Roscommon men’s darts team crowned All-Ireland champions
The Roscommon men’s darts team that won the shield competition at the annual INDO Intercounties at the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, County Kerry, on Sunday. Picture: Roscommon Darts
There were great celebrations at the INDO Intercounties at the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on Sunday evening when the Roscommon men’s darts team were crowned All-Ireland Shield champions.
The team, managed by Tommy Beirne and Brendan Mullarkey, defeated Carlow 7-5 in the final.
Darren O'Brien, in his first year playing county darts with Roscommon, was the hero as he held his nerve superbly to record a 2-1 win in his match and secure the victory.
Roscommon ended up in the shield after competing in a tough group comprising of Kerry, Meath, Limerick and Longford.
Despite Mick Egan winning all his games, Roscommon didn't emerge from the group.
They defeated Longford 7-5 in their knockout shield quarter-final, thanks to victories for David Concannon, Darren O’Brien, Thomas Concannon, Seán Fleming, Mick Egan before Aaron Shannon hit the winning double.
Padraig Kearney, Seán Fleming and Thomas Concannon handed Roscommon a 3-2 lead in their semi-final against Westmeath. Kieran McCormack, Aaron Blaides and Darren O’Brien also played their part with victories in their games.
With the match tied at 6-6, Seán Finan was the hero, showing determination in overcoming a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 and send Roscommon into the final.
In that final against Carlow, they trailed 2-0 before they rallied courtesy of wins for David Conncannon, Thomas Concannon, Seán Fleming and Mick Egan. Padraig Kearney and Aaron Blaides left Roscommon 6-5 ahead before Darren O’Brien cemented the victory to spark scenes of jubilation among the Roscommon contingent to confirm the county's biggest win on the national stage in years.
