Kerry county football team

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Kerry
Kerry GAA crest.jpg
Sport:Football
Irish:Ciarraí
Nickname(s):The Kingdom,
The Green and Gold
Fungie's Barmy Army
County board:Kerry GAA
Manager:Peter Keane
Captain:Paul Murphy[1]
Home venue(s):Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
Recent competitive record
Current All-Ireland status:Munster (SF) exit in 2020
Last championship title:2014
Current NFL Division:1 (1st in 2020)
Last league title:2020
First colours
Second colours

The Kerry county football team represents Kerry in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Kerry GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Munster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

Kerry's home ground is Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. The team's manager is Peter Keane.

Kerry was the fourth Munster county both to win an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC), as well as to appear in the final, following Limerick, Tipperary and Cork. The team last won the Munster Senior Championship in 2019, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 2014 and the National League in 2020.

History[]

Kerry are the most successful team in football history, having won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on 37 occasions and the National Football League 21 times. The team is also the holders of a number of distinctive records in football championship history. They have contested 59 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Finals, the next highest participator being Dublin with 36 appearances. Kerry's record in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship involves having played 30 of the 31 other counties, with only Kilkenny being the exception.[2]

The traditional Irish game of caid, from which modern football developed, was especially popular in Kerry. The GAA was formed in 1884 and codified the modern rules of the game, which were soon adopted in Kerry clubs such as Laune Rangers. Despite this, the county team did not win an All-Ireland Football Championship in the nineteenth century. The 1903 title was the first won by Kerry, with them beating London in the final at a time when London were given a bye to that stage of the championship; Kerry's overall exceptional success in the game began in this period.[citation needed]

The Kerry team of the 1970s and 1980s was considered to be the greatest in the history of football[3][4][5] and its manager (Mick O'Dwyer) one of the greatest of all time.[3][6][7] In recent years Dublin has become the greatest team of all time winning 6 All-Irelands in a single decade. Its former manager, Jim Gavin, is now acknowledged as the greatest manager of all time. Of the 20 All-Ireland finals held during those two decades, Kerry participated in 12, with victory coming on 9 occasions. During this time most other finals were won by Dublin, and there was a major rivalry between the two counties especially during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1982, Kerry came within one minute of winning an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland title in a row, only for a late goal by Offaly's Séamus Darby to give the title to Offaly. This goal was voted third in a poll to find the Top 20 GAA Moments.

Kerry team celebrating with Sam Maguire Cup in Tralee in 2007

Towards the end of the 1980s, Kerry went into decline and did not appear in an All-Ireland final for 11 years, between 1986 and 1997. The 1997 victory, however, would mark the beginning of a revival for Kerry which spanned roughly the first decade of the 21st century. Of the 15 All-Ireland finals between 1997 and 2011, Kerry contested ten and won six, including five titles in the 2000s.

Kerry reached the 2002 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. Its opponent, Armagh, had lost its two previous appearances at this stage of the competition. Kerry led at half-time, but not at full-time, giving a first All-Ireland title to Armagh.[8] Kerry later got rid of its manager Páidí Ó Sé, All-Ireland winning manager in 1997 and 2000 and All-Ireland winning player eight times between 1975 and 1986. Ó Sé fell ill and died some years later, at the age of 57.[9]

Kerry reached the 2005 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. Its opponent, Tyrone, had lost two of its three previous appearances at this stage. Tyrone did not lose this one.

In 2006 and 2007, Kerry won consecutive All-Ireland titles (the first team to do so since Cork in 1989 and 1990).

Kerry reached the 2008 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. Its opponent, Tyrone, defeated it once more. By reaching the same stage in 2009, Kerry became only the third team to reach six consecutive All-Ireland finals (a feat last achieved by Dublin between 1974 and 1979).

