Cork County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final 2019 – Kilworth 1-20, Fr. O’Neills 3-23 on Saturday October 12^th in Pairc Uí Rinn @ 7:30pm.

Despite a great opening ten minutes for the men in red, the fire power of O’Neills proved too strong for Kilworth last Saturday night and the Seamus Long Cup made its way back to East Cork. Although we were defeated by nine points on the score board, this was not a fair reflection of how hard the lads battled and fought, right up until the last second of the game. They gave it everything, they did all they could on the night but Fr O’Neills probably saved their best performance of the year for last weekend and they were worthy winners. Not too many teams would have been able to keep up with them and credit is due to our lads for the great character they showed in never giving up. Of course we were hurting when that final whistle was blown. It was a disappointing result, especially after the year we’ve had so far. But we are immensely proud of the players and the mentors for all of their efforts. They did themselves and the village proud. They went out and wore that Kilworth jersey and they gave it their all. Despite O’Neills’ dominance, Kilworth always rallied and they never gave up. They never stopped fighting. Visible for all to see, is the great bond that this team have. They are team mates, mentors, but more importantly they are friends both on and off the field. There is no doubt they will come back stronger from this.  

Kilworth made a great start to the game, our best start of the year and after ten minutes Noel McNamara, Jamie Sheehan and Eoin Carey had us ahead by 0-5 to 0-3. However in the 12^th minute, Dalton was brought down inside the square and O’Neills were awarded a penalty. Of course they made no mistake and this was the turning point of the game. They went on to outscore Kilworth 1-05 to no score inside the next ten minutes and fast forward with just three minutes to go until the break, we trailed 1-12 to 0-6. But despite O’Neill’s dominance, Kilworth never gave up. Eoin Carey grabbed a goal back for the men in red in the 28^th minute and this reduced the gap to six points, 1-12 to 1-6. Eoin McGrath followed up with a great point from play and now there was just five between the sides, 1-12 to 1-7. O’Neills tagged on two more points before the break and Liam Whelan also got his name on the score sheet for Kilworth. At the half time whistle we trailed 1-14 to 1-8. The lads were positive at the break, there was only two scores between the sides. Although O’Neills were on top most of the opening half, we stuck at it and we were just six behind. But we knew we needed a strong start to the second half. We had to score first.

The game resumed but the goal that we needed came the way of O’Neills almost immediately after the restart. They opened up the Kilworth defence to put their second goal past Kieran Walsh and this was a defining moment in the game. Kilworth continued to battle and fight their way back with points from Brian Tobin, Noel McNamara and Will Condon. The gap was back to six but a third O’Neills goal in the 49^th minute killed any possible comeback and the score line read 3-18 to 1-14. Kilworth could have hung their heads but they didn’t and they continued to play and do their very best until the final whistle was sounded. In the end we lost out on the final score line of 3-23 to 1-20.

On behalf of the club we would like to congratulate Fr O’Neills on their worthy win and we wish them all the best in their Munster championship campaign. We look forward to many more battles with the East Cork men in the years ahead. We would also like to congratulate and thank the Kilworth management team of Shane Tobin, Damien McNamara, John Hegarty, Aidan Kenny, Seán Carey, Darren Kenny and Will Twomey for the incredible work and effort you each put in with the team this year. We are incredibly lucky to have such talented men in this club to lead, our now senior hurlers. No stone was left unturned and along with the players, you too gave it everything all year. We are very grateful to you all and we hope to see you back at the helm in 2020.

There’s no denying that last Saturday night was a disappointing night for our little village, a disappointing result for our club but what an incredible bunch of players and mentors we are so lucky to have. Like I’ve said a few times now, they have given it absolutely everything all year. Through their 90 group sessions, which included 23 games, they always went out and wore that Kilworth jersey with immense pride. They tried their hearts out and we couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them.

