1986

The year 1986 began on a high note for Kilcoo Club when, for the first time in their history, they were named as East Down Club of the Year. In nominating Kilcoo as winners, the East Down Board were acknowledging the tremendous strides taken by Kilcoo Club in the promotion of Gaelic Culture in the area over many years. The people of Kilcoo were justifiably proud to receive this award, but those who gained most satisfaction from it were undoubtedly the hard working, energetic committee members. It was men such as those committee members who were the backbone of the club and worked tirelessly and unnoticed behind the scenes; they were the people, more than any, who gained this reward for Kilcoo, in their work of fielding teams at all levels, imposing discipline, organising Scor Competitions, raising finances and planning for the future.

Having finished in a respectable position in the League at the end of the ‘85 season, the club hoped to enter three adult teams competitively in 1986. The Senior League kicked off in January with a match against Downpatrick played at St. Patrick’s High School pitch. Downpatrick were without their five county panellists but Kilcoo were determined to make their presence felt from the word go. However, Downpatrick proved too strong and even though Kilcoo played some competitive football they were beaten by 2-4 to 0-6. Their next encounter, which was against Saval, had a much better result.

Playing against the wind in the first half, Kilcoo opened their scorecard with a point from Michael Devlin. Saval replied and indeed, soon afterwards Kilcoo conceded a goal during a temporary lack of concentration on the part of the defence. However, they straightened up their weak spot in the second half and with some magnificent midfield football from John Morgan and good scores from Sean Devlin, Declan Mussen, Colm Morgan and John Devlin, ‘The Magpies’ took the lead and went on to win by 1-7 to 1-5. It is significant to note that Saval did not score in the second half due to a considerable strengthening of the Kilcoo defence. Continuing with the Senior League fixtures Kilcoo played and drew with Ballyholland with a score of 1-6 each and three weeks later they had another draw this time with Warrenpoint the score being 2-9 each.

At this time Kilcoo reached a very important milestone in the history of their club. It was the day on which they played their first game on their new playing field at Castlewellan Road, the date being Monday 28 April 1986.

It wasn’t planned that the new pitch was to be used just yet but due to circumstances at the time the Division Two League game between Kilcoo Seniors and Newry Shamrocks took place before a very large crowd.

Obviously, for the Kilcoo Club and supporters this was a highly emotional occasion, producing one of the best performances of the season from the team. The first score of the game came from Kilcoo’s longest serving player James Morgan, followed by points from Liam Og Mussen and Dan Morgan, and by half time, ‘The Magpies’ were leading by 0-10 to 0-2. However, after the interval and, obviously, a stern team talk from their manager, Sean Hollywood, Shamrocks took on a new lease of life and, shortly after the restart, they scored a goal and continued to build up points until, by the end of the third quarter, they had cut the lead to just two points. However, a few late points from James Morgan and Liam Og Mussen concluded the scores and Kilcoo were worthy winners of that first historic game on their new field, with a score of Kilcoo 0-13 to Shamrocks 1-6.

In their next encounter, against Liatroim, they won by the narrowest of margins with a score of 0-10 to Liatroim’s 1-6.

Kilcoo’s dismal record in the Senior Championship continued at Fontenoy Park on Sunday 5 May when they fell to Bright. ‘The Magpies’ enjoyed plenty of first half possession when playing with the wind but their play lacked pattern and commitment and their inability to convert outfield possession into scores cost them dearly. Bright opened the scoring with a point after five minutes but it was their only score in the first half. After fifteen minutes Declan Mussen scored the first point for Kilcoo followed by points from James and Dan Morgan. However at half time Kilcoo were in the lead by only three points. The second half got off to a lively start but Kilcoo still couldn’t get the points and it was Bright that got the breakthrough. A lob by Paul Hanna was completely misjudged by the goalkeeper Sean Fitzpatrick, and, as the ball rolled into the net, the sides were level eight minutes after the restart. Trailing by a goal going into the last five minutes Kilcoo at last found the urgency their play had been lacking. A late rally produced points from Hugh and Declan Mussen and although Dan Morgan might have snatched a late equaliser it was not to be.

