# North Kerry Senior Football Championship

The North Kerry Senior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition for GAA clubs affiliated to the North Kerry Football Board, a division of Kerry GAA. The official name of the competition became The Bernard O'Callaghan Memorial North Kerry Senior Football Championship in 2000, in honour of the late Bernie O'Callaghan (Beale) who was Chairman of the North Kerry GAA Board for 25 years (1974 to 1998) and did a huge amount of work for North Kerry football.
The Championship runs from October to December each year but has on occasion continued into the New Year due to replays and postponements. It is currently sponsored by McMunn's Bar and Restaurant, Ballybunion. The current champions are Listowel Emmets, who defeated Castleisland Desmonds in the 2024 final, winning the competition for the 17th time in the club's history.

## History

The first North Kerry Championship took place in 1925 and was won by Newtownsandes(Moyvane), who defeated Faha. Moyvane have been the most successful team in the Championship with 18 titles. In 1983, shortly after the death of Asdee native Éamonn O'Donoghue (who won 5 Championships with Ballylongford), Castleisland Desmonds and Ballylongford jointly presented a Cup in his honour to the North Kerry Football Board to be presented to the Championship winners each year. As of 2024 fourteen different clubs have won the Championship.

## Format

The Championship is played on a straight knock-out basis. First round games give home advantage to first drawn out in ties following an open draw, with all further round matches being played at neutral venues.

### Current format

First round: 12 teams contest this round. The 6 winning teams advance directly to the quarter-final stage. The 6 losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Quarter-finals: The six first round winners and the two teams given a bye contest this round. The four winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: The four quarter-final winners contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
All first round and quarter-final matches are decided on the day, with extra-time and penalties being used if necessary to decide the winner. The semi-finals and final will go to a replay if level at full-time.

## Teams

Fourteen clubs compete in the North Kerry Senior Football Championship: five teams from Feale Rangers, three teams from St Kieran's and six teams from Shannon Rangers.
| Team | Home Ground | Divisional Side | Founded |
| Asdee | Jack Walsh Park, Tullahennel | Shannon Rangers | 1986 |
| Ballydonoghue | Denis Dowling Park, Coolard | Shannon Rangers | 1930s |
| Ballyduff | Ballyduff Sportsfield, Ballyduff | Shannon Rangers | 1911 |
| Ballylongford | O'Rahilly Park, Ballylongford | Shannon Rangers | |
| Beale | Bob Stack Park, Ballybunion | Shannon Rangers | 1972 |
| Brosna | Páirc na Féile, Brosna | St. Kieran's | 1970s |
| Castleisland Desmonds | Moanmore, Castleisland | St. Kieran's | 1885 |
| Duagh | Duagh GAA Field, Duagh | Feale Rangers | 1891 |
| Finuge | James O'Sullivan Park, Finuge | Feale Rangers | 1961 |
| Knocknagoshel | Willie Walsh Park, Knocknagoshel | St. Kieran's | 1932 |
| Listowel Emmets | Frank Sheehy Park, Listowel | Feale Rangers | 1885 |
| Moyvane | Con Brosnan Park, Moyvane | Feale Rangers | 1900 |
| St Senan's | Jackie Finnerty Park, Mountcoal | Feale Rangers | 1934 |
| Tarbert | Shannon Park, Tarbert | Shannon Rangers | 1904 |

## 2024 Championship

All fourteen teams participated in the 2024 championship. The draw took place on Friday, September 13th which resulted in 12 teams drawn to play in the first round with two teams receiving byes to the quarter-finals. After three rounds of play Castleisland Desmonds played Listowel Emmets in the final. It was the fourth time the sides met in the decider with Emmets now having won all four finals between the sides.
Round 1
Byes: Ballydonoghue, Knocknagoshel
Quarter-Finals
* Ballyduff win 4-3 on penalties
Semi-Finals
Final
* 1 December 2024 (2024-12-01) 14:30 WET (UTC+0) Final
* Report
| Castleisland Desmonds | 0–08 (8) – (14) 1–11 | Listowel Emmets |
| (HT: 0–03 – 1–05) |||
| Pts: T Hickey 2 (1f), L Brosnan 2, K Downey, M Hickey, A O'Donoghue, S O'Connell 1 each | | Gls: S Keane 1 Pts: S Keane 3, S Tarrant 2 (2fs), J Enright 2 (2'45s), E Healy 2, A Carey, A Kennelly 1 each |
* Con Brosnan Park, Moyvane Referee: Brendan Griffin (Clounmacon)

