JOSH ROOK: The Northern Irishman has a ‘special feel’ to the Belfast nine-quarters

Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock said it was a “special” feeling when he notched his first Premier League goal at Belfast’s SSE Arena on Thursday.

The 24-year-old from Brochan in County Antrim lost the quarter-final 6-2 to Gian van Veen of the Netherlands – who lost to Stephen Ponting in the final – but did receive a set of 18-carat gold arrows worth £30,000 for his perfect leg.

It was the 22nd finish from nine quarters in the history of the competition and Rock said achieving the feat more than made up for him being out on the night.

“To be from Northern Ireland and hit nine quarters against Belfast is something special,” Rock told BBC Sport’s Thomas Kean.

“My level of performance in the Premier League is good, but tonight (the 6-2 defeat) I don’t even care. I shot nine shots in front of my fans and I enjoyed it more.”

“when [ninth dart] I let go of my hand and went into the double 12, and I just thought ‘I hit a nine in Belfast’. My body is still shaking. I had to shrug my shoulders to calm myself down, but I’m tinnitus.

“Nine-darts don’t happen very often, but hitting one in the Premier League in Belfast is a great feeling.”

Rock is winless in his first season in the Premier League, losing 6-2 in each of his four matches, and admitted he was feeling the pressure in front of his home fans.

However, he hopes his nine-quarter car in Belfast will serve as motivation for the rest of the season.

He added: “Hopefully this will give me the belief to move forward in the rest of the Premier League.”

“I know what I can do and tonight, I didn’t feel pressure, but when I got on that stage I felt extra pressure and I just wanted to perform. When I got to the first 180 and 180, I just thought ‘please do this for everyone’, and I did it.”

“To be recognized as one of the top players in the PDC and the world is a fantastic feeling. From a Northern Ireland perspective, there aren’t many of us in the world but to do it in front of the home crowd is massive.”