The Sixties
The outstanding event of the Sixties in Castlewellan, as in the County as a whole was the winning, of the first All-Ireland S.F.C. For Castlewellan it was a tremendous occasion, for in Pat Rice (see Hall of Fame) they had a favourite son perhaps the most popular and sporting player ever to don the Castlewellan jersey. Pat had played in all grades for his club always giving full commitment and loyalty. And in 2004 Pat Rice is still a full working member of thew Club Committee and senior team mentor. He also takes great pride in ensuring that his beloved St Malachy’s Park is kept in tip-top condition as well as the new changing facilities.
Also in the sixties the club won it’s sixth SFC in 1965 and were Division B winners in 1963 and Division ‘A’ winners in 1964. This team was one of the most talented teams ever fielded by the club and featured some of the greatest clubmen to ever don a town jersey (see major club success’s page)
The Castlewellan Club’s policy of paying special attention to under-age players brought its successes in the 60’s with the winning of the minor championships in 1966(2nd) and 1968 (3rd). Success also came at U-14 and U-16 level, with U-14 team winning the 1973 East Down U-14 League and Championship, and the same team winning the U-16 league and championship in 1975. The team was: H. Toner. L. Hardy, D. Rooney. P. Rooney, M. Crilly, F. O’Kane, D. O’Kane, S. Harrison, M. Rooney, P. Cleland. M. McCartan, K. McBrien, J. MeVeigh, Eamonn Toner (Capt.), J. Toner. R. McAlinden, B Mooney.
Towards the end of the decade the club suffered a temporary setback when the Finn lads who had played and won juvenile and minor honours with the town club were asked to return to there native Finn to help reform the Finn Club and establish a senior team there. This they obligatory done and the Finn gain in terms of the McGeowns, the Flanagans, the Walshs and the Mckibbens was indeed a loss to the town team. However when the Finn Club once again folded in the early seventies the same players were happy to re-join the town club again and remained with the town team for the remainder of there playing career. As we write this history in 2004 we learn that the Aughlisnafin Club has once again been resurrected and a senior team formed. We wish them well as they enter Division 4 of the East Down League in spite of all the banter they have to suffer from their town colleagues.
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