Kilmeen/Kilbree GAA Club celebrated its 130th birthday in 2018 and they did so in great style by creating history on the GAA fields of West Cork and beyond.
KILMEEN/KILBREE GAA Club celebrated its 130th birthday in 2018 and they did so in great style by creating history on the GAA fields of West Cork and beyond.
Last year proved to be an amazing season for the hurlers in the club. The junior A team regained the South West title with a final win over Ballinascarthy. They didn’t rest on its laurels and made a great bid to win the county title, losing eventually by a single point in the semi-final. It wasn’t over yet as the team, captained by Dylan Coffey, finished the season by winning the South West league and also the county league. Timmy O’Brien was the manager who led the team to such glory, with Midleton man Ger Manley lending his experience. Chris O’Regan did most of the training and Michael Dullea was also a selector.
A rising tide lifts all boats and inspired by the success of the junior A team, the junior C hurling team also went on a winning spree. With new county secretary Kevin O’Donovan and DJ Daly in charge, the team went on to capture the South West junior C double, championship and league, captained by Seamus Tobin. Winning the double-double in West Cork meant the club had created history as it was never before done in the history of Carbery hurling.
Add in titles won in underage and in a vibrant underage camogie club, plus awards like the West Cork Sports Star and the Carbery GAA awards, and 2018 was a year that will never be forgotten by all Kilmeen/Kilbree supporters.
On Saturday night, the club celebrated its great successes when over 300 people gathered at Fernhill House for the distribution of medals. Guest of honour on the night was former Cork hurling star and present television personality Donal O’Grady. Also present was new chairman of the South West Board Tom Lyons and Kevin O’Donovan, new secretary of the county board, now Kilmeen’s most famous GAA son. Paudie Palmer acted as Fear-an-Tí for the historic occasion.
There was great interest in the awards for players of the year and club person of the year. Receiving the Footballer of the Year Award was Jonathan Deasy, who also plays full back on the successful hurling team, and receiving the Hurler of the Year Award was prolific scorer Don McCarthy. Club Person of the Year went to Ger Collins for his marvellous work in all club activities.
The list of players who received medals on the night included Dylan Coffey (captain), James Clancy, John Clancy, Darragh Coakley, Ray Collins, Cathal Daly, Jonathan Deasy, Sean Deasy, Denis Dullea, Brian Keohane, Kevin Keohane, Donal McSweeney, Cian McCarthy, Don McCarthy, Gearóid McCarthy, Tomás McCarthy, Liam O’Brien, Brian O’Donovan, Jamie O’Donovan, Joseph O’Donovn, Martin O’Donovan, Daniel O’Donovan, Shane O’Donovan, Damien O’Gorman, Aidan O’Shea, Sean Reale, James Santry, Shane Scannell, Ogie Scannell, Eamon Shanahan, Seamus Tobin (captain), Timmy Calnan, Jack Coffey, Liam Daly, Darren Deasy, Finian Deasy, Michael D. Keohane, Fionán McCarthy, Shane McCarthy, Dave O’Donovan, Timothy O’Donovan, Dan O’Leay, Jerry Scannell, Brian Daly, Michael Mennis, Ger O’Sullivan, Cormac Kingston and Kevin O’Donovan.
