2025 Norman Blain Memorial

Dean Gallagher is 2025 Norman Blain Champion

by Michael Curran 

On Saturday 22^nd March the annual Norman Blain tournament took place in Glencolumbkille. 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 and as the county is on a high after defending their All Ireland title and many were also at the Leo Molloy it’s been a busy few weeks, 62 players entered many youths included & these were also given their own tournament after for the 2^nd year in a row Kealan McGuire from Normans 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. 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, Deans 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 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 deciding leg and then disposed of Declan Cunningham & Big Ken Kennedy there was 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 & 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.

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 & Kealan on their wins. Special thanks to all the sponsors and the Paddy Byrne and Leo Molloy competitions for their help & sponsorship.

We would also like to thank Micky Mansell & family for travelling to Glen competing and especially for his graciousness and kindness to our young throwers with selfies and flights & stems for the lads, thanks Micky.

To all our local throwers & 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

Board Semi Finals

Dean Gallagher 4-1 Declan Quinn

Alan Byrne 4-0 Ryan Mackey

Andrew Gillespie 4-0 Conor McKiverigan (161 c/o Andrew)

Jordan Boyce 4-3 James Byrne (13 dart leg James)

Mickey Mansell 4-0 Corey O’Donnell

Ciaran McGeady 4-2 Des McGettigan

Stephen Harron 4-0 Danny Doogan

James Bracken 4-1 Michael Byrne

Charlie Grant 4-1 Gavin Gallagher

John Meencha 4-0 Gary Doherty

Declan Cunningham 4-0 Liam Melly

Dermot McGuire 4-0 Kieran Carr

Kenneth Kennedy 4-0 Padraig Sharkey

Dylan Curran 4-2 David McGettigan (180 David)

Cartha Boyle 4-3 John Con McGinley

Clive Aiken 4-1 Jason Cunnea

First Round

Ciaran McGeady 4-0 Dillon Gillespie

Des McGettigan 4-0 Jamie McNern

Mickey Mansell 4-0 Brandon Ellis

Corey O’Donnell 4-2 John Byrne

Declan Cunningham 4-1 John Murray

Liam Melly 4-1 Oisin McKelvey

Dermot McGuire 4-0 Tyler Cunnea

Danny Doogan 4-0 Liam McShane

Stephen Harron 4-0 LJ McShane

James Bracken 4-0 John McHugh

Michael Byrne 4-0 Oisin Byrne

David McGettigan 4-1 Joe Mockler

Dylan Curran 4-1 Norman Fuller

Kenneth Kennedy 4-0 Charlie Haugley

Gary Doherty 4-0 Noah McGuire

Charlie Grant 4-0 Francis McGinley

Gavin Gallagher 4-0 Brion Domincan 

Cartha Boyle 4-0 Ryan McGinley

John Con McGinley 4-0 Lorcan McGinley

Clive Aiken 4-0 Keith Carr

Jason Cunnea 4-1 JP Byrne

Alan Byrne 4-0 Roseann Ellis

Ryan Mackey 4-1 Kealan McGuire

Declan Quinn 4-0 Michael Curran

James Byrne 4-0 Peter Masineck (120 c/o James)

Jordan Boyce 4-0 Niall McNern

Andrew Gillespie 4-1 John Holden

Conor McKiverigan 4-0 Lewis McNelis

Shield

Final

Ciaran McGeady 5-2 Alan Byrne

Semi Finals

Ciaran McGeady 4-2 John Meencha

Alan Byrne 4-1 Dylan Curran

Quarter Finals

John Meencha 4-1 Dermot McGuire

Dylan Curran 4-3 Clive Aiken

Ciaran McGeady 4-0 James Bracken

Alan Byrne 4-0 Jordan Boyce

Youths

Final

Kealan McGuire 3-1 Niall McNern

Semi Finals

Kealan McGuire 3-0 Dillon Gillespie

Naill McNern 3-2 Charlie Haugley

Quarter Finals

Kealan McGuire 2-0 Keith Carr

Dillon Gillespie 2-0 Ryan McGinley

Naill McNern 2-1 Lewis McNelis

First Round

Kealan McGuire 2-0 LJ McShane

Keith Carr 2-0 Brandon Ellis

Dillon Gillespie 2-1 Tyler Cunnea

Ryan McGinley 2-0 Brendan Breslin

Naill McNern 2-0 Noah McGuire

Lewis McNelis 2-0 Corey O’Donnell

Runner up Charlie Grant with Norman Fuller and Michael Curran

Semi Final Kenneth Kennedy

Semi Final Mickey Mansell

Quarter Final Andrew Gillespie

Quarter Final Cartha Boyle

Quarter Final Declan Cunningham

Quarter Final Stephen Harron

Sheild Winner Ciaran McGeady

Sheild Runner Up Alan Byrne

Youth Winner Kealan McGuire

Youth Runner Up Niall McNern

The 2025 Norman Blain Darts Tournament takes place on Saturday 22nd March