It was good to be inside in the Citywest, particularly as the weather outside was apocalyptic, with the nearby golf greens and bunkers resembling duck ponds. Myself, Chizzy and 10 other volunteer markers headed to the boards at 12 noon upon Baron Thomas Cox's beckoning, and the action was underway. In my first round matches, Darren Johnson fought off a spirited challenge from Reece Robinson to win 6-4. A top bloke is Darren, taking the time to compliment my marking and offer a pint. Reece was once again graceful in defeat, and I hope his record of Won 1 Lost 3 on my boards soon improves. Next up was a full-of-chat Peter Manley against Ali Powell, who joined the world-famous No-Mr.-Shakey-Hands Club after his 6-3 defeat, although most local players don't seem to know to observe the practice.
Next up, Mark Webster was in high-scoring form in his 6-1 win over Darren, whilst the years were rolled back with the clash between Terry Jenkins and Peter Manley, and a very tight contest it was, resulting in Terry winning in the deciding leg. Before the contest began, Terry chortled : "We've got Paul Nicholson marking for us!" He wouldn't be the first to say this, but it's AOK, as The Asset is a good-looking bloke!
In the Board Final, Mark beat Terry 6-3 and had many missed double chances in his 6-4 defeat to Michael van Gerwen. Match of the day for me was MVG's 6-5 win over Gary Anderson, which had it all - phenomenal scoring, finishing and excitement. My marking duties now done, it was time to sit back, relax and enjoy many pints of Heineken (even if they were €4.95, which had Kirk Shepherd absolutely fuming). Phil was back in imperious form as he claimed the title with a 6-3 win over MVG.
We stayed on to watch some of the youth games, the highlight of which was MVG's narrow 3-2 win over Paddy Meaney, where Paddy had a couple of darts to win the match and stake a serious claim for a spot in the World Youth Championships next month.
Time to hit the town, so Coynedexter, Chizzy, JD and I summonsed an 8-20-20-20 taxi which arrived in no time, and whisked us to the city centre for a mere €22 in total, including their fantastic 20% discount. We headed to the magnificent Bliss restaurant, who were still offering their 2-course-meal with tea or coffee for just €9.99. For me, their divine soup and brown-bread followed by Chicken Piri-Piri, washed down with half-a-bottle of Tempranillo. Chizzy, a hungry lad, went for 2 starters and 2 main courses and polished them off with ease, although shamefully he left a grain of rice behind on his Malaysian chicken dish, as the photographic evidence below clearly shows.
Off to what we in Ireland call The Ally Pally - The Palace in Camden Street, which is one of the rare establishments in the city centre that houses a dartboard. Coynedexter and Chizzy were introduced to the staple game delights of Thursday Night Darts Club (TNDC), such as Lives, Reverse Lives, Highest Score Out, Lowest Score Out, and such-and-such, all over several delicious pints of the finest Guinness, retailing at €4 a pint. Dave emerged as champion but JD was a respectable 2nd, Chizzy a distant 3rd and me 4th. :-)
The time is 12.30am now, so time to show the tourists (shamefully it was Dave's first night out in Dublin as well as Chizzy) some more of the Fair City's nightlife. Across the road then, to Flannery's, both of whose floors were heaving with the loveliest of ladies, including some Canadians who caught our attentive eyes for much banter, none of which I remember. This may possibly be due to the copious amounts of pints, Super-Splits (Captai Morgan and Fanta) and Cointreau consumed.
3.15am now, and we make it up the street to Dublin's finest kebab shop, Zaytoon, where the queues are long but the end-produce is sublime.
Shameful wastage as Chizzy leaves at least 3 grains of rice behind
Merriment Personified
A jam-packed Flannery's
Contentment : 18 / 25
Excitement : 5 / 10
Memorability : 8 / 15
Overall Score : 62% (3rd out of 274)
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