IRELAND darts international Paddy Quinn says the Irish men's team will be a match for the best at the upcoming WDF Six Nations and World Cup competitions.
Waterford star Quinn secured his spot on the Ireland team after finishing fourth in the INDO rankings following the Irish Darts Singles weekend in Galway.
Quinn has been a regular competitor on the PDC Challenge Tour and big WDF events over recent years and says he sees no reason why the Irish team can't succeed against players at that level.
He told Darts In Ireland: "The top level in the INDO events now is very good and the players are well capable of matching the standards on the PDC Challenge Tour.
"The only difference I see really is that the players in the UK are playing at that standard on a more regular and consistent basis and maybe that's something we can look at in Ireland.
"But I really can't wait to put on the Ireland shirt now and play at the Six Nations and World Cup, I almost wish they were happening next week.
"We have a really strong team there and will be a match for anyone."
Quinn made sure of his spot on the four-man Irish team for the World Cup in South Korea by picking up 10 crucial ranking points as he made back-to-back quarter finals in the Irish Classic and Irish Singles, and the last 16 of the Irish Trophy last Sunday.
He admits it was a little nervy going into the weekend, given he had a player of the calibre of WDF world champion Shane McGuirk just behind him in fifth place.
He said: "I knew I still had a bit to do over the weekend but once I made the quarter finals in the first two tournaments I felt I had done enough unless Shane or Dale McCarthy were to win one or two of them outright.
"It was a round robin format all weekend which can be a bit tricky. As I was seeded for the group stages I always felt I would get through them even if I wasn't at my best.
"But I can find it difficult then to raise the standard in the knockout stages when it really matters. It's better to be playing at a high standard from the start.
"I'm delighted to have made it though as I know that when I am at my best I can beat anybody."
Paddy will be joined on the Ireland team by his fellow Waterford player Dean Finn, while another Deise county darts player, Eric Power, was on the Ireland team for the Island International in January.
He said this showed that Waterford darts is in a good place right now.
Paddy added: "Eric is a great player and very hard to stop when he is on form, while I think Dean was the best amateur player in Ireland last year.
"We also have youth darts back in Waterford now and the youth teams did very well at the All Irelands too, and will have more players coming to them, so the game is only going to get stronger in the county. It's great to see."
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