KILLOWEN APRIL 2002

KILLOWEN AFC - 25TH




Killowen are celebrating 25 years in football this season and are marking the occasion with an anniversary dinner dance in the Blarney Park Hotel on Saturday 27th April 2002. Kick off time is 7.30pm and music is by Midnight Hour. The night promises to be a great one. Past and present players and partners will attend along with family and friends who have supported Killowen in their battles.



Event organiser Eamonn Murphy says that on the night there will be a display of club pictures ranging from the 1977 team to the present day teams and a display of club jerseys including the first jersey Killowen wore back in 1977: "We have also put together a presentation of match reports and team listings of games to remember. Also on the night we will have every player who played for Killowen listed on the roll of honour."





"Person of the Year Awards will be presented and we are hoping for full support from all players and friends as this is a big occasion for a small club and a lot of goals have being scored, and conceded, since its founding in 1977." Any one interested in attending can contact the following after 6 pm - Shane Gaffney (4385019), Michael Bevan (4385859), Declan Cassidy (4381730), and Murphy himself (086 2579692).



The club was founded in 1977 by the Mullins brothers (Dennis and Kieran), the Dilworth trio of Michael, Teddy and Sean, Michael O Sullivan, Ger Healy, Pat Lyons, Finbarr Carlyle, and brothers Paddy and Tim Doyle.



That summer there was an encouraging second place in the Blarney 7s and then Killowen started in the AUL third division. In 1980, they won the Blarney tournament and a year later, finished second to neighbours Waterloo in the League Cup and were promoted.



In 1983, they were runners up in the Second Division and three years later were beaten, again by Waterloo, in the final of the County Cup. Their first AUL success came in 1987 when they won the President's Cup and they followed that a year later by winning the title in AUL 2A. The nineties weren't too bad either: they won AUL 1A in 92, were runners up in 95 and won the Blarney 7s again in 97.



They have slid down the rankings in the meantime and are currently in the top half of AUL 3A and also through to the last 16 of the County Cup. Some of the founding members are still involved with Killowen with Sean Dilworth the AUL team manager and Teddy the club chairman, working hard in his speech for the big night. Michael Dilworth, Michael O'Sullivan and Dennis Mullins have helped in preparations for the 25th anniversary celebrations with as have past player Richard Walsh and the Declan Cassidy (still going strong on the field).



Murphy is upbeat about the future: "As we come near the end of this season, there is interest from other players to play for the club for the coming season and we hope to continue for another 25 years, God willing. We would like to thank everyone involved that has supported and helped the club in the last 25 years. Your ongoing support is appreciated."