'Double top' joy for Hogs Heaven darts stars
HOGS HEAVEN had a weekend to remember as the clinched both the Flynn's Sports Bar Castlebar Town Darts League Division 1 championship and Carling Cup title on a weekend of top-quality arrows in the county town.
The Division 1 final, played in a brilliant atmosphere in Flynn's Sports Bar Friday night, was one of the all-time great finals.
Between both teams, there were 38 ton plus scores, eleven 140+ scores and three 180s along with the aforementioned 101 checkout as both sides took the standard of Castlebar darts to new heights.
Hogs took a 2-1 lead from the doubles, with Hogs' Noel O'Malley hitting two 180s en route.
Hogs then won the first singles before Moran's roared back to win three sets on the spin, with Dwayne Flynn, John Moran (John in his singles had 9 tons, two 140s and a 101 checkout for a 15 darter) and Kevin Sheeran putting their team within one single of four consecutive league titles.
But Hogs won the final two nailbiting singles to win their first Division 1 title since 2015, Tom McGing forcing a decider before Declan Kilkelly hit double top in the final singles to spark wild celebrations.
For his performance on the night, Paddy Moran's captain John Moran took home The Connaught Telegraph Player of the Night award, posting an average of just over 100, a record for a Town League final.
The Carling Cup final, played in front of a jam-packed crowd in Tolster's Bar last night, saw Hogs complete a brilliant double as they beat Shamrock A 5-0.
While it might've appeared a comfortable night for Hogs, the scoreline was harsh on the Breaffy men, with one or two missed darts at doubles proving very costly and Hogs ruthlessly punishing any mistakes made, Tom Duffy checking out 89 to seal a memorable weekend.
In the 3rd place play-off, Hogs B pulled off a huge upset as they came back from 3-1 down to beat Moran's 5-4.
*Full report of Division 1 final in tomorrow's issue of The Connaught Telegraph.