Kerry Intermediate Football Championship

Fenian Cup
Current season or competition: 2024 Kerry Intermediate Football Championship
Irish	Corn Fíníneach
Code	Gaelic football
Founded	1931
Region	Kerry (GAA)
Trophy	Fenian Cup
Title holders	Milltown/Castlemaine (5th title)
Most titles	Kenmare Shamrocks, Milltown/Castlemaine (5 titles)
Sponsors	Kerry Petroleum [1]
Official website	kerrygaa.ie

The Kerry Intermediate Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by mid-tier Kerry GAA clubs.

Milltown/Castlemaine are the title holders, defeating Fossa 2–13 to 0–18 in the 2023 final. ^[2]

History

The competition was revived in 1959, and District Boards had the right to enter teams. ^[3]

Kerry senior players play in the Kerry Intermediate Football Championship. 2014 All-Ireland winner Peter Crowley had a season-ending cruciate injury from playing for Laune Rangers in it in 2019 and missed the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship as a result. ^{[4] [5]} 2021 winners Na Gaeil boasted ex-Australian Football League professional Stefan Okunbor, Diarmuid O'Connor and brothers Jack and Andrew Barry in their ranks. ^{[6] [7]}

Honours

The winners can be promoted to play in the Kerry Club Football Championship in the year after they win this competition.

The winners of the Kerry Intermediate Football Championship progress to the Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship, representing Kerry, later that year, or, as was the case in 2021, the following year. They often do well there and recent winners include Templenoe in 2019 and Na Gaeil winning in 2022 after winning the Kerry Intermediate Football Championship in 2021. ^{[8] [9]} Kilcummin made it 12 wins for Kerry out of 13 in 2018. ^[10] The winners can then go on and win the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship title like Milltown/Castlemaine did in 2012. ^[11]

Teams beaten in the first round take part in the Intermediate Football Shield. The winners collect the Fenian Cup. ^[12]

Format

Group stage

The 16 clubs are divided into four groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed three group games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top two teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals and the bottom team in each group advance to the relegation playoffs.

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals: The 4 group winners and 4 group runners-up contest this round. A group winner will play a group runner-up of another group. The two winners from these two 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 and are promoted to the Kerry Senior Football Championship.

Relegation playoffs

Relegation semi-finals: The 4 group losers contest this round. The two losers from these two games advance to the relegation finals.

Relegation finals: The two semi-final losers contest the relegation final. The losing team are relegated to the Kerry Premier Junior Football Championship.

Qualification

At the end of the championship, the winning club qualify to the subsequent Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship.

Teams

2024 Teams

Team	Location	Colours	Division	In championship since	Championship titles	Last championship title
An Ghaeltacht	Ghaeltacht	White with Red sash	West Kerry	2019	3	2017
Austin Stacks	Tralee	Black and amber	Tralee	2023	0	—
Ballydonoghue	Lisselton	Green and White	Shannon Rangers	2021	0	—
Beaufort	Beaufort	Blue and yellow	Mid Kerry	2019	2	2000
Castleisland Desmonds	Castleisland	White and blue	St Kieran's	2004	3	1981
Fossa	Fossa	Red and black	East Kerry	2023	0	—
Glenbeigh-Glencar	Glenbeigh	Red and black	Mid Kerry	2017	0	—
Glenfesk	Glenflesk	Blue and yellow	East Kerry	2004	0	—
Gneeveguilla	Gneeveguilla	Yellow and green	East Kerry	2022	1	2010
John Mitchels	Tralee	Green and yellow	Tralee	2009	0	—
Kerins O'Rahilly's	Tralee	Blue and white	Tralee	2024	0	—
Laune Rangers	Killorglin	Blue and white	Mid Kerry	2016	0	—
Listowel Emmets	Listowel	Black and amber	Feale Rangers	2024	1	2002
Kilcummin	Kilcummin	Red and green	East Kerry	2021	2	2018
Killarney Legion	Killarney	Green and white	East Kerry	2022	1	2005
St. Mary’s	Cahersiveen	White and blue	South Kerry	—	2	2015

List of finals

Legend

• Gold – All-Ireland intermediate club champions
• Silver – All-Ireland intermediate club runners-up

