Double success for Tipperary players at World Darts Cup in Denmark

Tipperary enjoyed a double success in darts recently when Ballingarry’s Aoife McCormack was on the Republic of Ireland women’s team that won the World Darts Federation World Cup, while Christina Byrne from Clonmel, who was on the Irish youths team, brought home bronze and silver medals from the same championships in Denmark.

Aoife McCormack, who plays with the Kilkenny club, joined Dubliners Robyn Byrne and Katie Sheldon, and Caroline Breen from Galway on the Irish team that became the first nation other than England or the Netherlands to win the event.

Aoife threw the last dart for the winning double that saw Ireland claim a 9-7 win in the final against Wales.

Ireland went through the tournament unbeaten, seeing off Luxembourg, France, Mongolia and Norway in the group stages. They defeated the Netherlands, Australia and Sweden in the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Team captain Robyn Byrne told RTÉ Sport “It feels amazing, I couldn’t believe it. Aoife (McCormack) took out a 16 with 11, treble one and double one so it was dramatic stuff”.

Aoife lives in Ballingarry village and works in the local Daybreak shop owned by Martin and Marie Casey. This is a massive achievement for this young woman, who travelled over to England every other week playing in the Ladies World Series of Darts.

Above: Christina Byrne

The Ireland Youth team of Sean McKeon, Christina Byrne, Adam Dee and Rebecca Allen finished second overall in their category, while 14-year-old Allen reached the final of her section.

Allen and Clonmel teenager Christina Byrne came away with a bronze medal in their pairs event.

15-year-old Christina, who has been playing darts since the age of eight, recently followed in the footsteps of her older sister Chloe Byrne when winning European bronze in girls pairs.

However, going to Denmark for the Worlds was going up another level and, participating in her first Worlds, it was anticipated that this would be a valuable experience for the future.

Only two days before she flew out to Denmark, Christina helped her team win the Clonmel Town Darts League Division 2 title.

Her ability to compete at such a high level at such a young age is testament to her talent and potential.