Below is excerpts from the Bray People giving us an insight into Kilmac’s great year. A year in which they captured The Wicklow People Cup, the Junior Championship, the Junior League and the Schweppes Cup.
Kilmac’s Great year
The Annual General Meeting of the Kilmacanogue GAA Club was held on Sunday last in Sweeneys, and there was a very large attendance.
The secretary outlined the activities of the club during a very successful year. They had won all the 1979 competitions in North Wicklow – The Wicklow People Cup, the Junior Championship, the Junior League and the Schweppes Cup.
This was a great achievement when one considered that the club had only 21 players on the panel, he said.
It was also the year in which the club opened its football pitch in the magnificent setting of the Sugarloaf. A very comprehensive programme has been prepared to make this pitch one of the finest in Wicklow.
On the social side, the club has planned a victory dinner dance at which all the trophies won during the year will be presented.
The election of officers resulted: President Very Rev. T. Deering P.P.; Vice-president Rev. B. Mulligan C.C.; Chairman Mr. B. Fitzsimon; Vice-Chairman Mr. O. Donnelly and Mr. S. Shanley; Treasurer Mr. J. Butler; Secretary Mr. Ed Mulligan; Registrar and P.R.O. Mr. B. Morgan.
The following piece is an article which followed Kilmac’s tight victory over Kilcoole in the semi-final of the 1979 Junior Football League.
Kilmac’ 0-5
Kilcoole 1-1
The two North J.F. league semi-finals listed for Emmet Park on Sunday last resulted in Enniskerry receiving a walkover from Bray Emmets and Kilmacanogue defeating Kilcoole by a single point, 0-5 to 1-1. Enniskerry will now meet in the final on Sunday next in Emmet Park at 2.45 p.m.
An understrength Kilcoole side almost caused a major shock on Sunday last when they were only beaten by a single point by the county finalists, Kilmacanogue. Kilcoole who fielded with only fourteen men in the opening half, led at the interval by 1-0 to 0-1 and with only four minutes remaining they were still leading, 1-1 to 0-3.
A Final rally by Kilmac yielded two points to clinch victory and a place in the final. Kilcoole who had the assistance of a strong breeze in the opening half, should have been further ahead at the interval.
Kilmacanogue were first to score when Johnny fox sent over a point in the tenth minute. Both sides missed several scoring chances before Jerome O Connor finished a long shot from Bradshaw to the net.
Paddy King opened the scoring in the second half with a point for Kilmac’ after fifteen minutes, and P. Bradley replied.
We had to wait until the 25th minute for the next score, a point from Aidan Mullery for Kilmac. With time almost up, Mullery was on target again to send over the equaliser and in a final rally by Kilmac, Billy Burke sent over the winning point.
Kilmacanogue, who fielded without Fergus Nolan and Dermot Murphy were best served by Gerry Blackbyrne, Christy King, Paddy King, Ed Mulligan and Gay Lawless.
Below is a match report of the final of 1979 Junior Football League
Kilmacanogue completed a hat-trick of victories at Emmet Park on Sunday last when they defeated Enniskerry in the final of the North J.F. League by 1-13 to 1-06.
Kilmacanogue have already captured the Wicklow People Cup and Schweppes Cup. Sunday’s game was one of the best seen in Emmet Park for a long time, though the strong wind had a spoiling effect.
The final score does not do justice to a gallant Enniskerry side as Kilmacanogue’s goal was scored almost on full time.
Kilmac won the toss and played against the strong wind. Enniskerry were the first to score, a point by Martin Hogan but this was offset by a similar score from Paddy King.
A long centre from John Prosser was finished to the net by Dave Power in the 10th minute and this was followed by another Enniskerry point from Paul Butler to put them well ahead.
Ed Mulligan pointed three frees in a row for Kilmacanogue to close the gap. Enniskerry introduced John Douglas into the game at this stage and he immediately sent over a point, but Gay Lawless and Ed Mulligan sent over points to equalise.
Thomas Cronin restored Enniskerry’s lead with a point before the break to leave them ahead at the interval 1-4 to 0-6 but this did not look enough with which to face the wind.
Ed Mulligan equalised for Kilmac with a good point from a 45 in the twelfth minute, but a fighting Enniskerry hit back for points from Joe Chadwick and Martin Hogan.
Kilmacs extra fitness paid dividends in the closing ten minutes. Ed Mulligan point twice from frees, one coming from over 50 yards and Dermot Murphy had a goal with time almost up.
A special word of praise is due to the referee, Tommy Moody, for his handling of the game.
After the game, Mr. A. Hall, chairman of the North Board, presented the Matt Britton Cup to Mick Lawlor, captain of the winning team.
