Carranstown win a thriller
CARRANSTOWN THATCH 7 5
CARRANSTOWN of Duleek staged a dramatic recovery to retain the prestigious Tom Grimes Cup for the second year in a row after a top-class decider against Thatch at Watters (Collon).
Thatch got of to a tremendous start, winning the 1001 team game and then the first two doubles through Clive Fitzpatrick, Garry Campbell, Willie Campbell and Colin Smith,Three up early on, things looked mighty rosy for the Drogheda side, but Carranstown got back into match with two impressive wins in the final two doubles for Keith Rooney and Martin Seery and then Steven Murtagh and Pat O’Connell.
Any thoughts Carranstown had of getting back on terms early in the singles event were soon put to bed, though, when successive wins for Clive Fitzpatrick and Gary Campbell put the Drogheda side back into a commanding 5–2 lead,
That left Carranstown with very little room for any further error, but they responded in style with successive wins for Paddy Kavanagh, Paddy Campbell and Keith Rooney (in 13 darts) to tie things up at 5-5.
Martin Seery then saw off Sean Callaghan in a tight game to put the Duleek side ahead for the first time on the night, before Stephen Murtagh completed a fantastic comeback when decisively outpointing a determined Stephen Gibney to secure the title.
Afterwards, members of the committee made the presentations, which included a perpetual trophy, inscribed trophies and a cash prize for the winners and a cash prize for the runners-up.
Carranstown: Alan Flaherty, Gary Flaherty, Paddy Kavanagh, Paddy Campbell, Keith Rooney, Martin Seery, Stephen Murtagh, Pat O’Connell, Ian Lowthe, Pat O’Brien.
Clive Fitzpatrick, Gary Campbell, Willie Campbell, Colin Smith, Cormac Murtagh, Sean Callaghan, Stephen Gibney, Mark Rowan, Pascal Campbell.
CALLER: John Andrews; Marker: Kevin Campbell.
•Thatch C defeated Valley Inn 7-2 in last Saturday’s John Speedy Heavey Cup Final at Lynchs (Slane) to bring the Fosters Duleek & District Dart League season to a close.
•The League Committee would like to thank the management, staff and club personnel of Watters (Collon) and Alverno (Laytown) for all their help and assistance with both the cup and shield finals.