## Roll of honour
### By club

| # | Team | Titles | Runners-Up | Winning years | Losing years |
| 1 | Moyvane | 18 | 15 | 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1983, 1995, 1999, 2003 | 1926, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1960, 1970, 1971, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1996 |
| 2 | Listowel Emmets | 17 | 12 | 1926, 1931, 1933, 1957, 1965, 1972, 1976, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2024 | 1927, 1928, 1946, 1962, 1975, 1985, 1992, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| 3 | Ballylongford | 13 | 14 | 1940, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1953, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1986, 1993, 2000 | 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1950, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1982, 1983 |
| 4 | Ballydonoghue | 10 | 7 | 1945, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1959, 1992, 2016, 2017, 2023 | 1944, 1951, 1953, 1961, 1994, 2018, 2020 |
| 5 | Beale | 8 | 4 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1989, 2014 | 1988, 1997, 2011, 2012 |
| 6 | Tarbert | 7 | 11 | 1942, 1948, 1969, 1973, 1985, 1990, 2010 | 1930, 1931, 1932, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1964, 1974, 1976, 1999 |
| 7 | Castleisland Desmonds | 6 | 7 | 1980, 1988, 2002, 2007, 2020, 2021 | 1986, 1991, 2001, 2003, 2013, 2022, 2024 |
| 7 | Duagh | 6 | 5 | 1951, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1962, 2012 | 1947, 1949, 1952, 2002, 2008 |
| 9 | Finuge | 5 | 6 | 1967, 1987, 1996, 2001, 2011 | 1945, 1972, 1998, 2004, 2007, 2009 |
| 10 | Ballyduff | 3 | 6 | 1994, 2005, 2006 | 1948, 1963, 1968, 1993, 2017, 2021 |
| 11 | St. Senan's | 2 | 4 | 2018, 2019 | 1980, 2000, 2016, 2023 |
| 12 | Clounmacon | 1 | 2 | 1954 | 1955, 1957 |
| 12 | Craughdarrig | 1 | 0 | 1934 | — |
| 12 | An tArm | 1 | 0 | 1944 | — |
| 15 | Brosna | 0 | 2 | — | 2015, 2019 |
| 15 | Faha | 0 | 1 | — | 1925 |

