Kilkerley Emmets GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club that fields gaelic football teams in competitions organised by Louth GAA.

Kilkerley Emmets
 Emmití Chill Choirle
Founded:1940
County:Louth
Colours:Yellow and Blue
Grounds:Páirc Chill Choirle, Tankardsrock, Kilkerley, County Louth
Coordinates: 54°00′33″N 6°28′02″W / 54.00929°N 6.46716°W / 54.00929; -6.46716
Playing kits
Standard colours

As of 2023, the club competes in the Louth Intermediate Championship and Division 2 of the county football Leagues.[1] Former Louth goalkeeper Seán Connor is the manager of the senior team.[2]

Situated in an area of north Louth that contains several GAA clubs, Kilkerley's local rivals are considered to be Roche Emmets[3] and St Bride's.[4]

History

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The club was founded in 1940[5] and is located in the townland of Tankardsrock[6] in Kilkerley parish, four miles from Dundalk town centre.

The Emmets enjoyed a significant period of success in the late 1970s, winning the Junior 1 League in 1977 and then beating Dreadnots in the final of the 1978 Louth Intermediate Football Championship. The jump from junior to senior football in the space of two years was made possible in no small part by being able to call on the services of county players J.P. O'Kane and the Lennon brothers, Terry and Pat.

More silverware was won in 1980 when Kilkerley defeated Cooley Kickhams 1–09 to 2–05 in the final of the Cardinal O'Donnell Cup to claim their first ever senior trophy. Later that year, forward Pat Lennon was tragically killed in a car accident.[7]

In 1982 the club contested the final of the Louth Senior Football Championship for the first time, but lost to Geraldines by six points.[8]

They returned to the county final in 1986, this time losing narrowly by 3–05 to 2–07, against a strong Newtown Blues team that completed a clean sweep of senior competitions.[9]

The club's third appearance in the county decider in 1999 was a forgettable one, as they succumbed to an eleven-point hammering at the hands of Stabannon Parnells in Haggardstown.[10]

In December 2014, Shane Lennon, full-forward for Louth in the 2010 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final, announced his retirement from inter-county football.[11] He departed as the all-time record goal scorer for his county.[12]

Honours

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Shared with Naomh Malachi

§ Shared with Naomh Malachi and Roche Emmets

Inter-county players

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Kilkerley Emmets players who have represented Louth at senior inter-county level include:

References

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  1. ^ "Division 2 Reports: St Kevins and Kilkerley take control of fight for promotion". Dundalk Democrat. 14 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Louth GAA club management teams begin to take shape with several recent appointments". The Argus. 6 December 2022.
  3. ^ "GAELS TALES -Mark Dowdall's Roche memories and dream team". ClubZap.
  4. ^ "Louth IFC Final Preview: Kilkerley Emmets v St. Brides". LMFM. 24 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Emmets celebrate their 80th year". The Argus. 14 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Tankardsrock Townland, Co. Louth". Irish Townlands.
  7. ^ "Louth GAA in mourning for young star". The Argus. 20 October 2010.
  8. ^ "Remember 82?". Hogan Stand. 30 November 2001.
  9. ^ "Blues did the treble in '86". Hogan Stand. 30 November 2007.
  10. ^ "All too easy for Stabannon". Irish Times. 20 September 1999.
  11. ^ "Shane Lennon calls time on Louth career". GAA. 10 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Personal milestone is irrelevant for Lennon". The Argus. 12 June 2013.
  13. ^ "'The club owes me nothing' - Willie Quigley has given sterling service to Kilkerley and Louth GAA". Dundalk Democrat. 29 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Kilkerley 14 hang on for victory". The Argus. 4 November 1988.
  15. ^ "Kilkerley Emmets and St Bride's have their sights on a big prize". Dundalk Democrat. 24 September 2020.
  16. ^ "IFC replay: Kilkerley come good". Hogan Stand. 6 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Lennon steers Kilkerley back to senior ranks at first attempt". The Argus. 13 December 2002.
  18. ^ a b c d e f "Kilkerley parish district history". Willie Quigley.
  19. ^ "Kilkerley claim Sheelan Shield as Roche win Mullen Plate". Dundalk Democrat. 2 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Peter Hoey had a life-long association with Louth GAA". Dundalk Democrat. 27 July 2016.
  21. ^ "Micheal Begley Kilkerley Emmet/Naomh Malachi Captain receives the U18 Division 1 League from Minor Board Chairman Alan Smith". Louth GAA. 2 August 2019.
  22. ^ "GAA -Another championship for Kilkerley". Dundalk Sport. 14 October 2017.
  23. ^ "Farming and football were his life's passions". The Argus. 7 July 2010.
  24. ^ "Louth team of the Millennium". Drogheda Independent. 21 January 2000.
  25. ^ "Over 40 sets of brothers have played for Louth at senior level – are there more, though?". The Argus. 17 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Louth GAA's greatest import? John P O'Kane was a Wee star that contended for an All Star". Dundalk Democrat. 30 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Louth were relegated last time sides met". Drogheda Independent. 27 November 2000.
  28. ^ "Sporting Headlines". The Argus. 15 October 2008.
  29. ^ "Louth and Longford stats ahead of O'Byrne Cup final". Drogheda Independent. 20 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Kirk Peter". Hogan Stand. 31 July 1992.
  31. ^ "They deserve a medal .. and they each got one!". Drogheda Independent. 2 February 2001.
  32. ^ "Neary adds power". Drogheda Independent. 31 January 2003.
  33. ^ "Páidí off the mark". Irish Independent. 5 January 2004.
  34. ^ "Louth open O'Byrne Cup campaign with narrow Royals win". RTE Sport. 8 December 2019.
  35. ^ "Clare ease past relegated Louth to sign off on high". RTE Sport. 26 March 2018.