Ireland’s Willie O’Connor and Keane Barry kicked off their World Cup of Darts campaign with a convincing 4-2 victory over Gibraltar. The duo got off to a flying start, claiming the first leg with an emphatic 12-darter, before taking the second with similar ease. According to Balls.ie, the Irish pair’s performance was a statement of intent, with O’Connor later taking a sly dig at the English team, comprising Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.
The match got off to a dominant start, with O’Connor and Barry showing their skill and precision. However, Gibraltar managed to claw their way back into the game, with some sloppy finishing by the Irish duo gifting them two legs at the halfway point. Nevertheless, O’Connor and Barry regained their composure, with Keane Barry sealing the win with an impressive 11-darter.
In the post-game press conference, Willie O’Connor was asked about the favourites to win the tournament, England, and their star players Luke Littler and Luke Humphries. O’Connor questioned the potential for the two superstars to gel as a team, citing the risk of their egos getting in the way. As Balls.ie reports, O’Connor stated, “It’s not singles like, we’ll see how egos go. If egos go against you then you never know how that doubles will go, don’t know how those pairs will gel like, they might not gel together.”
He further added, “Yes they have the potential to just whitewash everyone in their way, but also they have the potential to fall apart, so we’ll see, you don’t know until it happens.” This sentiment was not echoed by his partner, Keane Barry, who took a more diplomatic approach. Barry dismissed the idea that England’s star power would intimidate them, stating, “No I don’t really look into it. Obviously they’re the team to beat yeah, but again everyone is beatable and you just have to go up there and be the best team on the day.”
Balls.ie reports that O’Connor and Barry’s next match will be against China on Friday evening. The Irish duo will look to build on their impressive start to the tournament, and it will be interesting to see how they fare against their next opponents. As Balls.ie notes, the World Cup of Darts is a tournament that has a rich history, with the story of how there came to be two World Darts Championships being a fascinating one.
The competition is heating up, and it will be intriguing to see how O’Connor and Barry navigate the challenges ahead. With their impressive performance against Gibraltar, they have certainly made a statement of intent. As Balls.ie reports, the Irish duo’s confidence is growing, and they will look to cause more upsets as the tournament progresses. The question on everyone’s lips is whether O’Connor and Barry can continue their winning form and make a deep run in the competition.
As the World Cup of Darts continues, fans will be eagerly anticipating the next match between Ireland and China. Balls.ie will be providing comprehensive coverage of the tournament, including updates, analysis, and reaction from the players. With O’Connor’s comments about Littler and Humphries, the stage is set for an intriguing contest between Ireland and England, if and when they meet. Only time will tell how the tournament unfolds, but one thing is certain – Willie O’Connor and Keane Barry are a force to be reckoned with.
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