1987

Kilcoo club opened the 1987 League Campaign with a double win for the footballers. The Seconds beat Loughinisland by 2-7 to 0-6 and the Seniors beat Atticall, in Owen Roe Park, winning by a single point. Kilcoo played the first of three local derbies with few changes from the 1986 team. In the Senior match Atticall went ahead, in the first half, by six points to one but Owen McEvoy and his back-up team had a few stern words about the Kilcoo tradition during the half time break and this seemed to inspire the side. Dan Morgan took a ‘45’ and his brother James flicked the ball into the net. A further point from Jerome Johnston, two from Kevin Kane and a long-range point from James Morgan put Kilcoo well ahead. A last minute penalty narrowed the gap but Kilcoo held out for a one point victory.

At the end of February Kilcoo played Liatroim away, and, although, the home side made it a hard fought contest Kilcoo came away with a 2-11 to 1-6 win. The first half of this game saw Liatroim score an easy goal and three points and Kilcoo had points from Dan Morgan, Liam Og Mussen and Jerome Johnston. From the second half throw-in Kilcoo gained possession and James Morgan made no mistake and put the ball in the Liatroim net.

The visitors were now getting on top and had a succession of points from Dan and James Morgan, Colm Devlin and Declan Mussen. Kilcoo finished the game comfortably winning by eight points. The Seconds, however, suffered a loss to a fitter Bryansford side. In the game Bryansford were ahead by five points to three at half time and, in the second half Kilcoo had three points from Mickey McClean, Terence O’Hanlon and John Devlin and there was good support play from Noel Morgan, Martin Fettis and John McEvoy, but the team was beaten by 2-8 to 0-6.

In March the Seconds travelled to Clonduff and although Kilcoo opened the scoring they went in at half time two points down. In the second half although Kilcoo brought on Damien Travers, who scored a well taken point the team went down by five points. The next Senior match was away to Teconnaught, where Kilcoo dropped points to a fitter and more determined side, losing by 0-13 to 0-9. An Riocht also heavily beat the Reserves with a final score of 3-13 to 1-3. The next Senior game was at home to Shamrocks and there was some fine scoring from John Morgan, Kevin Kane, James Morgan and Jerome Johnston but a late rally of five points in the last quarter meant a good win for the away side. Castlewellan again beat the Reserves by 2-7 to 1-3. The next Senior game, away to Glenn, was a dour battle with scores hard to come by and with both defences giving little away. It was marred by some poor refereeing decisions, which resulted in three players, two from Kilcoo and one from Glenn, being sent off in the dying minutes. The local press reported that Glenn, the home side, were lucky to have a two point win in this encounter. Burren beat the Reserves. Fortunes did not change for Kilcoo in the next Senior game where they were beaten by Warrenpoint when their finishing let them down and they lost by 0-9 to 0-6.

A big Easter holiday crowd witnessed the next important Senior match against Carryduff. This was a high scoring and entertaining game, which saw both sides display a lot of excellent football. Kilcoo scored four good goals, two from Jerome Johnston, one from James Morgan and another from Colm Morgan, when they ran out winners by 4-8 to 1-13 and gained useful League points.

On 26 April, in Derrylackey, the Seniors faced Newry Mitchels in a hard encounter and, although, Mitchels won by three points Kilcoo felt they were denied a penalty on the stroke of full time. The Reserves then drew with Glenn, at home, and the Seniors played away in Atticall and, in a point for point contest, the home side just did enough to come away victorious In May in the return game against Liatroim in Owen Roe Park Kilcoo did the double for the year against their near neighbours when Dan Morgan was Kilcoo’s saviour with his late point in a 0-7 to 1-3 victory and there was a second defeat against Clonduff.

In the preliminary round of the Feis Sevens Kilcoo had good wins over Downpatrick and Castlewellan but were beaten in the final of their section by Loughinisland.

June saw the Championship draws with Kilcoo Juniors playing and beating Killyleagh convincingly in the first round by 4-15 to 0-8. The U-12 footballers provided spectators with an exciting game at St. John’s and played some fine football. With good team spirit they ran out easy winners 5-11 to 3-0 to qualify for the next round. It was also a good week for the U-14s, who defeated Liatroim and the Seniors got a draw with Shamrocks. In the Senior Championship Kilcoo played An Riocht but were beaten by 1-7 to 0-4.

After the Summer break football resumed with a game, in Owen Roe Park, against Warrenpoint. This was a must win game to avoid relegation and, as a result of a late rally, Kilcoo scored a goal just at the right time and came away victors by 1-12 to 1-9. It was also a successful weekend for the U-14s who defeated the League leaders, Dromara, by 12-6 to 8-4. Jimmy Devlin and Paul McEvoy were best in an excellent Kilcoo side.

In the next Senior match two goals by Sean Michael Johnston, one in each half gave Kilcoo a well earned victory, by 2-13 to 1-10 against Teconnaught and in the second round of the Junior Championship Kilcoo lost out to Ballyholland by 1-13 to 1-3.

There was a sustained effort from the Senior team to avoid relegation by playing several challenge matches against Loughinisland and Saul and this seemed to have had an encouraging effect as the side won the Oakley Fayre Cup by beating Bright and, so, got some silverware.

In September in the League, after a long lay off because of the success of the Down Minors Kilcoo snatched a draw, in Killyleagh, against Carryduff and the Seconds also earned a point against a strong Downpatrick side.

In October Kilcoo retained their place in Division 2 with a draw against Mitchels. The Seconds travelled to Rostrevor and although they trailed by ten points at half time they fought back to narrow the score to 3-6 to 2-6 and their season ended with a draw with Glenn at home, both sides scoring ten points. The U-14s were runners-up in their League campaign, but the Reserves lost heavily to Burren.

The Annual Dinner Dance was held in the Osborne Hotel in Warrenpoint. Although it was not Kilcoo’s best year for winning trophies the Seniors did have some silverware in the Darkley Cup won earlier in the year and, indeed, the first full year in Owen Roe Park was a success.

At the dinner the guest speaker was Matt Fitzpatrick, East Down Treasurer and the awards presented were:

U-12 Joint Award: Ciaran O’Hare & Paul McEvoy,

U-14:Jimmy Devlin,

U-16: Liam McEvoy,

Minor: Terence O’Hanlon,

Reserve Player of the Year: Sean Michael Johnston,

Senior Player: James Morgan

Sportsman of the Year: Jerome Johnston,

Clubman of the Year: Sean Gribben,

Supporter of the Year: Stephen O’Hare.

Awards were also given to the Club’s three referees, Hugh Maginn, Edward Morgan and Owen McEvoy.

There was great sadness in the club during the summer of 1987 due to the sudden and sad death of Gary Cunningham, as a result of a boating accident. Gary had been an U-12 player for two years and his brothers Peter and Sean played for the U-14 and U-16 teams. The youngest son of Peter and Bridie of Mooney’s Park, he was also survived by his sister Majella. Having just left St. Malachy’s Primary School Kilcoo at the end of June, his former teacher and principal, Mr. Stephen Keenan, in his tribute to him said.” Gary was one of those rare individuals in a primary school, a boy who was equally popular with staff and pupils. It is ironic that a boy who voluntarily undertook supervising duties with infants to save them from accidents, should himself suffer such an accident. It seems stupid on God’s part to take one who gave so much to others and had so much to give, – but then God’s stupidity is greater than man’s wisdom. May he rest in peace”.

These sentiments were echoed entirely by all who knew him and by all within Kilcoo G.F.C. where Gary was a popular young member. As a mark of respect Kilcoo G.F.C. postponed the annual sports until September.