WINNING START FOR JUNIOR HURLERS
Last week, on Monday evening August 24th, Kilworth got their 2026 Denis Gallagher Air Conditioning Services sponsored Junior B2 Hurling Championship campaign off to the perfect start with a comprehensive 0-20 to 1-06 victory over Ballyhea which was played in Ballygiblin. On a perfect evening for hurling, Kilworth produced a strong, disciplined team performance from start to finish, combining youthful energy with experienced leadership across the field. From the opening whistle, Kilworth settled quickly into their rhythm and took control of the contest to lead throughout the hour with their consistent pressure and clinical finishing helping to establish a commanding advantage, and by half-time Kilworth held a comfortable nine-point lead.
Kilworth maintained their composure upon the restart and remained firmly in contention as the game progressed with the defence remaining solid while the forwards continued to create plenty of scoring opportunities as they registering an impressive thirty-eight shots over the course of the game and converted twenty, reflecting their dominance in both possession and attack. Corner forward Cormac Donnellan led the scoring chart with an excellent tally of 0-08, including three placed balls, while veteran center forward Brian Tobin contributed 0-03. Sean Óg Kenneally and Aaron Browne both chipped in with 0-02 apiece, while Ryan Jordan, Rory Gill, Mark Carey, Daniel O’Regan, and Darragh Sheehan also got on the scoresheet in this comfortable eleven-point win. Full-time score: Kilworth 0-20, Ballyhea 1-06.
This result gives Kilworth an ideal start to their championship campaign and plenty of encouragement as they look ahead to the next round, which is fixed for tomorrow evening September 04th, when they face Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels in Castletownroche at 7pm.
Team & Scorers: Sean Keane, Sean Shanahan, John Horgan, Michael Lenihan, Brian Dunne, Sean Óg Kenneally 0-02, Gearoid Carey, Ryan Jordan 0-01, Michael O’Callaghan, Rory Gill 0-01, Brian Tobin 0-03, Jason McCarthy, Cormac Donnellan 0-08 (3-f), Mark Carey 0-01, & Aaron Browne 0-02. Substitutes used: Thomas Twomey, Daniel O’Regan 0-01, Darragh Sheehan 0-01, Brian Casey, & Conor White.
INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION THIS SUNDAY
This coming Sunday afternoon, September 06th, Kilworth once again return to Páirc Uí Rinn, this time to contest Carrigaline in their final group game of the 2026 Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, with throw-in fixed for 2pm. As it currently stands, Kilworth lie in second place in group 3 with two points making a win or a draw a necessity in order to progress forward past the group stages. The club would like to wish the best of luck to all the players and management involved.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO RESULTS
There was no winner of last week’s lotto jackpot of €4,200 held on Monday August 24th. The numbers drawn were: 08, 18, 21, & 32. The lucky dip winner of €50 was Ollie Shanahan c/o Mossy McNamara. The lucky dip winners of €25 each were Brian Tobin c/o Online, Carmel Quirke c/o Online, & Meg Geraghty c/o Online. The jackpot prize on Monday August 31st is €4,400.
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. Míle Buíochas!
VOTES OF SYMPATHY
The club would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the O’Meara families, Fermoy/Kilworth, and the O’Sullivan family, Mitchelstown, following their recent bereavements.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Tomorrow, Friday September 04th; Denis Gallagher Air Conditioning Services Junior B2 Hurling Championship – Round 2, Kilworth V Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels in Castletownroche at 7pm.
Sunday September 06th; Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship – Round 3, Kilworth V Carrigaline in Páirc Uí Rinn at 2pm.
Please keep a watchful eye on club social media platforms for fixture updates etc.
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
Junior Hurling in the 1970’s
Following two seasons competing at Intermediate level, Kilworth entered the 1970 Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign determined to make their mark. In their third year at the grade, they opened their championship campaign with a hard-earned 3-07 to 2-08 victory over Glen Rovers at Riverstown. However, for the second successive year, their championship hopes were dashed at the quarter-final stage, as they suffered a 4-11 to 1-08 defeat to Cobh at the Cork Athletic Grounds.
