It can only be described as possible the best day i had this summer, it was a day that went nothing how i expected and had me throwing the best darts at times ive ever thrown.
The Mick Maxwell Trophy was the first tournament i ever threw darts in in 2008 when i was asked to play in the tournament, that year i won 3-1 against stephen walshe and then lost 3-2 to my dad in a corker of a game.
This year revenge was on the cards 2 fold.
In the first match i was drawn against Eamonn Mcgill, he threw decent darts but i probably threw my best game of darts that whole day against him, in 3 legs i hit a 180, missed bull for a 170 checkout and missed tops for a 120 checkout. Literally didnt put a foot wrong and eamo would have beaten a good few other players playing how he did.
Next up came the board final, against Stephen Walshe, the guy i beat last year 3-1, this year he was out for blood and raced to a 2-0 lead. i was on the rocks and playing terrible, i kind of accepted my fate and i think in accepting it was over i relaxed somewhat and the darts started flowing again, i kicked on and got it back to 2-2, we battled down through the final leg and the 2 of us had awful trouble on the doubles. Eventually after much darts at doubles i snook into double 1 and stole the game. Walshe understandably disgusted as he probably should have beaten me, but as the lads in Colmchilles keep saying, Trebles for Show, Doubles for Dough.
That win put me in the Quarter Finals and you would swear there was some conspiracy as just like last year, after beating Stephen Walshe, i had to play my dad. Now if you talked to my dad pre tournament he’d have reminded you that ive never beaten him in competition ever. So this was my chance to amend that wrong, and amend it i did, i took the first leg handy, my dad fought back to win the second on his throw, i kicked off with a 180 in the 3rd leg and didnt give him a shot at a double to go 2-1 up and then i managed to take out 74 after my dad missed a shot at tops to win 3-1. Its never nice beating family but someone had to win and i was glad to set the record straight.
Next up for me was John O’Neill, i knew little of him but my dad told me he was a lovely thrower, i went into the match and threw steady darts, mostly 60’s and 81’s and John never seemed to find his scoring boots and quickly fell behind, i dont think i missed a double in that match and race to a 3-0 win. A scoreline that didnt reflect the game
So i had reached the final of the Mick Maxwell Trophy, something i had said i would do after getting knocked out last year, i said i’d be back in 2009 and would make the final. I had now achieved that and it was myself and Nigel Donnelly up on the stage to fight out the final. around 100 people watched on from around the hall for the big match.
I started the first leg well and was at a double well before donners, but couldnt hit it, he crept back in and hit a 94 checkout to steal the leg, that was my own fault. The second leg was his throw but again i was first at the double, i didnt make it count and fell 2-0 behind. 2-0 quickly became 3-0 as i threw an awful leg as the nerves and wasted doubles got to me.
I finally got a leg on the board to make it 3-1 with a 74 checkout (T18, D10) to give me a glimmer of hope, but once again in the final leg the nerves got the better of me, my scoring faded away and i lost the final 4-1.
Runner up spot was more than acceptable at the start of the day but walking off the stage i was disgusted with myself because i knew heart of hearts i genuinely could have won it. Thats the difference of experience, thats what donners had, his darts were steady the entire way through and i couldnt afford for my darts to go wayward. Hopefully next year my experience on the big stage will stand me in good stead and i’ll be able to go from Runner up, to winner.
