Monaghan darts is back with a bang after two of the counties top players made it all the way to the final four of the INDO Irish Masters Pairs in Ballina over the weekend. Conall McCann, of last year's Monaghan Darts League Division 2 winners, Plex A of Threemilehouse, teamed up with Louis Moyna, of Monaghan Shield runners up Sliabh Beagh, for a run to the semi-finals of the major ranking national competition. The pair were in superb form all through Saturday night at the Great National Hotel in Ballina, topping their group for the loss of just two legs, and winning all but one of their games throughout the competition. Their only defeat came in their semi-final against the top two ranked players in Ireland, Waterford's Dean Finn and Republic of Ireland captain Stephen Rosney. The run saw both Conall and Louis pick up crucial INDO ranking points that has put both of them onto the provisional Ulster team for next year's INDO Provincial Cup. They are joined there by fellow Monaghan players, Shane McGuirk and Dean Crawley, both members of last year's Monaghan Darts League and Cup double winners, The Welcome Inn, Ballybay. It comes as Monaghan Darts are currently on the lookout for a county team manager ahead of the INDO Inter Counties championship next February.
Monaghan County chairman Michael McNeaney explained how a county manager was now crucial to help push Monaghan darts on after an unprecedented run of success over recent years that has seen the county team make it to an Inter Counties Shield final and semi-final and also make it to the last eight of the main championships two years in succession in 2023 and 2024.
Mickey said:
The Monaghan team has performed superbly well at recent Inter Counties championships, but we are one of the few counties left that still have players managing the team.
He noted that it was imperative that they get a manager to look after all the non-playing duties that come with competing at an Inter Counties championships,
It will allow our players to concentrate on preparing for their games.
Meanwhile, the Monaghan Darts League will return to action on Friday October 3, with all teams set to be registered for the league by September 10. It was decided at the recent Monaghan Darts AGM that only players registered with a team in the Monaghan Darts League will be able to compete at county trials and be considered for selection for the Monaghan county panels. Any pub or club in Monaghan that is interested in registering a team for the league can contact the Monaghan County Board through the Monaghan Darts Facebook page.
