Kilcullen's Jack (15) was third time with Team Ireland in World Junior darts
Jack Courtney and sponsor Mick Dillon of Novus Windows.
A Third Year student at Kilcullen's Cross and Passion College was a member of the Irish Junior darts team at the DartAsylum JDC World Cup held in Gibraltar last week. The team was beaten in the semi-finals by Holland, who subsequently lost their final against England. It was the third year in a row that 15-year-old Jack Courtney participated in the contest, which also included individual competition as well as the team event.
In the individuals earlier in the week, Jack made the last 16 of the Winmau Open, and topped his group in the knockout stages only to be eliminated in the later stages. This year's performance was a step up over his 2023 achievement where he reached the last 32 out of some 250 competitors.
Last year was Team Ireland's first time in the World Cup final and they brought home a silver medal. This year in the first day of the 2-day team event they won all their group matches against Greece, Slovakia and Australia. On the second day they beat Gibraltar and Northern Ireland to reach the semi-finals.
Jack is a member of Carlow Darts Club. His Irish team mates in the world competition this year were Aidan O'Hara (Tipperary), Shay Feeney (Tipperary) and Jayden Fitzgerald (Cork). In March Jack took gold in the All Ireland Darts Tournament in Galway after winning in the Pairs event and the Team event and also reached the final in the Boys section.
He was also presented with an Excellence in Sports accolade at this year's Kilcullen Community Awards organised by Kilcullen Community Action.
At a well-wishing event in Kilcullen's Spout Bar before travelling this year Jack had a special word of thanks for his sponsors — Darren Keogh of security alarm specialists IGS, Mick Dillon of Novus Windows, Clazz Hig of ISS Recruitment, Noel Nolan of Nolan Home Improvements, Daniel O'Sullivan of Dan O'Sullivan Roofing, The Spout Kilcullen, JDC Cadets, Matt Smith from Flightclub, and Carlow County Youth Darts. "This wouldn't be possible without support from the sponsors," says Jack's father Derek who, along with his wife Marian, accompanied their son to Gibraltar.
