Kiskeam take nostalgic trip back 25 years to salute JAFC triumph
KISKEAM will relive glorious days from the past on acknowledging the achievement of a great team from 1994 at a special get together in the East Avenue Hotel, Killarney on Saturday night.
Twenty-five years on, Kiskeam’s breakthrough remains a source of joy for the proud club and ended a famine that remained for three decades. Indeed Kiskeam scaled new heights not previously visited since 1964 and anybody with a hint of Kiskeam were overjoyed by the breakthrough.
Kiskeam Club was formed in 1945 and won its first trophy in 1947, the Novice football championship.
Of course 1964 will be fondly remembered by Kiskeam followers that bettered Castlemagner in the divisional final. Into the county series, Kiskeam continued on their merry way and ultimately clinched outright county honours on overcoming Crosshaven.
The subsequent years proved pretty barren in terms of Championship accolades before Kiskeam bridged a 30 year gap to regain a Duhallow title. Club chairman at the time Donie Cronin spoke of the terrific achievement from 1994 that proved a just reward for many years of endeavor.
“It was achieved because of a tremendous effort made in training and of the many sacrifices made by the players and selectors over a long period to have themselves physically and mentally fit to take on the best,” he said.
Driven by a fierce determination, it required terrific qualities to secure divisional accolades. In a quarter final, an early exit looked on the cards against Ballydesmond, trailing by eight points with 12 minutes remaining, Kiskeam produced a persuasive response and with the last kick of the game, the All Blacks forced parity.
From the replay, Kiskeam were a totally different proposition, Kiskeam made the second chance count to record a 14 point triumph. And in the semi final, 60 minutes failed to separate Kiskeam from Rockchapel only for Kiskeam to quell a feisty challenge in another replay.
Divisional final day proved of immense joy for Kiskeam to better Dromtariffe in a highly entertaining contest. At the end of the hour, Kiskeam had come of age to savour the joy of a famous victory.
The heroes on the field of play were Paddy O’Connor, Denis Breen, Eddie Angland, Donie
Angland, Seamus Carroll, Maurice Angland (captain), Raphiel Murphy, John F O’Connor, Denis Sheahan, Denis O’Leary, Jimmy Dennehy, Tony Scannell, Frank O’Connor, Richard Dennehy, John
Herlihy. Subs. Sam O’Sullivan, Damien Murphy, Fergus Murphy, Tim Galvin, Daniel Sheahan, Bernard Breen, Peter O’Connell, Donie Herlihy, Eamonn O’Mahony, Donncha Murphy, Shane O’Leary.
The team selectors were Tom Doody, Seán Cronin and Tom Dennehy. Through their guidance, Kiskeam underlined an utter determination to bridge a 30 year gap to land divisional honours.