Jack Cochrane
Memorial
Darts Competition
The Competition is played in memory of Jack and is for C.B.P.P.U Members.
This Years Competition was the 10th Annual Competition in memory of Jack who died 19th February 2001 aged 40 years.
Jack loved his darts and played for a few different darts team during his life. I know had he been alive today he would be an Archer. Jack loved nothing more than a smoke, a pint and a game of darts not forgetting his beloved Everton Football Club.
Jack Cochrane Memorial Shield
C.B.P.P.U Individual Darts Champions
Winner Runner Up Highest Finish Lowest Leg Of Darts (First Awarded 2008)
2001: Kevin O'Reilly Jnr Mark McAllister Kevin O'Reilly Jnr (42)
2002: Kevin Mezza Martin Currie Kevin Mezza (92)
2003: Kevin O'Reilly Jnr Martin Currie Kevin O'Reilly Jnr (60)
2004: Kevin O'Reilly Jnr Henry Davidson Kevin O'Reilly Jnr (58)
2005: Gary O'Reilly Kevin Mezza Gary O'Reilly (68)
2006: Jonny McLaughlin Tom McKillop Jonny McLaughlin (85)
2007: Brain McKinney Peter Cochrane Brain McKinney (66)
2008: Kevin Mezza Joe Reynolds Martin Currie (100) Kevin Mezza (17 darts)
2009: Kevin Mezza Kevin O'Reilly Snr Kevin O'Reilly Snr (82) Kevin O'Reilly Jnr (17 darts)
2010: Gary O'Reilly Kevin Mezza Brian McKinney (87) Brian McKinney (19 darts)
2011: Ray Grant Martin Currie Martin Currie (74) Martin Currie (17 darts)
2012: Kevin O'Reilly Snr Kevin O'Reilly Jnr Kevin O'Reilly Snr (83) Paul McClean (16 darts)
2013: Dan Delaney Brian George Dan Delaney (114) Dan Delaney (14 Darts)
2014: Proposed Date 28th Feburary 2014
Delaney Delighted
13th Annual Jack Cochrane Memorial Darts Competition
Winner Dan Delaney (Red) and Runner Up Brain George Dan Delaney is the new name on the Jack Cochrane Memorial Shield as he triumphed over his C.B Fames, C.B Archers and friends and family members of Jack in the 13th instalment of this highly sought after CB darting tradition. Not only did Dan Delaney pick up the Jack Cochrane Memorial Winners Shield but he also claimed the prizes of Highest Checkout with 114 in the final leg and the lowest leg of darts with a super 14 darter. Also it must be mentioned that Dan also walked away with a case of beer and a bottle of vodka that he won in the ballot. If only every night was like that one.
Preliminary Rounds. Vincy Donaldson 3-0 Sean Mooney Kevin Mezza 3-2 Stephen Donaldson First Round Vincy Donaldson 3-0 Francis Mezza Jnr Seamus Hamilton 3-2 Peter Cochrane Dan Delany 3-0 Francis Mezza Snr Jim Flanagan 3-1 Ciaran McAlorum Kevin Mezza 3-2 Ray Grant Martin Currie 3-2 Frankie McGeough Gary O’Reilly 3-2 Kevin O’Reilly Jnr Brian George 3-0 Frank Kerr Quarter Finals
Martin Currie 3-2 Kevin Mezza
Brian George 3-2 Gary O’Reilly
Vincy Donaldson 3-2 Seamy Hamilton
Dan Delany 3-2 Jim Flanagan
Semi- Finals Dan Delaney 3-0 Vincey Donaldson Brian George 3-0 Martin Currie Final Dan Delany 3-0 Brian George It was another great year of competition darts and everyone hand an enjoyable night as usual the sandwiches went down well and the Cochrane Family were as always very grateful for the continued success and running of the competition. Plans are already under way for next year’s competition (the 14th) were the winner will be the first recipient of the new Jack Cochrane Memorial Shield. So until next year keep practicing because I’ve been told that Johnny McLaughlin is back in training.
12th Annual Jack Cochrane Memorial Darts Competition 2011
Still life in the Old Dog
Left to right:- Peter Cochrane with Winner Kevin O’Reilly Snr
Kevin O’Reilly Snr rolled back the years on Friday night (17th February 2012) as the former three times North Belfast Dart League Individual Champion came out on top in the 12th Annual Jack Cochrane Memorial Darts Competition.
