It was business as usual for the history maker though.
From the moment Fermanagh’s Brendan Dolan stepped foot into Alexander Palace on Wednesday afternoon, he had the game-face on.
He had a job to do and he was here to do it. After striding onto Dropkick Murphys’ world famous and Irish claimed belter, Shipping up to Boston, it was time to get down to work.
And no better man to get the work done.
He cleaned out England’s Joe Cullen like he wasn’t even there in the first set, taking three legs in what felt like record time. He checked out with 112, he chalked the set in less than four minutes. The history maker had arrived, he was making up for lost time.
You see, despite this being his 11th World Darts Championships, Dolan has never made it past the Round of 32. He’s well on his way now.
So on they went to the second set. The interval was greeted by a giddy darts fan, a darts fan then, getting down on bended knee to his will-be wife. Dolan clapped and smiled, then it was back to the oche.
If your gal says yes at the darts, you’ve done well. pic.twitter.com/QQRWUf0g7Z
— Darragh Murphy (@DarrMurphy) December 19, 2018
If the first was business-like, the second was stone cold ruthless.
The 45-year-old Belcoo bullet took the first two legs pulling up, he took the third all out. A maximum checkout, the first of the 2019 World Darts championship.
Only then, could he afford a smile.
🐠🐠THE FIRST THE BIG FISH OFF THIS WORLD CHAMPS 🐠🐠
The History Maker, Brendan Dolan, takes out the biggest finish of them all!#WHDarts pic.twitter.com/USa6Qft3am
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 19, 2018
Back out for the third. Game over before Cullen, the 14th seed, knew he was up against the biggest fish in the pond.
Not a lot of people would have predicted 3-0 Brendan Dolan……but could it happen?? Dolan is just 1️⃣ leg away!#WHDarts pic.twitter.com/wFgCOYt3WS
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 19, 2018
The Fermanagh man is on fire, but he’s nowhere near done yet.
