12/03/2026
Saturday march 7th had seen us host the grand finals of the Connemara darts federation league in the Alcock And Brown Hotel in Clifden. With the best of the best duelling it out to be crowned the CDF league divisional champion and grand champion. It was the ever brilliant Alan Flaherty defending the Grand Champion title, division 2 Title holder, Peter Coneys, could not defend his title as he also won his division last year and by doing so was promoted to Mollys division 1. However, he had made an appearance to pay homage to his success buy returning to the scene of the crime so to speak and wish the competitors vowing for his title the very best of luck.
We began the day with the seeded group phase ensuring a fair draw across the board and the winners of their respective leagues being rewarded with the number 1 spot in each group, 2nd getting the number 2 spot and so on to 4th. Due to numbers attending and the number of boards available we needed to have 5 in each group in division 2 doubling up on boards for division 1 having 2 groups per board. For a 3pm start this set up the possibility of a long day. As a reminder the groups were as follows
Division 2
Group 1
Ronan Joyce
Seamus Conroy
Nigel Davis
Evan Lynch
Marty Mullen
Group 2
Alan Walsh
Eoin Griffin
Johnny Wallace
Muzzy O Toole
Paddy Joe Lydon
Group 3
Conor Heanue
Dermot Flaherty
Mairtin Og Jacks
Kephas Purcell
Michael Coohill
Group 4
Sean Folan
Dara Wallace
Jimmy Canavan
Jason Heanue
Michael Conneely
Division 1
Group 1
Martin Griffin
Joey Ridge
Darragh Conneely
John Roger Heanue
Group 2
Alan Flaherty
Diarmuid Keady
Mairtin macdonagh
Gerry Folan
Group 3
Eamonn Mannion
Dan O Malley
Mikey Connolly
John Joe Donoghue
Group 4
Andrew McDonagh
Noel Leggett
Jamie Flaherty
Ciaran Flaherty
With almost everyone in attendance, the draw done and players on the oche, it was 3pm and time to begin the war. We got off to an absolute flyer with defending champion tackling a dangerous, dangerous player in Diarmuid Keady. Diarmuid is known for his no nonsense approach and fears no player and it showed in this game as he took the win with a confidence shattering 152 finish with Alan sitting on a double showing he was not going down without a fight.
In division 2 the first game was just as impactful as division 1. We had last years star of the show at the county cup Kephas Purcell locking horns with this instalments’ Mollys Division 2 winner Conor Heanue. A barnstormer on paper turned into a tornado in a teacup as once again the favourite got turned over, Conor Heanue putting on a scoring procession and finishing masterclass coming, winning 3-0
If we start like this what exactly had the day in store for us? More shocks? Emerging talents marking their spot? Egos shattered? Ladies and gentlemen we had all that and more. What started out as a room with a friendly atmosphere as old friends met once more over a game of darts and a laugh, and young guns mingling with the established winners picking up tips and tricks, fell eerily silent as the room got hot, faces got red and you could sense something big was coming.
Well it came!!! In the form of a winner takes all matchup in 2 groups
In group 1 in division 2 between Marty Mullen, the last of the qualifiers in a tightly contested league in the Alcock and Brown hotel vs the young pretender Ronan Joyce winning from Sweeneys League. The stipulation in this match was Ronan needed to win 3-0 to put Nigel Davis out. Marty just needed the one leg to assure Nigel of qualification.
A little insight into both players, Ronan showed great fight in his route to qualify in top spot from Sweeneys as he won his last 3 games to catch Jimmy Canavan by 1 point. So in essence this should have been a routine win, but alas Marty is well known to not be written off, if he cant qualify he will take someone out with him. I myself had fallen victim to this multiple times over the years. What proved to be subroutine the nerves were written all over Ronans darts as well as martys. Ronan took the first leg and looked to settle but it was the old lion that came screaming back with scores of 95, 95, and 98 to let the young gun know who he was playing. Marty blitzed to victory in this leg and the next stamping his authority on the situation and assuring that the most relaxed man in the room, Nigel Davis seen his way to the quarter finals.
But all was not so serene in Group 1 between Joey Ridge and Darragh Conneely. Joey, a proven champion multiple times, knows how to fight a game out vs Darragh, a tricky player with no fear and a want to create a name for himself. What better way than to topple a favourite and try to take his place in the quarters. Both exchanged blows in the opening 2 legs. In the final leg the room falls silent as both players show nerves in the opening trades but it was Darragh that won the tussle finishing 107 on tops to send joey crashing out in the group stages. There was no big celebration, showing maturity well beyond his years just a handshake and a smile as he walked away showing how much he respected the elder statesman in that matchup. Other groups were not so tight as the cream rose to the top securing their spots in the ¼ finals draws one after the other.
Onwards we march to the quarter finals of Division 1 and 2 and the draw looked like this
For division 2
Dermot Flaherty vs Seamus Conroy
Alan Walsh vs Dara Wallace
Nigel Davis vs Sean Folan
Conor Heanue vs Johnny Wallace
Division 1
Mairtin Griffin vs Jamie Flaherty
Dan o Malley vs Diarmuid Keady
Eamonn Mannion vs Andrew McDonagh
Alan Flaherty vs Darragh Conneely
All matches played had an heir of nerves about them with everyone starting the first leg off slowly, however, the front runners had established themselves in fast fashion as they looked to capitalise on the mistakes of their opponents. Game of this round went to Conor Heanue vs Johnny Wallace as I looked at this game to be the one the winner comes out of. In true form it was Conor who prevailed in a last leg decider. Disappointment etched all over the face of his opponent as clearly he felt that the opportunity to go all the way was within his grasp.
