FROM the Joshua Tree Bar in Blarney Street to the Alexandra Palace in London to compete in the PDC World Dart Championships.

That’s what lies ahead over the weekend for young Corkman, Ciarán Teehan from Blarney Road, one of the country’s leading players.

He has already competed on the world stage, playing in the BDO Masters earlier in the year, reaching the last eight in that, but this will be his first appearance on the biggest stage of all, lining up against some of the greatest players ever to have played the game, the likes of Michael Van Gerwen, Raymond Barneveld, James Wade, and Adrian Lewis.

Teehan has been playing darts since he was 12 years old when he received a dartboard for Christmas and he shortly afterwards became active in Cork Youths Darts, where he went on to win numerous titles at provincial and national level.

After turning 18, Ciarán became involved in senior darts and is currently the Irish Masters champion.

He has represented Ireland at international level and he secured his place in the World Championship by virtue of his success in the UK and Germany during 2019.

He finished the year ranked five in the World Development tour order of merit (from a field of 277).

Ciarán has been hugely supported by his parents Padraig and Martina in his endeavours and it’s very much a case of being rewarded for the huge effort that he puts in.

Recently, he was signed by Shamrock Darts Management, which meant that he could attend more pro-events in the UK & Europe without the financial burden.

Ciarán’s first round game of the 2020 PDC World Championships is scheduled to get underway at 1.30pm this Sunday and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

His opponent, Ross Smith, from Kent, England, is PDC ranked 49 in the world, and this will be the first time both players meet on the oche.

The winner of the tie will face PDC ranked 19, Mervyn King in the second round.

Frank Goulding, chairman of the Cork Darts Organisation, met up with Ciarán to personally wish him the very best of luck in the World Championships and assured him that all involved in the CDO are very proud of what he has achieved so far in darts and hope that he has a long and successful career in front of him.

“He is going to be a great ambassador for the Joshua Tree and for Cork darts and it’s a massive achievement for him to be participating in such illustrious company.

“He is now being rewarded for his dedication to the game and the effort that he puts in.’’