First county JAHC title for Kilworth in 1967

Kilworth 3-11 Cloughduv 2-7

Kilworth's long wait for county JAHC honours was over on November 26, 1967 when they won the Co JAHC title at the Cork Athletic Grounds for the first time. They had to come from behind in a dashing second half to whip a Cloughduv side who looked to have made sure of the trophy at halftime, leading by 2-5 to 0-4.

The fortunes of the game changed remarkably in the second half which the new champions opened with a lightning goal from the throw-in. They followed with an equally fast point.

Thus Cloughduv had their handsome interval lead decimated and they never quiet recovered, rally though they did due to the inspiration of Teddy O'Mahony, who played his heart out at centre back. At this period the scores transformed Kilworth into an unstoppable machine and so well did they put themselves to the task of saving the day, that in this 2nd half Cloughduv could only add two points to their half-time tally. One of these was from a free.

Kilworth's first minute goal was worth its weight in gold. It could not have come at a more appropriate moment and resulted from a masterly pass back by corner forward Paddy Farren to big Kieran Casey, who blasted a great ball to the Cloughduv net. Army man, Fred Sheedy, who had the champions’ first half points from 3 frees, followed with an immediate point and Kilworth were on their way to their first county title. More points brought them to within a point of Cloughduv, then midfielder Tom O'Halloran cut in a sideline and picked out substitute Patsy O'Mahony who finished to the net.

Just as the game entered the final quarter, Casey chipped over a point quickly and the final hammer blow came within minutes, when a Casey centre was sent to the net by Paddy Farren. There were 12 minutes left at this stage with Kilworth ahead 3-9 to 2-6. Denny Condon rounded off the hour with two more points, that left Kilworth undoubtedly the stronger finishing team.

As a game, the final was almost all that could be wished for. The hurling was hard and clean and the Kilworth fight back as Cloughduv sought desperately to hold their lead in the 2nd half, made it memorable. In the opening quarter it was neck and neck and point for point as both sides sent over 3 points. Noel Dunne had 4 points altogether that edged Cloughduv into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead, before Teddy O'Mahony's free lobbed into the square and went to the net amid a welter of flying hurleys.

After 19 minutes full forward Michael Walsh doubled on a Cloughduv delivery for their 2nd goal. Noel Dunne followed with a pointed free that left them in a commanding position at half-time, 2-4 to 0-3.

The north Cork side without star player, Jerry Keating, showed their real mettle in their glorious 2nd half comeback. Jim Condon, Johnny Hogan, Sean Long in defence and Casey, Sheedy, Condon and Farren in the attack, found great form. Cloughduv, who were unlucky enough to lose their centre back John Dunlea after 10 minutes play, were excellently served by the already mentioned Teddy O'Mahony, Noel Dunne and the Kelly brothers, Jerry and county minor, Connie, in the forwards and by John Hickey and Francis Long in defence.

TEAMS & SCORERS

Kilworth: Fred Sheedy 0-5, Kieran Casey 1-2, Patsy O'Mahony 1-0, Paddy Farren 1-0, Denny Condon 0-2 Dave O'Riordan 0-1, Johnny Hogan 0-1.

Cloughduv: Noel Dunne 0-4, Teddy O'Mahony 1-0, Michael Walsh 1-0, Connie Kelly 0-2, John Kelly 0-1.

Kilworth: Liam Shanahan, John Condon, Lar Flynn, John Carey, Bill Russell, Johnny Hogan, Seanie Long, Tom O'Halloran, Danny Fenton, Dave O'Riordan, Kieran Casey, Denny Condon, Richie Carey, Fred Sheedy, Paddy Farren.

Cloughduv: S O'Mahony, D O'Brien, J Hickey, M Keane, F Long, J Dunlea, E Kelleher, T O'Mahony, N Dunne, T Kelly, J Kelly, N Cronin. C Kelly, M Walsh, J Long. Subs: B Slyne for J Dunlea (inj), L Nash for B Slyne.

Referee was Frank Murphy (Blackrock).

PATH TO THE FINAL

In the county quarter-final at the Athletic Grounds on October 22nd, Kilworth defeated Newcestown by 5-3 to 3-7. Kilworth’s scorers were Fred Sheedy 2-1, Tom O'Halloran 1-0, Paddy Farren 1-0, Kieran Casey 1-0, Jerry Keating 0-1 and Johnny Hogan 0-1.

The county semi-final against Kanturk was played in Buttevant on November 13, where Kilworth defeated Kanturk by 2-6 to 2-4.