Glencolmcille Darts League 2025/26

Division One is proving to be a minefield with strange results leaving form impossible to predict where this past 2 years the predictability caused the move to a 2nd tier, more games to tougher opponents has taken the win average of players to the 75 % mark.

Des sits on top after some impressive legs against Cartha, a good recovery from him after Martin McMenamin undefeated on the night took 3 off him, Cartha then went in and inflicted a first defeat on Stephen Harron in league darts in possibly 3 years, Harrons on ten 180s after Saturday with four low dart legs, Cartha is on six low dart legs with a 12 & 13 amongst them.

The tougher opposition from the likes of Ronan Kennedy, McMenamin, John Con when he hits, the Byrnes from Carrick, Kevin Squires & the unpredictable Big Ken are taking points.

Expect tough nights when Meencha returns from “the sun” with both barrels blazing, Dermot McGuire, and hoping two time champion Andrew Gillespie gets back to the oche ASAP.

Some players are well ahead in games here and we’ve set a precedent within the last 2 /3 weeks so players who can’t catch up will see games forfeited, round one must be completed before round two starts so we will need a couple super Sundays and a serious effort to stay on track.

Division Two is proving itself to be a very competitive league with local and travelling players jousting for the top four, for another week the postman from “Mín a Gaoithe” Teelin is on top, John McHugh holding a total of eight behind him, indeed NINE points separate the top ten with James Bracken & Gabriel Boyle plus Hugh Junior keeping the pressure on.

Mid table Joe Furey with games in hand is still lurking with intent, Darragh, Liam Melly & David McGettigan gathering vital points, expect Brendan Kennedy to join this mix in weeks to come as he catches up and a rejuvenated John Holden to sway results a great tight division.

Youths, we had 12 juniors in action Saturday on night, LJ McShane and Dillon Gillespie were the top performers with both taking seven from nine. First night this year for LJ good to see him back, Noah McGuire was just behind on six proving to be one of the toughest competitors and players on five points Ryan Con, the steady Conal Hegarty and the improving Evan O’Donnell with all the lads getting into it now and their sharing the points in a lot of games, with some of the table toppers away these lads tightened up things mid table.

We had a busy night in Roartys on Saturday, though numbers were down for various reasons. 

In division 1 county captain Cartha Boyle entered the fray with four solid games with very impressive scoring averages saw him take 13 from a possible 16, he had 6 legs of 15 darts and a few under and capitalised on poor finishing from his opposition. 

Meencha moved to joint top with solid night and was the only player to take couple legs off Cartha, he's in joint first with Andrew. 

The real battle is in division 2 John McHugh moved back to the top after a solid night while James Bracken also made a push for the top 4 with a solid night and Hugh Jnr was Hugh Jnr steady she goes... 

Performance of the night came from Gabriel Boyle with 10 out of 12 legs with very impressive scoring and a couple 2 dart out combos along with 3 / 4 more this will be a very competitive league as these games keep coming. 

The most refreshing sight all night was our youths, 25 player's in groups of 5 on their 2nd night of league action, some great play as the top of the table tightens up. 

Kealan McGuire tops the table closely followed by Aiden Gallagher and brother Noah, the round robin format is giving plenty of darts to the youngster’s and opportunities to improve. 

Young Shane Mcloone from Glenties with Darragh Melly are blending in well with local players, Shane had 180 in his match with Corey, big group in mid table are taking legs unexpectedly and some games here are now impossible to predict. 

Theres a long way to go at junior level and at least two more group nights needed to see how the second half of the league will evolve. 

The league would like to wish Cornelius Mockler a Happy Birthday which was celebrated in John Eoinins, Cornelius is a south west darts league legend and it's no surprise that some of his grandchildren are throwing in the youth league. 

Theres no darts this weekend due to bank holiday, so hopefully November 1st we will be back in Roartys . 

The league would like to commiserate with the Byrne family Cashel on the death of Seamus. Ever present on the Main Street at the shop a word for everyone, suimmhneas siorraí do.

We had another super night of darts in Roarty’s on Saturday, with a few more of the stalwart heavyweights joining the fray in Division 1 — and the stats certainly prove it. Stephen Harron, looking to top the league again, hit five 180s in just 12 legs during hard-fought matches against Des and Andrew. Kenneth Kennedy was also in fine scoring form, while Andrew Gillespie and the returning Meencha showed that the battle at the top of Division 1 will be fierce this year. Numerous 15-darters — and even a few possible 12s — were the norm on the night.

The middle order, who tend to raise their game against county level opponents, will rue missed chances against the top contenders. However, it may be their inability to take key matches against fellow mid-table players that makes the relegation battle a real lottery. Adrian “The Butcher” Byrne impressed on his first night and, once he finds his bearings, will prove a real handful. Martin McMenamin, the first-year entrant from “The Gap,” also held his own well and should be pleased after another solid night. With just a few more players yet to enter Division 1, the so-called “easy nights” are long gone.

In Division 2, with three-leg matches keeping things tight, and the competition is heating up. John McHugh, Darragh Gallagher, Hugh Junior, and Liam Melly are pushing hard at the top, with Joe Furey keeping pace. Our young players — Eoghan, Adam, Kealan, and David McGettigan are now finding their feet in this division and will soon be taking decisive points that could shape the table.

A few more players are expected to join Division 2 shortly, and we’re reaching the stage where commitment and consistency will be tested. There’s even fresh interest from players who aren't on social media and didn’t realise a second division was running and now want to get involved. This league promises to be one of the toughest yet, packed with experienced local campaigners relishing the challenge alongside talented young players on the rise.

A big thanks to Kevin Squires and crew, who had the five boards set up and organised, and to Mary and the staff for their support. We played over 40 matches and wrapped up by midnight — the early starts will be the norm going forward.

Next week, we go again — and we hope to have our youth league underway as well!

Finally, we want to congratulate both Naomh Columba's men's and ladies teams on their victories last weekend.

Hi all, the AGM took place for the Glencolmcille darts last night. The key decision coming out of the meeting was that it has it has been decided that the adult league would be splitting into two divisions for the coming year. This is a testament to what the league has developed into and the standard many of our players have gotten to. Entries for both leagues is now open with the deadline for names being next Sunday the 7th of September at 10pm. We are inviting entrants to express their preference for which division they wish to enter and the sub committee will review the numbers in each division and the format for each league to be played out. Entries are also open for the youth league, with the same deadline as above.