Champions hold narrow leadat the halfway point

Clann Eireann started the night well when Nathan McCabe made secured a 2-1 win over Drumgor’s Micky Magliocco and Mark Magee got his 4th win of the year with a 2-0 win over Pearse Richardson.

But Stevie Duff pulled one back with a 2-0 win over Ciaran McMahon. Mick Hendron then made it 3-1 to Clann Eireann with a 2-0 win over Paul Donnelly despite Paul hitting a 174 and a potential upset was definitely on the cards. But Drumgor showed why they are reigning Champions as they went on to win the last eight legs starting with Shane Lennon hitting a 180 and a 94 checkout in the first leg to win it in 14 darts followed by an 18 dart leg for a 2-0 win over Neil McCloskey. Clive Hanna then beat Joe Brady 2-0 to level the match at 3-3. It was left to Eamon Duff and Marty Craig to see Drumgor over the finishing line with Eamon beating Ciaran Magee and Marty beating Joe McCabe both on a 2-0 scoreline to leave Drumgor on 12 points (5 wins 2 draws) at the halfway point.

Celtic and Eire Og had to share the points as they battled out a 4-4 draw to leave both teams trailing Drumgor in pursuit of league honours. Mick Millar started the night off with two 140’s and an 18 darter on way to a 2-0 win over Sam Frazier (137) but Chris Cinnamond (121) levelled the match with a 2-0 win over Martin Haddock (123). Tommy McErlene hit a 140 to help him keep up his impressive win/loss record in his first season throwing in the league when he made it 6 wins out of 7 with a 2-1 win over Micky Dunwoodie and Dessie Dunbar was able to match that (6 wins out of 7) when he made it 3-1 to the Celtic with a 2 legs to 1 win over Dermy McStay. Mark McLernon also hit a 140 when he beat Dee Breen 2-0 to make it 3-2 but Anto Crewe got his 6th win in a row when he beat Paul McGahan 2-0 to guarantee a point for the Celtic. Micky Campbell beat Dave McCusker (125) 2-0 and Captain Noel Dunwoodie kept his win streak going with a 2-0 win over Adrian Hutchinson to level the match at 4-4.

It was The Trojans who got the result of the week as they were celebrating their first win as they moved off the bottom of the table with a 6-2 victory over the Stables. Paul Lewis started the night off when getting his first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Stephen Tallon. It was soon 2-0 to the Trojans when Brian Devine lost 2-0 to Davy Vaughan. The Stables came back into it though when Sammy Toman got his second win in a row since signing for the Stables when he beat Tony Rutherford Jr 2-0 and Gareth Bunting quickly levelled the match when he checked out 114 on way to a 2-0 win over Andy Colhoun. But it was all Trojans from there on in as team Captain Andy Fairbairn won 2-0 against Hugh Campbell and then when Tony Rutherford Sr checked out 74 on the Bull followed by a 91 checkout for a 2-1 win over Michael Lamb to make it 4-2 the Trojans were close to securing that first win.

When Shea Rutherford opened up the leg with a 180 they must have knew it was going to be their night as he checked out in 19 darts for a 2-0 win over Dee McConville to secure the points. Rab Lewis then put the icing on the cake when he got his second win of the season beating Stables Captain Shane Tallon 2-0 to give the Trojans a very well deserved 6-2 win for them to finish off their first calendar year together in style.

The Area 11 county team played their third match of the season on Saturday when they hosted league leaders Area 1 from Coleraine and after leading 6-4 they had to settle for a hard earned 6-6 draw.

Coleraine, who had won their previous three matches this season dropping only 7 legs, were relieved to get the draw as it took them to check out on 140 in the very last leg to stop Dee Blaney claiming the win for Area 11 as Dee had opened the leg with throws of 140,125 and 125. Dee finished the day with the highest average (25.67) closely followed by Sam Frazier and John Cinnamond.

This week its the League Individuals to finish off the year when all players are asked to turn up at Clann Eireann where they will battle it out to the last 32.