The Competition which is played in memory of Jack in the C.B.P.P.U. is played out by the friends and family of Jack along with the C.B Archers and C.B Flames dart teams. Jack loved his darts and played for a few different darts team during his life. I know had he been alive today he would be a member of one of the CB dart teams. Jack loved nothing more than his beloved Everton Football Club along with a smoke, a pint and a game of darts.
Round 1 Once the draw was completed the darts got underway as Paul McClean squeezed past Sean Mooney by 2 legs to nil. Former 3 times Champion Kevin Mezza was the first big name to fall at the first hurdle as he was beaten 2-0 by Michael Young and Vincy Donaldson made it two outta two for the C.B Flames as he had a narrow win over Jacks brother Peter Cochrane. Kevin O’Reilly Jnr defeated Francie Mezza in another tight game to win thru to the next round. Defending Champion Ray Grant had a tough task on his hands as he overcame Tim Rodgers and Ciaran McAlourm put his name in the hat for the next round with a good 2-0 win over Marty Currie. Gary (Gaz) O’Reilly and Paddy Fegan had a great battle with Gaz edging out his Archers team mate with a slim 2-1 win while Kevin O’Reilly Snr squeezed past Jim Shanks.
Round 2 Paul McClean was the first man into the Semi’s with a great display which included 16 & 21 dart legs and a nice 82 finish in a tight 2-1 win over Michael Young. Kevin O’Reilly Jnr became the 2nd Archer into the semis with a bit of luck in another tight win over Vincy Donaldson. Ray Grants defence came to an end with team mate Ciaran McAlourm banging in a great 180 in his 2-1 defeat of the Sting Ray. Kevin O’Reilly Snr defeated number 2 son Gary O’Reilly (the good looking one) despite a maximum 180 and Gaz was left rueing his chances as he bust a 110 check out before daddy dearest finished off a very close game 2-1.
Semi-Finals Kevin O’Reilly Jnr came thru a tough contest with fellow Archers Paul McClean to book his spot in the final for the first time in 8 years with the narrows of 2-1 wins and knowing Jnr was waiting in the final Kevin O’Reilly Snr wasted little time with a good 2-0 win over Ciaran McAlourm to set up a mouth-watering final with number 1 son (not the good looking one) Kevin O’Reilly Jnr.
Final The Old Master VS The Young Pretender: - As the crowd gathered around the board to watch the final everyone knew that the name on the Jack Cochrane Shield would state Kevin O’Reilly but no one could say with any great certainty whether it would be Jnr or Snr. With the crowd gathered and watching on everyone was hoping for a good game and they weren’t disappointed as Kevin Jnr took a 1-0 lead Kevin Snr took the next two legs to take a slim lead and missed darts for a 3-1 win before Jnr levelled the game at 2-2. As Jnr hit the big treble 20’s Snr responded with treble 19’s. It was Snr who got to the double first but he missed it by a whisker before Jnr followed suit it would come down to who wanted it the most and with both players having chances the wining double was hit by the Old Dog Kevin O’Reilly Snr who finally adds the title of Jack Cochrane Memorial Winner to his long list of titles.
Speeches As always Peter Cochrane is on hand for the Prize giving ceremony and as always Peter couldn’t thank the Friends and Family who help make this competition a success year after year and after the speech’s Peter was good enough to pick his own ticket out as the winning ballot.
Up and Coming After the success of the C.B Christmas Open the CB darts teams (C.B Archers & C.B Flames) will be holding their first annual C.B Easter Open Darts Competition on, Tuesday 10th April 2012. Registration 5.30pm-6.30pm
This will be a knockout competition best of 5 legs. Final will be best of 7. With prize money for the Winner, Runner up and losing semi-finalists. There will also be a side event for beaten first round players. This will be best of 3 legs. Final will be best of 5. With prize money for the winner. Enterance fee £5.00 Under 18s £3.
Left To Right : Peter Cochrane with Runner Up Kevin O’Reilly Jnr.
From Left to Right :- Peter Cochrane with Paul Mc Clean (lowest darts on the night). 
From Left to right Peter Cochrane with Kevin O’Reilly Snr (Highest Checkout on the night).
11th Annual Jack Cochrane Memorial Darts Competition 2011
Grant to hot for Currie
After 11 years this competition is still going strong and is played by C.B.P.P.U members in memory and is dedicated to our friend who we all miss deeply.
We have had bigger turnouts in past years but that didn’t stop the select few enjoying the night.
Preliminary Rounds
Kevin O’Reilly Jnr got past Sean Mooney. Fiontan Carson beat newcomer Sean Paul Saunders. Francie Mezza knockout Jack’s Brother Peter Cochrane in an entertaining game. Jim Shanks just got his nose in front of Frank Kerr and Ray Grant beat Greg McAree.
