Kilmore go up

Kilmore go up

30 April 2025

THE celebrations have been coming thick and fast in what is an unprecedented season for Kilmore Rec.

The club’s three senior teams have secured three promotions and a cup triumph – with the possibility of more to come.

Despite finishing their league campaign a number of weeks ago, Kilmore’s first team achieved promotion back to the Amateur League Premier Division for the first time in 10 years on Saturday.

The Blues led the way at the top of the table for the vast majority of the campaign and while defeats to Lisburn Rangers, St Oliver Plunkett and Dunmurry YM, towards the end of the season, paved the way for Ards Rangers to claim the title, that is as far as the disappointment stretched.

Four wins from the final five fixtures set up Kilmore as the favourites to secure the second promotion spot .

When results went their way on Saturday, their place in the top flight was confirmed.

Dunmurry suffered to a 3-0 loss to Plunkett, leaving them unable to catch Kilmore, regardless of the outcome in their final two games.

The firsts also had impressive runs in the Clarence Cup and Intermediate Cup.

In the Clarence Cup they beat Woodvale and East Belfast before losing to Rosario YC on penalties.

Carrick Rangers Reserves, Castlewellan Town and Banbridge Town were their victims in the Intermediate Cup before they ran out of road against Crumlin Star in the fourth round.

There was double celebration for Kilmore Rec Swifts, who claimed the Division 3E title and also got their hands on the Templeton Cup.

The Swifts have been near flawless in the league, with a draw against Ulster University seconds the only blemish on their record, and are now three games away from an unbeaten season.

They have not ped the pace since securing the championship, thrashing Sandy Row seconds 18-1 and Cregagh Wanderers 10-0 in games where they could have taken it easy.

A Seaview cup final against Finaghy seconds appeared to be another walk in the park for the Swifts side, cruising to a 5-0 victory courtesy of goals from captain Niall Walsh, Fionn Mulhern (2) Caolan Conlon, and Josh Smyth.

The glory was not exclusive to the Amateur League either, as Kilmore Rec Rovers finished top of the Newcastle League Division 2 standings.

Rovers made light work of the vast majority of their league opponents, recording 13 wins and two draws, suffering a solitary defeat at the hands of Strangford seconds.

They ended the league season seven points ahead of nearest challengers Ballyvea thirds —a side they did the double over.

A third victory against Ballyvea is now all that stands between Rovers and a second piece of silverware, with the two teams vying for honours in the Kitroom Plate final.

Kick-off has been scheduled for 12pm at Dromara Village’s Bellsbridge on Monday and there is no doubt that Kilmore will go into the decider as favourites.