The Kerry Senior Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as Garvey’s SuperValu Senior Football Championship) is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1889 for the top Gaelic football teams in the county of Kerry in Ireland.
| Kerry Senior Football Championship | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2024 Kerry Senior Football Championship | |
| Irish | Craobh Sinsear Peile Chiarraí |
| Code | Gaelic football |
| Founded | 1889 |
| Region |  Kerry (GAA) |
| Trophy | Bishop Moynihan Cup |
| No. of teams | 16 |
| Title holders |  Dr. Crokes (14th title) |
| Most titles | Dr. Crokes (14 titles) |
| Sponsors | Garvey's SuperValu |
| TV partner(s) | TG4, RTÉ 2 |
| Official website | www |
The series of games are played during the summer and autumn months, with the county final currently being played in either Austin Stack Park or FitzGerald Stadium in October. Initially played as a knock-out competition, the championship currently uses a double elimination format whereby each team is guaranteed at least two games.
The Kerry County Championship is an integral part of the wider Munster Senior Club Football Championship. The winners of the Kerry county final join the champion clubs of the other five counties to contest the provincial championship. The winning team of the county championship also has the honour of naming the captain of the Kerry senior team for the following year.
The title has been won at least once by 22 different teams. The all-time record-holders are Dr. Crokes who have both won a total of 14 titles, the most recent being in 2024.
The winners receive the Bishop Moynihan Cup, named for Denis Moynihan, Catholic Bishop of Kerry in 1952–1969.[1][2][3]
Format
editThe Championship is contested annually by Kerry's Senior clubs for that year (the teams who compete in the Kerry Club Football Championship) and Kerry's divisional teams (currently 8 teams). The Championship has almost always being played using a knockout type format, with the exception being in 2022 and 2023 when a first round group phase was used to produce 8 quarter-finalists. The knockout type format has returned for 2024 with the first two rounds being a double-elimination format while a single-elimination format applies from then on.[4]
Relegation and promotion
editRelegation from and promotion to the Championship is based on the Kerry Club Football Championship each year. Divisional sides are not affected by relegation. Due to the expansion of the Club Football Championship beginning in 2025, no teams will be relegated from the Senior Championship in 2024 or 2025.
Future expansion
editWith the Kerry Club Football Championship expanding to 9 teams in 2025 and then 10 in 2026, the Kerry SFC will also increase its participants from 16 to 18 over the next two years. In this expanded format, the 8 divisional teams will play a double-elimination preliminary round which will see 6 of those teams join the 9 or 10 club sides in the first round proper of the Championship, which will then use a single-elimination format from then on.[5]
Teams
edit2025 Teams
edit17 teams will compete in the 2025 Kerry Senior Football Championship: 9 clubs and 8 divisional teams.
| Team | Location | Club/Division | Club's Divisional Side | Colours | Position in 2024 | In championship since | Championship Titles | Last Championship Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Stacks
|
Tralee | Club | St Brendan's | Black and amber | N/A | 2025 | 13 | 2021 |
 Dingle
|
Dingle | Club | West Kerry | Red and white | Runner-up | 2005 | 6 | 1948 |
| Dr Crokes
|
Killarney | Club | East Kerry | Black and amber | Champions | 1986 | 14 | 2024 |
| East Kerry
|
East Kerry | Division | N/A | Red and white | Semi-finals | 1925 | 11 | 2023 |
 Feale Rangers
|
North Kerry | Division | N/A | Gold and blue | Round 2 | 1956 | 3 | 2007 |
 Kenmare Shamrocks
|
Kenmare | Club | Kenmare District | Black and red | Quarter-finals | 2017 | 0 | — |
 Mid Kerry
|
Mid Kerry | Division | N/A | Green and red | Round 3 | 1947 | 4 | 2008 |
 Milltown/Castlemaine
|
Milltown | Club | Mid Kerry | Green and white | Round 3 | 2024 | 0 | — |
| Na Gaeil
|
Tralee | Club | St Brendan's | White and green | Round 2 | 2022 | 0 | — |
| Rathmore
|
Rathmore | Club | East Kerry | Red and white | Quarter-finals | 2023 | 0 | — |
 Shannon Rangers
|
North Kerry | Division | N/A | Blue and white | Round 3 | 1940 | 5 | 1977 |
 South Kerry
|
South Kerry | Division | N/A | Green and gold | Round 2 | 1925 | 10 | 2015 |
| Spa
|
Killarney | Club | East Kerry | Blue and gold | Round 3 | 2021 | 0 | — |
 St Brendan's
|
Tralee | Division | N/A | Green, black and white | Semi-finals | 0 | — | |
| St Kieran's
|
Castleisland | Division | N/A | Green and white | Quarter-finals | 1988 | 1 | 1988 |
| Templenoe
|
Templenoe | Club | Kenmare District | Blue and white | Quarter-finals | 2020 | 0 | — |
| West Kerry
|
West Kerry | Division | N/A | Red and white | Round 2 | 1924 | 3 | 1990 |
Clubs eligible for divisional teams
edit| Division | Clubs eligible for divisional team |
|---|---|
| East Kerry | East Kerry: Firies, Fossa, Glenflesk, Gneevguilla, Listry, Kilcummin, Killarney Legion |
| Kenmare District: Tuosist, Kilgarvan | |
| Feale Rangers | Clounmacon, Duagh, Finuge, Listowel Emmets, Moyvane, St. Senan's |
| Mid Kerry | Beaufort, Cromane, Glenbeigh-Glencar, Keel, Laune Rangers |
| Shannon Rangers | Asdee, Ballydonoghue, Ballyduff, Ballylongford, Beale, Tarbert |
| South Kerry | Dromid Pearses, Renard, Skellig Rangers, Sneem-Derrynane, St. Mary's, Valentia Young Islanders, Waterville, St.Michaels/Foilmore |
| St Brendan's | St Brendan’s: Churchill, St. Patrick's Blennerville, Ardfert |
| Tralee: John Mitchels, Kerins O'Rahillys | |
| St Kieran's | Ballymacelligott, Brosna, Castleisland Desmonds, Cordal, Currow, Knocknagoshel, Scartaglin |
| West Kerry | Annascaul, Castlegregory, Lispole, An Ghaeltacht |
Note 1: Kenmare District no longer enter a divisional team so their affiliated clubs play for East Kerry.