Kerry quietly exited the 2010 and 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championships at the quarter-final stage, losing to Down and Donegal respectively, while Dublin defeated Kerry in dramatic fashion on the last kick in the 2011 final.[10][11][12] Dublin were also responsible for their exit at the semi-final stage in 2013 in a closely contested classic match.[13] Kerry won their 37th, and most recent, All-Ireland title in 2014 against Donegal, winning by a margin of 2–09 to 0–12.[14] This win was notable due to Kerry's fairly young squad and a belief that Kerry were becoming unable to produce the talent they once had, after pundit Joe Brolly had suggested as such.[15] In the aftermath of the game, Kerry player Kieran Donaghy gave a famous interview in which he directly referenced Brolly's claim that the 'production line' in Kerry had stopped, with Donaghy speaking directly to the camera and asking 'Well, Joe Brolly, what do you think of that?'.[15] The next year, Kerry again reached the All-Ireland final, only this time to be comfortably beaten by Dublin, 0–12 to 0–9. The next two years saw Kerry bow out at the Semi-Final stage. In 2016, they were narrowly defeated by Dublin in a thrilling encounter, while in 2017 they were beaten by Mayo in a replay – their first championship defeat to Mayo in 21 years.[16][17][18] Kerry crashed out of the 2018 championships at the group stages of the new Super Eights format. However, in 2019 Kerry reached their first All-Ireland final for four years. The first match was drawn 1–16 to 1–16, with the final to be played on 14 September.[19]

Kerry's 2009 title was also notable since it followed the return of Tadhg Kennelly. The son of Tim Kennelly, a five-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry, and a former talented underage player with the county, he had joined the AFL's Sydney Swans and become the first Irish player to win an AFL Premiership in 2005 (the Swans' first in 72 years). Following Tim's death later that year, he elected to return to Ireland and rejoin Kerry in 2009 in pursuit of winning an All-Ireland of his own playing for the county. After he succeeded and became the first player to have won an All-Ireland and an AFL Premiership, he returned to Australia and the Swans to finish his career.

Kerry reached the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, where its opponent was Dublin (appearing at this stage for the first time in 16 years). In what was a memorable ending to the game, Kerry conceded a free and Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton sent the ball over Kerry's bar to consign The Kingdom to defeat.

Kerry contested the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, attempting to prevent Dublin from achieving five consecutive titles (the record Offaly denied Kerry in 1982). Kerry, however, failed to stop Dublin from achieving the record. Kerry had also been the team to set the record going, after losing the 2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final to Dublin as well.

Shortly after winning the 2020 National Football League, Kerry's footballers were knocked out of the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship after a defeat by Cork.[20][21][22][23]

Support[]

In January 2003, Páidí Ó Sé famously described Kerry supporters "fucking animals". More than 15 years later, former Tyrone footballer Seán Cavanagh, recalling his own experiences of the Kerry supporters, agreed that Ó Sé had been right. Cavanagh mentioned a 2012 match at Fitzgerald Stadium when an injury meant he could not play. "Then you sit in the stand, and you realise Páidí Ó Sé was right. They are absolute animals when the game is on". Cavanagh also questioned their "patronising" attitude towards their opponents. "It was strange that day. Their fans were riled on the terraces. They beat us well. They beat us out the gate, and you thought, 'Jesus, these guys are absolute dogs'. And then I remember as we were leaving the changing room, walking out onto the team bus there were hundreds of Kerry supporters, all clapping us. Either side of us, as we were walking through. They were back slapping us, 'ah youse are great lads', and all this. To me, it seemed a wee bit patronising".[24]

Kerry has its own supporters' club, which Seán Kelly established in 1987. Another supporters' club exists in Dublin for those from the county who live in the capital city.[25]

Current management team[]

Updated to include changes made ahead of 2021 season:[26]
  • Bainisteóir: Peter Keane (St Mary's)
  • Roghnóirí: Maurice Fitzgerald (St Mary's), (Kilcummin), Tommy Griffin (Dingle)
  • Coach: Donie Buckley (Castleisland Desmonds) (until 2020)[27]
  • Sports performance coach: Pat Falvey (ahead of 2021 season)[28][29]
  • Head of Athletic Performance: Jason McGahan
  • Nutritionists: Gavin Rackard, Kevin Beasley (both ahead of 2021 season)

