As we celebrate our 100 years since the clubs foundation we would like to take you down memory lane and have a nostalgic look at Raheens through the years. 

In this first instalment we will look at what our historical boffins reliable inform us is Raheens first ever game. It was a close run affair in the Junior championship of 1925 played against Two Mile House on Sunday 19th April 1925. The venue was the Sports fields in Naas where a double header was played, Naas V Eadestown contested the second game of the day.

It was a breezy day and the pitch was in a bad way due to heavy rain that fell the previous day but this didn’t deter the crowds in attendance nor the players on the pitch, many of whom bear the surnames of current players and members of the club today.

Below are some transcripts of match reports from the Kildare Observer and Leinster leader of the day. Enjoy the read and stay tuned for more glimpses into our storied past as we continue to celebrate our centenary 

Kildare Observer

Raheens won the toss, but played against the breeze. Two-Mile-House were early on the move, but sent wide on a couple of occasions. Raheens forced matters and young Waters sent in a fast shot which nearly beat Winders, and Egan cleared. Murphy put the "House" attacking and Moore sent over a point. The "House" kept up the pressure, but their forwards were weak, and Heavey cleared. Murphy sent over another point from far out. Raheens got away per Hotham, and Heavey sent over the bar. Two-Mile-House backs were kept busy, and Waters levelled matters with a point. There was no further score at half-time.

TWO-MILE-HOUSE—2 points.
RAHEENS—2 points.

On resuming Raheens raced down, but sent wide on a couple of occasions. Two-Mile-House backs were kept busy, but the Raheens forwards failed to penetrate. The "House" had a run and missed a certain major. Play was again in the "House" territory and Heavey gave Raheens the lead with a point, which was the only score during the half. The "House" played well with the wind against them, but their forwards were weak, and another sure score was lost. Raheens forced matters and the "House" goal stood danger, but Egan cleared. Raheens were still on the offensive when the long whistle sounded.

Result:
RAHEENS—3 points.
TWO-MILE-HOUSE—2 points.

Mr. W. Tyndall refereed.

Kildare Observer

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.
NAAS v. EADESTOWN.

There was a fair attendance at Naas on Sunday last, where a couple of Junior Championship matches were down for decision. The weather held fine, and a sharp breeze blew up the hill. In the first game Two-Mile-House was opposed by Raheens, a new club formed this year. They had the assistance of some old Caragh players, and succeeded in scoring a victory in their first outing. The second match rested between Naas and Eadestown. This was a good game for the first half, when Eadestown led by one goal to nil, but the Naas boys over-ran their opponents in the final stage and won easily.

Leinster Leader

Two matches in the junior football championship were brought off at the Sports Field, Naas, on Sunday, in the presence of a fairly large attendance. Both matches, we are glad to state, started sharp to time. The first one—Two-Mile-House v. Raheen—proved an interesting contest, in which the honours were pretty equally divided to the end, Raheen winning a victory by a narrow margin. For Two-Mile-House, Dermott Murphy played a good game, being always to the fore in pressing forward the interests of his team. The second match, Naas v. Eadestown, started off well, but in the second moiety deteriorated into a shooting competition by the Naas forwards. Naas won an easy verdict.

In the first match—Two-Mile-House playing with the breeze, broke away and sent wide. From the kick-out, Raheen obtained and centred nicely, but their forwards did not come up to the scratch. From this on onwards Two-Mile-House pressed but missed several opportunities. They managed, however, to score two minors in quick succession. Heavey, for the Raheen team, played an extremely good game as full back, saving many dangerous situations. From a kick out from the Two-Mile-House goal, Raheen rallied a good deal, making several vigorous onslaughts and raising the white flag. Murphy obtained from the kick out and Two-Mile-House pressed and had hard luck in missing a score. The sloppy condition of the playing pitch in consequence of the rainfall of the previous night militated considerably against a good display, especially in the vicinity of the goal posts where miniature pools had formed. Two-Mile-House maintained a steady pressure but were unable to penetrate the almost impregnable defences of their opponents. In the last exchanges of the first half, Raheen scored another point, equalising matters, and leaving the half-time scores 2 points each.

On the resumption, Two-Mile-House pressed but were unable to maintain it and a good deal of desultory midfield play followed, Raheen getting possession made a fine drive down the field and unfortunately missed a score by the ball rebounding off the crossbar. Raheen continued to press for some time, but without result. From the kick out, Two-Mile-House seemed to rally but their effort was quickly nipped in the bud and the Raheen team once more assumed the offensive and after several brilliant tussles in front of their opponents' posts scored a point. This proved the decider, there being no further score during the remainder of the match, which was characterised by up-and-down play.

Final scores:
Raheen 3 points
Two-Mile-House 2 points

Raheen – John Loton, P. McCann, M. Heavey, P. Heavey, James Heavey, John Byrne, J. Murphy, P. McCabe, J. Harris, T. Murphy, L. Murphy, J. Malone, T. Campbell, F. Judge, P. Waters.

Two-Mile-House – Dermott Murphy, D. Conolly, Jas. Hickey, Jos. Hickey, Patrick Toole, A. Doran, J. Egan, L. Kelly, J. Horgan, P. Winders, O. Hara, M. McLoughlin, T. Stapleton, P. Egan, W. Moore.