Emmets bid for Joe Ward success falls

September 1986

KILKERLEY Emmets’ bid to win the Joe Ward Cup for the first time ends in disappointment when they lose the final of the SFC to Newtown Blues by a point.

The game in Dromiskin finishes 3-5 to 2-7 in favour of the Drogheda club, to give them a fifteenth title.

Kilkerley get off to a terrible start, as Blues pounce for two goals in the opening two minutes, Martin Carr and Peter Judge the scorers.

They also lose Paul Kneel through injury, almost straight away.

However, Kilkerley battle back in tremendous fashion.

A Donal Lennon penalty helps Emmets reduce the deficit, and when Ray Quinn points in the 27th minute, the scoreboard reads 1-4 to 2-0 in their favour.

A shocked Blues manage to go in level.

It gets better for them early in the second period, when Peter Judge grabs his second goal.

The lead is out to four points (3-5 to 1-7) before Peter O’Hare fires home a great Kilkerley goal in the 54th minute, the last score.

Kilkerley Emmets: Willie Quigley; Joe Kirk, Patsy Kirk, Tommy Kirk; Peter Kirk, Terry Lennon, John McCarthy; Noel Lynch, Martin Quigley; Vincent Litchfield 0-1, Jim Lynch, Ray Quinn 0-1; Paul Kneel, Brian Lynch, Donal Lennon 1-1. Subs, Peter O’Hare 1-3 for Kneel, Fergal O’Hare 0-1 for B. Lynch.

Newtown Blues: Paul Matthews; Raymond Faulkner, Danny Nugent, John O’Rourke; Bosco Judge, Dessie Callaghan, Derek Costello; David Judge, Eugene Judge; Martin Carr 1-1, Richie Culhane 0-1, Johnny Doherty; Gerry Kirwan, Jackie Hanratty 0-2, Peter Judge 2-1. Subs, Martin Judge for Costello, Fergal Judge for D. Judge.