They have given us brilliant entertainment all year starting back with that fantastic first round championship win over Valley Rovers back in April. They then went on to defeat Carrigaline and Inniscarra to book their place in the final. If someone had told us this time last year that we would get to a county final and be playing senior Hurling in 2020, we probably wouldn’t have believed them but against the odds we did it. We always believed. Our boys have achieved heights that this club has never reached before.

This defeat will not define us. We will be back. We look forward to whatever lies ahead for us in 2020. We look forward to playing senior hurling for the first time in our history. We will always support our club. We will always get behind our teams through the good days, and the bad but I promise you, there are plenty more great days ahead for this mighty club and for these fantastic players. Now is a great time to be involved in the club. We are starting a new development, we will play senior hurling next year, the juveniles are going well, we are in a minor hurling county final next Sunday and our junior footballers are also involved in county action. It’s onwards and upwards we go!

We are Kilworth. Kilworth Abú. Kilworth ‘till we die.

Team and scorers: Kieran Walsh; Maurice McNamara, Kieran Lane (Captain), Mark O’Connor; Nathan Byrne, David Twomey, Austin O’Hara; Brian Tobin (0-1), Eoin McGrath (0-1); Seán Keane, Liam Whelan (0-1), Eoin Carey (1-4); Jamie Sheehan (0-1), Noel McNamara (0-11), Will Condon (0-1). Subs Used: Tom Twomey, Paddy Moakley and Ned O’Brien.

THANK YOU

On behalf of the club we would like to sincerely thank absolutely everyone who sent best wishes to the club in the days and weeks prior to the final. We were overwhelmed with the incredible support we received, especially from all of the local clubs. It was greatly appreciated by the club, players and mentors and it didn’t go unnoticed.

We also have to mention the incredible support we got on the night. It was unbelievable. We could feel the place lifting whenever we scored, the place was covered in red and white. There was a massive crowd at the game, it was one of the biggest crowds we have ever seen. Thank you to absolutely everyone who made the effort to travel to Cork and get behind our team. Thank you to everyone who put out a red and white flag. The village and surrounding countryside looked amazing decked out in red and white in the week leading up to the final. It was great to see the entire community come together and get behind the lads. I know the team and mentors really appreciated it too.

Thank you to everyone who very kindly donated to the training fund ahead of the county final. Again we were overwhelmed with the support we received from near and far. Your generosity was greatly appreciated by the club and will always be remembered.

Thank you to Declan Corbett and Corbett Court Restaurant for providing the team with 30 free two-course meals last Sunday afternoon. As always the food was fantastic and we would like to sincerely thank Declan and all of his staff for his kind support and generosity. We greatly appreciate it.

Once again we would like to thank Seán O’Brien for providing Lucozade Sport to the team before last Saturday’s game. Seán has been a fantastic supporter of the team, providing Lucozade sport to them before every game this year. We greatly appreciate it Seán.

Finally, the game last Saturday night was recorded and copies of the DVD will be available should anyone wish to buy a copy. Please let Shane Tobin or one of the club officers know. Thank you.

BEST OF LUCK KILARA ÓG MINORS

On behalf of the club we would like to wish the Kilara Óg minor hurlers the very best of luck in their county final next Sunday, October 20^th in Castletownroche @ 3:30pm. The boys will meet Kilavullen in a repeat of this year’s North Cork Final which Kilara Óg narrowly won and so this game is sure to another close encounter. We look forward to it! We wish the players and the management team of Noel Daly, James Kearney, John Browne, Louise Daly, Tony Sheehan, Finbarr McCarthy, Brendan Wheeler, Nathan Byrne and Austin O’Hara the very best of luck. We will all be there to support you on Sunday and we hope that a large crowd turns out to get behind you in your quest for county honours. Kilara Óg Abú! 

BEST WISHES KIERAN

On behalf of the club and all of his team mates and mentors, we would like to wish our hurling captain Kieran Lane the very best of luck on his upcoming travels to Australia. We wish you a safe journey Kieran and we look forward to welcoming you back to the village and to the club in the not too distant future.

