturday night in John Eoinín’s, with a fantastic buzz around the village after the local girls arrived home with more silverware, maith sibh, cailíní!

No major shocks in Division 1, where the county men continue to keep the pressure on each other at the top of the table. Stephen Harron’s 180 count is on track to break the league record, a trophy that has long belonged to John Con. There were more 15-dart legs on the night, but no big surprises among the leaders.

In the middle order, Kenneth, Curran, and James Byrne (Carrick) all threw some good darts but struggled for consistency. Kevin Squires is back playing well and looks the most likely to challenge the table toppers.

The real competition is heating up in Division 2. Joe Furey now tops the table after the weekend, those Harry Potter glasses are clearly working! John McHugh, not so much a surprise package as a solid performer, holds an advantage with games in hand at this early stage. Among others, last year’s most consistent youth player, Eoghan Hegarty, is finding his feet quickly at senior level.

It’s still early days, but the decision made at the AGM to introduce a second tier is proving a smart one. There are plenty of players in the top 8–10 who look capable of pushing on this season. James Byrne (Bracken) joined the action at the weekend too, and he’ll no doubt influence the table as he catches up on games.

Perhaps the most refreshing part of the night was the start of our junior league. Twenty-three young players opened their campaign in Roarty’s on Saturday evening. While we’re still fine-tuning the system to ensure plenty of darts for everyone, the round-robin, points-per-leg format worked well.

There were some great newcomers in action, players from as far away as Glenties, and although we won’t name names until the first table is published, every player took legs, and none of the debutants were overawed by throwing in public for the first time.

Another encouraging sight was the juniors’ willingness to mark games, not always easy in a busy public setting, but they handled it brilliantly. Serious competition is expected again at youth level this year, with opportunities ahead to play alongside senior players in the 2- and 3-man comps at the end of the season.

It’s shaping up to be a busy and exciting winter for the juniors, with 20+ again confirmed to play again in Roarty’s this week before the senior darts begin. We have a combined fixtures list this week for Div1 & 2 since there is a reduced availability in Div1 due to a clash with the County B team playing in Donegal Town.

We had another super night of darts in Roarty’s on Saturday, with a few more of the stalwart heavyweights joining the fray in Division 1 — and the stats certainly prove it. Stephen Harron, looking to top the league again, hit five 180s in just 12 legs during hard-fought matches against Des and Andrew. Kenneth Kennedy was also in fine scoring form, while Andrew Gillespie and the returning Meencha showed that the battle at the top of Division 1 will be fierce this year. Numerous 15-darters — and even a few possible 12s — were the norm on the night.

The middle order, who tend to raise their game against county level opponents, will rue missed chances against the top contenders. However, it may be their inability to take key matches against fellow mid-table players that makes the relegation battle a real lottery. Adrian “The Butcher” Byrne impressed on his first night and, once he finds his bearings, will prove a real handful. Martin McMenamin, the first-year entrant from “The Gap,” also held his own well and should be pleased after another solid night. With just a few more players yet to enter Division 1, the so-called “easy nights” are long gone.

In Division 2, with three-leg matches keeping things tight, and the competition is heating up. John McHugh, Darragh Gallagher, Hugh Junior, and Liam Melly are pushing hard at the top, with Joe Furey keeping pace. Our young players — Eoghan, Adam, Kealan, and David McGettigan are now finding their feet in this division and will soon be taking decisive points that could shape the table.

A few more players are expected to join Division 2 shortly, and we’re reaching the stage where commitment and consistency will be tested. There’s even fresh interest from players who aren't on social media and didn’t realise a second division was running and now want to get involved. This league promises to be one of the toughest yet, packed with experienced local campaigners relishing the challenge alongside talented young players on the rise.

A big thanks to Kevin Squires and crew, who had the five boards set up and organised, and to Mary and the staff for their support. We played over 40 matches and wrapped up by midnight — the early starts will be the norm going forward.

Next week, we go again — and we hope to have our youth league underway as well!

Finally, we want to congratulate both Naomh Columba's men's and ladies teams on their victories last weekend.

The Glen Darts League kicked off on Saturday night in John Eoinín’s. A new format this year, with two divisions, saw the return of some familiar faces, gave juniors the chance to progress to adult darts, and welcomed new players from areas including Donegal and Glenties.

In Division One, last year’s champion Andrew Gillespie was quick out of the blocks, dropping only a single leg across his two matches. Des McGettigan also impressed and tops the table, with both players hitting ton-plus checkouts. Newcomers Ronan Kennedy and Martin McMenamin enjoyed strong debuts, while regulars Kevin Squires and Dermot McGuire held their own. With several big names still to make an appearance in Division One, the competition is expected to be fierce. With relegation now a factor, missed chances could prove costly. Every point matters - especially those dropped cheaply.

In Division Two, Joe Furey and the returning John McHugh set the early pace. They are followed closely by another returnee, Liam Melly, and Hugh Doherty Jr, a regular B finalist back in the single division format. Brendan Kennedy looks likely to cause upsets once he settles in, while David McGettigan and Ernan Cassidy sit mid-table for now.

Both divisions will play each other twice this season, so with plenty of games still ahead, anything can happen. Although next week coincides with the Donegal Grand Prix, Division Two is expected to continue as normal. We’ll have a poll up during the week in the players groupchat.

Meanwhile, the organisers have plenty on their hands, with 30 juniors entered in this year’s junior league. It’s fantastic to see such strong interest, and we aim to have them up and running within the next two weeks.

Hi all, the AGM took place for the Glencolmcille darts last night. The key decision coming out of the meeting was that it has it has been decided that the adult league would be splitting into two divisions for the coming year. This is a testament to what the league has developed into and the standard many of our players have gotten to. Entries for both leagues is now open with the deadline for names being next Sunday the 7th of September at 10pm. We are inviting entrants to express their preference for which division they wish to enter and the sub committee will review the numbers in each division and the format for each league to be played out. Entries are also open for the youth league, with the same deadline as above.