Northern Ireland defender Conor Bradley showed he is a man of many talents as he stepped up to the oche to show his class in another sport – darts.
Bradley, who is currently on the sidelines with an injury, paired up with Liverpool team-mate and Republic of Ireland international Caoimhin Kelleher to take on Kop fan and professional darts star Stephen Bunting and Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton in a series of challenges.
Dubbed ‘the Tyrone tormentor’ and announced as ‘the Northern Irish full-back with a rocket of a right foot’, the defender set about scoring as many points as he could in 60 seconds alongside Kelleher but their combined effort of 475 was simply no match for Bunting and Paton’s 565.
Watched by team-mates including Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones, Dungannon Swifts product Bradley then nearly clinched victory for his side in the next challenge, a traditional 501 clash, but just missed a checkout of 47 as ‘the Bullet’ and Paton took a 2-0 advantage.
They finished with a game of around the board and Bradley and Kelleher again came so close to a victory, missing the bullseye before Bunting, who made the Semi-Finals of this year’s World Championships, wrapped up a 3-0 win.
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Afterwards, Bradley revealed that Luke Littler had inspired him to pick up the arrows and said fellow Northern Irishman Josh Rock was a favoured player, although the two have yet to meet.
World No.5 Bunting commented of the pair’s darting abilities: “Both really good, great technique and both scored really well. It was great. It was a privilege for me to be here with the lads, and obviously a bit of a surprise with the other lads coming in as well!
“Unbelievable, to be fair. I watch these guys on TV a lot and I get to the games when I can. To have a game of darts and a good laugh, it’s been emotional.”