## List of finals

| Year | Winners | Winners | Runners-up | Runners-up |
| Year | Club | Score | Club | Score |
| 2024 | Listowel Emmets | 1-11 | Castleisland Desmonds | 0-08 |
| 2023 | Ballydonoghue | 2-06 | St. Senan's | 1-06 |
| 2022 | Listowel Emmets | 0-13 | Castleisland Desmonds | 0-07 |
| 2021 | Castleisland Desmonds | (1-11) 3-14 (R) | Ballyduff | (1-11) 1-05 (R) |
| 2020 | Castleisland Desmonds | 1-14 | Ballydonoghue | 1-07 |
| 2019 | St. Senan's | 2-06 | Brosna | 0-06 |
| 2018 | St. Senan's | 1-12 | Ballydonoghue | 1-06 |
| 2017 | Ballydonoghue | 1-13 | Ballyduff | 1-04 |
| 2016 | Ballydonoghue | 5-09 | St. Senan's | 0-08 |
| 2015 | Listowel Emmets | (0-09) 0-09 (R) | Brosna | (1-06) 0-06 (R) |
| 2014 | Beale | 0-11 | Listowel Emmets | 0-10 |
| 2013 | Listowel Emmets | 1-08 | Castleisland Desmonds | 0-10 |
| 2012 | Duagh | (0-07) 0-09 (R) | Beale | (1-04) 0-06 (R) |
| 2011 | Finuge | 1-09 | Beale | 0-11 |
| 2010 | Tarbert | (2-04) 2-12 (R) | Listowel Emmets | (1-07) 1-14 (R) |
| 2009 | Listowel Emmets | 0-12 | Finuge | 0-11 |
| 2008 | Listowel Emmets | 0-10 | Duagh | 0-07 |
| 2007 | Castleisland Desmonds | 1-13 | Finuge | 1-06 |
| 2006 | Ballyduff | 1-12 | Listowel Emmets | 0-14 |
| 2005 | Ballyduff | 2-06 | Listowel Emmets | 0-07 |
| 2004 | Listowel Emmets | 0-12 | Finuge | 0-05 |
| 2003 | Moyvane | 0-10 | Castleisland Desmonds | 0-08 |
| 2002 | Castleisland Desmonds | 0-10 | Duagh | 0-06 |
| 2001 | Finuge | 1-09 | Castleisland Desmonds | 1-07 |
| 2000 | Ballylongford | 4-09 | St. Senan's | 1-09 |
| 1999 | Moyvane | 0-10 | Tarbert | 0-06 |
| 1998 | Listowel Emmets | 3-12 | Finuge | 2-08 |
| 1997 | Listowel Emmets | 1-09 | Beale | 0-09 |
| 1996 | Finuge | 1-07 | Moyvane | 0-04 |
| 1995 | Moyvane | 1-11 | Listowel Emmets | 0-06 |
| 1994 | Ballyduff | 0-05 | Ballydonoghue | 1-01 |
| 1993 | Ballylongford | 1-08 | Ballyduff | 1-04 |
| 1992 | Ballydonoghue | 0-08 | Listowel Emmets | 0-03 |
| 1991 | Listowel Emmets | 0-09 | Castleisland Desmonds | 0-04 |
| 1990 | Tarbert | 3-04 | Moyvane | 1-07 |
| 1989 | Beale | (2-03) 0-06 (R) | Moyvane | (1-06) 0-05 (R) |
| 1988 | Castleisland Desmonds | (1-07) 1-05 (R) | Beale | (1-07) 0-05 (R) |
| 1987 | Finuge | 1-07 | Moyvane | 1-06 |
| 1986 | Ballylongford | 0-09 | Castleisland Desmonds | 2-02 |
| 1985 | Tarbert | 1-04 | Listowel Emmets | 0-04 |
| 1984 | Beale | 2-10 | Moyvane | 2-08 |
| 1983 | Moyvane | 0-08 | Ballylongford | 0-04 |
| 1982 | Beale | 0-09 | Ballylongford | 1-05 |
| 1981 | Beale | 2-11 | Moyvane | 2-10 |
| 1980 | Castleisland Desmonds | 3-10 | St. Senan's | 1-04 |
| 1979 | Beale | 4-08 | Moyvane | 2-03 |
| 1978 | Beale | 1-09 | Moyvane | 0-07 |
| 1977 | Beale | 1-11 | Ballylongford | 0-07 |
| 1976 | Listowel Emmets | 2-09 | Tarbert | 0-09 |
| 1975 | Ballylongford | 1-08 | Listowel Emmets | 1-05 |
| 1974 | Ballylongford | 2-05 | Tarbert | 1-07 |
| 1973 | Tarbert | 3-07 | Ballylongford | 2-03 |
| 1972 | Listowel Emmets | 1-07 | Finuge | 1-05 |
| 1971 | Ballylongford | 0-13 | Moyvane | 2-01 |
| 1970 | Ballylongford | 3-16 | Moyvane | 3-05 |
| 1969 | Tarbert | 1-07 | Ballylongford | 0-08 |
| 1968 | Ballylongford | 2-12 | Ballyduff | 0-03 |
| 1967 | Finuge | 1-08 | Ballylongford | 0-08 |
| 1966 | Moyvane | 3-06 | Ballylongford | 1-05 |
| 1965 | Listowel Emmets | 0-12 | Ballylongford | 1-08 |
| 1964 | Moyvane | 1-10 | Tarbert | 0-05 |
| 1963 | Moyvane | | Ballyduff | |
| 1962 | Duagh | 0-07 | Listowel Emmets | 1-00 |
| 1961 | Moyvane | | Ballydonoghue | |
| 1960 | Duagh | 4-07 | Moyvane | 1-04 |
| 1959 | Ballydonoghue | 3-06 | Tarbert | 1-02 |
| 1958 | Moyvane | 2-03 | Tarbert | 0-06 |
| 1957 | Listowel Emmets | 2-03 | Clounmacon | 0-06 |
| 1956 | Duagh | No final played | No final played | No final played |
| 1955 | Duagh | | Clounmacon | |
| 1954 | Clounmacon | | Tarbert | |
| 1953 | Ballylongford | 2-09 | Ballydonoghue | 0-02 |
| 1952 | Ballydonoghue | 2-01 | Duagh | 0-07 |
| 1951 | Duagh | 3-01 | Ballydonoghue | 0-01 |
| 1950 | Ballydonoghue | 3-04 | Ballylongford | 2-05 |
| 1949 | Ballydonoghue | 2-05 | Duagh | 0-03 |
| 1948 | Tarbert | 4-02 | Ballyduff | 1-04 |
| 1947 | Ballylongford | 2-00 | Duagh | 1-02 |
| 1946 | Ballydonoghue | 0-09 | Listowel Emmets | 1-05 |
| 1945 | Ballydonoghue | 1-08 | Finuge | 0-02 |
| 1944 | An tArm (Fort Shannon) | 1-06 | Ballydonoghue | 1-01 |
| 1943 | Ballylongford | Championship unfinished | Championship unfinished | Championship unfinished |
| 1942 | Tarbert | 5-03 | Moyvane | 1-03 |
| 1941 | Ballylongford | 2-05 | Moyvane | 0-05 |
| 1940 | Ballylongford | 0-03 | Moyvane | 0-02 |
| 1939 | Moyvane | 2-05 | Ballylongford | 0-04 |
| 1938 | Moyvane | 3-05 | Tarbert | 0-08 |
| 1937 | Moyvane | | Ballylongford | |
| 1936 | Moyvane | 3-04 | Ballylongford | 1-03 |
| 1935 | No Final played | No Final played | No Final played | No Final played |
| 1934 | Craughdarrig | | Ballylongford | |
| 1933 | Listowel Emmets | 2-08 | Ballylongford | 1-05 |
| 1932 | Moyvane (Newtownsandes) | 2-08 | Tarbert | 0-03 |
| 1931 | Listowel Emmets | 2-04 | Tarbert | 1-03 |
| 1930 | Moyvane (Newtownsandes) | 5-04 | Tarbert | 3-03 |
| 1929 | No Championship held | No Championship held | No Championship held | No Championship held |
| 1928 | Moyvane (Newtownsandes) | 2-03 | Listowel Emmets | 0-01 |
| 1927 | Moyvane (Newtownsandes) | 1-08 | Listowel Emmets | 1-01 |
| 1926 | Listowel Emmets | 2-05 | Moyvane (Newtownsandes) | 0-03 |
| 1925 | Moyvane (Newtownsandes) | 2-05 | Faha | 1-02 |