1931

Attempts appear to have been made at this time to amalgamate Kilkeel and Ballymartin under the title Clan-na-Gael. A report appeared in the Frontier Sentinel that on 11th January, a friendly was played against Camiough. The following players were on the panel at this time: - Joe Doran, Tommy Franklin, Jackson Donnelly, J Byrne, J.Delaney, J. Fearon, PJ. Fitzpatrick. Delegates to South Down Divisional Committee were: - Vice President: J. Fearon, Ukeel and Fr. McPhillips, Ballymartin. Joe Doran took up a poition in Brackney School during 1931 and transferred to Ballymartin. The-Shanaghan Cup got underway with the following teams, Clonduff, Burren, Rathfriland, Newry, Mayobridge, Annaclone, Kilkeel and Kilcoo.

Joe Doran became a regular member of the Down Senior Panel and an up-and-coming star, Dannie McConville, made the Down Junior team which defeated Cavan in the Ulster Final at Dundalk, but eventually lost to Kildare 3-6 to 0-3 in the All Ireland Semi Final at Drogheda. Earlier Down had defeated Antrim in a replay at Kilkeel 2-2 to 0-4. Kilkeel were defeated in Senior Championship by Rossglass 3-9 to 3-4. On 15th October there was a meeting in Rostrevor Hall to form Junior League. Newry, Rostrevor and District League commenced on 20th December. Kilkeel suspended by South Down Divisional Committee for failing to pay compulsory insurance.

1932
With Kilkeel out of football, Ballymartin reformed. Glenloughan formed a team which included some Kilkeel players and entered the Junior League. 10th January: Glenloughan 0-3 Warrenpoint 0-9. The team: Jim Cole, D. Cunningham, Pat Cole, Willie Higgins, Peter Bums, Dannie McConville, P. Sloan, P. Sloan Jnr., Jackson Donnelly, Jim Higgins, P. Cunningham, Willie Campbell. In Frontier Sentinel on 20th February, mention is made of the formation of a Camogie Team in Kilkeel. There was also hurling games played at Riverside. Players included Charlie and Pat McConville, Arthur Doran, Joe Turley, Jim Quinn, Nicky McConville, Hugh Haghian, Jack Fearon, John Donnan and Harold McBride.

Charlie McConville, a member of the Abbey CBS on the Hurling team which contested the Leinster colleges Final. Jackson Donnelly selected for Down Junior Team and Dannie McConville for Down Seniors.

Camogie team again mentioned - a number of friendlies played. The South Down Summer League was formed under the following committee: President: Rev. W. Maginn PP Rostrevor, Chairman: P. Fitzsimmons, Warrenpoint. Secretary: Hugh O'Hare, Warrenpoint. Treasurer: Peter Bartley, Glenloughan. Ass. Sec. J. Tinnelly, Rostrevor. Vice President: Fr. Close, Glenloughlin.

Teams: Glenn, Grinan, Ballymartin,. Milestone, Glenloughan, Rostrevor and Shamrocks.

N.A. & C.A. Sports held in Kilkeel. John Murphy, headmaster of Dunnavan School was the Secretary. Kilkeel again entered the Shanaghan Cup and on 16th October defeated Rostrevor 4-8 to 0-2. Team: Dinny Sloan (Taximan, Newry Street), Willie Campbell, Pat Cole, Pat McConville, Willie Higgins, Danny Trainor, Dannie McConville, Joe Doran, Francie McKnight, Jackson Donnelly, Jim Higgins, Charley McConville, Thomas O'Hare (Derryogue).

1933

Kilkeel now playing at Riverside Park, Newcastle Road. The team started off well with three wins, on 8th January versus Ballymartin, 15th January versus Rostrevor and 22nd January versus Longstone.

Players at this time included Dinny Sloan, Pat, Dannie and Charlie McConville, John Donnan, Pat Cole, Hugh Haughian, Jimmie McGrath (Bus Driver), P.J. Campbell, Francie McKnight, John Sloan, Jimmie Higgins, Robert Higgins, Willie Higgins, Jackson Donnelly, James (Count) Maginness (Harbour Road), Jerry Hanna, Hugh T. Flaherty, Jim Annett and Jim McHugh. They played Ballymartin in first round of Junior Championship and won O-11 to 0-5.

A letter in Frontier Sentinel refers to the Kilkeel Club bringing H.T. Flaherty (Mich, Small uncle), home from Liverpool for this game. Defeated Annaclone 3-0 to 0-7 in second round of Junior Championship. At this period Hurling appears to have been fairly strong with reports of a win over Newry 2-9 to 2-8. The Rathfriland and district Hurling League was formed and the following teams participated: Rathfriland, Ballymagreeha, Ballyvarley, Kilkeel, Newry, Warrenpoint. Rathfriland defeated Kilkeel 0-17 to 0-13 in Junior Championship Final. Charlie McConville played for Down in the Ulster Minor Hurling Championship Final versus Antrim. Down won 5-4 to 4-5. Charlie McConville scored 1-1.