Quarter-Finals.
Martin Currie just squeezed past Kevin O’Reilly Jnr with the aid of a handy 17 dart leg and Gary O’Reilly nipped past Fiontan Carson. Kevin Mezza beat his auld Da and Ray Grant made steady progress as he passed Jim Shanks.
Semi- Finals.
Martin Currie started well with the BIG 180 but defending champion Gary O’Reilly who still managed to win the leg with a handy 66 finish. Currie battled on however and ended the reign of Gary O’Reilly with a handy 24 dart leg and a 74 finish in the decider.
Ray Grant took no prisoners as he out scored Kevin Mezza and finished with a 24 dart leg in a good 2-0 win.
So after that there would be a new name on the Shield but who would it be.
The Final
Ray Grant kicked of the final with a good opening leg of 24 darts but Martin Currie had been in the final twice before and his experience started to show as levelled the game with a handy 23 dart leg. Ray fired back and took the lead again before Marty replied with another 23 dart leg. There was defiantly nerves showing from both players and Ray got to his double first but missed. Marty had a go at the doubles next but he missed to before Ray stepped up and land double top for the match and the title of Jack Cochrane Memorial Darts Competition winner 2011.
As always many thanks go to Karen and Francis Mezza for supplying the grub that always goes down well and to Peter Cochrane & Family who always attend and support the event.
So until next year when I have no doubt that Ray Grant will be back to defend his title and Martin Currie will be trying again to get his name on the winners shield.
10th Annual Jack Cochrane Memorial Darts Competition 2010
No Hatrick for Mezza in Jack Cochrane Cup
The 10th annual Jack Cochrane Memorial cup was held in the Christian Brothers club on the Antrim road last Friday Night and this year’s event saw the largest entry list so far.
The darts tournament was founded in memory of past CB member Jack Cochrane and is a fitting tribute. When not watching his beloved Everton, Jack could be found toeing the oche against anyone who fancied a throw.
The competition has grown in popularity year on year and this was evidenced by the bumper crowd all hoping to be the winner by the end of the night. However, there were a lot of darts to be thrown before a champion could be crowned.
Once the preliminary games were out of the way, the first round proper started with Billy Davidson against Sean Mooney on board 1 and Brian McKinney against Finton Carson on board 2.
Billy is a fierce competitor and had little trouble beating Sean; while Brian had to dig a fair bit deeper to get the win over ‘Finn’ that also included a maximum 180.
The rest of the games on board 1 saw Tony McCoey win over Francie Mezza that left Francie time to help wife Karen with the buffet, Frankie Loughran lose to Jim Shanks and Gary O’Reilly ease past Brian Cochrane.
The quarter final line up was completed from board 2 when Robbie McDyer defeated Peter McDyer, Henry Davidson whipped CB Vice-President Sean White and Kevin Mezza ended the dream of Tim Rodgers who had won from the preliminaries for his first ever victory.
The first quarterfinal match on board 1 was an uneven affair between number one seed Billy Davidson and Tony McCoey. Billy was even more clinical than his previous game and had no problems in his 2 legs to nil win.
Over on board 2 Brian McKinney had to call on all his experience to come back from 1 leg behind when beating Robbie McDyer.
The second match on board 1 saw Gary O’Reilly taking on Jim Shanks. Unfortunately Jim’s game deserted him on the night and Gary strolled into the semi finals.
The last quarterfinal game was between Kevin Mezza and Henry Davidson. Kevin owed Henry for a semi final defeat in 2004 and revenge was sweet for Kevin when his 70 finish won him the game.
The semi finals contained the top four seeds and three previous competition winners. The first semi had 2007 winner Brian McKinney and the reigning champion Kevin Mezza, who was going for three in a row. Kevin won the bull and set about getting a big lead. But Brian stayed close and took the first leg with an 87 out shot. The next four legs went one way then the other as ton followed ton and the crowd were close to lifting the roof by the time Kevin landed his double to win the game 3-2.
The second semi final was equally as exciting with number four seed Gary O’Reilly chasing a second title against debutant Billy Davidson. Gary had been improving with each game and it seemed Billy had peaked when Gary went two legs up. But Billy’s never say die attitude won him the third leg and set up a tense fourth leg. In the end Billy fell just short and Gary was on course to repeat his success from 2005.
