BRENDAN DOLAN 4-1 JOHN HENDERSON

(0-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)BRENDAN DOLAN won through to his first major semi-final with a 4-1 defeat of Scotland's John Henderson at the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix on Friday night.

The Northern Ireland number one thrilled a capacity crowd at the New Citywest Convention Centre with the victory, as he came from a set down to take victory.

He will now meet reigning champion James Wade or Andy Smith in Saturday's semi-finals as he continues the most successful week of his career.

Henderson had made a brilliant start to the final by winning the first set without reply, finishing double top in the first leg and hitting a 160 opening shot and a 101 checkout in the second, before double 16 gave him the lead.

Dolan, though, hit back well to regain the momentum in the second as he took three successive legs of his own, following up a double eight finish with checkouts of double top and 16.

He also posted double eight to lead for the first time in the game in the third set's opener, although after sharing double 16 checkouts with Henderson in the next two he was punished for missing doubles in two visits as the Scot levelled the set on double ten.

Henderson, though, missed the bull for a 124 finish in the decider as well as two further darts for the set as Dolan took a key leg on double four.

The fourth set also went to a fifth leg, with a 105 checkout from Dolan in the third followed by Henderson hitting double seven to force a decider once more.

Henderson opened with a 160, but Dolan was first to a finish as he followed a 180 by setting up tops - only to miss two darts for the set and then be handed a reprieve when the Scot saw darts at double top and ten just miss their intended target, allowing the Northern Irishman to hit double ten.

Dolan posted a 180 to leave a 61 checkout as he led in the fifth, before Henderson fired in a superb 160 finish to level and double four to lead.

But double ten saw Dolan level the set and move a leg away from victory, before double 14 saw him delight the Citywest sell-out and claim the win.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said Dolan. "I felt really good in the first set but maybe I was too comfortable and John made me pay, but I came back really well.

"I never thought I'd get through to the semi-final of the World Grand Prix, especially after the year I've had.

"I was so inconsistent but the blessing was when I didn't qualify for the World Matchplay and European Championship in the summer, because I went away and analysed my throw and I've slowed my first dart down. It's worked and I'm really happy.

"I'd have never imagined I'd be in the semis when I qualified but I've done well this week and I'm delighted. The crowd were fantastic, they were really behind me and it was a great atmosphere."

Henderson said: "I've got no complaints. Brendan played well and took his chances, and although it's disappointing to lose tonight I've had a brilliant week.

"Reaching the quarter-finals is a great achievement and hopefully one I can build on."

Match Stats

Brendan Dolan	4-1	John Henderson
29	100+	27
16	140+	13
4	180	0
30.04	Ave1	27.82
90.11	Ave3	83.46
105	High Finish	160,101
6	Breaks of Throw	4
21/47 - 45%	Starting Doubles	21/37 - 41%
12/29 - 41%	Finishing Doubles	9/20 - 45%