NO RETURN UNTIL EASTER AT THE EARLIEST

With the announcement last week that inter county activity is not covered under the current Level 5 exemptions for elite sports, it is the view of the GAA’s Covid Advisory group that no on field activity will be permitted – training or games until Easter at the earliest.

In the interim, it is expected that the Government will publish an updated ‘Living with Covid’ plan and the GAA expect that this will provide clarity on when clubs and counties are likely to be allowed return to training and games in 2021. It should also provide clarity on when other off-field club activities may be permitted to resume.

In light of the latest delay, the powers that be in Croke Park may rethink the original plan for 2021 where intercounty competitions were to be run off first. In 2020 following the restart club championships were give precedence and this may become an option once again. For now, the message from HQ is that a revised Master Fixture Calendar with be prepared and a plan put in pace for the remainder of 2021 once a new Government road map for society and sport is made available.

For now, all GAA activity remains on hold and our grounds remain closed.

CLUB LOTTO

Club lotto continues to be suspended due to level 5 restrictions until further notice. Anyone paid up for the lotto prior to its postponement, will carry over to the next draw. We will keep you updated and give plenty notice as to when that lotto draw will be. Next lotto draw jackpot €7,400, date TBC.

MEMBERSHIP

Ideally, we would like all members to pay their membership subscription via the GAA’s Foireann website this year. Whilst cash payments can be accepted as in previous years, paying in this manner means you won’t get the functionality available via the Foireann platform. This functionality is especially important for players or the parents / guardians of players. Also, with Covid restrictions in place, there is unlikely to be a registration night for membership this year.

Fees as follows: Adult players €50, adult (non-player) €40, husband (player) and wife €70, husband (non-player) and wife €55, OAP €20, student (over-18) €30, juvenile (under 18) €30, (€30 for first and second child, third and subsequent children are €15 each), family 2+2 €100 and family 2+3 €115.

To use the Foireann system, log on to www.foireann.ie. Any queries can be directed to club registrar Alan Kenny.

REBELS’ BOUNTY TICKETS NOW ON SALE

There is still time to join the Rebels’ Bounty draw. The first three draws will take place on Thursday, March 25. This will incorporate three monthly draws, for January, February and March when 90 lucky winners will receive prizes ranging from €20,000 for first to €150 for 30th. Tickets cost €100 each and that includes 12 monthly draws (you pay for 10 and get 2 free!). You have the option to pay the €100 upfront now or you can pay €10 a month.

A major positive of this new rebranded draw is that Kilworth GAA club will retain 100% of all ticket money sold once we sell our minimum target of 70 tickets. Tickets are available from a number of executive committee members or they can be bought online.

VOTES OF SYMPATHY

The club would like to extend its deepest sympathy to the McCarthy and Whelan families, Kilworth; the Power family, Dungarvan; O’Sullivan, Kenny and Wheeler families, Kilworth; the Heskin family, Kilworth and the O’Brien family, Kilally, Kilworth - following their recent bereavements.

CLUB HISTORY

If anyone has old programmes, team sheets, paper cuttings, club records etc, we would be most grateful if you could pass them on to any club officer to help fill in some of the blanks from the second half of the last century in particular in the club’s history. Any items offered will be treated with care and will be returned to their owners.

REELING IN THE YEARS – NORTH CORK JA HURLING CHAMPIONS 1993

Over the coming weeks, we look at the junior hurlers North Cork win of 1993. Club PRO was John ‘Chelsea ‘Condon and thanks to his detailed reports at the time and also The Avondhu’s archive, we are able to bring the hurling year of 1993 back to life.

Following the success of 1991, a quarter-final defeat to Dromina in 1992 was a setback, however Kilworth did not have long to wait to gain some revenge as we qualified to meet Dromina in the 1993 final. With an impressive record in finals to date with wins in ‘61, ‘66, ‘67, ‘71, ‘80, ‘83 and ‘91, the path to title number eight saw wins over Milford, Castletownroche, near neighbours Fermoy with Dromina, seeking their first title since 1927 our final opponents.

