Cork Darts Organisation Home of Darts in Cork City
Monday December 12 2011
Junior league champions just a few short seasons ago the Holyhill Inn carried on the good work at the higher grade of the C division when they were comprehensive winners by 4-0 against the wolfe Tone in the final of the Murphy Stout league played on Monday night at the Local.
Hollyhill Inn got away to a flyer as Declan Gostel was in terrific form in his defeat of Wolfe Tone number one AlanTwomey.Gostel was away scoring with his very first dart as his opponent Twomey struggled to attain a starting double, and Gostel took full advantage of the situation as he hit a double 4 without any sort of pressure to take the first leg.
Twomey began smartly in the second leg and a top score of 121 saw him well in the game, but Gostel then hit a 125 and followed with an 85 to set himself up for a double 20 checkout which he duly hit to have his team first on the scoreboard.
The second game in this Murphy Stout league final brought Holly’s John O’Callaghan and Wolfe Tone’s John Paul Murphy to the throw, and it was the Wolfe Tone player who was first to show as he hit a double 20 to open the scoring.
O’Callaghan quickly followed Murphy’s example as he also began with a double 20 in opening his scoring account.Both players threw in top hands of 100 as they matched each other score for score, but it was the Wolfe Tone player who stole in to take the first leg as a double 20 saw him out.
O’Callaghan fought back strongly to square as he took the second leg after a top hand of 88 left him 40 remaining which he duly hit on his next visit to the oche.
The deciding leg of this second game was another close run affair but it was the Hollyhill player who was just that little bit sharper on his checkout as a double 2 saw him home.
Game three began brightly once again for the Wolfe Tone as Stephen Keating took the first leg of his game against Holly’s Steven Gostel.
Keating had a high score of 100 as he won the opening leg from Gostel on a double 9 but the Hollyhill Inn player was back all square as he hit a double 16 checkout to take the second leg.
Both players were away quickly in the deciding leg but midway through Gostel hit a 100 and followed with a 79 and he then stuck the remaining 32 on his following visit, to see his side take a 3-0 lead in this final.
Wolfe Tone were in deep trouble and needing the fourth game to remain contenders, and on the oche came Ken O’Mahony and with him there was Hollyhill player Ken Bruton.
O’Mahony was first away while Bruton struggled to find a double early on, and O’Mahony made full use of his advantage as he scored steadily rather then spectacularly to bring himself to a double 4 which he hit to lead this fourth and vital game.
The second leg saw a change in fortune for both players however as roles were reversed, this time it was O’Mahony who struggled to hit his scoring double, and a marvellous finish from 90 brought Bruton level at one leg each.Tension then was very evident in the final leg of this fourth game, a leg the Wolfe tone had to win, and that tension was there as O’Mahony missed with his first attack at a scoring double.
Bruton also missed with his first throw for a double, but both players were off at their second attempt and kept abreast of each other.O’Mahony needing 68 scored 43 to leave 25 but Bruton who had left 54 on the board did not give O’Mahony a return shot as he hit 18 double 18 for the win and league championship to the Hollyhill Inn.
An added bonus to the Holly was in Declan Gostel being awarded the man of the match.
At a reception held in the Kiln at Heineken Ireland on Tuesday last a cheque for €7,000 which was the proceeds of the CDO members fundraising for their nominated charity, was handed over to the Cysticfibrosisbuildf4life4children.
Great credit is due to the darts members who gave up of their own free time to raise such a huge sum of money.The reception at the Kiln was hosted by Heineken Irelands Eric Coogan who payed tribute to the attending CDO members on their tremendous work at fundraising for local charities, and added that Heineken were indeed very happy to be associated with the Cork Darts Organisation through their sponsoring of many of their competitions.
Frank Goulding
