Kilcar to honour three in-a-row U-21 winning teams of 1972, '73 and '74

The history making Kilcar three in-a-row U-21 team of 50 years ago will be honoured by the club this Saturday night with a celebration in John Joe’s Lounge.

The U-21 championship in Donegal began in 1971 with Gaoth Dobhair the first winners, defeating Glenties in the final. But for the next three years Kilcar dominated the competition, defeating Convoy, Four Masters and Glenties to mark the beginning of what has been a very fruitful 50 years for the club. 

The celebration is a starting point for their centenary celebrations which take place next year.

Hugh Shovlin was the team captain for the first two successes, 1972 and 1973, while Michael Carr was the successful captain in 1974. 

In all 33 players were used over the three successes and remarkably all 35 are still alive.

The catalyst for the U-21 success came from Kilcar winning the Junior Championship in 1971, according to Hugh Shovlin. “That was huge. It meant the players were playing senior football. There were a lot of good footballers there. I remember Big Michael O’Donnell going on to play for Donegal in the National League and I think he was top scorer.”

Some of the players had enjoyed success at college level. Michael Augustine O’Donnell was playing alongside Peter McGinnity at St Macartan’s in Monaghan; Michael Carr was only 18 and still in college in Falcarragh.

“I remember going down to collect Michael Carr for the 1972 final with a young Martin McHugh in the car with me,” says Hugh Shovlin. “Michael was small then and more into athletics than football.”

The records are sketchy as to games played with Kilcar having no recorded game prior to the 1972 final against Convoy, with Glenties/Ardara failing to field.

“We played Convoy in the final and I think they were big favourites as they had beaten Gaoth Dobhair, St Eunan’s and Four Masters (which took three games to decide).”

Hugh Shovlin being presented with the cup in 1973

Kilcar had a very big win in the final. At that time Shovlin was based in Galway from the Boatyard in Killybegs. “There weren’t many games those years, but the seeds had been sown by winning the junior championship,” said Shovlin, who added that the likes of Ian Hegarty was always around giving advice, as were the other senior players in the club.

“You were told small things about tackling and it was frowned upon if you gave a free away. I was lucky enough to be captain. We travelled back from Galway with Pete Shovlin from Killybegs. James Cunningham, Pat Boyle from Glenties were also there and Patrick Gallagher from Killybegs.”

Michael Carr was one of a number of players who played on all three teams. Carr was actually underage again in 1975 but they were dethroned by St Eunan’s with MacCumhaill’s then defeating Castlefin in that final.

“Memories of the time are vague but I do remember this time of the year 50 years ago myself and Danny Gillespie and Finian Ward went away for my first game for the county. We were sitting in Donegal Town and you know how anxious you would be for your first game. We were supposed to be collected by Daniel McGeehan for a challenge game with Cavan. 

“Time was getting short and there was no sign of McGeehan and James Anthony McGroary, God rest him, a taxi driver and we got into the car and told him to drive. Of course the biggest worry then for any man, was would he get paid. But James Anthony didn’t ask and he was there on the Diamond for 10 years at that time and he must have been there for 45 years after that,” recalls Carr.

The fact that all of the panel from the three teams are still alive is remarkable according to Carr. “I look at some of the county teams I played on after that and there are a lot of them gone, the likes of Jim Brennan, Seamus Reilly, Seamus Bonar, Sandy Harper, Martin Griffin.

“It is the greatest statistic around that three in-a-row team.

“That first team (in 1972) was a big physical team. I think myself and Aodh Cannon were the two smallest on the team. We wouldn’t be manning the midfield with the likes of Danny Gillespie and Gusty (Michael O’Donnell) around. We were scrawny,” said Carr, who was into  athletics for the college in Falcarragh.

“It was mostly my first choice. There was a boy totally committed in the college called John Friel and I would be recruited. It was partly to get away for the day,” said Carr, who said he was also recruited for Cranford. “I remember running with John Giles, who is dead now, up in Newry and we were first and second. The running was a help on the tight pitches at the time.”