PATH TO NORTH CORK FINAL Kilworth 2-8 Milford 1-5 (round 1 - July 4th, 1993)

Kilworth struggled for most of this 1st round game played in Kildorrery and left it late to seal victory, only taking the lead for the first time in the game with seven minutes remaining before overcoming Milford. Played in ideal conditions, we got off to the worst possible start when a mistake in defence allowed Milford in for a goal in the first minute. We trailed by five points approaching half-time and in truth could have been further behind. A let off two minutes from the break when Milford missed a close in free was followed by the break and score we badly wanted, when a low trajectory free from John Sheehan found its way goalward bound for Pat Greehy to fire home from close range and leave us trailing 1-4 to 1-2 at the break.

15 minutes elapsed before the second half had its opening score when Aidan Kenny pointed a free. Milford replied with a free of their own,

Kilworth went on to dominate the next ten minutes but failed to covert possession into scores. The decisive score came in the 53rd minutes when a well hit John Sheehan free found Sean Carey out on the right who in turn found Pat Shanahan waiting on the edge of the square to fire an unstoppable shot to the net and give Kilworth the lead for the first time.

Further points from Pat Greehy (2), Pat Shanahan (2) and Aidan Kenny left us six point winners at the final whistle. Kieran O’Donoghue who was making is championship debut, Jack Keane, Ollie Sheehan and Mikey Dunne starred in defence while the full forward line of Pat Greehy, Pat Shanahan and Sean Carey were best in attack.

Team and scorers; JJ Shanahan, K O’Donoghue, B Sheedy, J Keane, O Sheehan, M Dunne, M O’Brien, J Sheehan 0-1, B Carey, M Gowen, N O’Brien, C Johnson, S Carey 0-1, P Shanahan 1-2, P Greehy 1-2. Subs; A Kenny 0-2 for M Gowen, J Kiersey for N O’Brien, M Gowen for B Carey.

While great to get over the first round, all involved were well aware a big improvement was required in order to overcome Castletownroche in the quarter final.

Kilworth 1-8 Castletownroche 0-9 (quarter-final - July 16th, 1993)

There was a huge sense of relief when the final whistle sounded in Ballyhooly to earn Kilworth a place in the semi-final. Castletownroche made the early running jumping into a five point lead inside the first quarter. Held scoreless for the first twenty minutes following a succession of wides, Pat Greehy landed our opening score from a free.

Two minutes later another Greehy free ended up in the net for a rather fortunate goal. A good ball won by the hard working Ollie Sheehan found Cyril Johnson to shoot over a fine point and leave us lucky to hold Castletown 1-2 to 0-5 at the interval.

A pointed free from Greehy was quickly cancelled by Castletown to leave the sides still deadlocked five minutes into the second half. Points from Sean Carey, Cyril Johnson, Pat Greehy and Noel O’Brien saw us go four points clear with ten minutes remaining. Castletown pointed a free from long range before substitute Seamus Barry found the unmarked Pat Greehy to restore our four point lead with a fabulous point. The last five minutes proved to be an eternity as our lead was cut to two points. John Joe Shanahan made some miraculous saves in the last ten minutes and it took a marvellous save to deny Dany Relihan a match winning goal with the game in injury time.

Kilworth held out thus booking a semi-final place, where there was still plenty room for improvement. Brian Sheedy and Ollie Sheehan stood out in defence while Cyril Johnson excelled at midfield. Noel O’Brien and Pat Greehy played well up front, however the night belonged to John Joe Shanahan whose saves near the end kept us in the championship.

Team and scorers: JJ Shanahan, B Sheedy, J Kiersey, J Keane, O Sheehan, J Sheehan, M Dunne, B Carey, C Johnson 0-2, M Gowen, N O’Brien 0-1, A Kenny, P Greehy 1-4, P Shanahan, S Carey 0-1. Sub used: Seamus Barry for M Gowen.

The review from 1993 will continue next week.

MAIN CLUB SPONSORS

Mike Walsh Pharmacy, Aherne’s Pub, The Village Inn, KDC Ltd, Kilally Stables and Mitchelstown Dental Clinic.