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Christmas is nearing, December is here, it can only mean one thing.

Darts season is nigh. The best throwers in the game are sharpening their blades. The eye is in, the oche is ready for road and the board is waiting to be peppered. Sporting fans all over are counting down the minutes until this all hots up. Few games can infatuate the viewer quite like darts, where the tungsten arrows go bang, bang, bang and don't stop for a breather. That's the beauty of this game and this is one of the most beautiful games. Darts can bring you anywhere you want to go and it can derange even the coolest customer with excitement. And you can hurl yourself into the middle of it all with the NOW TV Sky Sports Day, Week or Month Pass here, which ensures that you won't miss a dart. Last year, this little island had plenty to shout about. Limerick's Willie O'Connor had a whole country bellowing his guided missiles as he rocketed his way into Round Three. O'Connor is a quiet sort, a focused sort, a brittle sort too - these stars for three weeks in December are just like one of us and that's one of the many attractions Ally Pally boasts. Brendan Dolan too, the Fermanagh man throwing for northern Ireland, they thought he was past it but he showed them something with the highest check-out of the competition and an inspired run to the quarter finals. Beaten only by beaten finalist Nathan Aspinall, Dolan has a God-given right arm. Carlow's Steve Lennon also, he claimed one scalp then and he's looking for more now. Then there's Keane Barry. The Meath man is one of the most exciting talents this country has produced in years. The current World Masters Youth champion, at 17, he will become the third youngest player ever to play in this competition and he'll certainly be worth watching. https://twitter.com/steve180brown/status/1176896270201511936 Indeed, with himself, and the aforementioned trio all potentially taking part in the evening session on December 16, that Monday night is going to be an absolute ripper for Irish fans. One year on and these three, as you would expect, will lead the Irish charge but they'll be flanked by some other hopefuls from this island. Here's when the Irish are centre stage so you won't miss a beat.

Kevin Burness (Down)

Jelle Klaasen vs Kevin Burness, Friday December 13, 7.00 session.

Brendan Dolan (Fermanagh)

Brendan Dolan vs Nitin Kumar, Sunday December 15, 12.30 session. Dolan/Kumar v Gary Anderson, Monday December 16, 7.00 session.

Steve Lennon (Carlow)

Steve Lennon v Callan Rydz, Monday December 16, 7.00 session.

Willie O'Connor (Limerick)

William O'Connor vs Marko Kantele, Monday December 16, 7.00 session.

Keane Barry (Meath)

Vincent van der Voort vs Keane Barry - Monday, December 16, 7.00 session.

Daryl Gurney (Derry)

Daryl Gurney vs Pipe/Pratnemer (Round 2) - Saturday, December 21, 7.00 session.

Ciaran Teehan (Cork)

Ciaran Teehan v Ross Smith Sunday December 15, 12.30 session

Mickey Mansell (Tyrone)

Mickey Mansell vs Seigo Asada Wednesday December 18, 12.30 session. Bring on the fun. Live stream the darts with a NOW TV Sky Sports Day, Week or Month Pass here from just €10 so you'll never miss out on the biggest matches of the tournament.