Kanturk FC celebrate the life of Francis Higgins and 80 years in football

Kanturk AFC are busy celebrating a huge milestone in their club's history, reaching its 80th anniversary. 

This is a huge achievement for the North Cork club who are working hard both on and off the pitch to accommodate their ever growing membership.

Last weekend I took part in the Francis Higgins Memorial Cup match and what a great day it was with so many of the locals out watching what proved to be a great family day out. 

Held in their grounds at Gurteenard, it was clear to see how much soccer means to the local community as they came out in force and chairman Mick Wall spoke emotionally about what it meant to honour his friend Francis Higgins.

“It means a lot to me to present the cup on behalf of Franks family,” said Wall. 

"Francis was a fantastic man and we are delighted to have this cup in his memory. It was a really competitive game against our seniors against a mixture of lads led by Pat O’Neill and Timmy Singleton.

“We also held a draw after the game with a first prize of Oasis tickets for the Croke Park concert and many other prizes. 

The winner of the Oasis tickets was Donna Lyons, Castlemagner, which brought a close to a great day. 

"Earlier celebrations this month were a social held in the Charleville Park Hotel as we know how much of a big deal it is having entered our 80th year. 

"We’ve had some great years since our foundation and here are some of our highlights.

“Kanturk AFC was established back in 1945 just at the end of the war. 

"Players travelled all over the county for games. Soccer was frowned upon as a foreign sport, but this just added to the fun of playing soccer. 

"In 1949, the club was affiliated to Cork AUL, the club was under leadership now and drew more players.

“In 1973, they won the shield final against Carrigaline United with the entry fee to the game being 15p and celebrations were held in the Isle of Skye Hotel with a chicken supper costing £1. 

"Home games were played all over Kanturk, the Golf Club, Rugby Club, Tech field, Collins Newmarket Road. 

"Then in 1986/87 we rented the Banteer Road field.

“A competition was run in 1990 to design the club crest.

"Siobhan Duggan, Kilbrin won by designing the club crest with Kanturk Castle on it.

“The club ran one Junior team until 1996, when they added a second Junior team called Brogeen Rovers.

“In 2001, Paul Nagle and Mick Driscoll affiliated the club with Cork Schoolboys League. 

"They entered an Under 15 team, our current Munster Senior League manager Johnny Lynch joined the team that year. 

"That team went to the quarter final of the National Cup, beating Cobh Ramblers.

“In 2005, the committee decided to purchase Gurteenard from Cork County Council, they established the lotto to pay for the field which was a great success. 

"Gurteenard is now the home of Kanturk AFC.

“In 2014, Sam Ahern wrote to Roy Keane asking him to stage a question and answer session with Kanturk. 

"In 2016, through the generosity of Roy Keane, the club had funds to apply for the sports capital, this was the start of major fundraising to develop Gurteenard.

“Under the guidance of Paul Nagle, the club junior team won the AUL Division 1 in 2015. 

"The team achieved an unbeaten season in 2019 when Johnny Lynch led them to the Premier League in the AUL winning the Premier A title.

“In 2017, Kanturk’s U15 team won the Neil Welch Founders Cup and the league title under the guidance of team manager Neilus Higgins, coaches Paddy Hasset and Paul Nagle, several of these players now play with Kanturk’s senior team.

“In 2017, the club decided to bring Paul McGrath to Kanturk. 

"A great night of memories with plenty photos taken with the Legend Paul McGrath.

“The growth of the club gave the junior team the ambition to apply to take the club to senior, and in 2021, we joined the Munster Senior League with manager Johnny Lynch where in 2023 they were promoted to the fourth tier of Irish soccer in the Munster Senior League Division 1.

“The club now has schoolboys’ competition teams on all ages and several second teams. 

"The club also has non-competition schoolboys from U8 to U11. 

"The club currently has over 300 underage boys playing for Kanturk.

“The club affiliated with the Cork Women and Schoolgirls Soccer League in the 2021/2022 season and now has over 80 underage girls registered with the hope of starting a women’s team this month. 

"It’s great to see numbers increase. 

"Long may it continue.”