1988

The season began with the appointment of a new management team of Barney McEvoy and Sean Gribben who took over the managerial reins from Owen McEvoy. There was also sadness in the club with the death of Stephen Morgan. Kilcoo club had gone to play in Stephen’s Green in the ‘70’s and Stephen had been gateman for the eighteen years they continued to play there.

The Minors decided to play in a nine-a-side League set up to run concurrently with the regular fifteen-a-side and they kicked off with a very good win over St. Johns, in fact, the local press described it as a ‘scintillating display’. The team went on to overcome Ballynahinch by a point and the management team hoped that these early victories would encourage more boys to join in James Morgan’s coaching sessions.

The Seniors began the season with an easy victory in a challenge match by 3-15 to 0-3 with Bright. Kevin Kane, Sean Michael Johnston and James Morgan scored the goals. A minute’s silence was held at this match in memory of Owen Fitzpatrick, a former stalwart of the club, who died at this time.

In February the Minors played a high scoring game against Darragh Cross. In a game that was scheduled for twenty minutes in each half the referee somehow stretched the game into a seventy minute encounter in arctic conditions. At half time Kilcoo led by 6-4 to 3-0 but withstood a strong second half challenge to win by only a single point at 7-5 to 7-4.

Ballykinlar did not field in the next Minor match but Kilcoo failed to qualify for the East Down finals when they were beaten in another game by Darragh Cross.

The Seniors were continuing to play challenge matches in preparation for their first League game in late February and these seemed to have the desired effect when they defeated Saval away. Kilcoo, with wind advantage, and with two goals from Sean Michael Johnston went in a half time leading by 2-6 to 0-4. In spite of a spirited comeback from Saval Kilcoo were deserving winners and came away with a three point victory. Earlier in the day the Minors had a good win over St. Johns. The Juniors began their season with a victory over Castlewellan, with excellent performances from Gerry O’Hare, John McEvoy and John Doherty.

This was an impressive start to the year for all the Kilcoo sides and the Seniors continued in the winning vein, to top the League table, with victory over Warrenpoint by 2-8 to 0-8.

However, in the Senior League, luck changed, in a home game, against Carryduff where they went down by 2-5 to 0-4. The Juniors, however had a victory over Ardglass by two points to keep spirits up and they then drew with Loughinisland in the following home game with a score of 1-8 to 0-11.

The U-14s began their year with a spirited victory against Killyleagh with a 4-9 to 2-2 victory at the end of March In early April Mitchels called out their big guns for a visit to Owen Roe Park and although Kilcoo Seniors led for part of the match the Newry boys kept in touch and with a late goal overcame the home side. The Juniors then took on Bryansford Thirds at home but forgot to put on their shooting boots and found themselves trailing by five points to two at half time, but Bryansford failed to score in the second half against a strong Kilcoo defence and the game ended in a draw. The Seniors now returned to winning ways in a home game against Atticall. Although Kilcoo did not score until the twentieth minute they pulled ahead in the last ten minutes of the first half by 1-5 to 0-4. In the second half they pressed ahead and with morale high ran out easy winners by 1-12 to 0-6. It was Junior Championship time but poor finishing, with ten wides in the first half, Kilcoo were knocked out by Longstone.

In May there were no Senior League games due to preparation for the Ulster Championship and Kilcoo had to be content to arrange friendlies to keep the momentum going. The U-12s kicked off their season with a match against Liatroim at home but went down by a narrow margin. The Juniors drew with Castlewellan but were, then, badly beaten by Ardglass.

After a five-week lay off the Seniors were away to Dundrum and although Kilcoo were in control for most of the match and victory seemed inevitable Dundrum scored two late points to snatch victory by a single point.

However Kilcoo bounced back with a four-point win against Ballymartin. In this game Kilcoo were in fine shooting form with many names on the score sheet at the end. The U-12s did get themselves to the final of the East Down League with victories over Annsborough and Dechomet.

It was Senior Championship time again with a first round match against Downpatrick, from Division 1. Kilcoo almost caused the shock of the day when they made the Division 1 team fight all the way, in this competitive match in Newcastle. Although Kilcoo created most chances they were unable to register the crucial points and lost out by 0-9 to 0-4.

