
IT says a lot about the strength of the ladies game in Ireland now that two of our darts players made it into the final of two PDC Women's Series events on the same day - and it didn't seem out of the ordinary.
Just hours after Katie Sheldon had faced off against the formidable Beau Greaves in the final of Women's Series 7 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester last weekend, her great pal Robyn Byrne came up against the same opponent in the final of Women's Series 8.
Both Irish ladies lost to brilliant Beau in those finals, but almost every player on the planet - whether male or female - is learning there is no shame in that.
The run to the final in Women's Series 8 has kept Robyn well on course to finish in the top eight in the Order of Merit that qualify for the PDC Women's World Matchplay at Blackpool in July.
She currently sits in fifth place in that Order of Merit.
Speaking to Darts In Ireland, Robyn said she will be remaining very much focussed on that goal with two more Women's Series weekends - covering eight events - still to go before the final World Matchplay lineup is confirmed.
Robyn said: "I was really happy to make it to the final is Series 8 as it gives my World Matchplay chances a big boost.
"It was good too that I beat Gemma Hayter in the semi-final as Gemma is just behind me in the Order of Merit.
"But I try not to worry about what the other players are doing and just concentrate on my own game. I just try to win my board and make into the last 16 and take it from there. If I can do that over the last two weekends then I should be in a good place."

A look at the World Matchplay Order of Merit shows that Robyn is already in a good place, with a healthy lead of between £2,400 and £3,000 over those currently sitting outside the top eight spots.
However with eight events still to be played between now and June, she is taking nothing for granted.
She said: "There is still £16,000 up for grabs for the winner of those eight events, so if a couple of players were to go on good runs it could see a very big change in the table.
"I just need to remain focussed on myself and putting some good runs together too so that I stay in that top eight."
One other player Robyn hopes will make some good runs alongside her is her fellow Irish WDF World Cup winner Katie Sheldon.
Katie, who recently beat Robyn in the final of the INDO Ladies Inter Counties singles final, enjoyed a brilliant weekend in Leicester that has given her an outside chance of making it to Blackpool too.
Sheldon created headlines by beating Beau Greaves in the last 64 of Women's Series 5, making her the only player to beat Greaves last weekend.
She followed that up with a brilliant run to the final of Event 7, eventually losing to Greaves in that, but beating some other top players along the way including Series 5 winner Kirsi Viinikainen and WDF Irish Open champion Lorraine Hyde.
Robyn said: "Katie is playing superb at the moment and did great last weekend but she might have left herself a little bit much to do to make it to the World Matchplay.
"Her win over Beau shows that we all have the game to do it but you have to take your chances when you play Beau and that's what Katie did.
"It would be fantastic if we both did manage to get to Blackpool, that would be special."
Speaking of special, Robyn admitted that she is often in awe at the brilliance of Beau Greaves
Not only is Greaves the clear leader at the top of the PDC Women's Series Order of Merit, but she is also number one in the Challenge Tour and Development Tour ranking tables too, while also taking out some big names when she plays at the PDC Players Championships.
Robyn said: "Beau is doing absolutely amazing things and is such a great player, she is a phenomenon.
"I just love watching her play. Whenever I get knocked out of a tournament I go on to watch Beau play as she is so special.
"I am happy when she does great things as the more success that the likes of Beau or Fallon Sherrock have, the better it is for the women's game as a whole."
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