Kilworth GAA Notes 15th April 2021 2021-04-17 18:11:00

LOTTO JACKPOT AT €7,600!

There was no winner of this week’s lotto jackpot worth €7,400 held on Monday April 12th. The numbers drawn were: 7, 13, 20 and 29. The lucky dip winner of €50 was Aidan Kenny c/o Mossie McNamara. The lucky dip winners of €25 each were: Belinda Carey c/o Brian Carey, Rian and Jack c/o Patsy O’Mahony and J & T Hill, Ballyduff c/o Centra. Next week’s jackpot is €7,600. Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 lines for €5 and they are available locally in O’ Sullivan’s Centra Kilworth, online at www.kilworthgaa.com or from any of our usual sellers. Be sure and play today for your chance to win the jackpot! Best of luck to all our players! As always, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support.

MEMBERSHIP REMINDER

A reminder that club membership is now due can be paid on line by logging onto www.foireann.ie. If you have any queries in relation to the system, please do not hesitate to contact club registrar Alan Kenny. It is imperative that all players and management teams are paid members in advance of a return to training in the coming weeks and months. New members are always very welcome.

VOTES OF SYMPATHY

The club would like to extend its deepest sympathy to the Kelly family Fermoy, following their recent bereavement.    

REELING IN THE YEARS – NORTH CORK JUNIOR A HURLING CHAMPIONS – 1980 (Title No 5) - continued

This week we conclude our lookback at the hurling year of 1980. Following North Cork triumph and a county quarter final win over Delany’s after a replay, East Cork champions Aghada stood between Kilworth and a third county final appearance.

Kilworth 2-11 Aghada 2-7 (County SF; November 9th, 1980, Venue; Riverstown)

Riverstown was the venue on this occasion (a week later than the original fixture which was called off due to an unplayable pitch) and the atmosphere was electric throughout the hour. At the final whistle we had four points to spare after a tough, uncompromising contest and by the virtue of this win, Kilworth qualified for a county final appearance against Newcestown.

Kilworth were slow to start and conceded two very soft early goals in the first quarter. They regained their composure to fight back and draw level by the interval at 1-6 to 2-2. Kilworth greatly assisted by the expert free taking of John Kenny, who contributed 0-4, began to take control. They held Aghada to four points in the second half and scored the crucial match winning goal five minutes from time when Johnny Hogan crashed the ball to the net to make it 2-10 to 2-07. 

Aghada playing against the breeze in the first half got off to a dream start when in their first attack, the Kilworth defence were slow in clearing and their corner forward gave Jimmy Hanlon no chance from close range. Kilworth had their opening score after five minutes when Pat Shanahan pointed and two minutes later, they were in front when the same player took a pass from Johnny Hogan and sent a blistering shot to the Aghada net for the best score of the game. Kilworth played their best hurling of the first half over the next ten minutes and points by Paddy Flynn, Johnny Hogan and Pat Greehy had them in a strong position approaching the end of the first quarter. But just as Kilworth looked like taking control they were rocked back on their heels when Aghada scored a second goal following a mix up in defence. Kilworth added two more points before the interval to draw the game but looked in a vulnerable position turning to play against the breeze.

However, it was a much more determines fifteen that came out for the second half and the defence tightened up considerably. It was a measure of their improvement that they limited the Aghada attack to just four points in this period and their final score came thirteen minutes from the end.

The third quarter was very evenly contested with the team’s level on four occasions, but importantly Kilworth never fell behind. Aghada did have a great chance to go in front ten minutes from the end when they were awarded a close in free, however to the dismay of the large East Cork following the chance was sent wide. Five minutes later Johnny Hogan got Kilworth’s vital second goal and when he was fouled two minutes later Pat Greehy pointed the resultant free and they were safely into the decider with four point to spare.

Team and Scorers; J Hanlon, M McNamara, T Shanahan, P McCormack, K McCarthy, D Hogan, J Kenny (0-4 – frees), F McCormack, D McCarthy (0-1), P Flynn (0-1), P Greehy (0-3 – 2 frees), P Shanahan (1-1), J Lynch, J Hogan (1-1), C O’Callaghan.

So Kilworth were through to contest a third county final in the club’s history. The first was in 1961 when they lost to Cloyne following a replay. They were back in 1967 to win the clubs first title and the man who played a major role for taking Kilworth to the 1980 final decider Johnny Hogan was a part of each of those teams. 

Throughout the parish and indeed the Division excitement was at fever pitch in anticipation of the forthcoming final against Newcestown at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. 

Kilworth 2-06 Newcestown 1-12 (County Final; November 16th, 1980, Venue; Pairc Ui Chaoimh)

On an occasion when endurance and motivation were the order of the day given the underfoot conditions it was to the credit of both Kilworth and Newcestown that they served up a fast rip roaring and highly sporting hour in the final.

