"He's taught me a lot and given me a lot of insight": Shane McGuirk enlisted help of well-known PDC name in pursuit of Lakeside glory
WDF
Shane McGuirk's recent practices with Brendan Dolan seem to have paid off with the Irishman known as 'The Arrow' producing the best display thus far at the WDF Lakeside World Championship.
A statement win with a 92 average and multiple 180's, he saw off Mark Barilli who hasn't had the best time of it at Lakeside over the years.
But has shown he can be a quality operator away from the stage. He couldn't lay a glove on McGuirk though who made it seven losses from seven appearances for the Scot.
"I wasn't nervous at all, I normally get nervous when I'm playing MODUS (Super Series) or something like that even the Irish Open that I won I was nervous but I wasn't nervous today and I think it showed there. Overall I was happy with that and I'm delighted," said McGuirk to WDF.
"Whenever you're making a debut anywhere, you don't know where it's going to go or how you're going to react to the crowd because it's such a short stage, the crowd is very on top of you so you don't know how you're going to react. But I think I handled it very well. I just tried to get ahead as quick as I could, I did and I was just a ball of confidence and I went from there."
"Especially in the first round being such a short format getting ahead one set up is massive. The pressure just goes straight onto your opponent, I didn't want it myself as it was my debut here but happy that I actually won that first set and to then get over the line and take out a 140 to win it was brilliant."
He also enlisted the help of a well-known PDC face in order to gain the practice and insight he needed to head towards the win.
"They told me I had a year to prepare for this so I spent the last few weeks practicing with Brendan Dolan and he's taught me a lot and given me a lot of insight."
"Irish darts is definitely on the up, we're all playing well and we're all bringing each other on. Anyone can win anything in Ireland.
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- No, I wasn't expecting Heta to be in it either having won nothing of any significance. Although he is charismatic and has personality unlike the boring and dull as dishwater Dobey. It is quite pathetic and desperate the way Bunting and Arsepinall pander to the crowd to dance to their walk on music, that has worked though. I would like to see more players involved on a weekly basis similar to the Modus Super Series. A knockout tournament with 16 winners from each week. The Premier league is too boring with the same players. Plus it would eliminate all the whining and booing from unselected players.richieburnettrocks07-01-2025
- Why is World Champion Richie Burnett not highlighted in bold font nor 2 time World Champion Scotty 2 Hotty. COME ON RICHIE BURNETT AND SCOTTY 2 HOTTY Although where the hell has 2 HOTTY been the past year!richieburnettrocks07-01-2025
- It's not tennis, snooker or golf, nobody mentioned Fallon,great as she is. Beau beats her week in,week out. But she isn't interested. If you want to include crowd pleasers,get Les Wallace back!!! He was a world champion,and wore a kilt!!!rick6707-01-2025
- I'm glad wright and van Ben bergh were overlooked. Too much dancing,not enough darting. Bunting is always quality,as for price,he's a crowd pleaser(!!?) too. Aspinall has had his problems,but it's nice to see him back,he's a decent chap. Dobey is a top player,big hitter,so I won't complain. Cross will finish bottom,much as I like him,he seems to be off lately. I'm glad they didn't pick a Belgian just for the audience. But I don't agree with the tournament or format,so I guess it's immaterial to me. They might as well turn up at a random pub and play for the beers!!!rick6707-01-2025
- I think the PDC's choice is too conservative. EIther or both of Damon Heta and Mike de Dekker should have been in, at the expense of Aspinall and possibly Price. I guess the PDC's reasoning is that they do not want too much turnover from year to year, and so having already rejected Smith and Wright, they have kept Price and Aspinall, but I guess those two are "on probation".
UndartedWaters06-01-2025 - Two from the three of Price, Aspinall and Dobey should have been excluded, De Decker and Edhouse should have been in. I would have offered a place to Beau Greaves though i doubt she would have accepted it and probably not really ready for it confidence wise.Mysstree06-01-2025
- Tennis has a protected ranking system for injuries and Golf has a system that as a Major winner you get invited back of a number of years regardless of your ranking. Barry Hearn gave Stephen Hendry a wildcard for some tournaments though he still had to enter at the qualification stage. Doubt the PDC would give Burnett an exemption as he has never won a PDC Major, same would apply to Steve Beaton. It’s a slippery slope to abandoning a meritocratic system, if the PDC did do so they could then (for example) award a place to Fallon Sherrock even though she has yet to qualify at any level for a tour card.Mysstree06-01-2025
- I'd have said the same about Ady Lewis,but the PDC is indeed a law unto itself,so sorry bud,get your leg kicking and do it for the good lads!!rick6705-01-2025
- COME ON RICHIE BURNETT Surely a World Champion and player with the calibra of Richie should be exempt from ever losing a tour card and having to qualify.richieburnettrocks04-01-2025
- That's true, Richie. Taylor used to call it, "Manley's millions."MrYnyslas197103-01-2025