Donore and Caragh Soccer clubs: The Parish of Caragh has always been regarded as a GAA stronghold and when the idea of forming a club was first mooted in the early 70's, there was a certain amount of criticism among the traditionalists. However the success of Raheens and the quality of footballers available in the parish at the time had created difficulties for a number of footballers who found it difficult to get games with Raheens. There was also some concern among parents about the lack of opportunities in the parish for sports and it was felt that a soccer club might help to keep the "young fellas" off the roads and out of trouble. Therefore when the idea of forming a soccer club was first suggested it was received with some enthusiasm. Teesie Campbell, Frank Martin, Christy Craughwell and Jimmy Farrell are names that spring to mind as being among the initial organisers. It was easy to get players but finding a pitch was a much more difficult prospect.The first games were played in Byrnes field in Stickins. Matches were also played in Teesie's field, where Ian McGarry uses now for his tree nursery business. The team went by the name of Donore United but despite some success, United had it's difficulties and after a few years it pithered out. After a few years in the wilderness, the club rose again from it's ashes but this time under a new name, Caragh Celtic. This was in 1982, and again Frank Martin and Christy Craughwell were heavily involved. Matty Dunne , himself a Raheens stalwart, made one of his fields available for matches, that is still used to this day. For the first few years, the club played in the Midlands Counties League before joining the Leinster Junior League. It was during this period in the late 80's that the club enjoyed some of it's most memorable and historic achievements. May 1988 the club produced a superb display to beat a fancied Sandyhill Celtic side 3-1 in Tolka Park to win the Giffney Cup. Managed by Christy Craughwell, the team was captained by John Campbell of Stickins. 6 years later the club captured the LJL Div 1 league title, only losing one game that year. The following year, 95-96 season, the club decided to join the newly formed Kildare Junior Football League and the move proved very successful as the club's 1st team scooped the treble (League/Division 1 Cup and league shield. Quite rightly the club won club of the year!!!The team captain that year was Tony Farrell. 96-97 season the club won the prestigious Lumsden League Cup, defeating Castle Villa 1-0. Captained by Michael Larkin and managed by Michael Lynch. In the same season, the team reached the quarter final stages of the FAI Junior Cup, before losing to Avenue Utd from Clare. Following this success a couple of lean years followed before the premier league title was captured in the 2000-01 season. That same year the team captured the Lumsden Shield for the 2nd time in the club's history. The Premier League title was again captured in the '06-'07 season, captained by Shane D'Arcy and managed by Eamonn Sharpe and Ciaran Cunneen. For the vast majority of the years since '82, the club has been able to field 2 adult teams and the 2nd team has enjoyed considerable success over the years. Winning titles in both the LJL and Kildare JFL.In '95/'96 the team finished runners up in Division 3 league and went one place better in the '96-'97 season, under the management of John Murphy, they completed the league/Division Cup double. In 2000/01 Season, they captured the Divison 2 title and in '05/'06 season the 2nd team finished runners up in Division 4 league. During the past few years, there has been a great push for underage soccer in Caragh. Kinsella Park, using the park as it was designed for, to encourage underage sports and to give children a place to play, as Matty Dunne had himself envisaged, many years ago. The teams play their games in the long established Kildare and District Schoolboys league. And as the popularity of underage has taken off, so has the establishment of an over-35 league and Caragh Celtic have had some success since the league started in '09-'10 season, being the first recipience of the over 35 League Cup and finishing runners up Division 2 in 2012. As a footnote to the history of the club, in 2008, Eamonn Sharpe, Club player, official and steadfast club stalwart was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by KJFL to mark his outstanding contribution to the game over the previous 25 years. Eamonn was at the start in '82 and to this day, is heavily involved in the club. Without him and many others down through the years, we wouldn't have a club for the current crop of players to revolutionize the game and showcase their skills. Long may this continue. At the begiining of the 2013 season there was a great push to get the local aspect of Caragh Celtic back and with this in mind, Brian "Dicky" Nolan became manager and he was ably assisted by his Brother Niall "Wedger" Nolan . Bringing a new energy and skill to their style of play, "The Revolution" quickly made a name for themselves. Captained by Gareth Byrne, they won the Division 1 league title, only losing one game all year, and won the Division 1/2 shield by defeating Redwood Utd 1-0. The following season it was ,more of the same as this new "band of brothers" comradery swept through the club and with a great, late season surge, the club captured The Premier Division title and give the club a great ride in that season's Lumsden Cup, beating 2014 KDFL Club of the Year, Naas Utd, on penos in the quarter-final before losing to eventual Lumsden Cup winners, Eleson United, in the semi-final. Such a great season, individual monthly awards were picked up by Paul Clifford and manager of the month to Dicky Nolan, while at the annual KDFL awards, Stephen Riordan picked up Premier Player of the year and Ciaran Cunneen won PRO of the year. The last three seasons has seen the return of a 2nd senior team to the club, taking full advantage of the great underage system currently in place at the club, giving the younger lads in the club an opportunity and bridge to play their way onto the senior set up.
