Kiskeam footballers heading to Chicago next week

Kiskeam are embarking on a trip to Chicago next week with upwards of 70 players and members on the flight.

The trip, which is from next Thursday to the Monday, is organised in conjunction with Chicago-based and Kiskeam native Mike Joe Murphy. The latter was part of the successful Kiskeam team that won divisional and county titles at Junior A football level in 1964. They went on a run that year of 17 consecutive wins.

During the few days in the US, Kiskeam will play a North American selection in the magnificent setting of Gaelic Park.

They will be sporting a new all-black jersey with new sponsors on board this year, Lely have replaced The Harp & Shamrock Bar on the front of the Kiskeam jersey.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that the New Zealand rugby team should provide the inspiration for Kiskeam’s colours, though for the first 20 years of the club’s existence, they lined out in a blue jersey with yellow sash.

It’s fitting that the first year wearing the all-black strip resulted in that famous year of 1964 and the rest as they say is history.

The legacy of any group is important, the achievements of that team prompted the club to invest in property, the subsequent development of club facilities now evident close to the Cork/Kerry border. A magnificent playing field, dressing rooms, meeting rooms and hall adjacent to the ground.

A case of a change of colours becoming permanent to bear success, Kiskeam fans applauded the foresight of those that proposed the New Zealand model to follow and deliver on the field of play.

Now, Kiskeam will be spreading their story to Chicago next week in what should be a great few days for everyone involved on and off the field and sharing stories with Mike Joe Murphy, one of the key drivers behind this trip getting off the ground and a Kiskeam legend for the feats of 1964.

After suffering relegation from the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC last year, Kiskeam have made a mixed start to the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 3 Football League this year, collecting four points from six games. They did beat Newmarket last time out though, 3-14 to 0-14 away from home.

With just three matches remaining in the league, a fight for survival is on the cards as they hope to avoid a second successive league demotion too.

When the championship comes around, Kiskeam will meet Iveleary, Macroom and Castletownbere in the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC group stage.