About this time a Camogie League was formed in Down with the following teams competing: Kilkeel, Jonesborough, Loughbrickland, Burren, Downpatrick, Rathfriland, Glenn, An lolar Dubh (Newry). A Garda Football selection visited Down and they played Down at Kilkeel. The Down team included Dannie McConville, Joe Doran, Jackson Donnelly and Thomas O'Hare.

On 20th August Kilkeel defeated Rossglass in Junior Championship Final 0-7 to 0-3. Matt O'Hagan played Full Forward. Only the Cup was received. There were no medals, so Kilkeel never returned the Cup to the County Board. the plinth for the Cup bore the name of Saint Moninas, Killeavy, Glenloughan still with a team in Junior League. Players with them during the thirty's included: Willie John Sloan (Declan O'Reilly grand- father), Hugh McAlinden, Pete Bums, Hughie Brennan, Danie Cull, Henry Cull (John Cull's Father, Mile Road), Matt Cunningham (Damien and Gary's grandfather, Ballymaderfy), Jimmie White (Whites of Millbay), Johnny White, Hughie White, Joe White, Willie McAlinden and Brinie Mc Aleenan (Barney's father, Milltown).

1934

Kilkeel were again in dispute with the League Committee and received a twelve month suspension for not fulfilling fixtures during the 1933 season. Glenloughan continued to function in the Junior League with some Kilkeel players helping out. Charlie McConville won an Ulster Minor Hurling Medal when Down defeated Donegal 8-8 to 0- 1 in the final but they fell to Laoighse in the All Ireland Semi-Final. Charlie also played for the County minor Football Team and he scored 1-1 in Down's defeat of Antrim in the Ulster Semi Final but missed an unique double when Tyrone won the final 1-4 to 1-3.

Ulster Junior Championship, Down versus Cavan was played at Ballymartin on 5th August. Tommy Franklin, Thomas O'Hare and Paddy Fitzpatrick being on the Down Panel. Score: Down 3-6 Cavan 4-1. Down won the Ulster but were defeated by Louth in the All Ireland Semi Final. The Down squad trained at Ballymartin for a week before meeting Louth and stayed in the Royal Hotel Kilkeel.

At a meeting of the Ulster Sec. Schools League, Mount Carmel (St. Louis) was represented by Miss McLoughlin. The Rev. D. Gogarty C.C. St Johns was elected President, Rev. Fr. McAlea C.C. Kilkeel was elected Vice-President.

1935

Glenloughan and Kilkeel (now reinstated) were both playing in the South Down League (Mourne Section). In the opening games Warrenpoint defeated both the Upper Mourne teams Glenloughan. 5-4 to 2-0 and Kilkeel 0- 13 to 0-4. This section consisted of the two local teams plus Warrenopint, Ballymartin, Ballyvarley and Glassdrumman. The Kilkeel panel at this time included Jim Cole, Pat Cole, John Sloan, Hugh Haughian, Pat, Dannie and Charlie McConville, M. Breen, Jackson Donnnelly, Pat Joe McLoughlin, Francie McKnight, Matty O'Hagan, James and Thomas Higgins.

At the AGM of Ballymartin GFC, the Chairman Rev. John Phillips CC gave an address which was largely reported in the local papers. He stated, "a Christian cannot leave off his religious obligations when he strips for a game, neither can a supporter when he watches his team. The member of the GAA must remember they are an association of Christian men and act accordingly. Bad language and insulting behaviour from the side lines must stop."

Kilkeel defeated Ballymartin in the Junior Championship but a protest from Ballymartin that Kilkeel had fielded a player who was in the British Navy Reserve (Pat Joe McLoughlin - relative of Patsy Conkey) was upheld and Kilkeel withdrew from the league in protest. On 22nd June under the auspices of Glenloughan GFC, two matches took place in Kilkeel (the field being Burns land at Dorans Hill), Camogie Kilkeel Versus Castlewellan and, at Schoolboy level, Kilkeel versus Ballymartin.

In the opening game, of the South Down and Mourne League, Glenloughan defeated Warrenpoint. Team: W.J. Sloan, Joe White, D. Cull, Jimmie White, Tommy McAlinden, Joe White, M. Cunningham, H. White, Willie McAlinden, Hugh Brennan, Harry McAlinden, Peter Bums and H.M. McAlinden (relations Gary/Damien, Conor McArdle).

