Browner Wins Iris Walsh Memorial

Berthas Bar, Castlerock was once again the venue on Friday night for the Finals of the Inaugural year of the Iris Walsh Memorial League Individuals and with a host of top players making it into the last 32 there was no shortage of excellent darts being thrown on the night.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jan 2013, 13:52 BST

On board one, Thatch’s Danny O’Neill came through a tough match against the talented Jason McNeill winning 3-2 in his first match before comfortable wins over Aaron Hall and Roy Friel to book his place in the semi-finals. Board two proved to be a much tighter board with five current and three former county players going up against each other, in the end it was Villa’s Jarlath McGarry who after defeating Davy Toner followed by Rodney Kane threw a superb game against William McKendry to win 3-0 with 15 and 16 dart legs to set up a semi-final showdown against Danny O’Neill.

On Board three Gerald Dallas was the hot favourite to go into the semis but it was Sperrin’s Brian O’Neill who after taking out both Willis Kane and Clark Scott booked his spot the semis with a 3-2 win over Gerald. Board four saw hot favourite Paul Brown dodge a few bullets in his games to reach the semis, after defeating teammate Padraig O’Reilly, Paul then found himself 2-0 down against another teammate in John Moore. Paul managed to pull the game back to 2-2 then in the deciding leg started with 2 x 180s to set up a 9 dart leg but it wasnt to be though Paul held on to go through to the last eight were he defeated Social Club’s Alan McVicker 3-1.

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In the first of the Semi-finals, Thatch’s Danny O’Neill started the better racing into a 2-0 lead but Jarlath McGarry hit back winning the next three legs to take the lead but Danny hit back with a superb 82 (Bull, D16) finish to take the game to a decider. Danny looked to have the game wrapped up until McGarry narrowly missed an excellent 138 finish, Danny then missed his doubles to let in McGarry who took the opportunity and booked his place in the final.

The second semi-final saw Brian O’Neill push Browner in the early legs with the score at 1-1 Brian missed a few doubles to take the lead from then on it was all Browner who stepped his game up and came away 4-1 winner and set-up a final showdown with Jarlath McGarry.

After throwing superb darts throughout the night McGarry knew he would have to keep it going in the final if he was to beat the World Masters semi-finalist and although throwing well in the Final he let his standards slip a bit and with Brown regularly pounding the treble 20 while throwing a few 180s as well as a 160 (T20,T20,D20) checkout it was the Limavdy man who walked away a 4-1 winner adding another cup to his ever growing collection.