KILLUMNEY UTD 19/1/95

KILLUMNEY UTD 19/1/95




Killumney United's secretary Michael Sheehan, a founder member of

the Mid Cork club, is one half of one of Cork's lesser known

footballing families. The better half is wife Tessie, herself no

mean performer with the club's ladies team, her powerful left

footed shots striking terror in opposing defenders. Indeed, she

has played for the Cork Ladies representative team.



The Sheehans run the Killumney Inn and it was there that the club

was founded back in 1988. Sheehan's co-founders included Kevin

Murray, Jimmy Corkery, and Mick Lordan. Michael acted as player-

manager for that first season and the team gained a respectable

mid-table finish in AUL 3B.



Killumney attracted a clutch of young recruits for the following

season and Sheehan found the right mix: "We won 3B., finishing

three points clear of Albert Rovers with whom we have to this day

a friendly rivalry."



The third division lads had some memorable games on their way to

the semi-final of the County Cup. They knocked out county

specialists St John Boscos, then a first division outfit, on

penalties and, in a thrilling local derby, defeated first

division Ballincollig 3 - 2. The semi-final opposition was

provided by a good Bandon side who won the first leg 2 - 0, the

second 3 - 2.



It was a busy season for the newcomers and they had to endure the

heartbreak of a penalty shootout defeat in the President's Cup

final. The opposition was provided by Fourth Battalion who,

after a thrilling 2 - 2 draw, won 6 - 5 on spotters at Rockmount

Park.



Sheehan still held the managerial reins in the following season

and that also ended with promotion after they finished runners-up

to local rivals Lakewood Athletic.



They have been in AUL 1 since 1991/2 and, at the end of last

season, manager Sheehan decided it was time to step down and let

someone else have a go and try to get the team into the Premier

Division.



Surprisingly, the man appointed to take over as manager was none

other than Miah Dennehy, the ex Cork Hibernians star and an ex

senior international.



Success did not come instantaneously as Dennehy struggled to get

the right blend. But Sheehan, who his now assistant manager,

reckons the future is bright and acknowledges the work of his

fellow committee members; Pat Bradley, Bob Borneman, James

O'Brien, Ken Matson, and Paul Coakley.



They have provided dressing rooms at Villa Park and are also

trying to improve the pitch but Sheehan's one big regret is their

inability to field schoolboy teams. There is no shortage of

players, just the usual shortage of adults willing to help out

but the secretary is hopeful that underage football will come to

Killumney in the not too distant future.



The ladies team, which is run by Michael and Tessie, has had its

share of success. They won the Ardmanning cup in 1993 and were

runners up in the following season.



The Killumney Inn is not the club's only supporter. According to

Sheehan they have great support in the area: "We are very

grateful for this like any small club would be. Indeed for a

small club, we have done well in a short few years. Having a

good ladies team and the lads playing in Division One is success

in itself but we are aiming for more!".