Note 2: Tralee no longer enter a divisional team so their affiliated clubs play for St Brendan’s.
Roll of honour
editBy club
edit| # | Team | Titles | Runners-Up | Championships won | Championships runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr Crokes
|
14 | 9 | 1901, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1991, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2024 | 1889, 1900, 1987, 1988, 1994, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2019 |
| 2 | Austin Stacks
|
13 | 7 | 1928, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1986, 1994, 2014, 2021 | 1929, 1933, 1980, 1981, 2001, 2010, 2013 |
| 3 | East Kerry
|
11 | 3 | 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 | 1964, 1966, 1995 |
| 4 | John Mitchels
|
10 | 7 | 1929, 1937, 1947, 1952, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966 | 1931, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1989 |
| Laune Rangers
|
10 | 3 | 1889, 1890, 1892, 1893, 1900, 1911, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996 | 1910, 1997, 2004 | |
| South Kerry
|
10 | 3 | 1955, 1956, 1958, 1981, 1982, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015 | 1984, 2007, 2017 | |
| 7 | Tralee Mitchels
|
9 | 5 | 1896, 1897, 1902, 1903, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1917, 1919 | 1890, 1897, 1911, 1912, 1914 |
| 8 | Kerins O'Rahilly's
|
6 | 9 | 1933, 1939, 1953, 1954, 1957, 2002 | 1928, 1930, 1936, 1940, 1956, 1961, 1963, 2008, 2021 |
| Dingle
|
6 | 6 | 1938, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1948 | 1937, 1939, 1947, 2012, 2018, 2024 | |
| 10 | Shannon Rangers
|
5 | 5 | 1942, 1945, 1964, 1972, 1977 | 1948, 1953, 1955, 1971, 1974 |
| 11 | Mid Kerry
|
4 | 9 | 1967, 1971, 1992, 2008 | 1965, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1990, 2014, 2020, 2022, 2023 |
| Ballymacelligott
|
4 | 1 | 1891, 1894, 1895, 1918 | 1892 | |
| 13 | Feale Rangers
|
3 | 6 | 1978, 1980, 2007 | 1959, 1962, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1985 |
| West Kerry
|
3 | 4 | 1984, 1985, 1990 | 1960, 1967, 1973, 1996 | |
| Tralee Division | 3 | 0 | 1925, 1926, 1927 | — | |
| 16 | Killarney | 2 | 2 | 1949, 1983 | 1950, 1986 |
| Kenmare District
|
2 | 1 | 1974, 1987 | 2016 | |
| An Ghaeltacht
|
2 | 1 | 2001, 2003 | 2000 | |
| 19 | Caherciveen | 1 | 3 | 1896 | 1901, 1904, 1905 |
| Killarney Legion
|
1 | 2 | 1946 | 1945, 2015 | |
| Castleisland
|
1 | 2 | 1950 | 1943, 1944 | |
| Irremore | 1 | 1 | 1897 | 1894 | |
| St Kieran's
|
1 | 1 | 1988 | 1998 | |
| Dick Fitzgeralds | 1 | 0 | 1951 | — | |
| 24 | North Kerry | 0 | 3 | — | 1927, 1932, 1938 |
| Keel | 0 | 2 | — | 1891, 1893 | |
| Kilcummin | 0 | 2 | — | 1903, 1913 | |
| Dingle Gascons | 0 | 2 | — | 1908, 1919 | |
| Farranfore | 0 | 2 | — | 1917, 1918 | |
| Listowel Selection | 0 | 2 | — | 1925, 1926 | |
| Lispole | 0 | 1 | — | 1907 | |
| Castleisland Desmonds | 0 | 1 | — | 1991 |
Performances by division
edit| Division | Titles | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
 Tralee District
|
41 | 26 | 67 |
| East Kerry
|
29 | 20 | 49 |
| Mid Kerry
|
14 | 14 | 28 |
| West Kerry
|
11 | 14 | 25 |
| South Kerry
|
11 | 6 | 17 |
| Shannon Rangers
|
8 | 5 | 13 |
| St Kieran's
|
6 | 5 | 11 |
| Feale Rangers
|
4 | 9 | 13 |
| Kenmare District
|
2 | 1 | 3 |
List of finals
editRecords and statistics
editTeams
editBy decade
editThe most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Kerry Senior Football Championship titles, is as follows:
- 1880s: 1 for Laune Rangers (1889)
- 1890s: 3 each for Laune Rangers (1890-92-93) and Ballymacelligott (1891-94-95)
- 1900s: 4 for Tralee Mitchels (1902-03-07-08)
- 1910s: 3 each for Tralee Mitchels (1910-17-19) and Dr Crokes (1912-13-14)
- 1920s: 3 for Tralee Division (1925-26-27)
- 1930s: 4 for Austin Stacks (1930-31-32-36)
- 1940s: 5 for Dingle (1940-41-43-44-48)
- 1950s: 3 each for Kerins O'Rahilly's (1953-54-57) and South Kerry (1955-56-58)
- 1960s: 5 for John Mitchels (1960-61-62-63-66)
- 1970s: 4 for Austin Stacks (1973-75-76-79)
