Tipperary darts player Keanen Norris enjoyed very successful year
Clonmel player starred for Ireland in Europe Youths Cup
A very successful 2022 for darts player Keanen Norris began in March when he captained the Tipperary team to win the All-Ireland Youths Inter Counties Championship in Navan, as they beat the two pre-tournament favourites along the way - Carlow 3-0 in the semi-final and YDS Laois 3-1 in the final.
Keanen also had a great year in the individual Irish rankings.
In March, the day after the All-Ireland youths team success, he defeated Carlow’s Adam Dee to win the All-Ireland Singles title.
The following month in Roscrea he again beat Carlow’s Adam Dee, this time in the Irish Trophy final. In May, Keanen defeated Dublin's Thomas Keane in Carlow to win the Irish Grand Prix, and in September he got the better of his own county team mate Jack Lenihan to win the National Singles in Trim.
When the first Europe Youths Cup post-Covid was held in Budapest, Keanen was an automatic choice for the four-player Irish team.
The team reached the knockout stages and in a decider against the Czech Republic in a closely contested quarter-final, Keanen produced an amazing performance to put his country into the semi finals, where they beat a highly-fancied Dutch team.
Their great run ended in the final against a strong England selection but they were worthy winners of the European silver medals.
His achievements during the year earned him an Annerville award, sponsored by Bulmers. All the award winners in the different sports will be presented with their awards by the Tipperary United Sports Panel at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel next Saturday night, January 21.