In an action-packed county junior hurling final Kilworth just failed to bridge a thirteen-year gap and win the title for the first time since 1967. But although it was defeat for Kilworth, the lads played their part in making a memorable final and they won many admirers for their great effort against a fancied Newcestown side. It was as predicted, the kind of match to warm the cockles of the heart. On the bog like surface that Pairc Ui Chaoimh had become both teams served up an hour of hurling that was full of commitment and which contained a high level of skill throughout. For a time, it looked as if the more direct play of Kilworth was going to yield the desired dividend. Having played with the breeze advantage, Kilworth led by two points at half time, 1-4 to 1-2 and looked confident and more capable of playing the hurling that the conditions demanded. On the broad analysis the decisive factor was the victor’s strong finish as Kilworth only yielded one point in the final third of the game.

Kilworth won the toss and elected to play with the advantage of the strong wind in the opening period. They looked to be in trouble after five minutes when Newcestown were awarded a penalty, however Tim Crowley’s goal bound effort was deflected over the bar. Two minute later the winners were awarded another close in free and this time the Cork midfielders effort went all the way to the net to put the South West champions four points clear. Kilworth’s opening score came after ten minutes when John Kenny pointed a long range free and two minutes later, they were level when Pat Shanahan took a pass from Paddy O ‘Flynn and billowed the roof of the net from fourteen yards. At this stage the Kilworth defence began to exert their authority on proceedings and with Dave McCarthy and in particular Fanahan McCormack playing very well in the middle of the field, they began to carry the game to Newcestown. With Pat Shanahan and Jimmy Lynch winning possession regularly in attack, Kilworth should have been well in control at the interval, but found scores hard to come by against a teak tough tackling defence where Cork footballer Kevin Kehilly was a revelation throughout, clearing a huge amount of ball and coping effectively with the various centre forwards Kilworth placed against him and all Kilworth had to add on the scoreboard by halftime were points by Paddy Flynn, Pat Shanahan and a Pat Greehy free to leave the score 1-4 to 1-2 in Kilworth’s favour.

Just before half time Kilworth were dealt a serious blow when Jimmy Lynch, who had been having a great game, received a serious facial injury which necessitated hospital treatment. Kilworth’s interval lead of two points looked inadequate as they turned to face the breeze in the second period but a glorious goal by Johnny Hogan after three minutes, when he doubled a sideline cut from Fanahan McCormack to the net put his side five points clear. Newcestown replied with a point before Pat Greehy who had a fine second half again put Kilworth further ahead with a point from a free after eight minutes. At the 40th minute mark Kilworth’s advantage was four points leading 2-5 to 1-4. Kilworth were struck with another major body blow shortly after when Fanahan McCormack had to leave the field with a shoulder injury. Misfortune continued to strike as also in the second period Pat McCormack had to retire from the full backline. The loss of key players had an adverse impact on Kilworth’s rhythm especially as the team was moving at full throttle in the third quarter and proved too much. From here on Kilworth struggled and they did not add to their tally until five minutes from the end.  Slowly the winners edged their way back into the game making inroads on the Kilworth rear guard with a series of well taken points to level the tie up with ten minutes to go. When Newcestown went two points clear with eight minutes remaining the game seemed over, but Kilworth refused to give in and cut the lead down to one point with five minutes to go when John Kenny pointed another long range free. Unfortunately, this was Kilworth’s last score and Newcestown broke away for two late points to prove worthy winners of an enthralling contest and gained promotion to the Intermediate grade for 1981.

Even though at the losing end, the Kilworth performance was one to feel proud of. The team never gave up their effort to annex the title. In such a spirited combination goalkeeper Jimmy Hanlon, full back Tom Shanahan, left half back John Kenny, Fananhan McCormack (up to the time of his retirement), forwards Christy O’Callaghan, Pat Shanahan and Paddy O ‘Flynn were very prominent. 

The team were given a tremendous ovation as they left the field from the wonderful Kilworth supporters who travelled in such large numbers and who certainly made themselves heard throughout.

Team and scorers: J Hanlon, M McNamara, T Shanahan, P McCormack, K McCarthy, D Hogan, J Kenny (0-2, 2 frees), D McCarthy, F McCormack, P Flynn 0-1, P Greehy 0-2, C O’Callaghan, P Shanahan 1-1, J Hogan 1-0, J Lynch. Subs used: JJ Walsh for J Lynch (injured), T Twomey for P McCormack (injured), J O’Connor for F McCormack (injured)

Despite defeat in the final, it was nevertheless a fantastic achievement from a team who showed marked improvement from game to game as the year progressed which was brought about by courage and determination from a great team and their trainer/coach Bill Hegarty. 

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