LATE DRAMA!
Kilworth 2-16 Fr O’Neills 3-14
A point from a 65 deep into injury time saw Fr O’Neills take the league points on offer following a one point win in a perplexing finish at Aughavine last Sunday afternoon.
Fr O’Neills who controlled most of the first half, with a strong wind at their backs led 1-10 to 0-5 at half time, yet Kilworth turned it around in the second half to lead by five points 2-15 to 1-13 with the game heading for added time. Disaster struck however in the space of a minute with two Fr O’Neill’s goals as they retook the lead and while we hit back to level once more the Ladysbridge/Ballymacoda side had the final say landing that late 65 to take the spoils.
Following a close opening ten minutes the teams were tied 0-4 apiece, Kilworth’s scores coming from three Noel McNamara frees and Brian Tobin from play. Fr O’Neills went on to dominate the remainder of the half outscoring us 1-6 to 0-1. They added 1-1 between the 10th and 15th minutes to lead 1-5 to 0-4 at the first water break. The home side dominated the second quarter landing five points (3 frees) to Kilworth’s single white flag from a Noel McNamara free to leave it 1-10 to 0-5 at the short whistle.
We had the perfect start to the second half with an early goal. A speculative shot from distance from Liam Whelan wasn’t dealt with by the keeper and the ball ended up in the net. Noel added a point from a free and the arrears was reduced to four points. Both teams exchanged a number of points, Kilworth’s courtesy of a range from Noel McNamara from placed balls and from play and two excellent points from Liam Whelan, the second of which tied up the game 1-13 each. Another Noel McNamara free gave Kilworth the lead for the first time since the game’s opening score. O’Neill’s replied to tie it up once more before 1-2 without reply gave Kilworth a 2-15 to 1-13 lead. The introduction of Jamie Sheehan saw him land 1-1 either side of a Noel McNamara free.
The green flag resulted from a mix up in the O’Neill’s defence with Jamie pouncing to punish. At this stage it looked as if Kilworth would see out the game, however, the concession of two goals in quick succession changed the momentum in favour of our opponents. The first goal came from a 21 yard free and while the initial shot was saved on the line the rebound found the net. From the restart O’Neill’s attacked in numbers and landed their third goal to lead by the bare minimum. Jamie Sheehan responded with his second point, and with almost 39 second half minutes on the clock a draw looked the likely outcome. However, the referee allowed the play to continue with O’Neill’s landing the final score of the game from a 65 to win by one, 3-14 to 2-16. This proved a disappointing loss, after a poor first half the lads upped it considerably in the second half to put themselves in a winning position only for it to be snatched at the end. There is one remaining league cup game v Charleville which is fixed for Sunday, July 11 in Kilworth at 12 noon.
Team and scorers; S O’Brien, L Carey, M McNamara, A O’Hara, N Byrne, E McGrath, M O’Connor, B Tobin (0-1), J McCarthy, J Saich, L Whelan (1-2), W Condon, M Sheehan, N McNamara (0-11 7f, 1 ‘65) and B Sheehan. Subs used; J Sheehan (1-2) for B Sheehan, L Coffey for M Sheehan and S Keane for J McCarthy.
CLUB LOTTO CONTINUES TO RISE
There was no winner of this week’s lotto jackpot of €9,600 held on Monday, June 28. The numbers drawn were: 03, 06, 08 and 31. The lucky dip winner of €50 was Niall Carey c/o online. The lucky dip winners of €25 each were: Seamus Daly c/o John Condon, Noel Hynes c/o Mossie McNamara, Joe Aherne Jnr c/o online. Well done to our lucky dip winners including our clubs oldest member Noel Hynes! Next week’s jackpot on Monday, July 5 is €9,800. Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 lines for €5 and they are available locally in O’Sullivan’s Centra, Carmel’s Garden Centre, Bedina’s, Ger Hennessy Hair Studio, Hair by Helen, Aherne’s bar, The Village Inn, the Butchers Bar, online or from any of our usual sellers. Be sure and play today for your chance to win the jackpot! Best of luck to all our players! As always, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support.
GOLF CLASSIC
Our annual golf classic will take place this year on Friday, September 10 once more at Fermoy Golf club. More details will follow in the coming weeks, but for now it’s a date to mark off in the diary.
CONGRATULATIONS
Huge congratulations to Tommy O’Brien Snr, Fermoy who won 1st prize of €20,000 in the June Rebels’ Bounty draw held last Thursday night. Congratulations also to former club footballer Sean Donnellan who celebrated his 80th birthday recently. Sean was part of the clubs first North Cork Novice Football winning side of 1964.
REELING IN THE YEARS – FIRST NOVICE FOOTBALL TITLE 1964
Kilworth were first affiliated to the North Cork board as a football club in 1928 and the following year they played their first championship game which resulted in defeat when going under to Mitchelstown in a game played in Kildorrery. Lean years were to follow with the club having to wait until 1964 when the novice football title was won for the first time. Out of the hurling early Kilworth took to the big ball and what an impression they made when they defeated Sons of Liberty in the final at Shanballymore. Played on a glorious August day Kilworth took to the game by the playing of the long ball and at the interval were so far in front that not even the most diehard supporter of the opposition could give them any chance. It was a proud John Carey who accepted the cup on behalf of his team and Kilworth would play junior football in 1965.
Panel of players: J O’Connor, D Costello, M Donnellan, J Condon, B Kiersey, S O’Callaghan, T Gardner, P O’Riordan, R Carey, J O’Donoghue, P O’Mahony, J Hanlon, B Coughlan, B O’Donoghue, T Aherne, S Sweeney, J Carey, M Walsh, J McCarthy, P Farren, S Long, S Donnellan, M Condon.
SECOND TITLE ADDED – 1972
While there was no joy for the junior hurlers in 1972 who went under by four points in the final to Kildorrery at Fermoy, our novice footballers were making an impression and found themselves in the North Cork final against a much fancied Clyda Rovers. One newspaper report read as follows ‘Kilworth regained the novice football championship after an eight year lapse at Buttevant yesterday, when they defeated hot favourites Clyda Rovers in a thrilling game’. The teams were level at half time 1-5 each but two goals in the opening minutes of the second half by Billy Kiersey and Sean Long put Kilworth on the way to victory. But back came Clyda in true style and with five minutes remaining were in front by 1-9 to 2-5. It was at this stage that the game took a dramatic turn, a point blank shot at goal by a Clyda forward was smothered by the Kilworth custodian Sean O’Callaghan for the save of the match. From his long clearance up field, the ball was sent further up by Danny Fenton and his high lobbing ball was punched to the Clyda net by a high fielding Sean Long.
Seconds later the final whistle sounded and Kilworth recorded a famous victory on a scoreline of 3-5 to 1-9. The cup was presented to the winning captain Lar Flynn by the secretary of the North Cork Boar Michael O’Mahony.’
FIXTURES
We have no competitive fixtures this coming weekend
MAIN CLUB SPONSORS
Mike Walsh Pharmacy, Ahearne’s Pub, The Village Inn, KDC Ltd, Kilally Stables and Mitchelstown Dental Clinic.