Castlewellan’s five-goal haul too strong for Kilclief in final

29 October 2025

CASTLEWELLAN claimed the Down Junior Hurling Championship title with a strong and well-drilled performance against Kiclief in Páirc Esler on Friday night.

The eventual champions started on top, with two early points from Tiernan Connelly, before Kilclief settled through Aidan McCann, who opened the scoring for the green and red after a few early wides.

Castlewellan hit back when Sean O’Neill struck for the first goal of the game, establishing a lead that they would never lose.

Kilclief kept battling, hitting further points through McCann, a Stefán McGrattan free and Fionn McFall, but their opponents’ accuracy and power maintained a gap at the break.

In the second half, Castlewellan came out with an intensity that Kilclief just could not match, adding early points and putting real daylight between the sides thanks to a Darragh Rodgers major.

They pushed on with more scores from play, while Kilclief kept fighting to the end, with McFall again on target.

It was clear fatigue had set in for Kilclief, who lost several players to cramp in the final quarter.

Many of the team were out for a second county decider in as many weeks, following the club’s football final the weekend before. The toll was obvious, but so too was the effort and commitment from every player.

Despite the result, there is great pride in the parish, as Kilclief, a small rural club, have now contested three county finals in three consecutive weekends.

While they could not secure championship silverware this time, it is a huge achievement for a rural community, and a sign of real progress across all codes.

Castlewellan were deserved winners on the night and will undoubtedly find time for celebrations before turning attentions to the provincial stage.

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