Current squad[]

Team as per Kerry vs Cork in the Munster SFC Final, 25 July 2021

No. Player Position Club
1 Shane Ryan Goalkeeper Rathmore
2 Brian Ó Beaglaoich Right Corner Back An Ghaeltacht
3 Jason Foley Full Back Ballydonoghue
4 Tom O'Sullivan Left Corner Back Dingle
5 Mike Breen Right Half Back Beaufort
6 Gavin Crowley Centre Back Templenoe
7 Gavin White Left Half Back Dr Crokes
8 David Moran Midfield Kerins O'Rahilly's
9 Diarmuid O'Connor Midfield Na Gaeil
10 Micheál Burns Right Half Forward Dr Crokes
11 Seán O'Shea Centre Forward Kenmare Shamrocks
12 Stephen O'Brien Left Half Forward Kenmare Shamrocks
13 David Clifford (c) Right Corner Forward Fossa
14 Paul Geaney Full Forward Dingle
15 Paudie Clifford Left Corner Forward Fossa
No. Player Position Club
16 Kieran Fitzgibbon Substitute Kenmare Shamrocks
17 Adrian Spillane Substitute Templenoe
18 Tadhg Morley Substitute Templenoe
19 Paul Murphy Substitute Rathmore
20 Killian Spillane Substitute Templenoe
21 Tommy Walsh Substitute Kerins O'Rahilly's
22 Jack Barry Substitute Na Gaeil
23 Graham O'Sullivan Substitute Dromid Pearses
24 Jack Sherwood Substitute
25 Pa Kilkenny Substitute Glenbeigh-Glencar
26 Tony Brosnan Substitute Dr Crokes

RET Player has since retired from the county team.
INJ Player has had an injury which has affected recent involvement with the county team.
WD Player has since withdrawn from the county team due to a non-injury issue.

Recent call-ups[]

The following players were not included in the most recent matchday squad, but were part of the 2019 senior panel.

Pos. Player Club Latest call-up
Left Corner Forward James O'Donoghue Legion v. ?
Right Half Forward Michael Geaney Dingle v. ?
Centre Back Peter Crowley Laune Rangers v. ?
Right Corner Forward Conor Geaney Dingle v. ?
Right Half Back Robert Wharton Renard v. ?
Right Half Forward Micheál Burns Dr Crokes v. ?
Midfield Liam Kearney Spa v. ?
Left Half Forward Denis Daly Spa v. ?
Full Back Mark Griffin St Michael's Foilmore v. ?
Right Half Forward Tomás Ó Sé An Ghaeltacht v. ?
Full Forward Gavin O'Brien Kerin's O'Rahilly's v. ?
? Danny Sheahan Legion v. ?

The following five additions were made ahead of the 2021 season:[30]

  • Kieran Fitzgibbon (Kenmare Shamrocks)
  • Brian Leonard (Desmonds)
  • Mark Ryan (Kenmare Shamrocks)
  • Paul O'Shea (Kilcummin)
  • Eddie Horan (Scartaglen)

Managerial history[]

This is a list of people who have coached/managed the Kerry county football team since 1965.

Name Club From To All-Ireland SFC titles Munster SFC titles
Dr Jim Brosnan
Dingle
 1965[31] 1968[32]
1965
Jackie Lyne
Killarney Legion
 1968[33] 1971[34]
1969, 1970
1968, 1969, 1970
Joe Keohane
John Mitchels
 1971[35] 1972
Johnny Culloty
Killarney Legion
 1972 1974
1972[36]
Mick O'Dwyer
Waterville
 1975 1989[37]
1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986
1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986
Mickey Ned O'Sullivan
Kenmare
 1989 1992
1991[38]
Ogie Moran
Beale
 1992[39] 1995[40]
Páidí Ó Sé
An Ghaeltacht
 1995 2003
1997, 2000
1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003[citation needed]
Jack O'Connor
Piarsaigh Na Dromada
 2004 2006
2004, 2006
2004, 2005[citation needed]
Pat O'Shea
Dr Crokes
 2007 2008
2007
2007[citation needed]
Jack O'Connor (2)
Piarsaigh Na Dromada
 2009 2012
2009
2010, 2011
Éamonn Fitzmaurice
Finuge
 2013 2018
2014
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Peter Keane
St Mary's
 2019 Present
2019