- 1980s: 2 each for South Kerry (1981–82) and West Kerry (1984–85)
- 1990s: 3 each for Laune Rangers (1993-95-96) and East Kerry (1997-98-99)
- 2000s: 4 for South Kerry (2004-05-06-09)
- 2010s: 7 for Dr Crokes (2010-11-12-13-16-17-18)
- 2020s: 3 for East Kerry (2020-22-23)
Gaps
editTop ten longest gaps between successive championship titles:
- 78 years: Laune Rangers (1911-1989)
- 77 years: Dr Crokes (1914-1991)
- 45 years: Kerins O'Rahilly's (1957-2002)
- 37 years: Austin Stacks (1936-1973)
- 34 years: Killarney (1949-1983)
- 27 years: Feale Rangers (1980-2007)
- 27 years: East Kerry (1970-1997)
- 23 years: Ballymacelligott (1895-1918)
- 23 years: South Kerry (1958-1981)
- 22 years: South Kerry (1982-2004)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kerry SFC: Round 1 times, dates and venues confirmed". Independent.ie. 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Juvenile Club Notes 8th March, 2022". austinstacks.ie. 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Bishop Denis Moynihan". Lux Occulta.
- ^ "Kerry Senior Football Championship draw". The Kerryman. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Kerry GAA delegates fully endorse proposal to increase to 10 the clubs in the County SFC and club championship". The Kerryman. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Dr Crokes hit stunned Dingle for three goals to turn game and add another Kerry crown". The Kerryman. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Kerry SFC final - East Kerry make it four titles in five years after nervy win over Mid Kerry". Irish Independent. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "David Clifford decides the issue as East Kerry cruise to third title in four seasons". independent. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Austin Stacks win all Tralee decider to take 13th title". rte.ie. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "David Clifford wonder goal as East Kerry make wasteful Mid pay". The Irish Examiner. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ "David Clifford goal helps East Kerry win first title in 20 years". The Irish Examiner. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ "Dr Crokes claim record 13th Kerry title with win over Dingle". The Irish Times. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Garveys Supervalu Senior Football Championship Final". Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ^ "Sixth Kerry title in eight years for Dr Crokes". The Irish Examiner. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Crokes make final their own as Kenmare struggle to cope". Irish Independent. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ^ "South Kerry land the killer punch". Irish Examiner. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ "Mid Kerry spurn late chances and save Stacks". The Irish Examiner. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Donaghy stars as Stacks crowned Kerry champs". rte.ie. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ "Kerry SFC final replay: Donaghy the destroyer as Stacks end wait". Hogan Stand. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ "Dr Crokes 4-16 Austin Stacks 0-12". Irish Independent. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Crokes cruise to three in-a-row". Irish Examiner. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ "Kerins O'Rahilly's 0-09 Mid Kerry 1-07". RTÉ News. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008.
- ^ "It's Captain Galvin for Kerry as Feale land title". Irish Independent. 25 November 2012.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Fitz injury fails to halt champions". Irish Independent. 25 November 2012.
- ^ "A glorious memory when town rivals teamed up - and won". killarneytoday.com. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "1891 | Laune Rangers History". Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- ^ "1889 | Laune Rangers History". history.launerangers.ie. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2017.