Gurney gives credit to Gibraltar pairing after opening World Cup of Darts scare: "Going to be a real force to be reckoned with"

Northern Ireland are through to the second round of the World Cup of Darts but had to survive a real scare in doing so against young Gibraltar pairing, Justin Hewitt and Craig Galliano.

Daryl Gurney taking out a brilliant 135 changed the game as they went on to win 5-3 and Dolan believes experience tolled in the end.

"We definitely made hard work of it and I suppose their enthusiasm and inexperience helped them for the early part of the game. I think it was an experience, it was absolute brilliance from Daryl (Gurney) that 135 that put us back in control and once we got control again, me and Daryl wasn't letting up," said Dolan to Online Darts.

Getting some stick off the crowd, Gurney said he asked referee Russ Bray to have a word but that barring that he was massively impressed by the young pairing.

"We were getting it all game and whenever I was throwing my second dart there was always someone giving it in the crowd. I had a word with Russ (Bray) to have a word, everyone likes to see an underdog win but I'll tell you what for a young pair even though last year I was impressed with them, I thought this year I was impressed. I think those young fellas need a lot of credit and I think all honesty they're going to get better. I think them young men are going to be a real force to be reckoned with," said Gurney.

"They have a long career ahead of them. When I was their age, I wasn't as good as that. I knew when that 135 went, that'd rattle their cage and we had the throw in the last leg and that was the plan and I took it out not even a shake in the hand."