By Jonathan Brown
It’s been a season to remember for the Kilkeel ladies’ first and second XIs. On Saturday 21 March, the firsts claimed the Ulster Hockey Senior Three title after winning all 17 league games played so far, scoring over 100 goals and only conceding six, following a 7-0 demolition of Ballynahinch.
On the same day, the second XI were confirmed as Junior 11 champions, after winning 15 of 17 games played and drawing two.
Both teams are in with a great chance of securing unbeaten league seasons, with the first XI taking on bottom-of-the-table Parkview on 11 April in their final game of the season, while the seconds have two games remaining against Antrim IIs and Dromore’s seventh XI.
Adding to the gloss of this campaign, the seconds have a cup final to look forward to at Stormont, as they look to retain the Junior League Shield against Limavady-based Priorians on 25 April.
Brian Niblock, who led the Kilkeel men to an historic treble in the 2017/18 season—winning the Anderson Cup, the Kirk Cup, and Ulster Premier League title—manages both teams.
Niblock, commenting on the first XI’s title triumph, said: “It always feels good to win a league title, and we’ve won it in style; we’ve run away with it in the end. It was on the cards for a number of weeks; it was about getting those points on the board to get us over the line, so I’m just glad we’ve got it done.”
The firsts’ closest title rivals this year have been Cookstown, but Niblock’s side dealt with them comfortably in both league encounters.
“We beat Cookstown 4-0 away, but the home game was a tighter affair, and the girls really stepped up and came out as 4-1 winners. Cookstown are a really good team, but the girls played really well that day, so that was the highlight of the season for me,” he explained.
The seconds team were re-formed last year under the stewardship of Niblock, and after moving up from the Ulster Hockey Junior 12 division, he’s led the team to a second consecutive promotion.
Niblock has been particularly impressed with the performances in some tough away games.
“The girls have played really well and gelled really well over the course of the season. Sometimes when you play away games, you come up against teams who are much better than they would be when they have to travel because they have a better selection of players, but the girls put in some excellent performances away to some big teams.
“It’s difficult at that level to get a team out every week, but the girls put in good commitment this year and have really gone the extra mile to keep the undefeated run going.”
Former Kilkeel player Niblock also praised experienced second XI players like Gail McConnell, Julie Houston, Sarah-Jane Henning, and captain Erin McCullough for helping the many younger squad members integrate into the team.
“I can’t be in two places at once. Especially in the seconds team, the older players have really stepped up and taken on the leadership roles.
“They have been very important in helping to show the younger girls the ropes and they’re not on their back; they’re encouraging them to keep training hard and keep working at it.”
The dual-role manager explained that it’s been a “joint effort” this season, with the players in both teams pushing each other towards success. “It’s been a joint effort. I want to make sure both teams are playing the same style of hockey and I want the younger players to feel like they’re part of a club. I’d rather have a squad where every place is up for grabs, so the youth players keep the older players under pressure, which only seems to have helped performances this year.”
The firsts’ season is almost at an end, but eyes have already turned to August and the challenge of Senior 2 hockey.
“It will be a good challenge, but a challenge I believe we’re more than fit for. I believe we can do well in that division. Everybody deserves a break now, then we’ll get back at the end of July for pre-season and make sure we’re ready to get off to a good start next season.”
As for the seconds, all the focus is on the upcoming cup final at Stormont.
“It’ll be a big day out. The girls will certainly have the backing of the club, and hopefully a good crowd will come down and cheer them on,” Niblock said.
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