Kelly’s win Alan Murdoch Memorial Cup

This was a 5-a-side knockout cup and there was a great turn-out with 13 teams entering the competition.

After several close games in the early rounds that saw league contenders Coleraine RBL lose to Villa A as well as Villa Swifts and Kelly’s Inn scrape through, we were left with two exciting semi-finals that would see Villa A go up against Villa Swifts and Kelly’s Inn take on Bertha’s.

Villa A having previously taken out Coleraine RBL were well up for the challenge from the current league leaders and after some high intensity games came away 3-2 winners to book their place in the final.

In the other semi there was some great darts in yet another intense game but the quality of Kelly’s young players proved too good on the night for an experienced Bertha’s team and the Kilrea lads also booked their place in the final winning 3-2.

In the final both teams again threw very well and at one point it looked liked Villa were going to take Cup until Jason McNeill fought back from 1-0 down to beat Jarlath McGarry 2-1 to put Kelly’s into a 2-1 lead.

Phillip Moffitt won the next for the Villa to take the match to a final game which saw Francis Kelly of the Villa take on Paul Montgomery of Kelly’s and it was the Kelly’s man who held his nerve and win the cup for Kelly’s.

The league and the organisers would like thank all those who took part and all the sponsors who contributed to a great night of darts. Boards on the night were sponsored by Escape Hair Salon; Kane Family Butchers; Bushfoot Press; Bo’s Cabs and Co-op Bushmills.

Meanwhile, Area 1 (Coleraine) played Area 4 (Belfast) on Saturday past out in Bertha’s Bar in Castlerock. The highest average on the day came from Darren Clifford of Area 4 with a 28.20 single dart average (SDA), the best for Area 1 was Gerald Dallas with a 24.63 SDA and Barry McLaughlin with a 24.53 SDA.

The Area 1 Qualifiers for the Northern Ireland Masters will be played on Monday 21 February in Coleraine Villa Club, all players to register for 8:30pm for an 8:45pm start.

Also a huge thanks to Raymond and the bar staff of Finn McCools for their contribution.

Fixtures for Friday 18 February: Villa Swifts v Villa A; Tavern v Bertha’s; Temple v Floyd’s A; Railway Arms v Coleraine RBL; Kelly’s Inn v Finn McCool’s; Floyd’s B v Sperrin. *Berthas will have a Bye as Tavern have been expelled from the League for failing to fulfil two fixtures, Berthas will be awarded the win.

On Thursday night all the Triangle Darts League teams travel to Floyd’s Bar for the Floyd’s 4-a-side Cup in which nine teams entered.

There was some great darts on the night the best coming from John Elder of Social Club B who threw a 14-dart leg. Just two 180s were thrown on the night from Andrew Allen (Floyd’s Flights) and Jeff Watt (Social Club A).

Best legs of darts were: 14s - John Elder (Social B); 17s - Daniel McDonald (Social A); 18s - Jeff Watt (Social A); 19s - John Elder (Social B), Danny Brennan (Social B), Andy Martin (Social A); 21s - Daniel McDonald (Social A), Andy Martin (Social A), Jeff Watt (Social A).

Results Floyds Cup:

Preliminary Round - Coleraine RBL 1 Floyds Flights 3.

First Round - Social C 3 Forge A 1; Forge B 0 Social A 4; Sperrin 0 Social B 4; Floyd’s 2 Floyd’s Flights 2 (Floyd’s Flights won 1001 play-off).

Semi-finals - Social A 4 Social C 0; Floyd’s Flights 1 Social B 3.

Final - Social A 3 Social B 1

Please note the League Pairs have been changed from Thursday 24 February to Thursday 10 March, League Game 13 will now be played on February 24.

Fixtures for Thursday 17 February: Floyd’s v Forge B; Social B v Floyd’s Flights; Coleraine RBL v Social A; Forge A v Sperrin.