Carr had some great memories of the Kilcar players. “Mickey O’Donnell of Kilcausey was a fabulous passer of the ball. (Brian) McEniff was trying to get him into the Donegal panel, but he was half-hearted about it. He had a great head on him,” said Carr, who remembers beating Gaoth Dobhair with a late goal in the Gaeltacht in 1975 after getting a pass from O’Donnell.

“Then there was Michael (Gusty) O’Donnell, you wouldn’t get many passes from him. A fabulous player, county level. He played high level college for Macartan’s in Monaghan. When we got to the senior county final in 1980, they were gone. They weren’t as enthusiastic as us but they were fabulous footballers.”

Members of the 1972 team

Tommy McFadden was on the ‘73 and ‘74 team although he was only 16 and 17 at the time. “Tommy would have played senior for Kilcar when he was 16.”

A memory of Carr’s from the year after the three in-a-row was that the county final between MacCumhaill’s and Castlefin was played after a Dr McKenna Cup game against Fermanagh. “I was sent off in that game and I think four of the MacCumhaill’s team played in the McKenna Cup and then played in the final afterwards.”

Among the well-known members of the panels was John Gerard Campbell, well-known for his involvement with Finn Harps, who was ‘keeper in 1974. Seamus McBrearty (Super), father of Patrick, was full-forward on the ‘74 team.

Michael Carr with the cup in 1974 with Ighneachan Cannon in front and John O'Donnell and Gerry Haughey

1972 - U-21 Football Championship

Final: 29th Oct.  Kilcar 6-16, Convoy 0-05

In taking their first ever Donegal Under-21 Football Championship title against Convoy  Kilcar gave one of the best displays ever by a club side at McCumhaill Park, Ballybofey. Convoy, who had earned their way to the final with victories over Gweedore St. Eunans and Four Masters, were thought to be there with a good chance. They opened the scoring with a first minute point but by half-time they were 4-6 to 0-3 in arrears.

Both sides had triumphed over atrocious weather conditions with biting rain and a blustery wind  which favoured the winners in the first half.  Every man on the Kilcar team proved worthy of his place, and many of them shone with exceptional brilliance, including the keeper - Seamus Doogan - who brought off three good saves; defenders Sean Cannon and Hugh Shovlin; midfielders Danny Gillespie and Michael A. O’Donnell; and Michael J O’Donnell and Michael Carr  in attack.

Kilcar scorers: Michael A. O’Donnell 0-08; Michael Carr 1-04; Michael J. O’Donnell 2-03; Aodh Cannon 1-00; Danny Gillespie 1-00; Bernard Shovlin 1-00; Aidan O’Donnell 0-01

Kilcar: Seamus Doogan; Seán Cannon, Seamus Shovlin, Denis McBrearty; Hugh Shovlin, Martin Gillespie, James Cunningham; Danny Gillespie,  Michael A. O’Donnell; Aidan O’Donnell, Michael J. O’Donnell,  Michael Carr; Aodh Cannon, Bernard Shovlin, Ighneachán Cannon.

Convoy: Robert McClean; Patrick White, John Dowds, Paddy Harte;  Hubert Mailey, Patsy Mailey, Sean Mailey;  Dermot McBride,  P.J. Hoey;  Manus Harkin,  P.J. Hallinan, Seamus McLaughlin; Fergus McCarron,  Jim Crowley,  Danny Mailey.

Referee: Owenie McBride (Gaoth Dobhair)

At the end of the match the Charles Kelly & Co. Cup was presented to the Kilcar captain Hugh Shovlin by Mr. Paddy Hoey, Convoy, on behalf of the Donegal Minor Board

1973 - U-21 Football Championship

Final: 17th Dec Kilcar 2-05, Four Masters 1-05

Kilcar, the holders, retained their Donegal Under-21 Football Championship with a 2-05 to 1-05 win over Four Masters, Donegal Town in the county final in Glenties. And, it was all decided in a two-minute period - those vital minutes being the difference between the teams. After the opening 20 minutes of the game, played in miserable wind and rainy conditions, the teams stood level with 0-01 each. But in that vital two-minute spell that followed, Kilcar added 2-01 to their total, goals from Michael O’Donnell and Michael Carr, for a 2-2 to 0-2 half-time lead.

