Luke Littler during the Beat Luke Littler event. Alamy

Fallon Sherrock defeats Luke Littler in Netflix show as Cavan youngster falls just short

Pearse Mackle was narrowly denied the chance to win €601,000 by just one dart.

FALLON SHERROCK WON £501,000 (€601,000) by beating Luke Littler in a one-off leg on the Netflix show ‘Beat Luke Littler’, as Cavan’s Pearse Mackle was narrowly denied.

Mackle was among the contestants hoping to beat Littler, and was just one dart away from victory. The 21-year-old University of Galway Commerce student, who has played youth darts for Ireland, was the eighth contestant to face Littler.

He was the first to have a dart for victory, but missed the bullseye to claim what would have been a memorable win.

“You’re a bit sickened, but I was the first person to get a dart (for victory) so I’m happy enough with that,” Mackle said after his performance.

“The crowd were unreal so I’m delighted.”

The 32-year-old Sherrock was crowned the champion when she took out 501 in 15 darts against Littler.

She was the 15th competitor out of 20 to take on the double world champion after he had won 14 straight legs.

While Littler made light work of some of the amateurs, which included an Australian jockey, a bin man and a Nando’s manager, he came up short against a top-quality opponent.

Sherrock threw a 180 and checked out with him stranded on 124.

Victory, and over half a million pounds, throws Sherrock back into the limelight again, seven years after she made history by becoming the first woman to win at the World Championship on her way to the third round.

Her place in the show attracted some criticism given her stature in the game, but she was delighted to prove her worth.

“I’m over the moon, I can’t believe I have just won a leg of darts and won half a million,” she told the Press Association.

“This is definitely one of those top moments because it’s like an opportunity to kind of show off the women’s stars, and I feel like I’ve kind of taken the opportunity again.

“I’ve shown in the past women what can do as well and you know it’s definitely going to be put up there because it’s definitely the biggest prize money that I’ve won.

“I’ve just beaten the best in the world, and I can’t say that very often.

“When I hit the 180, I was like, ‘right, just relax and just go for the shot out because this is probably the only shot that you’re going to get’.

“And I took it.”

Littler was not at his best in a truncated format which saw him one leg every 10 minutes.

Mark Pooke, who played Phil Taylor in a professional match almost 20 years ago, also had darts to win in the ninth leg, but could not take out 138.

Despite, having his pride dented by losing, the 19-year-old is keen to go again.

“Yeah, (she was) brilliant. That’s what one person had to do. Win the bull and go out in 15,” Littler said on stage.

“That’s exactly what Fallon did. I hit a 140 to leave 142.

“When she missed the first going tops, I was like, ‘give me a chance’. She didn’t and world class.

“I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. The advert, the photo shoots, everything. It’s been good and maybe Netflix we can do it again next year.”

Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell

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