WHILE the Kilmeen football team had been in existence for some years, winning South West junior B titles in 1943 and 1952, it was not until 1961 that the Kilbree hurling team made its first appearance on the playing fields of West Cork.

Amalgamating both areas into a dual club was a logical solution as both struggled for numbers whenever they took to the pitch. It was decided, in the interests of parity, to call the football team ‘Kilmeen’, and the hurling team ‘Kilbree’.

Hurling was not new to the area as Kilmeen had been one of the strongest junior hurling teams in West Cork in the late 1920s, under Fr Richard O’Carroll, a native of Mooncoin in Kilkenny, and Liam Deasy, the great freedom fighter and chairman of the Carbery Board. However, football had later taken the limelight. Success was far from instant for the new Kilbree hurling team of the 1960s, having to wait until 1969 to win a game in the championship, while the Kilmeen footballers won junior B titles in 1962 and 1965.

The 1970s brought a big improvement in fortunes and there were championship wins over Carbery Rangers, Castlehaven, Bantry and Diarmuid Ó Mathúna but in 1973, when the side lost to Adrigole in the first round, supporters were beginning to wonder about the future of hurling in the club. Honour was redeemed in 1974 when Newcestown were beaten in round one and O’Donovan Rossa were overcome in a controversial second round. Their first-ever semi-final, against Mathúnas, turned into a battle in Ballineen, Mathúna’s winning but with a number of their players requiring medical or dental treatment afterwards.

As 1975 dawned, DJ Daly retained his position as chairman of the Kilbree hurling Club and Vincent Dullea took over as secretary, but hurling matters were not looking good as no AGM of the hurling club was held due to a lack of interest. It didn’t bode well for the coming season. Luck was on their side, however, when they received a bye in the first round of the junior B championship.

The footballers were beaten in a second-round replay by St. James, so the players were able to concentrate on hurling and fared very well in the league, including a good win over near-neighbours Randal Óg. In July, the second-round championship game produced a draw against Gabriel Rangers and there was no mistake in the replay, winning by 2-8 to 1-4. Semi-final opponents in October were again neighbours, Randal Óg, and in a dour struggle, it took a late goal from a free by captain Fintan O’Leary to forge a four-point win.

Kilbree were now into their first-ever hurling final, which was not played until the Sunday before Christmas in Ballineen, a delay of two months because their opponents, Bandon, were involved in so many grades and were going for a clean sweep of hurling titles in West Cork. This was Bandon’s third team and they had beaten Kilbrittain by 4-5 to 1-2 in the semi-final.

Two players stood out for Kilbree in this final, captain Fintan O’Leary at centre forward, and freetaker Raymond Dullea. O’Leary was unstoppable as he rifled over three long-range points from play and when Dullea pointed a free, Kilbree led by 0-4 to 0-1 at the break. Bandon pointed on the restart but were not to score again as the Kilbree defence put up the shutters. Further points from O’Leary and Dullea (two frees) increased the lead to five points.

The game was finished as a contest with ten minutes remaining when a 70 by Gerard O’Donovan went all the way to the net. Dullea finished the scoring with a point and with a score of 1-8 to 0-2, Kilbree were champions for the first time.

Also impressing on the day were Vincent Dullea in goal, Gerard O’Donovan, Teddy Finn, Paddy Deasy, Christy Daly, Teddy O’Sullivan and Charlie Keohane.

From near extinction in January to divisional champions in December, it was an extraordinary journey as the team also captured the league title to complete the double.

The team included Vincent Dullea, Denis O’Hea, Gerard O’Donovan, Con O’Callaghan, Connie O’Donovan, Teddy Finn, Paddy Deasy, Christy Daly, Teddy O’Sullivan, Seán O’Donovan, Fintan O’Leary (captain), Raymond Dullea, Charlie Keohane, Michael Daly, and Séamus McCarthy.

There was no county junior B championship in those days but when it was introduced in GAA centenary year, 1984, Kilbree actually won the inaugural title with two of the 1975 team involved, Seán O’Donovan and Christy Daly, who captained the 1984 side.

It is now 50 years since that first 1975 victory and a re-union of the team is planned for The Winning Post, Rossmore, on Saturday, December 6th. Four of the side have now gone to their eternal reward. They are Gerard O’Donovan, goal scorer in the final, Denis O’Hea the corner back, Paddy Deasy N.T., the wing back, and ace free-taker Raymond Dullea. They will be remembered on the night.