Players[]

Dynasties[]

Kerry has several noted families who have competed at the sport's highest level; these include the Ó Sés, the Sheehys, the Spillane–Lynes and the Walshes and Kennellys; Frank and John O'Keeffe; Jack and Aidan O'Shea; Ogie and David Moran; and Jim Brosnan; and Maurice Fitzgerald; John Egan and his son (the one who got away).[42]

Records[]

  • Colm Cooper was the highest scoring player in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship until 2019 when Cillian O'Connor of Mayo surpassed the record against Kerry during a defeat in Killarney.[43] Cooper had taken the record from fellow Kerryman Mikey Sheehy.[44]
  • Mick O'Dwyer is the team's top scorer in National Football League history, finishing his career with 19–313 (370) in that competition. As of 2021, he remained in the top ten all-time scorers in that competition, though he had been passed by numerous players including Ronan Carolan of Cavan, Mattie Forde of Wexford, Steven McDonnell of Armagh, Conor McManus of Monaghan, Brian Stafford of Meath and David Tubridy of Clare.[45]
  • Beginning with Páidí, the Ó Sé family had at least one member play a part in all 22 All-Ireland SFC finals that Kerry participated in between 1975 and 2014.[46]
  • Pat Spillane received nine All Star Awards during his career, a feat matched by no other footballer.
  • Tadhg Kennelly became the first (and thus far only) holder of both an AFL Premiership medallion and a Senior All-Ireland Championship medal, the highest respective possible honours in the sports of Australian rules football and Gaelic football, in addition to winning a GAA Medal as Irish Player of the Series in the International Rules Series.

All-Stars[]

Honours[]

Main article: Kerry GAA honours

Kerry has won 37 All-Ireland Senior Football Championships and has been the losers in 23 other All-Ireland SFC finals.

Kerry has also won the most Munster Senior Football Championships, with 81 titles.

References[]

