The impressive Dean Gallagher was the winner of the annual Norman Blain tournament which took place in Glencolmcille last weekend.
A high standard of darts on view all day where many of our county stars travelled to Glen where over €2,000 was on offer. As the county is on a high after defending their All Ireland title, many were also at the Leo Molloy tournament. It’s been a busy few weeks, 62 players entered, many youths included and these were also given their own tournament after. For the 2nd year in a row, Kealan McGuire from Norman’s own Malinmore won this after defeating a gallant Niall McNern in the final.
Players were divided on to boards in both Roarty’s & John Eoinins with board winners to cup and board losers to shield. James Byrne, Carrick, has a full rundown of the results. Dean Gallagher from Bridgend was the overall winner, he was in superb form all day coming from Roarty’s board with a good win over fellow county man, Alan Byrne. Dean’s toughest match was in the quarter final against local man, Andrew Gillespie. After leading 3-0, Andrew upped the gears and drew level before Dean closed out the match. He then met Micky Mansell the “Clonoe Cyclone” – Dean raced to a 5-0 lead against the PDC man but Micky grinded his way back to 5-4 before Dean checked 164 treble 20, 18 & bull to go through to the final.
In this final he met Charlie Grant, the veteran Donegal legend who won the ‘Norman’ before, had a good day coming through a tough board where ‘Meencha’ pushed him all the way to the deciding leg. Then he disposed of Declan Cunningham and Big Ken Kennedy; there were some great displays of darts also in the shield, where Ciaran McGeady, last year’s winner of the cup defeated Alan Byrne in the final. They’d come through tough games with Meencha and former Glen junior Dylan Curran back in action for the day. All the county players performed well with good displays on the boards from James Byrne, Carrick who took Jordan Boyce to a decider, Kenneth was checking high outs as well and justified his county B call up.
Norman Blain tournament runner-up, Charlie Grant.
The Norman Blain organisers on behalf of Una and the Blain, Fuller, Currans and the wider family would like to express our gratitude to all who travelled to this tournament in Norman’s memory.
Congratulations to Dean and Ciaran and Kealan on their wins. Special thanks to all the sponsors and the Paddy Byrne and Leo Molloy competitions for their help and sponsorship.
The organisers would also like to thank Micky Mansell and family for travelling to Glen, competing and especially for his graciousness and kindness to the young throwers with selfies and flights and stems for the lads.
“To all our local throwers and our own county men who travelled after a long hard spring on the road, great displays of darts from all and great to see you in Glen.
“Finally, special congratulations to Dean Gallagher, a great champion, may your form continue, until next year all the best.”
Final
Dean Gallagher 7-4 Charlie Grant
Semi Finals
Dean Gallagher 6-4 Mickey Mansell
Charlie Grant 6-3 Kenneth Kennedy
Quarter Finals
Dean Gallagher 5-4 Andrew Gillespie
Mickey Mansell 5-3 Stephen Harron
Charlie Grant 5-2 Declan Cunningham
Kenneth Kennedy 5-4 Cartha Boyle (125 c/o Kenneth)
Board Finals
Dean Gallagher 5-0 Alan Byrne
Andrew Gillespie 5-1 Jordan Boyce
Mickey Mansell 5-2 Ciaran McGeady
Stephen Harron 5-0 James Bracken
Charlie Grant 5-4 John Meencha
Declan Cunningham 5-3 Dermot McGuire
Kenneth Kennedy 5-0 Dylan Curran
Cartha Boyle 5-3 Clive Aiken
Full list of results on donegaldarts.com
