Poor start for Irish at World Darts Championship

It was a poor start to the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship for the Irish contingent at Alexandra Palace yesterday.

Dromore's Felix McBrearty was comprehensively beaten 3-0 in the first round by 29th seeded Welshman Barrie Bates, while Irish Matchplay champion Shane O'Connor failed to get even that far - losing out in the preliminary rounds.