"Martin Schindler kept annoying me!" - Fired up Josh Rock helps Northern Ireland silence German crowd at World Cup of Darts

Northern Ireland are into the quarter-finals of the 2024 World Cup of Darts. Brendan Dolan and Josh Rock silenced the crowd in Frankfurt on Saturday by ending the hopes of home nation Germany, in a thrilling last 16 tie.

'Rocky' made the difference, as he was by far the best scorer of the four players on stage. Rock threw a duo of 180s in the first leg as an 11-darter gave Northern Ireland a 1-0 lead. The next four legs also went with the darts. That trend was broken by a break from Northern Ireland in the sixth leg. Rock took his country to a 4-2 lead with a double 5. Martin Schindler and Gabriel Clemens managed to break right back in the seventh leg, the Germans then delivered their own leg again. The Northern Irish then ran out to a 7-4 lead. After missed matchdarts in the thirteenth leg, Germany came back to 7-7. However, Northern Ireland started the last leg and with a 15-darter they decided the game.

“When you’re against the host nation it’s always going to be tough,” reflected Rock afterwards in the post-match press conference, with Northern Ireland's World Cup of Darts ever present, Dolan, full of praise for his new pair partner.

“Tonight was a major test," the vastly experienced 'History Maker' added. “Josh was absolutely superb there and I love him to bits for carrying me, but I will turn up at some point.”

Despite the win, it wasn't all smiles up on the big stage between the Northern Irish and the Germans, as Rock explains. "Martin Schindler kept annoying me!" the former world champion admits, although Rock ensured he was the one with the last laugh. "Whenever people keep celebrating there's a wee switch that goes off in my head."

In the quarter-finals, Northern Ireland now face their biggest challenge yet in pre-tournament favourites, England, represented by the last two world champions, Luke Humphries and Michael Smith.