MEMBERSHIP NOW DUE
Club membership for the 2026 season is now open on the GAA membership site “Foireann”, and we would ask that you pay your club membership as soon as possible. This coming season Kilworth GAA, Camogie, and LGFA clubs have collaborated together as a “One Membership Structure” in an effort to reduce costs on everyone across all clubs. All players and management teams must be fully paid-up members in advance of returning to training/matches, with March 31st the membership deadline date. If anyone has any questions or issues, please contact Kilworth GAA club registrar Rhona Heggtveit on 086-0863816.
The full list of membership rates for 2026 as per the new One Membership Structure are as follows: Adult Player €85, Student €70, Juvenile (U11-U18) €65, Juvenile (U10 and below) €45, OAP €20, Adult Non Player €65, Family 2+1 €155, Family 2+2 €195, Family 2+3/1+4 €225, Husband/Wife Player €95, Husband/Wife Non Player €75, Gaelic For M&O (LGFA only) €45.
JUNIOR DIVISIONAL LEAGUES
Kilworth junior hurlers will participate in Division 2 of the Avondhu divisional hurling league in 2026. This division consists of 6 teams which includes Kilworth, Mallow, Fermoy, Araglen, Ballyclough, and Shanballymore, with the league campaign due to get underway on Sunday March 08th.
Kilworth junior footballers will participate in Division 3 of the Avondhu divisional football league in 2026. This division consists of 8 teams which includes Kilworth, Ballyhooly, Grange, Glanworth, Killavullen, Abbey Rovers, Ballyclough, and Buttevant, with the league campaign due to get underway on Sunday February 22nd.
Meanwhile, the Avondhu divisional hurling and football championship draws for 2026 will take place next week, on Wednesday evening February 18th.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO
There was no winner of last week’s lotto jackpot of €3,000 held on Tuesday February 03rd due to the Bank Holiday weekend. The numbers drawn were: 02, 03, 10, & 24. The lucky dip winner of €50 was PJ McCarthy c/o Centra. The lucky dip winners of €25 each were Ger & Tim c/o Timmy McCormack, Joan Allen c/o The Village Inn, & Conor O’Keeffe c/o Brian Carey. The jackpot prize on Monday February 09th is €3,200.
Tickets cost just €2 each or three lines for €5 and they are available online, in the local business outlets, or from your usual local sellers. As always, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support.
CONGRATULATIONS
Kilworth GAA club would like to congratulate Liam O’Flynn who was recently awarded the Hall of Fame award from Grange GAA for his many years of dedicated service to the club both on and off the field. Liam played minor football with Kilworth in his youth and is a steadfast supporter of the club. Comhghairdeas Liam!
VOTES OF SYMPATHY
The club would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the Considine family, Mitchelstown and the Barry family, Fermoy following their recent bereavements.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Sunday February 22nd; Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Division 3 Football League; Kilworth V Abbey Rovers in Castletownroche at 2.30pm.
Sunday March 01st; Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Division 3 Football League; Kilworth V Ballyhooly in Kilworth at 2.30pm.
Saturday March 07th; Red FM Division 4 Hurling League; Kilworth V Blackrock in Church Road at 3pm.
Sunday March 08th; Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Division 2 Hurling League; Kilworth V Shanballymore in Kilworth at 3pm.
MAIN CLUB SPONSORS: Mike Walsh Pharmacy, The Village Inn, Aherne’s Pub, KDC Ltd., Kilally Stables, Mitchelstown Dental Clinic, Joe & Trish Bonner, and Centra Kilworth.
THROWBACK THURSDAY
1962 – The quest to regain the crown
Following on from the clubs first ever Junior A hurling honours in 1961 against Kildorrery on a final scoreline of 4-09 to 2-07, Kilworth entered the 1962 season confident with many hurling Gaels within the county’s largest division Avondhu expecting the titleholders to perform a repeat success of the previous season. 1962 was also the year that the existence of the area system of deciding divisional finalists was removed, meaning Kilworth faced western divisional charges earlier in the championship for the very first time.
