The North Belfast and Central Dart Leagues were out in force for the third qualifying round of the North Belfast Open last Saturday. But CB Archers’ hotshot Marty Currie proved to be untouchable.

Currie’s day began with a couple of 4-0 wins over Paddy Brady and Henry McTasney Jnr while Brian George hit a great 138 checkout for a 15-darter to beat Roisin Walker 4-0.

Last week’s runner up Billy Brooks had a 21-darter and 110 outshot in a 4-0 win over John Sherry, Ray Grant edged Michael Burns 4-3 with a 70 finish and Ger Burns blanked David Beale 4-0.

Martin Corbett lost 4-2 to Joe Lee before star of the future Ginty McGuinness Jnr received a reality check losing 4-0 to Jim Flanaghan. Flanaghan had legs of 15 and 21 darts and a fantastic 138 checkout.

Joe Doone, Tony Kelly and Paddy McGuinness all won 4-0 with McGuinness bagging an 18-darter, as did Ciaran Johnston when beating Darren Corbett 4-0.

Mark Di Lucia hit a 15 dart leg in his 4-1 win over Catriona Walker, Gerry McCormick overcame Terry McMenamin’s 180 with a 21-darter to win 4-0 and Brian McKinney got the nod over Mark McAlinden 4-2.

Gary Di Lucia and Peter Fitzpatrick hit maximum 180s in their game but Di Lucia took out 104 on the bull for a narrow 4-3 win. The unlucky Caoimhin Burns was beaten 4-2 by Keith Beale despite having legs of 21 and 18 darts, a 180 and a 104 outshot. Beale scored a couple of 21-darters and a 180 of his own.

The second round started with a 4-0 thumping of Brian McKinney from Paddy McGuinness, Keith Beale pipped Gary Di Lucia 4-3 including 16 and 19-darters, and Joe Doone powered past Jim Flanaghan 4-0.

Ger Burns hit a neat 78 finish in his 4-1 win over Ray Grant, Tony Kelly fell 4-0 to Mark Di Lucia’s 21 and 19-darters, Brian George was turned over 4-2 by Marty Currie with a 16-darter for Currie and Billy Brooks was unstoppable against Joe Lee winning 4-2 with legs of 18, 16 and 19 darts.

However, the tie of the round was Ciaran Johnston’s impressive 4-2 win against Gerry McCormick. Johnston hit 17, 16 and 15-darters, and a 180 while McCormick replied with legs of 17 and 18 darts.

Marty Currie was first through to the semi-finals after a great tussle with Billy Brooks, winning 4-2 including a pair of 18-darters.

Brooks hit 17 and 19-darters. Mark Di Lucia brushed off Ciaran Johnston’s 15-darter, 114 finish and pair of 180s to win 4-2, Joe Doone hit a 70 finish in a 19-darter to win 4-1 over Ger Burns and last to book a semi-final berth was Keith Beale after a tense battle with Paddy McGuinness in which both players notched 180s but Beale landed an 18 and a 20-darter to win 4-3.

The winner from week 1, Keith Beale, suffered at the hands of Marty Currie in the first semi-final, a 180 being the highlight of his 4-0 defeat. Currie won with legs of 21, 19, 20 and 17 darts and finishes of 76 and 104. Joe Doone and Mark Di Lucia traded 19-darters in the second semi-final with neither player giving ground until Doone snatched the seventh leg for a 4-3 win.

There was much expected from the final and Joe Doone didn’t disappoint when he opened with a 19-darter. Currie levelled and then a 21-darter got his nose in front. But another 19-darter from Doone tied the match at 2-2. After that Currie stretched his legs and won out 5-2, including 21 and 19-darters.

The NBO is taking a break this Saturday but will pick up where it left off on October 1 including the free £2 bet from sponsors Sean Graham.

Additional thanks goes to our other sponsors Flax Cabs and the Shamrock Social club.

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