CONGRATULATIONS

On behalf of the club we would like to congratulate Mark O’Connor and his wife Aisling on the birth of their baby girl last week. We hope you are all doing well and enjoying the time with your new arrival. We would also like to congratulate Padraig Geary and his wife Sharon who also gave birth to a baby girl recently.

LOTTO JACKPOT HITS €17,650!

There was no winner of our lotto jackpot last Monday night worth €17,500. The numbers drawn were 1, 4, 9 and 15. The lucky dip winners of €25 were: Julie O’Mahony c/o Patsy O’Mahony, Susan Howard c/o Tom Howard, Cathy and Mary Hoy c/o Centra and Vera Jackson c/o Patsy O’Mahony. Next week’s jackpot will be €17,650. Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 lines for €5 and they are available locally in the four pubs, the Gallery Crafts and in O’Sullivan’s Centra Kilworth. You can also purchase a lotto ticket online at www.kilworthgaa.com. Be sure and play today for your chance to win! Best of luck!

AVONDHU HALL OF FAME FOR PATSY

On behalf of the club we would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Patsy O’Mahony on his upcoming induction to the Avondhu ‘Hall of Fame’. This award is long overdue to a man who has given years of incredible service to the North Cork Board along with our own club here in Kilworth. We are very lucky to have him and we are thrilled for him and his family on this fantastic achievement. It is thoroughly deserved. The event will take place at this year’s Avondhu Social on Friday December 6^th 2019 in the Hibernian Hotel Mallow and we hope to have a large Kilworth crowd there on the night to support Patsy and join him on this memorable occasion. More details will follow soon. Well done again Patsy!

CORK GAA CLUB DRAW

The deadline for joining the Cork GAA Club Draw is next Monday night, October 21^st 2019. All money must be collected and in as soon as possible. The first two draws are due to take place on November 1^st with €20,000 up for grabs in each draw! If you haven’t joined before, then now is the time to do so! You could win big just like some of our previous winners! You can join for the year at a cost of €100 (10 draws + 2 free) or you can choose to pay monthly/ quarter yearly, etc.

Remember that this draw is vital for raising funds for our club and it is very important that it is supported by as many people as possible, especially people from within our own club and village. By joining today you could become a winner just like Finbarr McCarthy, Mary Walsh, John O’Brien and Ned O’Brien who were recent price winners in a Cork GAA Club Draw. Not only could you be a winner but you could also help Kilworth GAA raise vital funds towards the future development of our Club House and pitch facilities. Every cent that goes towards the development will help to make it happen but we cannot do that alone. We need you help and by joining the Cork GAA Club draw, you are doing so. Please spread the word about the draw, both you and the club can become big winners from it! If you would like to join then please contact any club officer today.

FIXTURES

U18 ‘B’ Hurling Championship County Final – Kilara Óg V Kilavullen on Sunday October 20^th in Castletownroche @ 3:30pm.

U14 Football County Semi-final – Kilara Óg V Kiltha Óg on Friday October 19^th in Pairc Uí Chaoimh (4G Pitch) @ 7:30pm. (TBC)

Junior ‘A’ Football County Round 1 – Kilworth V St. Michaels in Mourneabbey on Wednesday 23^rd October 2019 @ 7:30pm. 

VOTES OF SYMPATHY

On behalf of the club we would like to express votes of sympathy to the Hegarty family Kilworth, the Whelan family Kilworth, the Hickey family Fermoy and the O’Leary family Fermoy following their recent bereavements.

FOLLOW US

Please like our “Kilworth GAA” Facebook page (facebook.com/KilworthGAA), follow us on Twitter @KilworthGaa or check out our new website @ www.kilworthgaa.com. You can also follow us on Instagram @kilworthgaa. These pages will be updated on a regular basis and Twitter will also have regular updates of the scores and key moments from all our championship games later in the year.

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