Kilworth GAA to honour 1967 county winning team
KILWORTH GAA Club will hold a social in the Grand Hotel Fermoy on this Saturday night where they will honour the Junior hurling team of 1967 that brought Co honours to the club for the first time. During the 60s club hurling was very strong at Junior level as many of the strong Intermediate and senior sides of the current time were playing in Junior grade at that period.
Kilworth club in existence since 1928 had just one Divisional Novice hurling title 1935 to their name by the time the 1960s came around. They played in the Avondhu JAHC final against Kildorrery. They overcame Kildorrery in the 1961 decider by 4-9 to 2-7, but lost out to Cloyne in the County final replay watched by over 7,000 patrons. Kildorrery defeated Kilworth in the 1962 JAHC final to garner their first success in the JAHC. Kildorrery won by 6-7 to 7-1. The following year Kilworth and Kildorrery contested the JAHC final in Fermoy. The game finished in a draw 4-5 each. Kildorrery emerged winners in the replay by 4-5 to 3-7.
Having missed out in 1964 Kilworth were back in the 1965 final where they lost out to Ballyhea by 2-11 to 3-3. Kilworth were champions again in 1966 defeating their fellow parish rivals Araglin by 4 -9 to 2-4 in Fermoy. They were defeated by Kanturk in the Co quarter final in Mallow.
Then came 1967, Kilworth’s aim was to retain the Divisional JAHC title. From a championship perspective, the year started well and early victories were recorded over their conquerers of 1965 Ballyhea at Castletownroche. They then defeated Shanballymore at Kildorrery.
Newtownshandrum with an up and coming side provided their opposition in the semi final in Buttevant. After a close first half Kilworth ran out convincing winners by 5-7 to 3-2. This win gave Kilworth their 3rd JAHC final in a row and their 6th in seven years.
Freemount currently in the barony of Duhallow were Kilworth’s opponents in that 1967 final at Buttevant. Kilworth started well and led 4-3 to 0-2 at half time. They contined to dominate in the second half and were victorious by 4-7 to 3-3 with Johnny Hogan as their captain.
There was little time for celebration as Newcestown were up next in the County quarter-final at the Athletic Grounds. Kilworth emerged winners by 5- 3 to 3-7. The semi final was back in Avondhu against Kanturk in Buttevant. Late points by Johnny Hogan and the late Fred Sheedy gave them a close 2-6 to 2- 4 win. Their Co final outing was in the Cork Athletic Grounds where Cloughduv provided the opposition. Kilworth emerged County champions by 3-11 to 2-7. Interestingly three of the teams that Kilworth defeated on their way to Co honours won the County JAHC over the next 3 years. Newtownshandrum in 1968 Kanturk in 1969 and Cloughduv in 1970. There were a number of the Kilworth winning side that collected County SHC medals with Avondhu in 1966.
The Kilworth lineout in the 1967 County JAHC final was L Shanahan, J Condon, L Flynn, J Carey, B Russell, J Hogan 0-1, S Long, T O’Halloran, D Fenton, D O’Riordan 0-1, K Casey 1-2, D Condon, R Carey, F Sheedy 0-5, P Farran 1-0. Sub: P O’Mahony 1-0 for R Carey.
The period 1961 – 71 was Kilworth’s Golden Age. In that 11year period Kilworth played in seven North Cork JAHC finals, two County Junior finals (a replay in 1961), two County Intermediate quarter-finals and a County Intermedaite semi-final.