Club History
The newly formed Killea FC played initially in the famous summer competitions so popular in years gone by in Co Donegal. The club’s most notable feat during that time came in the famous Swilly Cup played in Ramelton. Killea won the prestigious trophy in successive seasons, 1964 and 1965.There were no official FAI leagues in those days in Donegal but clubs often played in the FAI Juni
or Cup. And Killea scored a notable success in that competition in the mid 1960’s by knocking out a club that would go on to make Donegal football history later in that decade, Finn Harps. The game was played at Upper Kildrum, in a field owned by local farmer, Sean Toland, who would later kindly agree to sell to the club the piece of land on which Killea FC has now established its headquarters.For many, many years Killea was a well known custom’s crossing point between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and the football ground is right on the Donegal – Derry border. Indeed a fast flowing stream behind what club members would call ‘the lower goals’ separates the two political jurisdictions.When official organized football under the auspices of the FAI began in Donegal in the early 1970’s Killea entered the Inishowen League; in those early days Killea also spent a season in the Donegal League.The club’s most successful spell in Inishowen was between 1987 and 1989 when six pieces of silverware were won. Managed by a former Finn Harps trainer, Bobby Toland, a local man ( now the club’ spresident), the team won the Inishowen League Championship, the Bertie O’Neill Cup(twice), the Inishowen Top Four Trophy, the Inishowen League Cup and the Donegal Junior Championship. The club has a long tradition of nurturing and developing underage players in the Killea, Newtowncunningham, Carrigans area, several of whom have gone on to play senior soccer.Killea have been twice Inishowen Youth Champions, 1991(when they won both league and cup without losing a game) and 1999. The club also won the Ulster Youth Cup in 2000.Killea Football Club moved up to intermediate level in the 2004-2005 season when their application to join the Ulster Senior League was accepted. Killea reached the 3rd round of the FAI Intermediate Cup in the 2006-2007 season losing 2-1 in Cork to College Corinthians. And in the 2005-2006 season they reached their first final at intermediate level, losing the Marine Harvest decider to Fanad United on penalties. Killea - Newtown Football Academy
ACADEMY SECRETARY: Kevin McFadden, Garshuey, Newtowncunningham, Lifford, CO.DONEGAL . CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER: SHANE HANNIGAN, MONGLASS, NEWTOWN, LIFFORD CO. Killea Football club has been providing under age football for young people in our border community around 20 years. However, 2007 marked a significant change in the club’s strategy. The formation of the Killea – Newtown Academy, staffed by qualified coaches, has given the club’s underage football a huge boost.Amazingly, more than 120 youngsters from over 5 to under 16 are enrolled. It’s an indication of Killea’s geographical position right on the Donegal – Derry border and the increasing movement of people into county Donegal. It’s possible, incidentally, while playing on the club’s football ground to kick a ball from one political jurisdiction into another i.e. from county Donegal into county Derry. As a consequence of the club’s border setting the youngsters at the Academy attend 23 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS (National/Primary, Secondary) on both sides of the Irish political divide. The large scale development of private housing right on the border has dramatically increased the population of Killea and the surrounding villages with the bulk of the newcomers into the Killea – Newtowncunningham parish coming from the city of Derry which is only four miles from Killea.The Newtown – Killea Academy has been a huge success. The coaches at the Academy are Dermott O’Donnell, Seamus Canning, Justin Green, Denis McLaughlin, Paul Breslin, Fergal O’Hagan, Phil Dillyeson. Club Contacts
Killea football club founded 1962. Trustees:
Richard Kelly, William Kelly, Bobby Bradley, Michael Bradley, Tony Bradley, Leonard Black, Bobby Toland, Kevin A. Management committee:
Chairperson; Dermott O’Donnell, vice- chair, Kieran Feeney. Secretary; Shane Hannigan, assistant secretary Seamus Canning. Treasurers; Gerry ward;
Ritchie Kelly, Kevin McFadden, Dessie Creagh, Tony Bradley, Raymond O’Donnell, Kieran Feeney, Des McGlinchey, Justin Green, Denis McLaughlinn, Paul Breslin, Patrick O’Donnell, Seamus O’Donnell. Killea/Newtown football academy structures;
Leader- Kevin a. McFadden,
Child protection officer- Shane Hannigan
Child protection certificate holders-
Shane Hannigan, Dermott O’Donnell, Seamus Canning, Phil Dilleyson, Justin Green, Des McGlinchey, Denis McLaughlin, Paul Breslin. First aid certificate holders;
Seamus Canning, Des McGlinchey, Justin Green, Paul Breslin, Denis McLaughlinn, Shane Hannigan. Coaches-
Seamus Canning, Phil Dilleyson, Justin Green, Denis mc Laughlin, Paul Breslin, Fergal O’Hagan, Dermott O’Donnell, Des McGlinchey.
