History
At the turn of the twentieth century a football team known as the Charles J Kickhams existed in Riverstown, playing their games in a field opposite John "Shirty" Sextons house. A Gaelic football team was formed in 1913 in Kildangan, playing their first game against Booleigh on Sunday 4th October 1913. This team disbanded in 1915, some of the players transferring to Monasterevin.
After a hiatus of some ten years, Kildangan GAA reformed in 1925 and appeared in the 1925 Junior League Final against Two Mile House. No result of that match has been found. Kildangan had their first success when they won the Junior league in 1930. Their next appearance in a league final was in 1931, where after two replays, they were beaten by Straffan on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-4. Kildangan made amends by winning the following years competition. Kildangan also had appearances in league finals in 1946 and 1952.
Kildangan played their first championship final in 1936, where they were beaten by Celbridge, who scored 3-6 to Kildangans 1-2.
In 1942 Kildangan beat Cappagh in the final of the Junior Championship, played on Nov 1st in Newbridge. The team which won this championship was as follows:- John (Shirty) Sexton, George Sexton, Jack Sexton, Eamonn Lawlor, Paddy Behan, Tommy Berns, Michael Ryan, Hal Conway, Jimmy Behan, John Joe Martin, Joseph Conlan, Tommy Behan, John Merrins, Bill Broderick, Michael O'Sullivan and Thomas Curran.
The winners were 1 point behind in the last minute when a goal by Midfielder Hal Conway secured victory. The previous year in 1941 they had been beaten in the final by Ardclough and in 1943 they reached the Intermediate Final also against Ardclough. The score in the final was Ardclough 2-12 Kildangan 1-3, the game was played in front of a record attendance of 1658 spectators in Newbridge.
The following years were somewhat barren, and the club ceased to exist in the 1960s. Most of this can be attributed to high unemployment and an exodus of some of the more gifted players, such as Paddy and Eddie O'Loughlin to Round Towers.
The club was relaunched in 1970, some players from this era were John Casey, Noel Forde, Ollie Hickey, Eamon Foley, Willie Dunne, Paddy White, Pat Kelly and the Lawless brothers Jimmy and Aiden. This team contested a Junior Championship final against Robertstown in 1980, in which Kildangan were narrowly beaten. Following this final the club once again folded due to a lack of players. However the underage scene remained active and many Kildangan underage players played on a joint Kildangan Nurney team.
Read more about this topic: Kildangan GAA (Kildare)
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