After losing the 1964 County Final to Augher, Kildress had high hopes for 1965 but the season ended in double disappointment as we lost both the East Tyrone Junior Championship Final (to Benburb) and the Junior League Final (to Brackaville Owen Roes).
The 1966 Championship campaign paired Kildress with Mountjoy Emmets in the First Round and after a hard-fought draw, Kildress came from seven points down to win by two. That replay saw two major changes to the team, Paddy Heagney moving from full-forward to goals in a straight swap with Des McGarrity: the shift worked a treat as Paddy’s penalty save ultimately swung the game Kildress’ way.
Next up was Donaghmore St Patrick’s II, a game Kildress won easily to then face Ardboe O’Donovan Rossa II, who they had also met on their way to the 1961 Final. A dour contest ended in a three-point win for Kildress that put them through to a clash with Edendork St Malachy’s in the East Tyrone Junior Final.
It took two epic games to decide the East Tyrone title and in the end it all came down to a spectacular last-minute replay-winning goal from Gerry Mulgrew. That defeat would be the only one suffered by Edendork all year as they ran away with the East Tyrone Junior League.
The County Final against Omagh St Enda’s II was played in Pomeroy on 18 September and this time everything went right for The Tones as they swept to a ten-point victory, 3-11 to 2-4. The Dungannon Observer reported on the game as follows:
Kildress Win Tyrone Junior Crown
At long last Kildress Wolfe Tones have succeeded in capturing the Tyrone Junior Championship and by the manner in which they won against Omagh on Sunday it certainly looks as if the Wolfe Tones will be a force in Intermediate football next year.
The opening minutes belonged to Omagh as Duddy sent the ball over the bar for the initial score but back came the Tones.
A pass from around midfield found Des Monaghan out in the right corner. He collected the ball and dropped a lovely pass at the edge of the square. H. McCrory, the Omagh full-back, reached for it but (Des) McGarrity fielded magnificently and rocketed the ball to the back of the net for a truly great goal.
Kildress continued to press hard with (Gerry) Mulgrew and Eugene Monaghan the wing-forwards doing pretty much as they pleased. (Matt) Tracey the Kildress right-back pointed from a 50-yard free and (Mickey) McKenna increased the lead with two points from close-in frees.
Omagh attacked and P. McKenna pointed from far out but again (Des) McGarrity struck with a goal to leave the Tones leading 2-3 to 0-2. (Gerry) Mulgrew increased the lead with a point just before half-time.
Omagh came out full of fight in the second half and were rewarded with a quick goal but (Oliver) Corey replied with a point followed by another minor from (Des) McGarrity. Omagh came again with a goal to leave only four points separating the teams. (Oliver) Corey again increased the Kildress lead but Omagh fought back gallantly.
In the final 15 minutes the all-round power of the Kildress team began to tell and they scored 1-3 without reply to emerge victors on the score 3-11 to 2-4.
It would be unfair to single out heroes on this Kildress team but most credit must go to the half-backs and half-forwards who went through an amazing amount of work. They used the ball intelligently and were going stronger at the finish than at the start. The full-forwards and mid-fielders were in control throughout but Omagh’s full-forward line had the beating of the Kildress full-back line mainly due to their speed off the mark. For Omagh H. McCrory and P. McKenna tried hard but with limited success.
That historic Kildress team and scorers were: Paddy Heagney | Joe Gallagher, Des McGurk, John Nugent | Matt Tracey (0-2), Arthur Keenan, Mick Heagney | Jimmy Loughran, Oliver Corey (0-2) | Gerry Mulgrew (0-1), Mickey McKenna (0-2), Eugene Monaghan | Desi Monaghan, Sean McCullagh (1-2), Des McGarrity (2-2) | John Brennan, Kevin Colton, Finbarr Gallagher, Henry McHugh, Charlie Monaghan (for Des McGurk), Laurence Monaghan, Paddy Nugent (for John Nugent).
Others to feature for Kildress during 1966 were: Jimmy Ellison, Patrick Mulgrew and Charlie Quinn and our history-making Team Mentors were Joe Corey, Patsy McGurk and Fr Brendan McHugh.
‘Is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann … It’s a long road that has no turning.’