Having returned from Intermediate to Junior ranks in 1971, Kilworth quickly re-established themselves by capturing the North Cork Junior A Hurling Championship title at the first attempt. In a hard-fought final at Doneraile, Kilworth overcame Liscarroll on a scoreline of 2-10 to 1-08, bringing championship honours back to the club and securing a fourth North Cork Junior A title. Captained by Fred Sheedy, the team showed tremendous determination, overturning a two-point half-time deficit by upping the ante in the second half and taking control of the contest. The victory marked a proud moment for the club, although it would be another nine years before silverware would once again make its way to the banks of the Funcheon.
Kilworth remained consistently competitive throughout the intervening years. In 1972, they reached another championship final, only to be defeated by Kildorrery on a scoreline of 3-11 to 2-09. The following year, the same opponents ended their campaign at the first-round stage, edging a closely fought contest by a single point, 1-11 to 1-10. Ballyhea proved too strong in the 1974 semi-final, prevailing by 2-09 to 2-05, while Kildorrery once again dashed Kilworth’s hopes of a return to the decider when the sides met in the 1975 semi-final, securing a comprehensive 3-11 to 1-03 victory.
The breakthrough finally came in 1976 when Kilworth after a four-year lapse and two semi-final losses progressed to the North Cork Junior A Hurling Championship Final, where they faced their western divisional rivals Ballyhea. Kilworth’s route to the final began with a hard-fought 3-09 to 3-07 victory over Rathluirc at Doneraile on July 4th, followed by an impressive semi-final performance against near neighbours Fermoy at Castletownroche on August 06th, who they comprehensively defeated on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-03.
The following North Cork final match report from 1976 appeared in the local press:
At Fr. Con Buckley Memorial Park, Buttevant, yesterday, before a very large attendance, Ballyhea successfully retained the North Cork Junior Hurling Championship title with a five-point victory over Kilworth. Playing against the breeze in the opening half, Kilworth forced the pace, but the resolute Ballyhea defence kept the challengers in check. All of Kilworth’s first-half scores came from the placed-ball accuracy of wing back John Kenny. Approaching half-time, Kilworth’s two-point advantage was wiped out when Dermot Flynn struck for Ballyhea’s only goal of the game, giving his side a 1-03 to 0-05 lead at the interval. Ballyhea settled into their rhythm after the restart and gradually took control of proceedings. A sustained period of dominance, aided by tactical positional changes, yielded the scores that ultimately secured victory. Kilworth’s only goal came in the closing minute when full-back Johnny Hogan converted a free, but by then Ballyhea had already established a decisive lead and booked their passage to the county championship. Final score Kilworth 1-05, Ballyhea 1-10. The Kilworth team on the day lined out as follows; Jimmy Hanlon, Mossie McNamara, John Hogan, Pat McCormack, Ger Sheedy, Dave Hogan, John Kenny, Fanahan McCormack, Willie Walsh, Tom Condon, Bill Russell, Christy O’Callaghan, J.J. Walsh, Lar Flynn, & John O’Connor.
In 1977, Kilworth’s championship campaign once again ended at the semi-final stage, as they were defeated by Kildorrery on a scoreline of 3-09 to 2-05. However, the year was not without success, as on November 13th, Kilworth captured the North Cork Hurling League title with an emphatic 3-12 to 2-03 victory over Buttevant at Castletownroche having held a narrow 1-04 to 1-02 lead at the short whistle.
Further disappointment followed in 1978 when Kilworth bowed out of the championship at the quarter-final stage, suffering a narrow 2-08 to 1-12 defeat to Castletownroche. The following year brought even greater heartbreak when on June 26th, Kilworth’s 1979 championship challenge came to an end after a thrilling and highly skilful encounter with Rathluirc, a game that was widely regarded as one of the finest and skilful seen in the division for many years. On this occasion, Rathluirc proved their conquerors in dramatic circumstances, when in the dying moments of added time, Rathluirc were awarded a 21-yard free, which they converted directly to the net to secure a one-point victory, 4-09 to 3-11, as they advanced through to set up a date with Milford in the semi-final.
Pictured 50 years ago, in October 1976, prior to the North Cork Junior A Hurling Championship Final between Kilworth and Ballyhea is Mr. Pat Syron of the Blue Dragon Motor Inn, Kilworth, presenting a new set of jerseys to Kilworth GAA Chairman William Magnier in the presence of club officers and players.
