Darts 99 report

HOME!!! This the report on the 1999 darts competition, held on March 28th 1999.

There were 20 entrants for Darts 99. Some big names had pulled out. James Henry's withdrawal was already documented. Al Heaney realised he would not win and pulled out to save further humiliation. Johnny the Cat pulled out citing that defeat in 1999 would tarnish his 1998 win. Dan Grennan was missing on the day. Conor Guinan was being heled in custody by Gardai and not released for the event and Jimmy Styles forgot to come. However the event provided new stars, incident, controversy and the highest quality darts seen since the extravaganza began in 1997. The mammoth bonanza of excitement in the cauldron of pressure was delivered, as promised. RESULTS FIRST ROUND MULVEY GRINDS OUT IMPRESSIVE WIN IN SLOW OPENER Brian Mulvey 2 - 0 Neil Corcoran Outsider Brian Mulvey showed impressive if slow form in grinding out a two nil victory against Neil Corcoran. Both players had scores over three figures but it was Mulvey's poise and consistency in finishing which gave him the edge. GREAT DANE Soren Neilsen 2 - 0 Steve Steamer Soren Neilsen hit the best form of his career to beat the popular Steve Steamer in a fine match. Neilsen had a superb 30 checkout and Steamer had a masterful 116 score also. LAZARUS JOHNSON BACK FROM THE DEAD Paul Johnson 2 - 1 Rowan Webb Johnson flirted dangerously with disaster against Webb who was impressive throughout the match. Johnson played poorly in the first two legs but managed to snatch the second. By the third leg he was in fine form and managed to steal an unlikely victory from the unlucky Webb. CONROY TOO GOOD FOR OUT OF SORTS MEYLER Barry Conroy 2 - 0 Vince Meyler Barry Conroy never had any problems against the Wexford man landing a comfortable two nil win. SECOND ROUND JOYCE AND McGETTRICK SERVE UP CLASSIC John Joyce 2 - 1 Paul McGettrick Joyce and McGettrick played an excellent game that will live long in the memory. Joyce regularly hit the big scores and checked out first in leg one. In the second leg, McGettrick hit a brilliant 56 checkout with Joyce poised for the game, but in the third John Joyce showed genuine championship form to romp home. HENRY DUMPED OUT Pat Kelly 2 - 0 Tom Henry Henry failed to live up to the pre tournament hype and was beaten well by the impressive Kelly. A massive disappointment for the former champ but by now the tournament had been set alight with new stars. CORCORAN GRINDS OUT SLOW WIN Gary Corcoran 2 - 0 Liam Sheridan A tight scrappy game which saw Corcoran ahead but unable to finish. He took the first leg on a shootout and snatched the second at the death. RYAN THROUGH IN DULL ENCOUNTER Pat Ryan 2 - 1 Mark O'Keeffe Ryan was shaky and edgy against O'Keeffe who could easily have won but for his finishing ability. Ryan's nerve held to see him through. LYNCH WHACKS NOBLE Colm Lynch 2 - 0 Brian Noble Lynch played well against Noble who was a last minute replacement and never settled into the game. UGLY SCENES AS ARENA BECOMES CAULDRON OF HATE Brian Mulvey 2 - 0 Karl Heaney This game provided one of the ugliest incedents in the history of Trimleston Darts. Heaney was expected to do well after the withdrawal of a number of favourites but was edgy starting off against Mulvey who was still on form. As Karl's game deteriorated, he was pulled up on a number of occasions for stepping over the oche. The crowd were soon on his back barracking and taunting him. After one oche indiscretion, Karl reacted to comments made by Colm Lynch by throwing a dart into Lynch's leg. This delayed the game as Lynch was removed for treatment and chaos ensued. The game was over as a contest as Karl played ineptly and Mulvey easily took the game without ever stepping up a gear. Further controversy erupted later, when Heaney and Lynch were involved in a further incident in which Heaney's head was cut open after being struck by a door. Calls have been made for a ban on Heaney for next years tournament. SOWER BEATS NEILSEN John Sower 2 - 1 Soren Neilsen Soren Neilsen put in a brave performance but had no answer for the accurate darts of John Sower who laid down solid championship credentials with high scoring a prominent feature of Sower's game. CONROY BEATS SORRY JOHNSON IN RINGSEND DERBY Barry Conroy 2 - 0 Paul Johnson Conroy kept up his good run by beating Barney Johnson in a turgid encounter. Johnson failed to capitalise on his form from the preliminary round and was bitterly disappointed to lose to his arch rival. QUARTER FINALS KELLY POWERS ON Pat Kelly 2 - 1 Pat Ryan Pat Kelly proved again how difficult an opponent he is to beat as he powered into the semis despite some good darts from Pa Ryan. Ryan sneaked the second leg but overall Kelly never relinquished his grip on the match. SOWER BEATS JOYCE IN CLASSIC John Sower 2 - 0 John Joyce Possibly the finest game in the history of the event between two great players. A joy for the neutral to watch as Sower marched on. LYNCH AND MULVEY SERVE UP STINKER Brian Mulvey 2 - Colm Lynch 1 In stark contrast to the previous game, this was a dreadful affair which lasted over an hour. Some argued it was worse than the Styles v Guinan affair in 1997. Lynch took the first leg well and was on track, but the game was slowed down to a snail's pace by consistent timewasting and slow play by Mulvey who was warned on a number of occasions by the match referee. Lynch's game degraded and left the controversial Mulvey to snatch the last two legs. CONROY GROUND OUT IN DULL ENCOUNTER Gary Corcoran 2 - 1 Barry Conroy Despite taking the first leg on a shootout, Conroy lost this match as both players had difficulty with the doubles. Corcoran took the second on a shootout and romped home in the third to reach the semis. SEMI-FINALS CORCORAN OUT OF HIS DEPTH John Sower 2 - 0 Gary Corcoran Sower was always in command against Corcoran who despite outscoring Sower failed again to finish. Sower finished easily to book his place in the final. KELLY THROUGH AFTER MULVEY NO-SHOW Pat Kelly w.o Brian Mulvey Kelly was awarded the semi final after Mulvey was controversially unable to play the match due to his abscence because of illness. FINAL COMPOSED KELLY CROWNED KING OF DARTS Pat Kelly 3 - 2 John Sower Pat Kelly came from 2-0 down to take the Darts 99 title against John Sower who will feel aggrieved at his defeat. Sower took the first two legs impressively including a score of 130 and was on course for victory in the third when Kelly checked out quickly to make it 2-1. In the fourth leg, Sower was approaching the finishing line when Kelly produced a massive checkout of 79. Sower was now demoralised and uncomposed allowing Kelly to fly home in the deciding leg to be crowned King of Darts. KING OF DARTS 99 - Pat Kelly Highest score - 130, John Sower Highest checkout - 79, Pat Kelly