The other results in this round were in division 2:
Dermot Flaherty 4 vs Seamus conroy 2
Alan Walsh 4 vs Dara Wallace 0
Sean Folan 4 Nigel Davis 2
In Division 1:
Mairtin Griffin 4 vs Jamie Flaherty 0
Dan o Malley 4 vs Diarmuid Keady 0
Andrew McDonagh 4 vs Eamonn Mannion 2
Alan Flaherty 4 vs Darragh Conneely 1
This quickly moved us on to the semi finals without hesitation with all players chomping at the bit in a bid to make the final.
The draws are as follows
Division 2
Conor Heanue vs Sean Folan
Alan Walsh vs Dermot Flaherty
Division 1
Dan o Malley vs Mairtin Griffin
Alan Flaherty vs Andrew McDonagh
In this draw is was division 1 that take the accolades for the game of the round as Dan o Malley and Mairtin griffin went to town on each other. Each player giving it all they had in a tussle for the ages. With zero missed opportunities until the final and deciding leg and both players going hell for leather scoring, it was Dan that fell shy on the double missing double 18 with 1 dart. Mairtin then does what he does best and hit the finish he had remaining to progress to the final.
In division 2 Conor Heanue got into another slobber knocker game with Sean Folan. This one also going to a final leg. “Being completely honest I was too taken by the game between Dan and Mairtin I didn’t see what happened in this one”. A verbatim quote from a witness in the venue but it was Conor that again come out on top. He really is ging to do this the hard way if he is going to win it. Progressing to the final Conor is now halfway there if he is going to fulfil destiny!! The rest of the results from the semi-finals are as follows
Division 1
Mairtin Griffin 5 vs Dan o Malley 4
Alan Flaherty 5 vs Andrew McDonagh 3
Division 2
Conor Heanue 5 vs Sean Folan 4
Alan Walsh 5 vs Dermot Flaherty 2
And now we reach the finals with Mairtin Griffin teeing off against defending champion Alan Flaherty in division 1 and you can be sure neither player was going to back down from the challenge ahead of them, both battle-hardened over the years this promised to be a match up for the ages. The division 2 final come down to Conor Heanue and Alan Walsh. Alan a seasoned competitor against the man in form in Conor, this one proved too tough to call for the room. So we just sat back and enjoyed the show.
The division 2 final gave us all we hoped or and more as both players hit hard, heavy and fast. Both players traded blows in the early stages of the game but at 2 legs a piece it was Conor that took control of the game breaking Alan and taking a 4-2 lead. Alan struck back to make it 4-3 but the damage was done as the long day took its toll on the players. It was Conor that finally took the game by the scruff of the neck and it was Conor that fulfilled his destiny to become the overall champion of division 2 by a scoreline of 6 to 3. Massive congratulations to the newly crowned division 2 champion
Then it was on to our piece de resistance, the division one league final where afterwards we crown the Connemara Darts Federation Grand champion. Would it be the sometimes boring consistency of Alan Flaherty (every time you look at the board its 99 or 100 scored) or the champagne spectacle of Mairtin’s power scoring that will be the decider of the day?
As it so happened, both were the starter, main and dessert of this bout. Without saying too much to swell either head, any descriptive terms I use to paint the picture of this game would do it no justice. To gain an understanding of just how goo these two are you must see it with your own eyes. Both competitors swapped legs in a bruising manner hitting 140s seemingly every throw. At 3-3 it seemed Mairtin was getting a grip in the game but the consistency of Alan wore down the spirited fight of his hard hitting opponent. Again they traded legs until it come to pass, yet another last leg decider. A show of who has the biggest…….fortitude. One final swing of the sword for the two already tired humans entertaining us, every spectator on the edge of their seat, quietly willing their favourite over the line. Alan hits 100, Mairtin hits 100. Back and forth they hit each other with tired arrows until finally Alan Flaherty falls over the line with a roar of relief. The Grand Champion reigns supreme. Alan Flaherty had successfully retained his title. With an embrace like family would both men receive a standing ovation from the audience. Nobody lost here, the only winner was Connemara darts!!
We at the Connemara darts federation would like to offer our thanks to all of those that paid membership, played in leagues, competitions and helped
A couple of special mentions to Eric Diamond, Dara Wallace and Kephas Purcell who helped us at every opportunity we asked of them. To Peter Coneys who organised the FA cup of darts when I was caught up. A huge thank you and appreciation to Eamonn Mannion who gives us permission to use the stands the boards sit on. And a thank you to everyone that makes this such an enjoyable and easy job to do week after week
We also thank the venues in which we are positioned with leagues and competitions
Anglers rest, in Tullycross
Mollys, in Letterfrack
Alcock and brown hotel, Clifden
Keoghs ba,r Ballyconneely
Tigh Leavy, Árdmór
The Ho**er Bar, Litir Mor
Sweeneys, Claddaghduff
Glysnsk House, Glynsk
And finally to our players, who without, we would be nothing. From all at the executive committee of the Connemara Darts Federation a truly heartfelt thank you and a standing ovation from us to you. The journey isn’t over yet, we’ve only just begun!!!
