Martin Roache, the technical coach and the man also regarded as the team's dietician, is being credited with the 5-1 coup produced by the boys from the Castle Inn in the Castlebar Town Darts Shield final in the Welcome Inn on Friday night.

"Some people don't even regard darts as sport but I can tell you not only is it a sport, it is a science and you need mathematics, trigonometry and algebra to excel at it," Martin explained to the gathering on Saturday, the celebrations literally having spilt over from Friday night.

 

"Let me explain the mathematics. Okay, that's very simple. You have to be able to figure out the best way to finish a given number, say 137, which was a favourite check-out when I was at the height of my power back in the '70s. Three 19s, 60 and double 10. Simple.

"Trigonometry. Now here's one for you. You have to be able to work out the distance from the top of your toe to the board, the projectory you are throwing the dart at and the angle of entry to the board.
"All this has to be computed in a space of a matter of seconds with the pressure on. Golf is a piece of cake compared to this sport, and I'll have you know I'm fairly handy at the auld golf too.
"Anyway, I suppose you are wondering where the algebra comes into it. In fact, it is the most important of the three – especially when you are with a group of fellows, some of whom can be a bit slow when it comes to putting their hand in the pocket.
"What we do is we go in alphabetical format, A, B, C, D, E, etc. If A bought the first round in the Castle Inn, B went to the toilet in Ray's, C skipped his round in Stack's, D went to the toilet in The Bungalow and E legged it, who will be left buying the round out of turn? Now that's where the algebra comes into it."
James Canning will have a full report on both the cup and shield finals next week when he reports in. He was last seen attending the 60th birthday party of his dad, country and western legend Seamus who, according to T.J. Lally, doesn't look a day over 50. Happy birthday Seamus, and keep those tips coming! He's currently hitting a rich vein of form. Rocky's, as expected, took the A title with an empathic 5-2 victory over Bosh. Report and pictures next week.

Unlucky St. Louis girls
Kiltimagh is doing wonderful work in terms of developing underage basketball and how unlucky the local St. Louis Community School Under 16 girls were last weekend at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, where they lost out in double overtime in the All-Ireland final to Colaiste Chiarain, Leixlip.
It later transpired that a three-point score had been put down as just a two-pointer and it may have cost them the game as they lost by a single point in the end.
It seems from once the score sheet is signed by the referee nothing can be done, and the error was only spotted long afterwards.
Anyway, these young ladies will be back to claim a title eventually as they are getting closer and closer. Keep it going girls.

Denis the Menace in town
And just one other dart to throw. Denis 'The Menace' Priestley will be in Tony Flynn's in Rush Street, Castlebar, on Saturday night, April 9, to take on all comers. I hear the boys from the Castle Inn are already lining up to take him on.

Willie leads from pillar to post
It was a case of the old horse for the long road in the Stack's Bar, Castlebar, Cheltenham Naps competition. Willie O'Brien set a steady pace from the off.
"It was his ability to pull out the big one when the pressure came on which won it for Willie in the end," said Stack's boss, Frank McHale.
"Luck does play a part but you have to have a bit of horsey knowledge as well, and Willie does know his nags."
Pictured is Willie O'Brien receiving the winning cheque from Frank McHale.

 

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