LONG READ: Tipperary soccer club represents community rising together

In the heart of Kilsheelan village stands a club whose story is woven through the people, the parish and a shared love of football. Slievenamon Celtic/ Kilsheelan United FC (SC&K United) is far more than a team—it is a grassroots success story built on resilience, volunteers and a community that has never stopped believing in what football can bring to local life.

Today, the club proudly represents 256 registered players, 25 coaches and 11 teams ranging from Under 6s right up to two competitive junior sides. However, this thriving organisation began as something much smaller.

Club born from local spirit

Founded in 1993, the club, then known simply as Kilsheelan United, started with one junior team and one pitch: White’s Field, behind the Ormond Stores. Their first-ever victory, a 1–0 friendly win over Rathgormack thanks to a strike from Roger Doyle (today a member of the Junior A management team) is still fondly remembered as the moment that lit the fire.

By 1995/96 the young club had earned its first promotion, finishing runners-up in Division 3 and stepping proudly into Division 2. The foundations were laid, and the community roots deepened.

2013: The spark that transformed everything

While Kilsheelan has long been a GAA heartland, football began to pull families and children into something new. Interest exploded in 2013, allowing the club to field its first underage teams (Under 6, Under 9, Under 11) with 39 young players participating in that inaugural schoolkids season.

From this moment, the club’s identity began to evolve. By 2017 the schoolboys section officially became Slievenamon Celtic FC, a name chosen through a competition across local primary schools. The colours and crest were designed by the children who would grow up wearing them.

That same year marked the club’s first major underage triumph, the TSSDL Under 13 Division 1 title, secured thanks to a dramatic injury-time equaliser from Darragh Landers. That moment has become folklore, and the legacy continues—both Landers and Daniel Condon progressed all the way through the club to make their junior debuts in 2023.

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One club, one vision – the 2022 amalgamation

A defining moment arrived in 2022, when Slievenamon Celtic and Kilsheelan United formally united under a single identity, a single committee, and a single purpose: to build a sustainable, community- driven football structure from academy to adult level.

This move has accelerated progress in every direction—from facilities to coaching, from fundraising to youth development. The impact has been profound, and nowhere more evident than in the meteoric rise of girls’ football.

Trailblazing Under 12 Girls

If one team captured the imagination of the village this past year, it was undoubtedly the Under 12 Girls.

In their debut competitive season, they produced an extraordinary run to the SFAI National Trophy quarter-finals, before achieving a historic league and cup double. Their success has inspired a wave of new young players and strengthened the pathway toward expanded girls’ football, including the club’s Under 14 squad, who are preparing to step into Under 16 competition next season.

The future of women’s football in Kilsheelan has never looked brighter.

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League of Ireland connections

SC&K United has nurtured strong ties with Waterford FC, bringing groups of young supporters to the RSC each season and regularly providing ball kids for matchdays.

The club has also proudly watched several players take the step toward League of Ireland academies:

- Oisin Lavin, former Under 13 goalkeeper, joined Cobh Ramblers in 2019—the club’s first ever League of Ireland signing. Today, he coaches the Youths team.

- Lukey Condon and Callum Slattery moved to CK United’s Under 14s in 2023, with Slattery now starring for Waterford FC, while Condon has returned to represent SC&K United at Youth and Junior level.

These pathways are not just achievements—they are symbols of belief for every young player wearing the club crest.

Recent TSDL success

Community momentum after the amalgamation was rewarded quickly. In 2023, the junior side captured the Peter O’Reilly Cup, beating Moyglass United 3–0 and ending a decade-long wait for silverware.

Today, the club competes with its Junior A team (managed by Anthony O’Loughlin, Richard Harvey, Roger Doyle and Paddy Dolan); the Junior B team (managed by Tommy O’Donoghue, Benny Condon and Killian McHale); and the Youths team (coached by Benny Condon, Oisin Lavin and Aaron Costin).

The structure is stronger, deeper, and more ambitious than at any point in the club’s 32-year history.

Fundraising: the glue that keeps the club moving forward

A club of this scale lives through community generosity, and SC&K United has built superb grassroots fundraising traditions:

Fortnightly 50/50 Draw - Over €25,000 has been returned to supporters since 2022.

Tickets are available from local businesses and Revolut (089-4963837).

Premier League Super 6 - More than €4,500 paid out annually, with over 100 local participants.

Every ticket sold directly supports equipment, facility development, coaching resources and sustainability for future generations.

Message from the Chairperson

Club Chairperson Fiachra Fahy, who succeeded long-serving leader David Lavin in 2023, shared his thoughts on the road ahead: “It’s a real honour to serve as Chairperson of Slievenamon Celtic/Kilsheelan United FC. The club continues to grow and I feel we provide a great environment for all involved—from the very youngest to our more senior teams. We will keep striving to improve our facilities and to encourage everyone in our community to engage with the club. We look forward to the 2026 season, with exciting plans already in progress”.

Development plans - laying foundations for the future

With underage teams based at KBK Sportsfield and the TSDL sides competing at the long-standing Ormond Stores pitch, securing the club’s long-term home remains a core priority.

The committee has worked tirelessly for 18 months to secure a long-term lease and advance facility upgrades that would safeguard the club’s future.

This year also marked a major milestone, as the club officially achieved FAI Club Mark accreditation, recognising excellence in governance, coaching, child welfare and organisational standards—a significant achievement for a growing rural club.

Club information

Name: Slievenamon Celtic/Kilsheelan United FC

Founded: 1993

Home Grounds: Ormond Stores, Kilsheelan and KBK Sportsfield, Ballypatrick

Players: 256

Teams: 11

Committee: Fiachra Fahy (Chairperson), Benny Condon, Anthony O’Loughlin, Yvonne Slattery, Orla Condon, Killian McHale, Cian Redmond, David Lavin, Elaine Lyons, Emma McGee, Richard Harvey, Roger Doyle, Catherine Cahill.

Recent TSDL Honours: Division 2 Runners-Up (2024/25), Division 2 Shield Winners (2024/25), Youths Division 2 Cup Finalists (2025/26).

Contact: slievenamonceltic @gmail.com | 087-2955150.

Get involved

Whether you want to volunteer, sponsor, coach, or simply support the club’s fundraisers, SC&K United welcomes everyone through its gates.

Follow the journey:

Facebook: Slievenamon Celtic Soccer

Instagram: @slievenamoncel kilsheelanutd

Twitter/X: @sc_ku_fc