TIPPERARY DARTS NEWS

EMLY DARTS MASTERS
The Thatch in Emly was the last stop on the Tipperary Darts Masters trail for this season as both the finalists for the County's singles championship and the All-Ireland squad was settled on Sunday.
Pat''Chisler''Reynolds beat an in form Emly native Richie Phibbs to lift his home Masters title.Chisler battled past four county teammates to make the decider, knocking out Steven O'Neill,Kenneth O'Brien{Tipperary-B},Mike Kearney and Donie Ryan.In a thrilling 3-2 final Reynolds held his nerve in the final leg to beat Richie Phibbs who himself knocked out Tipp player after Tipp player in a wonderful afternoon of darts.Noel Hally,China Waters, County Captain Pascal O'Brien and County Number One Del Sheehan all fell to the man from The Forge.
Had Phibbs won the tournament he would have done enough to earn an invite to Castlebar with the County panel.Micheal Kearney continued his good form of late with a second consecutive quater-final appearance.Had the Cashel man managed to get past eventual winner Pat Reynolds he would have propelled himself into the Tipperary first team.However,it was not to be,but on his form of late if Kearney does get to start an All-Ireland match he will be extremly hard to dislodge from the team.
Lady Gregory's Mike Smith was another notable performer on the day.Quater-final defeat at the hands of Cappawhites Donie Ryan ended Smiths day but hopefully his displays will entice Smith back to the County scene.Mike was due to travel a number of seasons back to represent Tipperary at the Irish Championships but unfortunatly missed out due to illness.
As mentioned at the top of the report the Tipperary team has been finalised for Castlebar.The players will be formally presented wednesday night{31st January} with their County shirts at The Shamrock Lounge in Cahir at 8:30pm by the Chairman of the Tipperary County Darts Board Hughie O'Donaghue.
Proudly representing the Premier County this year will be-

Tipperary Mens
Del Sheehan{Ballylanders}
Donal Ryan{Cappawhite]
Pascal Cleary{Emly}-Captain
Pat''Chisler'' Reynolds{Ballylanders}
Mick O'Connell{Clonmel}-Player/Manager
Noel Hally{Cahir}
Jimmy Hanigan{Clonmel}
James''Archie'' Morrissey{Carrick}
Pascal O'Brien{Carrick}
Tomasz Mikolajczyk{Cahir}
Noel Landy{Golden}
Pte.Micheal ''China'' Waters{Clonmel}
Ger Fitzgerald{Clonmel}
Mike Kearney{Cashel}
Steven O'Neill{Lisronagh}

Tipperary Ladies
Valerie Glavin{Ard Finnan}-Captain
Sharon Murphy{Ard Finnan}
Alison Smith{Ard Finnan}
Ann Cronin{Clonmel}
Margie Connolly{Clonmel}
Mary Gregory{Clonmel}
Jackie McGuire{Clonmel}
Pauline McCarthy{Clonmel}

Team Manager-Martin Sheehan{Clonmel}

TIPPERARY COUNTY DARTS LEAGUE
KICKHAM INN 3-6 LOCAL BAR
County Champions fall to Tipperary Cup Winners

Clash of the week in the Premier Division East of the County League was the encounter between Carrick on Suirs Kickham Inn and Clonmels Local Bar.
The recently crowned Cup winners travelled to Carrick to take on the current holders of the County Championship sheild last saturday night in an eagerly anticipated showdown.Tipperary's Jimmy Hanigan and Dennis Murphy got the ball rolling for the Quenn Street outfit defeating Keith Moroney and Garry Ryan in the opening game.The Carrick side replied taking the next two doubles matches through Liam Lonergan and James Gibbs,defeating Mick O'Connell and John Norris Jnr. while Tom McGrath and Micheal Conlon saw off the challenge of the veteran Jimmy Fitzgerald and Ronnie Fitzgerald Jnr.
2-1 to the County Champs after the doubles and things were looking gloomy for the Local before Jimmy Hanigan and Mick O'Connell shot the Local into a 3-2 lead at the half way point before Micheal Conlon leveled the match for Carrick.
Kickhams have been struggling of late to ensure their place in the senior championship so the next three games were vital to have any chance of defending their crown.despite the best effort s of their back three James Gibbs,Liam Lonergan and Tom McGrath fell at the hands of ''Dinger''Murphy,Ron Fitzgerald Jnr. and Jimmy Fitzgerald to lose the match ultimatly 6-3.
This result leaves Kickhams with a lot of work to do to make third place now in the Division,and a berth in the County Championship,but do have the caliber in their ranks to pull of the comeback of the year and make the last sixteen.
The Local,after their Tipperary Cup triumph over Shamrock Lounge last fortnight are gathering the momentum to take a serious assault at the big one.Although only a point over their two closest rivals,Crokes-B and Maudie Kennedys-both winning their respective matches on Friday night, they do hold a game in hand over both sides.With three rounds left things could get very thight for all in the Eastern Division.Ballingarry's Amby's Bar hold a comprehensive lead over the rest of the pack and will also be looked upon as strong favourites for this seasons title.
Meanwhile in the Western Division,Cahirs Shamrock Lounge top the table with Emly's Forge Bar and Brosnans of Cashel giving chase in a close battle for the divisional honours.Ballylanders Premier Bar currently hold fourth,a distressing position for one of the pre-season favourites with Laceys of Ballydine,Feehans and Kilmoylers Lady Gregory holding up the division.
In the Districts Allens of Irishtown,Gibbs-Ballypatrick,and both Brosnans and Shamrocks reserves are looking good to make the County Championship.

PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS
WEST
Forge{Emly] 6-3 Laceys{Ballydine}
Shamrock{Cahir} 5-4 Brosnans{Cashel}
Premier{Ballylanders} 7-2 Feehans{Cashel}
Lady Gregory{Kilmoyler}=No Game

EAST
Crokes-B{Carrick} 8-1 Figgerty's{Carrick}
Maudie Kennedys{Rathgormack} 5-4 Kate Ryans{Clonmel}
Kickhams{Carrick} 3-6 Local{Clonmel}
Amby's{Ballingarry}-No Game