The Forties and Fifties

At the beginning of the forties Kilcoo were in topsy turvy form, but, with new faces on the panel, they were determined to, once again, be a major force on the football scene. In spite of the variable form Kilcoo were still represented on both Down County Senior and Junior teams with Arthur Brannigan, a stalwart on the Junior County side joining Joe Kane on the Senior team. Owen McMullen also played on the County Junior team.

In Championship football Kilcoo, who had suffered a heavy defeat in the League against Kilkeel, firstly drew with this side and having learned much from the drawn game came back to take the replay. From this Kilcoo went on to qualify for the Championship final, but after some unavoidable delays, which seemed to unsettle the side, they lost out to Bryansford in the final.

In 1941 Kilcoo had a satisfactory League campaign but lost out in the Championship semi final to Warrenpoint.

Because of World War 2 there were restrictions on travel so a more localised League was introduced and Kilcoo were involved in a Castlewellan and District League with Ballyhaffrey, Bryansford, Gargory, Castlewellan, Aughlisnafin, Ballylough and Clanvaraghan which commenced in October 1942. Kilcoo sailed through this League, dropping only one point, closely followed by Bryansford and Ballyhaffrey and by the beginning of 1943 Kilcoo were declared winners. In the Feis Sevens Kilcoo fell at the semifinal stage.

In 1943 Kilcoo, again, had an excellent run in the Castlewellan & District League, dropping only 2 points, trailing Gargory, who had won all their games.

In February 1944 came a showdown in Gargory, which drew a large crowd and came to an exciting finish. The home game, when both teams were on equal points, occurred in May 1944 and took on a Championship flavour. Kilcoo came out decisive winners with Gargory not registering a score in the game. The League title was claimed for the second year in a row. In the Championship Kilcoo advanced to the semi-final stage but were beaten by a stronger Warrenpoint side.

With the end of World War 2 in 1945 the South Down & Mourne League was resurrected with Kilcoo, Clonduff, Newry, Warrenpoint, Rathfriland, Annaclone, Banbridge, Glenn and Castlewellan taking part. Kilcoo had many victories in the campaign and finished in the top half of the table. In the Championship Kilcoo were beaten surprisingly in the semi-final by Newry.

In 1946/1947 Kilcoo had a good League campaign but Newry, again, knocked Kilcoo out in the first round of the Championship.

The 1947/1948 League campaign saw new faces on the Kilcoo team and Kilcoo made it to the final of the Championship but, although, they dominated much of the match, Warrenpoint went on to win.

In 1949 there was again a satisfactory League campaign, but Clonduff eliminated Kilcoo in the first round of the Championship.

At the beginning of the 50s the All County League meant that the Kilcoo Seniors had a full programme, but they were disappointing, only having eight victories in eighteen matches. There had been a revival in the post war period of the South Down & Mourne Junior League which ran parallel to the Senior League and in 1950 Kilcoo Juniors finished in second place behind Greencastle. They, then, went on to take the East Down League and Junior Championship.

In 1951 although the Seniors were inspired by many fine victories and managed to beat Castlewellan in the first round of the Championship they were beaten in the semi-final by Kilkeel. This defeat had a bad effect on team morale and their League campaign went downhill leading to a disappointing conclusion to the year.

In 1952 there was much more successful League campaign when the Seniors finished second, just one point behind winners Clonduff. However Kilcoo were again beaten at the semi-final stage of the Championship, this time by Castlewellan.

In 1953 the Seniors were taking part in the All County League while the Juniors were involved in Section 2 of Intermediate with Glassdrumman, Banbridge, Mayobridge, Greencastle, Newry, Maghera and Clonduff. However in the Junior section only six matches were played in the first months of the year and, due to many postponements, the other games were extended over the remainder of the year which lead to a decline in interest. Kilcoo Seniors, again, got to the semi-final stage of the Championship but, for the third year running, were beaten, this time by Burren, fresh from winning the Junior Championship the year before.

The Seniors were relegated and in 1954 played in the South Down & Mourne League and East Down Junior League. They were even defeated in the first round of the Junior Championship by Kilwarlin.

The League structures were revised in 1955 and Kilcoo were placed in All County B League with Downpatrick, Ballykinlar, Loughinisland, Aghaderg, Newry, Burren and Warrenpoint. Although Kilcoo again failed in the Junior Championship the introduction of new young players meant that they had a more satisfactory League campaign and had successes in Tournaments and Seven-a-Sides, the most prestigious of which was the Ballykinlar Silver Cup where they defeated County Champions Glenn.

j

In 1956, after defeating such teams as Mitchels, Longstone and Aghaderg, Kilcoo proudly held the top position in the B League. They reached the final of the Feis Sevens, where they were beaten by Kilclief and were proud to defeat Castlewellan in the first round of the Championship. Seamus Rodgers was selected to play on the Down Minor team. With the resumption of the League they had victories over Loughinisland followed by Aghaderg, Shamrocks and Longstone and in the final match they went to Liatroim, knowing a draw would win the B League, but they came away runaway victors by 4-4 to 0-2 and it was back to the All County League in 1957.

The League structures were amended again with the County divided into 2 areas, the East Down and South Down & Mourne. Kilcoo were included in Section 3 of East Down League with Cabra, Liatroim, Clonduff, Castlewellan and Annsborough. Kilcoo set about their return to the top flight with great enthusiasm and, in fact, only dropped one point, to Cabra, in the first six games, so the local derby between the leaders was of special interest. Kilcoo ran out comfortable winners and they were ready for the playoffs of Section 1 and 2 but the Championship intervened and Kilcoo lost out in a first round match to Warrenpoint. Kilcoo were not deterred by this defeat and accounted for both Kilclief and Loughinisland in the League to qualify for the final against the South Down winners. This match was delayed until February 1958 as Glenn and Ballymartin needed three games to sort out the South Down area. It was Glenn who met Kilcoo in the final and Kilcoo came out deserved winners after a hard fought battle by 2-6 to 1-5.

There was much rejoicing in the parish at this fine achievement and the team were honoured at a Presentation Ceili on 11 April 1958. In fact before the Ceili the 1958 All County League was underway and the format reverted to the traditional style with Kilcoo joining teams from Annaclone, Ballymartin, Castlewellan, Clonduff, Glenn, Cabra, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and Dundrum. But, although, Kilcoo began quite well, in mid year the form deteriorated badly and there was a danger of relegation. However, during the last few months the team got involved and recorded seven victories in eight games to finish in a comfortable position in the League.

In January 1959 the long delayed East Down Winter League against Cabra took place with Kilcoo losing out by a point.

The All County League started off well in 1959 but ended prematurely when a game against Ballykinlar had to be abandoned and this lead to a twelve month suspension for Kilcoo and they lost out in the first round of the Championship to Warrenpoint. However Seamus Rodgers had consolidated his position on the Down Senior panel and was included in the subs of the Down team who, in beating Cavan, won their first Ulster Senior County Championship. The Owen Roes had some consolation in 1959 when Kilcoo beat Clonduff, after a replay, to win the Championship of Mourne.