SOMETIMES in sport you have to go backwards in order to move forward again.
Irish darts Niall Culleton is a case in point.
Admitting that he was struggling for form when playing at the likes of the Live Longue in Portsmouth for the Modus Super Series, Culleton decided to cut back on trips for tournaments in the UK to get back to basics here in Ireland.
It's a move that has brought its rewards, as Culleton ironically now gets to return to the Live Lounge in December after qualifying for the ADC Global Championships by finishing in the top two in the Winmau Championship Tour here in Ireland.
And as he gets set to join Cork's John O'Shea at the Global Championships, he's determined to make his mark this time.
Niall told Darts In Ireland: "I really wanted to get back to the Live Lounge as I don't think I've shown my best form there over the past couple of times I played at Modus.
"It was one of the reasons I stopped going to England for a while, and just resetting my game here in Ireland and that thankfully appears to have worked.
"I have my hunger back again and I'm wanting to win things again."
Niall said he was particularly pleased to have come through the Winmau Championship Tour, as it showed he had played well consistently over a number of events.
The Tour began well for him when he finished runner-up to O'Shea in the first event, and he went into the fourth and final event with a shout of gaining a coveted spot at the ADC Global Championships, which has an enticing £60,000 cheque for the winner.
He landed that spot by going on to win Event Four.
Niall said: "Yeah it was pleasing to be able to show that kind of consistency over a number of events, as previously while I might have played well at the odd PDC Challenge Tour, I never sustained it for long enough.
"I think now I'm showing I have that bit more consistency to my performances. It was also great to go into the final event knowing I probably had to win it to qualify for the ADC Global Championships and then doing just that."
The Carlow county captain says he's now confident he can bring his best game to the Global Championships.
He added: "It will be nice to get back over to the Live Lounge for that, as it's a familiar setting which may also be an advantage.
"This time I hope to show what I can do over there.
"The ADC Global Championships is a huge opportunity for us players and just shows how strong the ADC in general is getting.
"It has been very good for players in Ireland, in particular, as we are getting lots of match practice now at these various ADC vaults and events and you can see that it is bringing on a lot of people's games.
"That is having a knock on effect as the standard of players is improving at the INDO ranking events, too, which can only be good for Irish darts."
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