After enduring a shock defeat in the 1985 final to Ramor Utd it was a determined Kingscourt side that set out in the 1986 Championship.  They gained revenge on Ramor for the previous year’s defeat when they overcame the Virgina side after a replay in the semi final.

They were strong favourites to overcome Ballinagh.  However, nothing was left to chance and the team set of from Kingscourt that morning looking every inch the champions in waiting, as the below picture shows (although, there’s always one lad who ruins the picture by forgetting the blazer).

Ballinagh proved no match for them and Kingscourt ran out resounding winners by 2-12 to 0-4. This started an unprecedented run of success for the club.  This side was honoured at the club dinner dance later that year.  Such was their dedication, Joe Dillon came straight to the dance from training and hadn’t even time to change his socks!  That’s the type of commitment that gets you eight championship medals

 

 

Back Row (L to R) – T Reilly, M Reilly, P Farrelly, P McKeown, P Sheenan, G McCormack, M Farrelly, A  Tierney, C Martin, T McCaul

Middle Row (L to R) – M Faulkner, P Morris, T Cunningham, M Sheenan, J Campbell, H Shekelton, B Farrelly, J McCullagh, C Kelly, P Smith, N Murtagh, K Lynch, S Farrelly, K Smith, K Finnegan

Front Row (L to R) -  J Dillon, D Reilly, A Reilly, P Boylan, J McCaul, R O’Connell, S Farrelly, M Greenan, F Boylan, G Wynne, P Daly, B McArdle

The following year they retained the title under the captaincy of Maurice Rowentree when they defeated, big rivals, Ramor Utd in a rematch of the 1985 final.

This side then went on into Ulster, and overcame Cargin (Antrim) and Dungiven (Derry)  before setting up a final clash with then champions Burren.  In monsoon like conditions in Ballybay they battled to the bitter end before coming up just shy by 0-8 to 0-6.  However this side still ranks as one of the greatest in the club’s history.

Back Row (L to R) – Tommy McCaul,Padraig McCormack, Brendan Farrelly, John Martin, Terry Reilly, Michael Faulkner, Jim Reilly, Joe Dillon, Michael Farrelly

Front Row (L to R) – Joe McCaul, Pat Faulkner, Maurice Rowentree, Francie McKenna, Cian Murtagh, Barry McArdle