Newtown club on verge of extinction
THERE’S a headline you don’t see every day. But on this week in 1990 this was headline in the Wicklow People, Friday April 6, page 19.
Reporter Jim Brophy was the writer of the piece that was exploring what looked to be a real danger that the Newtownmountkennedy club would cease to exist.
‘Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow senior football champions in the years in 1965 and 1975 and a leading North Wicklow team over the past two decades, may be out of Gaelic football before the end of the year. They have withdrawn from the county leagues and may find it difficult to field a team in the championships.
‘The Newtown withdrawal from the leagues didn’t come as a big surprise because they have been struggling to put out teams in the last few weeks. Some say that the big problem in the village is the presence of three soccer teams, but the same situation obtains in nearby Roundwood where the GAA is riding high.
‘Newtown has a senior team up to this year and won a section of the under 21 football championship last year.
‘Withdrawal from the leagues mean that they can’t field a senior team under the new regulations in 1991. There has always been strong support for the GAA in Newtown and in past years they had a great record in the very popular Schwepes Cup competition in North Wicklow.
‘There must still be enough GAA men in the area to reorganise the club and find sufficient players who will give their first loyalty to the GAA. There is no reason why soccer and GAA can’t run side by side but GAA clubs mnust be prepared to work at the game if they want to get results.
‘Current Secretary, Sean Tiernan, who is a very hard worker for the club told us that the present situation is being discussed with the County Management Committee shortly and he is hopeful that Newtown will be able to continue with a junior team, subject to agreement with the Management Committee.
‘Newtown dates back to the early days of the Association and produced an All-Ireland medal winner in Jack Gorman who helped Kildare in their win in 1905.
‘Most clubs now face opposition from other codes – there are two soccer teams in Baltinglass – and to survive clubs must have a new approach with total dedication to juveniles and a highly organised adult club.
‘There is no reason why different codes can’t succeed side by side even though the player who wants to take part in different codes does provide a difficulty,’ he wrote.
Valleymount 2-4 Baltinglass 1-5
‘The game featured a penalty to each side in the first half – and both resulted in goals,’ wrote the match reporter on the day. ‘Billy Nolan put away the rebound after his shot came back off the woodwork for Baltinglass.
‘Peter Behan converted the Valley mount penalty to leave the Lakesiders ahead by 1-4 to 1-2 at half-time.
‘Another goal by full-forward Behan in the second half proved decisive.
‘Valleymount: David Callaghan; J. Reid, J. Miley, J. Reid; K. Donoghue, J. Byrne, P. Geoghegan; P. Mahon (0-1), M. Nolan (0-3); M. Geoghegan, S. Miley, G. Flanagan; T. Geoghegan, P. Behan (2-0), J. Geoghegan.
‘Baltinglass: U. Rooney; J. Fitzpatrick, B. Gorman, P. Leigh; J. Byrne, P. Timmins, M. Doody; S. Murphy, P. Doody 0-1; C. Foley 0-1, J. O’Keeffe, G. Bradley; M Owens 0-1, J. Dooley, B. Nolan 1-1. Annacurra 1-10 Kilcoole 2-3
Meanwhile Kilbride managed to keep in touch with Knockananna by beating St Laurence’s due to the arrival of one Fergal Donoghue according to the Wicklow People report.
‘Kilbide kept in touch with the leaders with a hard-earned win over St Laurence’s.
Laurence’s had their best game of the year. Dick Curran and Dermot Hickey lorded it in midfield in the first half and set up the chances for a 0-5 to 0-1 half-time lead.
‘The arrival of Fergal Donoghue turned the midfield tide for Kilbride and early goals by Brendan McLoughlin and Ciaran Haughian set the Liffeysiders on the road to victory.
Kilbride: Brendan McLoughlin 1-3, Ciaran Haughian 1-1, Paul Clarke 0-2, Willie Craul and Martin Carroll 0-1 each.
St Laurence’s: Larry Daly and Sean Doyle 0-3 each, Eddy Eager, Dermot Hickey, Liam Carpenter and Jack Lynch 0-1 each.,