1936

News items during this year were few and far between, reports of matches almost non- existent. Peter Bartley secretary South Down & Mourne League 1936/7 season. Glenloughan lost JFC 4.4 to 0.2 to Ballykinlar.

1937

Again during 1937 news items were very scarce but with Pat Cole, Dannie and Charlie McConville and other Kilkeel players fielding with Glenloughin it appears there was no team in Kilkeel.

Dannie and Charlie McConville and Pat Cole along with Joe Doran and Thomas O'Hare represented Mourne in a match between a League Selection and Down for the Seamus McEoin Memorial Shield. Dannie McConville and Thomas O'Hare made the Down Junior Teams.

An Irish Language School (Scoil na O'Pairde) under Epescopal patronage was held in Grange School during the summer. The school opened on the 14th July and catered for 10-14 age group.

The fee for the four week course was: Residential £3.10.0, Day pupils £l.10.0. Teachers were Michael Murtagh of Newry and Rita McCann of Kilkeel.

1938/39

Still no team in Kilkeel and a few of the younger, lads became interested and got a team together to play a few friendlies locally. Those mainly involved were Frankie McCann (Scout Master), Joe Donnan, Henry Doran (Sean's father, Derryogue) and Mick Hardy (Derryogue Park).

Jimmy Curran

A meeting was held in St Colman's Hall on 29th March 1939 to form a Gaelic Football Committee resulting in the following being elected Patrons:
Rev. John Magown P.P,
Fr. D. McBride C.C.
and Fr. Keenan C.C.
President: Fr. Denvir C.C.;
Chairman: Jack Fearon;
Secretary: Frank McCann
Treasurer: Jimmie Curran
Committee members: Joe Curran, John E. Hudson, Nicholas Doran, Willie McKnight, Frank O'Hagan, Hugh O'Hagan.

Joe Donnan and Jimmy Curran with Fr. Denvir approached the Parish Priest regarding the possibility of renting the Parochial Field. At the next meeting in the Tennis Pavilion on 4 February it was reported that they had obtained the field at an annual rent of £5, plus organising a Ceile on Easter Sunday night for Parochial funds. A fence was also erected. Jimmie Curran reported that this work had been completed. A new strip was to be obtained. Jerseys green and white, white shorts and green and white hooped socks.

A match was arranged with Ballymartin for Easter Sunday. The team was to be called Kilkeel Young Emeralds and the Field St Colmans Park. The Kilkeel team to play Ballymartin was: Willie Campbell, Joe Donnan (Capt), Pat Cole, Mick Green, Gerry Hanna, Redmond Hanna, Charlie McConville, Danny McConville, John Donnan, Thomas Higgins, Henry Doran, Frank McCann and Joe Cole.

After an incident in which Danny McConville had his nose broken, the referee Dick McVeigh ordered Danny McConville and James Maginn, Ballymartin, to the line for unmannerly conduct. The Ballymartin player refused to go and the visitors captain P Fitzpatrick took his team of the field. Others in the Kilkeel panel were Seamus Hanna, Brendan McManus, Pat McConville, Mick Hardy, Jimmie White.

Two games that did finish were:
on 16th April Rostrevor 0-6 Young Emeralds 0-5
in the return game Rostrevor 0-0 Young Emeralds 0-16

As the 'Leagues were underway when the Club was formed they continued to play friendlies and entered the Junior Champoinship and must have set up some sort of record by winning it after only five competitive games including a replay in the final.

Details:
1st Round: Young Emeralds 0-13 Annaclone 0-6
2nd Round: Young Emeralds 0-12 Warrenpoint 0-11
Semi-Final Round: Young Emeralds 0-9 Kilcoo 0-7
Final Round: Young Emeralds 0-8 Ballylough 0-8
Re-Play Round: Young Emeralds 0-9 Ballylough 0-8

1940

Having entered the South Down and Moume League the first game was played in December 1939 against Kilcoo at Kilkeel and was a home victory. In fact the five games resulted in four wirfs and a draw.

Teams competing: Kilcoo, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Cabra, Annalone, Clonduff, Mayobridge, Bryansford, Glenn.

After a fairly good year Kilkeel finished third in the league.

Committee:
President - Rev RJ Denvir B.A.C.C.;
Chairman - Jack Fearon;
Vice Chairman - Gerry Haughian;
Secretary - Frank McCann;
Treasurer - Jimmie Curran.
Other Committee Members: Pat McConville, Charlie McConville, Joe Donnan, Henry Doran, Willie Campbell, Johnny McAlinden.

In a report in The Frontier Sentinel, it stated "Kilkeel before 700 spectators used home advantage to beat Warrenpoint 0- 1 8 to 0- 1 2". Towards the end of 1940 (November) the following article appeared in The Frontier: