THE WDF Europe Cup gets underway in the Netherlands today and hopes are high amongst the Irish ranks of more success at the competition.
The Republic of Ireland Boys team were crowned the Europe Cup champions last year and their manager, Paddy Cullen, is in confident mood that they can retain their title.
Two of last year's winning team - Aidan O'Hara of Tipperary and Shane Porter of Donegal - are back for another bash and have been joined this time around by Carlow sensation, Jack Courtney, and Leitrim's Charlie McDermott.
Their manager Paddy, who is the Youth Officer for the Irish National Darts Organisation (INDO), reckons they can emulate the success of last year, when Dublin's Sean McKeon and Cork's Callum Coade were also on the team.
Paddy told Darts in Ireland: "We've lost Sean and Callum for this year but both Jack and Charlie are coming in and they are two very good players who played well all through the ranking season to get here.
"It's really difficult to qualify for an Ireland team through our rankings system but the success from last year shows that the systems we have for selecting our teams are the correct ones.
"All the players who have made the team have had to work hard all year to be in the top four and they have all proven that they deserve their places."
Paddy said that winning the Europe Cup last year has elevated Irish youth darts, which is growing all the time, and has given them the confidence to believe they can win big international tournaments.
He added: "Irish darts has always had a good standing in Europe but I think it went up another level last year with the boys winning the Europe Cup.
"It means we can set the expectations high now as the players know what they are capable of. I wouldn't say we went into last year's tournament expecting to win it, but the boys clicked very well and we knew from early on that they had a good chance.
"Now we arrive here this year with the belief that we can win it."
Paddy says he also has high hopes for the Republic of Ireland girls team, which includes Rachel Ivers and Zoe Burke, who will be under the watchful eye of manager Chris Curran and team manager Kevin Devaney.
He said the two Laois girls did exceptionally well to finish the ranking season off as the two best players in Ireland.
He said: "The Girls section will be tough but Rachel and Zoe have shown what they are made of and they are really close too, and I think that bond will stand to them during the tournament,
"They are like sisters they are that close and they are two very good players too, so we have high hopes that they will do very well."
Paddy revealed just what success with the Irish youth teams means for the managers and the families of the players.
He added: "It was very emotional last year when the boys won the final.
"There were a lot of tears amongst the families, players and managers as it means so much to everyone.
"It takes a lot of commitment and a lot of travelling to all the different ranking events just to make the Ireland team, which is a great achievement in itself, but to then go on and win something like the Europe Cup was really special.
"It's why we want to retain it and enjoy that type of success again. We've spoken to the players and told them how good they are and what they are capable of and if they all support each other this week then they will have a great chance."
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