The full time score was Bright 1-5 to Kilcoo 0-7.

Continuing with the Senior League fixtures Kilcoo played An Riocht, whohad also suffered a disappointing dismissal from the Championship. For the first half hour this was an exciting game with the prospect of a win very much within Kilcoo’s grasp, but there were many wasted chances which Kilcoo were to regret by the end of the game. Sean Devlin opened the scoring and with Dan Morgan being switched from centre field to full forward efforts were improved in both departments and the half time score was Kilcoo 0-7 to An Riocht 0-4. Alas, the game changed dramatically within five minutes of the restart when An Riocht were awarded and scored a penalty. ‘The Magpies’ completely lost their composure and did not reproduce their disciplined play of the first half. In fact the Kingdom added eight points to Kilcoo’s two points leaving the full time score a morale boosting 1-12 for An Riocht to Kilcoo’s 0-9.

By mid July Kilcoo were about third in the League tables with some games in hand. They went on to beat Ballyholland on their own ground with a score of 0-10 to 1-6 but, in their next encounter, which was against Liatroim at Owen Roe Park, a gallant Kilcoo fight back in the last twenty minutes, when they were ten points down just failed to get them a win over the visitors.

Before the game Liatroim had travelled as relegation candidates whereas Kilcoo were being seen as serious promotion prospects but, on this performance, ‘The Magpies’ seemed not quite ready for First Division football. After a tense opening ten minutes the scores were level on three points each when a good Liatroim move produced a goal. The Liatroim midfielders and forwards were dominant for a time leaving the half time score 0-10 for the Fontenoys to 0-3 for the ‘Owen Roes’. After the break further points stretched the lead to ten points before Kilcoo staged their fight back. In a ten minute spell the Liatroim goalkeeper Tommy Armstrong saved a number of dangerous shots and Kilcoo did have what appeared to be a legitimate penalty claim turned down at this stage. However, some well taken long range points from Dan Morgan, Jerome Johnston and Noel Doherty brought Kilcoo back into the game and they heaved a sigh of relief when Liatroim missed a penalty at the other end. A high ball from Dan Morgan caused confusion in the Liatroim goal mouth and Jerome Johnston volleyed the loose ball into the net for the equaliser. Liatroim substitute Jerome McCrickard and Dan Morgan exchanged points but in the closing minutes, Jimmy Doyle pointed a late free kick to give Liatroim a second division life line. The score was Liatroim 1-12 to Kilcoo 1-11.

Kilcoo then lost to ‘The Kingdom’ who had remained at the top of the League throughout, and, also, to Shamrocks with a score of 3-10 to 1-10. By October it seemed that Kilcoo had a backlog of matches including two against Newry Mitchels, the first of which they were defeated by 3-8 to 1-4. Two weeks later the result was reversed as ‘The Magpies’ tried very hard to avenge their previous defeat. Playing with a stiff wind in their favour in the first half, left corner forward Jerome Johnston scored a goal and two points while James Morgan added a goal and a point, followed by a Dan Morgan point from a free. At this stage Kilcoo were completely on top, but, in a breakaway attack, Mitchels player Colin Bell put the Newry side on the board with a point. Dan Morgan and Martin Fettis added a point each for Kilcoo but as the game progressed Mitchels began to battle their way back onto the scene. A goal for Mitchels was disallowed but shortly before the interval the ball was again in the net to leave the half-time score Kilcoo 2-6 Mitchels 1-1. In the second half Mitchels missed a couple of frees and it was Jerome Johnston who extended Kilcoo’s lead. For a period of time Mitchels put on the pressure, scoring a point, then converting a penalty, another point, another goal and then the equalising point. The ball was in the net again for Mitchels but fortunately for Kilcoo, the goal was disallowed and, in the dying minutes of the game, Noel Doherty scored the winning point leaving the final score 2-8 to ‘The Magpies’ and 3-4 to Mitchels.