Back in the League against Mayobridge Kilcoo lost in a fast flowing game and, in a home game against League leaders Shamrocks, in early July, two goals from the visitors destroyed Kilcoo’s chances of a home victory. The U-12s lost out by two points to Castlewellan, although there was a man of the match performance from Damien McGreevy of Kilcoo. It was not all losses for Kilcoo members in July 1988 when Owen McEvoy and Ned Morgan helped Down referees to a convincing win over Monaghan in Burren.

After the July holidays football kicked off again with the Seniors meeting Saval but four goals from Saval in the second half wrecked Kilcoo’s chances. Although Kilcoo were not getting the right results in the League they did collect some silverware at the Drumaness Tournament and they proved they still had the capability of competing against Division 1 sides.

After disposing of Castlewellan on the Wednesday with a large victory they moved on to the final against Longstone on Saturday. This proved to be a thrilling game and, although Longstone went into an early lead they soon found themselves up against a fast flowing Kilcoo forward line who couldn’t put a foot wrong and in the second half two goals from Jerome Johnston sealed victory to lift the Kevin Kennedy Memorial Cup.

In August in the Senior League Kilcoo had a big win over Warrenpoint by 5-14 to 3-8 and they stayed on their winning streak with a three point win over Carryduff, in Killyleagh. The goals in this game were scored by the Johnston brothers, the first by Sean Michael and the second a penalty from Jerome. The next match was scheduled to be against Mitchels but the Newry side were unable to field. The U-14s also suffered the same on a visit to Killyleagh and picked up the points when the opposition again failed to field a team.

On 13 August Kilcoo hosted the first Gary Cunnungham Memorial Tournament, in memory of the young player who had died tragically in 1987. Eight teams were invited to take part and Clonduff and Bryansford won through to contest the final, which was played on a delayed sports day. Bryansford won the trophy. In the second Senior encounter with Dundrum the home side, in Owen Roe Park got their revenge for the earlier narrow defeat when they won by four points. This was a low scoring game, with Kilcoo always ahead. The goalie, Sean Fitzpatrick, played a man of the match game. Kilcoo Seniors further enhanced their reputation with a decisive win over Atticall by 3-13 to 0-5 on a foggy day. It was good defensive play by the backs and accurate shooting that put Kilcoo into a healthy lead at half time by nine points three.

In the second half ‘The Magpies’ were unstoppable, when they scored three classy goals from Sean Michael Johnston. Kilcoo then disposed of Ballymartin by two points, although they only managed to score one point in the second half from Mickey McClean.

It was down to solid earth, however, in the next game against Mayobridge, when Kilcoo were solidly beaten by 4-8 to 0-9 and things did not improve in the final League match at Newry at the beginning of September when Shamrocks overcame ‘The Magpies’ by 2-10 to 3-3. This was a very competitive game, with Kilcoo making Shamrocks fight for every score. Kilcoo did indeed finish their League campaign in the upper half of the League table.

In the Winter League Kilcoo had convincing wins over Clonduff and Carryduff, and this winning streak continued when they beat Dundrum by 1-8 to 0-5. They, then, went on to meet Downpatrick and came a step nearer when they had a one-point victory. The delegates at the A.G.M., on Sunday 18 December, got an early Christmas present when they learned that the Seniors had taken the Winter League when they defeated Longstone that day. At the meeting the committee thanked the parents for their support throughout the year and urged the boys to develop their skills, respect their mentors and be loyal to the club.

At a well-attended Dinner Dance in the Aylesforte House in early December Donal McCormac, County Chairman, congratulated the Kilcoo club on their efforts to promote sport, drama and music. Awards were presented to the following:

U-12: Damien McGreevy.

U-14: Barry McEvoy.

U-16: Jimmy Devlin.

Junior: Peter O’Higgins.

Senior: Sean Devlin.

Clubman of the Year: John Devlin.

Sportsman of the Year: Colm Morgan.

Minor Players of the Year: Jimmy Doherty and Martin Johnston.

Supporter of the Year: Gerry Kane.

Special Award: Seamus Murphy, Principal of Kilcoo P.S., whose team won the nine-a-side League Championship.