The final had a lot to live up to and for the most part the finalists produced some excellent darts. Kevin won the bull again and threw first but succumbed to Gary’s better scoring and quickly found himself 2 legs behind. A spirited fight back reduced Gary’s lead but it only postponed the inevitable and Gary was the 2010 Jack Cochrane Memorial Champion winning 3 legs to 1.
The winner’s and runners-up trophies were presented to Gary and Kevin by Jack’s brother Peter along with the trophies for highest checkout, 87, and lowest darts, 19, both to Brian McKinney.
Many thanks go to those who participated and made this year’s tournament a great night and a special thanks goes to Karen Mezza for excelling herself with top quality catering.
9th Annual Jack Cochrane Memorial Darts Competition 2009
The first game saw (Jacks brother) Peter Cochrane taking on one of the favourites Martin Currie. Peter was hoping to repeat his form of two years ago when he was runner up. But as I already said Martin being one of the favourites brushed Peter aside with a 19 darter in his 2-0 win. Next up saw another favourite and three times winner Kevin O’Reilly Jnr taking on Francie Mezza (who complained after hitting the bull and finding out that there was no prize for it this year). Kevin made no mistakes and ran out a comfortable winner 2-0.
Kevin O’Reilly Snr took on Tiger Tim Rodgers with Tim hoping and praying for a win after 8 consecutive first round exits. But history repeated itself as Tiger Tim crashed to yet another first round defeat. Big Kevin O’Reilly Snr showing all of his experience. Greg McAree surprised everybody in the main bar when he overcame Paul Fullerton 2-0 which included a 60 checkout. Jim Shanks made no mistakes when he overcame Sean Mooney in another one-sided contest 2-0.
Last years winner Kevin Mezza had an easy start to his tournament when he overcame Sean White with another 2-0 win. Gary O’Reilly rode his luck and just scraped past Tom McMillan who missed chance after chance at his doubles.
Brain McKinney was the first big name casualty. The winner from two years ago show his intentions with his first two darts landing in the treble twenty bed and the third just landing on the wire for a big one forty. But that’s darts and Brain Cochrane sent the ex champ out at the first round for the second year running.
Second Round. There wasn’t a person in the bar sitting for this one as Kevin O’Reilly Jnr and Martin Currie took to the oche. The crowed squeezed around the board and they weren’t disappointed . Kevin O’Reilly Jnr took the first game with a cracking 17 darter. Martin replied with a great 20 darter. The third game started with Martin hitting a ton and Kevin replied with a ton forty. The game went all the way and Kevin finished it with a nice little 51 checkout and a place in the semis. Who would he play ?
Well it was sorted out soon enough when his name sake Kevin O’Reilly Snr left Greg McAree standing as he booked his place in the semis with Jnr. Jim Shanks had his work cut out for him when he cam unstuck against Kevin Mezza who missed tops for 112 and 115 checkouts. That didn’t bother Mez as he hit double 10 with his next dart on both occasions. Gary O’Reilly was playing an outsider in Brain Cochrane but Brain couldn’t recreate his form the first round as Gary eased into the semis with his big brother and father already waiting.
Semi-Finals : The first semi-final saw Kevin O’Reilly Jnr Vs Kevin O’Reilly Snr. Snr started to roll back the years as he raced into a 2-0 lead with checkouts of 80 and 82(the 82 coming by way of the bull double 16). Mother Mary O’Reilly was in the crowed and didn’t look happy with her husband. Young Kevin somehow found a way back into the game and it was soon two apiece. Kevin Snr a former North Belfast Individuals Champion show his skill by hitting the all important double to cross the finish line and book his place in the final.
Other Son Gary (the good looking one) was taking on reigning champion Kevin Mezza. The last time these two met in this competition was way back in the final of 2005 when Gary ran out the winner. Kevin Mezza started really and the game could have went either way with great darts from both players it’s a pity there had to be a loser. Kevin Mezza 3-0 Gary O’Reilly.
As time was ticking by it was decided in advance that the final won be best of 3 instead of the already agreed best of 5. The crowed gathered around the board for the final and they were not disappointed with a very high standard of darts being thrown. Kevin O’Reilly Snr missed doubles in the first leg and Mezza sneaked a double ten which had been good to him all-night. The second leg saw Mezza throw for the match. This leg went right to the wire but as Mezza let out a cheer of delight as he sunk the winning double to complete back to back wins in the competition.
The Prizes were awarded by Peter Cochrane and he thanked everybody for taking part and he also gave a big thank you to Karen Mezza who once again made the buffet. A great night had by all and planning for next years competition already underway with a date set for Friday 19th February 2010. (Jacks Tenth Anniversary)