Following a first round defeat of Dromina after a rather poor performance that saw Kilworth prevail by a 4 point margin which was played at Doneraile on Sunday 1st July, a mouth-watering quarter-final clash against challengers Newtownshandrum awaited the local Gaels at Buttevant which interestingly was Kilworth’s first ever junior championship appearance at this very popular venue. Watched by a record breaking crowd on Sunday 15th July with gates receipts bringing in a divisional record of £155, Kilworth with Jerry Keating, Bill Hegarty, Mick Connors, Owen McCauliffe, and Tom Aherne all representing the Avondhu Senior hurlers, forced the pace throughout this contest and were never in arrears as they produced an hour of combined and devasting hurling to run out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 5-13 to 4-0.
Next up for Kilworth on Sunday evening 12th August was a semi-final clash against near neighbours Araglen which was played at Fitzgerald Park Fermoy. This encounter however was overshadowed by the tragic death of a Kilworth Gael, Mr. Jeremiah Brackett, who was involved in a traffic accident on his way to the game which cast a gloom over the bumper crowd in attendance. Nevertheless, this clash which was played in a fine sporting spirit and a credit to both teams, proved fast, hard hurling, and was so thrilling from the first to final whistle that not even a single spectator left the field as they witnessed Kilworth march onwards to the North Cork final once again with the final score reading 2-05 to 0-04.
Kilworth, the glamour team of last year’s championship, included the presence of two county intermediate players consisting of midfielder Bill Hegarty and substitute Jerry Keating, and also county minor corner forward John Hogan within their starting fifteen, just like 12 months prior, once again faced rivals Kildorrery in the divisional final. Played at a gale swept but dry Doneraile pitch in the presence of a large crowd on Sunday 26th August, Kildorrery got the start of dreams and unfortunately Kilworth’s all or nothing tactics failed to swing in motion for this encounter as they were compelled to bend the knee to the boys from the hill on a final scoreline of 6-7 to 7-1. The following extracts from match reports summed up the 13 goal spectacle:
“Kildorrery will carry the North Cork standard in the county J.H.C. this year following a most exciting decider at Doneraile last Sunday with the losers going down gamely and as proper sportsmen. The game was not up to the standard expected but at the same time some good bouts of hurling were witnessed at intervals. Favoured by a pretty severe wind in the first half, Kildorrery made good use of it and succeeded in piling up the score with 6 goals and 7 points to a solidary Kilworth point from the stick of John Hogan the half time score.
Upon the restart, in a desperate race against time and a hugh deficit to reclaim, the men from the southern banks of the funcheon remarkably almost forced a replay. Courage and a “do or die” spirit of hurling were mainsprings of this amazing fight back and a team less equipped with those great assets would have half-heartedly approached the second period. An eight goal arrears tally was a crushing thought to the 1961 champions and their many loyal and sporting supporters, but far from being despondent, the common message which was heard from the sidelines was “go for goals lads, tis your only hope”.
Six minutes after the resumption the response to this plea was made when full forward Pat Farren had the uprights shaking following a first time connection on a delivery from county intermediate player Billy Hegarty who was active in the midfield area. Within the next three minutes, John Hogan the county minor, and Fred Sheedy, Hegarty’s midfield partner, added further major scores. Still though, there were five goals to go before the current champions could even earn the right to a replay. This consideration and the great hurling of half backs Owen McCauliffe and Mick Dunne, plus the tremendous vitality and thrust of John Finn, accelerated the sustained offensive tempo, and when Avondhu senior footballer Jim Lawton availed of a defensive lapse to slam in Kilworth fourth goal the signs of a hectic finish were clearly evident.
Ritchie Carey then came into the picture notching two goals with ten minutes of the thrilling second half period left to play. Excitement reigned supreme as Kilworth demonstrated that their rallying power which characterised their 1961 county semi-final and final duals with Eire Óg and Cloyne were not freakish. A dramatic incident produced Kilworth’s last goal when the Kildorrery goalkeeper short-pucked a delivery which Ritchie Carey intercepted and smartly parted to Pat Farren who rounded off the movement with a well taken score in the 52nd minute as electrifying scenes were witnessed all over the venue.
Kilworth maintained pressure and continued to attack for the remainder of time of the clock but ultimately it would be Kildorrery’s day in the sun as their first half tally kept them in the lead by one goal at referee and divisional chairman Mr. Derry Gowen’s full time whistle. To the losers credit they went down gamely and can hold their heads high. The loss of county intermediate player Jerry Keating through injury in the first quarter was a hard blow to their hopes and when this final is reviewed by some North Cork Gaels around the fireside on a future winters night, the tremendous yet unsuccessful Kilworth rally will add lustre to both the players and club.”