  1. ^ "Paul Murphy to captain Kerry senior footballers in 2021". RTÉ Sport. 25 January 2021.
  2. ^ Nolan, Sean (2 August 2012). "Hospital Pass: Kerry eye up Kilkenny and where Andy Moran wants to play the All-Ireland final". JOE. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Keane, Paul (20 April 2003). "GAA: Micko's still the best in my book says Armagh's Kernan". Sunday Mirror. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008.
  4. ^ "Tears flow freely in Listowel on the day they buried a real giant". The Kingdom. 15 December 2005. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2005.
  5. ^ "Better late than never". Irish Examiner. 24 September 2005. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2005.
  6. ^ Ó Sé, Páidí (18 May 2008). "Last hurrah looms for football's most remarkable man". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  7. ^ "Where next for Mick O'Dwyer?". Irish News UK – News from the Irish Community in Britain. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  8. ^ "Flashback: 2002 All-Ireland SFC Final - Armagh v Kerry". GAA.ie. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Former Kerry footballer Páidí Ó Sé dies aged 57". RTÉ News. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Down shock Kerry at Croke Park". RTÉ Sport. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  11. ^ Keys, Colm (7 August 2012). "House that Jack built in danger of collapse". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  12. ^ Moynihan, Michael (1 July 2009). "Brolly: Kerry in 'terminal decline'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  13. ^ "Colm Keys: Was Dublin v Kerry the greatest game Gaelic football has seen?". Irish Independent. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  14. ^ "As it happened: Kerry 2–9 Donegal 0–12". Independent.ie. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "Tomás O'Sé pokes fun at Joe Brolly's prediction of a Kerry demise". Independent.ie. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  16. ^ O'Toole, Fintan. "Late points carry Dublin to victory over Kerry in All-Ireland semi-final cracker". The42. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  17. ^ O'Toole, Fintan. "Durcan rescues a draw for Mayo against Kerry in All-Ireland semi-final thriller". The42. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  18. ^ O'Brien, Kevin. "Rochford gets it right as Mayo claim first win over Kerry in 21 years to seal return to All-Ireland final". The42. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  19. ^ Sweeney, Peter (1 September 2019). "History suspended as Dublin and Kerry share the spoils". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ^ "Clifford and his colleagues could have a field day. I don't give Cork a prayer against Kerry". 8 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Everyone has a laugh as Pat Spillane's pre-match Cork v Kerry prediction backfires - The Kerry pundit predicted that David Clifford and Kerry would have a 'field day' at Pairc Ui Chaoimh". 9 November 2020.
  22. ^ "'David Clifford is going to give Kerry every chance of winning an All-Ireland if he stays fit' - Marc Ó Sé previewed the clash of Cork and Kerry on the latest episode of The42 GAA Weekly". The42.ie. 6 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Kerry's Championship dreams destroyed after stunning extra-time final act sees Cork triumph". Irish Independent. 8 November 2020.
  24. ^ Clarke, Harry. "'Páidi Ó Sé was right, Kerry fans are absolute animals' – Sean Cavanagh", Independent, 11 July 2019.
  25. ^ "Can Cork GAA afford not to have its own supporters' club?". The Southern Star. 1 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Explorer Pat Falvey to be named as Kerry's new performance coach". Irish Examiner. 22 February 2021. While Keane has not gone for a high profile coach to boost his backroom team, it is understood that he has given Maurice Fitzgerald a greater hands-on role in coaching along with Tommy Griffin while Jason McGahan Head of Athletic Performance will also be involved in the on-field preparation. Gavin Rackard and Kevin Beasley have been added to the county set-up. Rackard is performance nutritionist with Connacht Rugby while Beasley was Kingdom nutritionist previously under Éamonn Fitzmaurice.
  27. ^ "'It's unfortunate that it didn't work out' - Donie Buckley's departure in Kerry". The42.ie. 30 April 2020.
  28. ^ "Kerry appoint Falvey as sports performance coach". Hogan Stand. 23 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Pat Falvey appointment confirmed as review recommends tweaks to Kerry GAA districts". Irish Examiner. 22 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Explorer Pat Falvey to be named as Kerry's new performance coach". Irish Examiner. 22 February 2021.
  31. ^ "Jim succeeds Dr. Eamon as Kerry team trainer"; Kerryman 27 February 1965, p. 16
  32. ^ "Jackie Lyne will train Kerry team"; Kerryman 18 May 1968, p. 21
  33. ^ "Jackie Lyne will train Kerry team", The Kerryman, 18 May 1968, p. 21
  34. ^ "Jackie Lyne retires", Irish Independent, 20 July 1971, p. 13
  35. ^ "Captain Joe Keohane to train Kerry", Irish Press, 20 November 1971, p. 20
  36. ^ "Culloty, Johnny – HoganStand". hoganstand.com.
  37. ^ Barry, John, "Taoiseach joins tribute to Micko", The Kerryman, 4 August 1989, p. 1
  38. ^ "Interview with Mickey Ned O'Sullivan". terracetalk.com.
  39. ^ "The three wise men of Kerry football have Sam in sight"; The Kerryman; 18 September 1992, p. 1
  40. ^ Sports Digest, The Kerryman, 25 August 1995, p. 22
  41. ^ "All-Ireland-winning Kerry defender Peter Crowley retires from inter-county football". Irish Independent. 20 April 2021.
  42. ^ "Walsh dynasty the latest bloodline to reinforce Kerry ranks". Irish Independent. 22 August 2008.
  43. ^ "Cillian O'Connor makes GAA history". The Mayo News. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  44. ^ "O'Connor set to overhaul Cooper at top of the charts". RTÉ. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  45. ^ "Banner hero David Tubridy already has more history in his sights after becoming highest league scorer of all time". Irish Independent. 1 June 2021.
  46. ^ "22nd final for Kerry's famous Ó Sé clan". Hogan Stand. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
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