Dolan delight for good pal Mansell

By Keith Falkiner 

Darts star Brendan Dolan has praised Mickey Mansell for "digging deep" in his incredible run to the semi-finals of the PDC Grand Slam of Darts.

Dolan has described Tyrone man Mansell's progress into the last four of a PDC major - the first time he has achieved it - as "superb".

The pair are good friends on the PDC Pro Tour and Dolan says it's fantastic that his fellow 51-year-old, Mickey, is finally showing what he can do.

Speaking to Darts in Ireland, just moments after Mansell had secured a nail-biting 16-15 win over Scotland's Cameron Menzies in the quarter finals, Dolan said: "It was fantastic, we were just watching it on the phone.

"It was superb. That may not have been his best performance but sometimes you have to dig deep and handle the pressure of the situation that you're in at the time.

"He has played brilliant earlier in this tournament and now he has dug deep and got a win so he's showing all his qualities."

As a winner of  10 PDC titles throughout his own career, The History Maker, Dolan, from Co Fermanagh, knows exactly what it takes to win on the tour.

He added his delight that Mansell could now do likewise.

He said: "It's fantastic for Mickey because I suppose he has been a long time at it and he hasn't had that big chance at a major tournament and it's brilliant that he's now into the semi-final."

Mansell will be back in Grand Slam action when he takes on England's Martin Lukeman in the semi-finals on Sunday.