Four Masters hit back with a second half goal from Eugene Fox but they couldn’t get on terms.

Kilcar scorers: Michael Carr 1-04, Michael  O’Donnell 1-01

Kilcar: Sean Cannon; Aidan O’Donnell, Seamus Shovlin, Denis McBrearty; James Cunningham, Hugh Shovlin, John Carr; Danny Gillespie, Hugh Cannon; Michael Carr, Michael J. O’Donnell, Tommy McFadden; Ignatius Cannon, Peter Conroy, Eamonn O’Donnell.

Four Masters: John  McGlanaghy; Jackie McGroarty, Paul Duncan, Danny Dunnion; Pearse Mullan, Pat O’Donnell, Brendan Martin; Eugene Fox, Enda Mullan; Connie Keeney, Brian McGinty, John McCafferty; Paddy Heeney, Peter Coulter, Marty Kelly.

1974 - U-21  Football Championship 

Final: 21st April.  Cill Chartha 2-08, Glenties 0-04

Kilcar completed a hat-trick of U-21 Donegal Championships when they defeated Glenties 2-08 to 0-04 at Fintra, Killybegs.. Their victory was mainly due to inter-county man Hugh Cannon and Michael Carr at midfield. Their defence was also very solid and time and again snuffed out many Glenties attacks.

A Michael Carr goal had Kilcar ahead by 1-5 to 0-1 at the break with Peter Conroy getting the second goal in the 48th minute.

For Kilcar, Aodh Cannon and Michael Carr were outstanding and got good support from Denis McBrearty, John Carr, Aiden O’Donnell, Peter Conroy, Seamus McBrearty and Eamon O’Donnell.

For Glenties, S. O’Donnell and N. Byrne shaped well opposing the Kilcar stars and others to show well were Phelim and Pat Molloy, M.  O’Donnell, P. Furey, C. Byrne and K. Keeney. 

Kilcar scorers: Michael Carr  1-3; Peter Conroy  1-0; Aodh Cannon  0-3; Eamon O’Donnell 0-1 ; Seamus McBrearty  0-1.

Kilcar: John Gerard Campbell; Stephen O’Donnell, Denis McBrearty, John O’Donnell; John Carr,  Aidan O’Donnell, Michael J. O’Donnell; Aodh Cannon, Michael Carr; Peter Conroy, Tommy McFadden, Francie Cannon; Michael Doherty, Seamus McBrearty, Eamon O’Donnell. 

Glenties: Joseph Bonner; Johnny McGettigan, Sean Houston, Pat Molloy; Cathal Byrne, Michael Jack O’Donnell, Paddy Molloy; Neilly Byrne,  Sean O’Donnell (0-02), Patsy Furey (0-1), Kieran Boyce; Josie Furey (0-1), Sean Quinn, Gerry Molloy.  

Sub:  Hughie Molloy for G. Molloy. 

It was a good sporting game played before a large crowd. Following the game, the Charles Kelly Cup was presented to Kilcar’s captain, Michael Carr by Seamus McGarvey, registrar of the Minor Board.

Members of the 1972, 1973 and 1974 U-21 Panels

Seamus Doogan,; Seán Cannon, Seamus Shovlin, Denis McBrearty, Hugh Shovlin, Martin Gillespie, James Cunningham, Danny Gillespie, Michael A. O’Donnell, Largymore; Aidan O’Donnell, Michael J. O’Donnell, Kilcausey; Michael Carr, Aodh Cannon, Bernard Shovlin, Ighneachán Cannon,  John Carr, Tommy McFadden, Peter Conroy, Eamon O’Donnell, John G. Campbell, Stephen O’Donnell, John O’Donnell,  Francie Cannon, Michael Doherty, Seamus McBrearty, Seamus Cunningham, John Joe McBrearty, Seamus Gillespie, Gerry Haughey, Michael O’Donnell, Ballymoon, Cara Boyle, Michael Boyle, Jim McGinley, John McFadden, Paddy Gallagher.

Team Managers: Seamus Gillespie and Francis Barry Campbell.