Offaly has youth on its side as county eyes up future All Ireland wins

IF the progress of youth darts in a county is a sign of things to come, than the game in Offaly is in a good place.

The Faithful county had two teams compete against each other in the final of this year's INDO Inter Counties Youth Shield.

Offaly darts star Mark Griffin, who was manager of one those teams, said he was sure this was a good sign for success, especially given most of the players were competing in their first ever national event.

Mark said: "Some of our players on those Offaly youth teams have only been playing since last December, so for two teams to make it to a final at an All Ireland at their first try is amazing.

"What's great about the young players is that they just get up there and play withy no fear."

Mark said he was particularly pleased that Offaly were able to bring a number of teams to the Youth Inter Counties this year, as youth darts had stopped for a few years in the county.

He told Darts In Ireland: "The last youth team we had I was a part of back in 2019 when we had the likes of Dylan Slevin coming through.

"But then with the Covid lockdowns and that it stopped for a few years, so it's fantastic to see it back again and the young players in the county are really enjoying it.

"We have a great group coming through now and they will be a match for any county."

Mark says he now hopes to see the new batch of Offaly Youth players push on and compete for places in what's already a very strong Offaly senior team.

The Offaly Men's A team made it to the last four of this year's INDO Inter Counties Championships and are led by Ireland's number one Stephen Rosney.

Mark added: "That Offaly team is very good now and is not that far away from big success as it is.

"The team has lost out in the last two years to an incredible Donegal team, but they are not that far behind them.

"Obviously Stephen Rosney is doing superb at the INDO ranking events and Ronan McDonagh is doing brilliantly too, and we have a whole load of other great players on that team.

"The plan now is to see the Youth players progress and try to push these guys on. If that happens then Offaly will have an even stronger team.

"We're not far away from winning All Irelands again. I can see it happening if we keep going the way we are now."

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