THE Dublin Ladies team created a bit of history last year when they won the INDO Inter Counties A championships - and are now keen to experience it all again.
Dublin captain Robyn Byrne, who has won almost everything there is to win in the game both here and abroad, has described her first ever Inter Counties win as a special moment.
However Robyn is under no illusions as to just how tough it will be for Dublin to retain their title in Killarney this weekend.
She told Darts In Ireland: "We have a strong team going in again, it's pretty similar to last year, and our recent practice sessions have shown that the girls are all in very good form.
"It was amazing to win the Inter Counties last year as it was my first time in all the years I have been with the Dublin ladies team to do that.
"It's going to be difficult to retain it, though, and our first focus just has to be on getting out of the group on Saturday and then taking it from there."
Dublin have been given a fair warning on that, after the 2024 champions Wexford failed to get out of their group last year in their bid to retain the title.
Robyn added: "I'm not surprised at that as in the ladies section I think it is a bit more of a toss up as to who gets out of the groups.
"It's all about gaining a bit of consistency but that can be difficult to find amongst a team of seven, so we just have two make sure we do enough in the group to qualify from it."
It's the same for the Dublin men's team, who are looking to win back the Inter Counties title they last claimed in 2023.
According to Dublin darts county manager, Geoff Kinsella, a strong start in the group stages could pave the way for that.
The Dublin men's team were most recently beaten finalists at the Leinster Championships in Wicklow last month, and Geoff believes the defeat in the final to Carlow may yet stand to them.
"The last time we were beaten in a Leinster final we went on to win the Inter Counties, so hopefully that is a good omen," Geoff said.
He said the Dublin team will be relying on some experienced, dependable stalwarts like Garret Gray and Joe Byrne, with much younger players also now coming through in the form of top youths player Scott Doyle.
Geoff added: "We've worked hard to build up a good team spirit, too, and hopefully that will help over what is going to be a long weekend.
"We have a lot of talent in this Dublin team and it's going to take a very good team to beat us."
DUBLIN MEN'S TEAM: Marc Brennan, Martin Byrne, Garret Gray, Anthony Caldwell, Graham Mathews, Aidan McCabe, Andy Davenport, Ross O Brien, Killian McCormack, Jordan Gray, Joe Byrne, Alan Richards, Karl Clarke, Matty Flynn, Sean McKeon, Shane Ryan, Scott Doyle
DUBLIN WOMEN'S TEAM: Robyn Byrne, Celine McDonald, Katie Sheldon, Annemarie Flood, Regina Boyne , Andrea Mooney , Ewa Janowicz.
CHECK OUT DART CITY FOR ALL YOUR DARTING NEEDS. JUST CLICK ON THE LOGO BELOW:
Add comment
Comments