Your heart would go out to William O’Connor.
The Limerick man had one of the games of his life in his World darts Championship round two clash against World number three Gerwyn Price, but his brave bid ended in heartbreak as an inexplicable miscount at game-deciding time cost him, and opened the door for the Welsh man back into the game.
Price, the pre-tournament second favourite, didn’t need a second invitation and he finished off a rattled O’Connor from there.
But what about the Magpie, Cappamore’s O’Connor who put Irish darts on the map with a heavyweight display on the biggest stage. He hit eight 180s, and landed a number of ton-plus check-outs in a brilliant display of darts.
He held his nerve on countless occasions on the famed oche, most notably with a 64 checkout to take the second set. With the tension ramping up and with Price visibly feeling the pressure, O’Connor kept his foot on the gas with a 125 check-out, and an ice cold double four to streak into a 2-1 lead in sets.
Price broke back and then it was all down to the decider.
O’Connor was on the money again in the final dance, as he impressively moved into a 2-1 lead in that final set, leaving him only one leg from victory. Price won the next leg to send the pair into a sudden death shootout, with a two leg lead required to take the game.
But it was at a crucial time, with the third set tied at two legs apiece, when O’Connor missed the chance to go 3-2 ahead when he lost count of his darts.
Needing 4, a double two to take the leg, O’Connor went for double one instead.
What an effort from Willie O'Connor.
Absolute heartbreak for the Limerick man, who put up the fight of his life against the world number 3 Gerwyn Price.
A miscount at a crucial time cost the Magpie, but considering the darts thrown tonight, he will be back. pic.twitter.com/IPEDYfdUTU
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 19, 2019
O’Connor was never going to regain composure from then in, and the Ice man finished him off.
Your heart would go out to Willie O'Connor
He had some amazing moments out therepic.twitter.com/99ZAdU6Pnb
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 19, 2019
