APRIL REBELS BOUNTY DRAW TONIGHT

Best of luck to all our Rebels Bounty supporters in the April draw which takes place tonight. In total almost €40,000 in prize money will be given out across thirty winners with a bumper top prize of €25,000. Just a reminder that all ticker sales for 2021 are now closed. The 2022 draw will open in winter 2021.

MEMBERSHIP REMINDER

A reminder that club membership is now due and can be paid on line by logging onto www.foireann.ie. If you have any queries in relation to the system, please do not hesitate to contact club registrar Alan Kenny. For insurance purposes all players, members, coaches and management teams must pay their membership before they return to the pitch. Hopefully this will be sometime in May for all adult teams and mentors. New members are always very welcome to join Kilworth GAA club.

LOTTO JACKPOT HITS €8,000

There was no winner of this week’s lotto jackpot of €7,800 held on Monday April 26th. The numbers drawn were: 9, 22, 31 and 32. The lucky dip winner of €50 was Kevin Whelan & Jeanette c/o Centra. The lucky dip winners of €25 each were: Jo Browne c/o online, Sinead Condon c/o online and Sinead Condon c/o online. Next week’s jackpot on Tuesday 4th May (due to Bank Holiday weekend) is €8,000. Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 lines for €5 and they are available locally in O’ Sullivan’s Centra Kilworth, Carmel’s Garden Centre Kilworth , online at www.kilworthgaa.com 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.

REELING IN THE YEARS – NORTH CORK JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONS 1983 – TITLE NUMBER 6

This week we continue our look back over the clubs North Cork junior hurling titles with the focus on our 6th title annexed in 1983. Three years on from their last title and a county final appearance Kilworth were back in the limelight once again as they qualified for another North Cork final. Captained by outstanding keeper John Joe Shanahan, Kilworth got the better of a tough Charleville side in the final which was played at Doneraile. On a day in which four sets of brothers took to the field for Kilworth (John Joe, Pat and Tom Shanahan, Kevin and Dave McCarthy, Johnny and Dave Hogan and Mossie and Pat McNamara) the decisive score came some nine minutes from time when Tom Shanahan latched onto a Pat Greehy free to send and unstoppable shot to the Charleville net. This win saw Kilworth’s Johnny Hogan pick up his sixth North Cork Junior hurling medal some twenty two years after he had won his first in 1961.

Kilworth 2-13 Milford 0-04 (First Round; July 3rd, 1983, Venue; Doneraile)

Played at Doneraile in ideal weather conditions on a perfectly prepared playing surface Kilworth overcame their first hurdle when they had a somewhat flattering fifteen point victory over Milford. Kilworth got off to an ideal start with a goal and a point from Tom Shanahan in the first five minutes. While Kilworth were on top in most sectors they still found scores hard to come by and only lead by 1-5 to 0-2 at the interval.

In the second half they made much better use of possession and with some fine long range points from Pat Greehy and Paddy O ‘Flynn they had made certain of their ticket to the second round long before the final whistle. This was a good all round team performance with everybody playing reasonably well with team captain John Joe Shanahan was very sound in goal.

Kilworth 3-16 Kildorrery 2-10 (Quarter Final; July 29th, 1983, Venue; Castletownroche)

On a night when Kilworth Festival opened for 1983, the main focus for most locals Gaels was at  9.15pm at Castletownroche when referee Donie Casey blew the whistle to bring a thrilling North Cork championship game to an end and herald Kilworth’s entry into the semi-final against Fermoy. On a perfect evening and with the Castletown venue in great condition everything was set for a good game. And so it proved with a game that will rank with the best in this or any other years championship. Kildorrery won the toss and elected to play with the fairly strong breeze the strength of which could be gauged by the length of Tom Monaghan’s puck outs in the opening period. Kilworth opened the scoring in the second minute with a point from a side-line cut by John Kenny, but Kildorrery were quick to equalize and were two points in front before Dave McCarthy had the first of two great points from the left hand touchline. At this stage the Kilworth defence were under severe pressure but with Mick Allen having what must have been his best ever game at centre back and Kevin McCarthy an Dave Hogan on the wings also in fine form the oppositions half forward line found it very hard t make progress. Kildorrery did have a rather fortuitous goal midway through the half when a side-line from distance ended up in the net. This put them into a four point lead and with the Kilworth attack missing some gift edged chances, the losers were happy to lead by 1-6 to 0-6 at halftime.

