Celtic bounce back

IN week eight of the Craigavon District Darts League sponsored by Bailie Amusements it was all smiles for Celtic captain Gerard Crewe as his team got back to winning ways with a 6-2 win over the INF to bring themselves back to joint top of the league.

Mick Millar got the winners off to a flying start hitting two ton plus scores which was followed by a 180 on his third throw to leave himself 36 after just 12 darts. He then hit the double 18 with his second dart to finish in 14 darts which is a season low so far. Not to be outdone Stevie McConnon started off the next leg with a 121 and a 140 but it was Mick who kept up his form winning the second leg in 17 darts for a man of the match performance to give Celtic an early lead. The rest of the team were lifted by this and Tommy McErlene. who hit a 140 and a 121. made it 2-0 when he beat Terry Morrow (140x 2) by 2 legs to nil.

Marty Crossan got the INF’s first leg of the night when he hit a 121 and 140 for a 19 darter, but Dee Breen levelled winning the second leg. Dee then got off to a flyer in the deciding leg hitting back to back 140’s and despite Marty coming back to get to his double it was Dee who took out the match. Anto Crewe wasn’t to be outdone though as the high quality of darts all night was to continue when he checked out 120 on 18 darts against Marty Murray to take the lead. Marty levelled the match in 21 darts but Anto almost went one better than his previous leg when he narrowly missed the bull for a 122 check-out, but was happy enough when he finished the remaining 25 next time for a 21 dart leg to put Celtic in total control and 4-0 ahead. Paddy Magill give the INF a little hope when he beat Martin Haddock 2-0 winning the first leg in 19 darts hitting a 135 along the way. But the match was soon over as a contest as Dessie Dunbar made it 5 wins out of 6 for both himself and his team on the night winning the last leg in 20 darts while also hitting a 121, 137 and a 140 to beat Andy McConnon 2-0.

Dave McCusker beat Seamus Tallon 2-0 winning his first leg in 21 darts while scoring a 140 and a 137 with Seamus also hitting a 136 to leave the match score 6-1. Lee Culbert brought a little pride back to the INF when he got his third win in a row beating Adrian Hutchinson 2-0 winning in 22 darts and hitting the 12th 140 of the night.

Despite being a man down the Stables were able to secure a 4-4 draw against Clann Eireann to leave the Shore Road men still looking for that first victory of the season. The Stables were delighted to see Brian Devine get his first win when he beat Kevin O’Loan 2-0 to give the hosts the perfect start, but Ciaran McMahon won 2-1 against Hugh Campbell. Nathan McCabe made it 3 wins out of 4 since his return with a 2-1 win over Gareth Bunting, but Sammy Toman made his league debut for the Stables in style with a 2-0 win over Ciaran Magee to level the match a 2-2. Captain Shane Tallon put the Stables 3-2 up with a 2-0 win over Mick Hendron, but it was all square again when Cathal Hendron got the walkover win. Joe McCabe give Clann Eireann real hope for that much wanted win with a 2-1 win over Peter Morris but it was not to be as the ever reliable Michael Lamb secured a 2-1 win over Mark Magee to give both teams a point.

The Premier secured a 6-2 victory over the Trojans who are still looking for that first win in their debut season. The experienced John Cinnamond put them ahead against Tony Rutherford Jr with a 2-0 win but John McDowell got his first win for the Trojans to level the match with a 2-0 win over Mark Nugent. The Premier took control with Mo Campbell beating Andy Colhoun 2-1 and Brian McCavigan hit a 180 on way to recording his 5th win of the season in beating Rab Lewis 2-1. Keith Beale made it 4-1 to the Premier when he hit a 21 darter followed by a 17 darter when he beat Joe McGahan 2-0. Tony Rutherford Sr stopped Dee Blaney’s three game win streak when he beat him 2-0 to make the match 4-2. It was down to Conor Mallon who was playing his first match of the season for his new team when he beat Paul Lewis 2-0 to secure the win. Dee McCready finished the night off with a 2-0 win over Andy Fairbairn to move the Premier up the table now only two points behind the INF in fourth.

This weeks fixtures see the teams reach the halfway point and the big match is undoubtedly Celtic v Eire Og. The other two matches see Drumgor travel to Clann Eireann and the Stables travel to the Trojans.

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