Lantern claim cup and now go in search of further glory

Displaying accuracy and sharpness the players on the team representing the Lantern, Navan stormed to a resounding 4-0 victory over Lawless’s, Dunshaughlin in the  Navan District Dart League cup final at the Foundry in Navan on Monday night.

Now the Lantern will be pushing for another success  - the Knockout final - which is scheduled to be held on Monday 29th April. There are a number of games still to be played in that competition. 

Showing the calm and assurance of true champions last Monday night the Lantern rarely looked like they might be knocked off course as they powered their way to Cup success.
The Navan District Dart League was only set up six years ago but it has continued to grow and in Monday’s cup showdown the players representing the Lantern showed the kind of experience needed to close out the deal. 

In the first contest the Lantern's Ambrose Curran, Damien Doyle and David Keely took on Eoin Hand, Davy Donnelly and Paul Hand. The Lantern won 2-1.

In the next game Alan Donoghue, Pat McKeown, John McKeown defeated Lawless's combination of Ian Hand, Geoff Power and Paul Pepperd, again 2-1. 

Now the pressure was really on the team from Dunshaughlin and they needed to do something in the doubles. However the Lantern's duo of Alan Donoghue and David Keely were consistent in their throwing and edged out opponents Paul Hand and Ian Hand, this time 2-0.

Down to the fourth game and Lawless's really had to do something special but yet again Lantern prevailed to seal their success with Damien Doyle and Pat McKeown winning 2-1 against Eoin and Pepperd. 

The six players picked out of their panel to start Monday night’s contest included Damien Doyle, John McKeown, Alan Donoghue, Pat McKeown, Ambrose Curran and Dave Keely. They faced the six players who were selected to start for Lawless’s - Eoin Hand, Ian Hand, Paul Pepperd, Davy Donnelly, Paul Hand, and Jeff Power. 

As they contest unfolded it was clear that the players representing the Lantern had a sharper cutting edge when it came to getting the scores they needed and encouraged by colleagues and supporters they pushed on to claim the coveted piece of silverware, which is named after the late and much lamented local councillor Joe Reilly.  

The final game - and the cup - was secured when Pat McKeown finished expertly with a double two to put the finishing touch on a fine performance by the team captained by Jackie Dowdall.  After all the action was over Dowdall accepted the trophy from Navan Dart League official Brendan Dowdall, who had kept a close track of the scores along with Mark Cahill.  

Jackie Dowdall, who also doubles as the chairman of the Navan District Dart League, said his team were delighted to win. “It’s a great result for us, it’s the first time we’ve played for the Joe Reilly Memorial Cup and it was fantastic to win it, we all knew him so well,” he said. “I also like to thank the Foundry for hosting this final.”

The PRO of the Navan District Dart League John McLoughlin also expressed his thanks for any backing provided.  “I like to thank the sponsors, all the support we receive is gratefully accepted,” he added.  

On Monday night Lawless's take on the Round O and the Foundry play Tara Na Ri in the Knockout Shield semi-finals. The winners play the f