Cup competitions steal the limelight

Ladies, youths and seniors to the fore

The teams battling for top spot in the Airdrie and District Darts League took a break from league action to focus on cup competitions.

Attention switched to the ladies competition as well as the Derek Cunningham Youth Development and the Kenny Watters Seniors Cup competitions.

In the youth event Carsons top youngster Harry Edwards will play Robert O’Donahue of The Post in the final. There is a new name going on the trophy here as defending champion Lee Barber has reached the age threshold and no longer can take part.

In the ladies event, Laura Pearson will defend her title in the final, but she was nowhere near her best and was nearly eliminated by her mother Janice. The parent Pearson missed a number of doubles as Laura sailed through in the end.

She will be the favourite to beat the Boar’s Head chucker Karen Gallacher - who is making her debut this season.

The Seniors event produced a fantastic field with Jim McGeary against Derek Cunningham and Gerry Brown against Davy Cunningham all battling it out at the semi-final stage.

Cunningham took the first leg in 17-darts and the next in 21.

He seemed to have McGeary on the ropes, but Jim soon had the match level and it took Derek to hit a 15dart winner in the decider to reach the final.

Gerry Brown got the better of his teammate Davy Cunningham and will play Derek in the final.

Tickets for the Airdrie Masters were also on offer later in the night in a competition limited to the best of three legs.

Derek Cunningham faced McGeary for the second time on the night but this time the result was reversed with Jim hitting a 12-dart and a 15-dart win.

Laura Pearson found her form with two 16-dart wins, while Charlie Morrisey of The Workmen’s A had three 17-dart wins.

The tickets were secured by Graham Anderson, who beat McGeary in the final.

• Paddy Sweeney of The Workmen’s B became the first qualifier for the upcoming Airdrie Masters last week.

Sweeney held his nerve well in the final against Brian McCuig of Glasgow.

McCuig was the undoubted favourite in the decider having hit three legs below 21- darts in the semi against Scott Gibb. However, Sweeney picked the right moment to throw his best darts and won the decider 3-1. He will be looking forward to taking the big stage against the top names at the end of April. FIXTURES: Qualifiers for the Airdrie Masters Darts Tournament are still on-going.

Local players can win the chance to play some household names by earning their spot through qualifiers on April 2 at 8pm and April 15 at 1pm at the Working Men’s Social Club.