John Kenny opened the scoring for Kilworth with a point in the first minute of the second half but Kildorrery quickly cancelled this out with a point of their own. Pat Greehy and Kildorrery exchanged points to still leave a goal between the sides ten minutes in. Then in the space of six minutes came two scores that were to change the whole trend of the game. A high ball landed in the Kildorrery goalmouth and with backs and forwards pulling in the air, Pat Shanahan had the ball in his hand and with a blistering shot billowed the net from twenty metre. This was an game changer, with the intent to inspire and inspire it did. Kilworth’s defence and midfield took over completely and the attack proceeded to pick off some great points. Shortly after Shanahan struck again with another vintage effort from almost the same position and for the last quarter Kilworth dominated. Paddy O ‘Flynn was a revelation at wing back, Mickey Gowen in his first championship outing had a memorable outing on the left wing, Fanahan McCormack and Pat Greehy hit over some great points and when John Kenny had his sides third goal with five minutes to go Kilworth were on their way to the semi-final. Kildorrery did stage one last effort from a semi-penalty which was too late to make a difference. Although this was essentially a team performance where the whole team were totally committed, trainer /coach Con Cooney had done a great job and deserved a great deal of credit. Few would argue if three players were signalled out for special mention, Johnny Hogan at left corner back playing in his twenty second championship was an inspiring leader, Paddy O’Flynn for his total commitment and Mickey Gowen for his ball control and overall display in his first championship game. Team and scorers: J.J. Shanahan, M McNamara, G Sheedy, J Hogan, K McCarthy, M Allen, D Hogan, J Kenny (1-5), F McCormack (0-2), P Greehy (0-2), P O ‘Flynn, D McCarthy (0-2), P Shanahan (2-2), T Shanahan (0-1), M Gowen (0-1). Sub used: N O’Brien (0-1) for J Hogan (injured).

Kilworth 5-12 Fermoy 2-01 (Semi-Final; August 20th, 1983, Venue; Kildorrery)

Our junior hurlers qualified for their first North Cork final since 1980 when they had a very easy win over near neighbours Fermoy at Kildorrery. Even though a lot of rain fell on the day, the pitch though a little slippery was in perfect condition and the game itself was excellently handled by local referee Moss Hanley. Kilworth were on top throughout and led by 2-8 to 1-00 at the interval with the Shanahan brothers Pat and Tom in great form in the full forward line (between them they accounted for 4-05) of Kilworth’s tally. The village again dominated the second period with Mickey Gowen, Pat Greehy and Dave McCarthy picking off some great scores. The defence was well on top also with both Mossie McNamara and Dave Hogan particularly prominent in the corners. Overall it was a very satisfactory performance. The Kilworth line up was as follows; J.J. Shanahan, M McNamara, G Sheedy, D Hogan, K McCarthy, M Allen, P O’Flynn, J Kenny, P McNamara, P Greehy, F McCormack, D McCarthy, P Shanahan, T Shanahan, M Gowen. Subs used; N O’Brien for J Kenny, P McCormack for D Hogan. 

The second semi-final involving Charleville and Clyda Rovers was held up due to Clyda’s involvement in the football championship. Charleville progresses to the final and provided Kilworth’s opponents in the decider five weeks later on September 25th.

(Continued next week)

FOLLOW US:

Please like our “Kilworth GAA” Facebook page (facebook.com/Kilworth), follow us on Twitter

@KilworthGaa or check out our website @ www.kilworthgaa.com. You can also follow us on

Instagram @kilworthgaa. These pages are updated on a regular basis so keep an eye for all club activities on there!

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