List of Kerry IFC finals

Year	Winners		Runners-up		#
	Club	Score	Club	Score
2024
2023	Milltown/Castlemaine	2-13	Fossa	0-18
2022	Rathmore	1-13	An Gaeltacht	0-14
2021	Na Gaeil	0-13	Beaufort	1-07	[13] [14]
2020	Spa	4-18	Beaufort	1-19	[15]
2019	Templenoe	2-14	An Gaeltacht	0-12	[16]
2018	Kilcummin	3-5	Glenflesk	1-8
2017	An Gaeltacht	1-12	Templenoe	0-14	[17]
2016	Kenmare Shamrocks	2-11	Templenoe	1-06	[18]
2015	St Mary's	1-13	Spa	0-13	[19]
2014	Ardfert	1-12	Spa	0-10	[20]
2013	Currow	2-11	St Mary's	0-14
2012	Finuge	1-12	Spa	0-12
2011	Milltown/Castlemaine	3-09	Waterville	1-06
2010	Gneeveguilla	1-06	Finuge	1-05
2009	Spa	1-12	Currow	0-07
2008	St Michael's/Foilmore	1-09	Gneeveguilla	0-10
2007	Annascaul	0-10	Listowel Emmets	0-06
2006	Ardfert	3-7	Annascaul	0-10
2005	Legion	0-08	Finuge	0-06
2004	Dingle	1-11	Annascaul	0-10
2003	Milltown/Castlemaine	1-07	Waterville	0-05
2002	Listowel Emmets	1-12	Dingle	0-09
2001	St Mary's	1-17	Ballymacelligott	1-09
2000	Beaufort	2-07	Ballymacelligott	1-02
1999	Rathmore	0-15	Glenflesk	0-09
1998	An Gaeltacht	2-14	Dingle	0-04
1997	Kilcummin		Currow
1996	Dingle	2-12	Milltown/Castlemaine	2-10	[21]
1995	Valentia		Spa
1994	Milltown/Castlemaine		An Gaeltacht
1993	Waterville		Milltown/Castlemaine
1992	Annascaul		St Mary's
1991	Milltown/Castlemaine		Kenmare Shamrocks
1990	Kenmare Shamrocks
1989	Dingle	2-09	Kenmare Shamrocks	1-10	[22]
1988	Dingle	1-09	Templenoe	0-10	[23]
1987	Annascaul	1-10	Spa	1-07
1986	Valentia	1-10	Annascaul	1-07
1985	Dr Crokes	0-13	Moyvane	0-06	[24]
1984	Beale	2-05	Moyvane	1-06	[25]
1983	No championship
1982	Annascaul	2-03	Beale	1-05	[26]
1981	Castleisland Desmonds
1980	Beaufort	5-04	Dingle	0-08	[27]
1979	Castleisland Desmonds
1978	Castleisland Desmonds
1977	Tarbert	2-07	Keel	2-03	[28]
1976	Ballylongford	1-09	Tarbert	0-04	[29]
1975	Castlegregory		Tarbert
1974	Spa	0-11	Waterville	1-06	[30]
1973	No championship
1972	Ballylongford	5-09	Kenmare Shamrocks	0-06	[31]
1971	Ballylongford		Dr Crokes
1970	Kenmare Shamrocks	2-15	Ballylongford	2-05	[32]
1969	Keel	0-07	Tarbert	0-04	[33]
1968	Kenmare Shamrocks	1-07	Finuge	0-06	[34]
1960–1967	No championship
1959	Castleisland District	1-10	East Kerry	0-02	[35]
1949	North Kerry		Kenmare District		[36]
1944–1948	No championship
1943	Army Ballymullen Barracks	1-07	Currow	1-01	[37]
1942	Castlegregory	3-08	Kenmare District	2-02	[38]
1941	No championship
1940	Kenmare Shamrocks	3-06	Listry	1-08	[39]
1934–1939	No championship
1933	An Ghaeltacht	0-05	South Kerry	0-01	[40]
1932	North Kerry	3-02	South Kerry	2-04	[41]
1931	North Kerry	0-08	South Kerry	1-03	[42]

Roll of honour

By club

#	Team	Titles	Runners-Up	Winning years	Losing years
1	Kenmare Shamrocks	5	3	1940, 1968, 1970, 1990, 2016	1972, 1989, 1991
	Milltown/Castlemaine	5	2	1991, 1994, 2003, 2011, 2023	1993, 1996
3	Dingle	4	3	1988, 1989, 1996, 2004	1980, 1998, 2002
	Annascaul	4	3	1982, 1987, 1992, 2007	1986, 2004, 2006
5	Spa	3	5	1974, 2009, 2020	1987, 1995, 2012, 2014, 2015
	An Gaeltacht	3	3	1933, 1998, 2017	1994, 2019, 2022
	Ballylongford	3	1	1971, 1972, 1976	1970
	North Kerry	3	0	1931, 1932, 1949	—
	Castleisland Desmonds	3	0	1978, 1979, 1981	—
10	Beaufort	2	2	1980, 2000	2020, 2021
	St Mary's	2	2	2001, 2015	1992, 2013
	Castlegregory	2	0	1942, 1975	—
	Valentia Young Islanders	2	0	1986, 1995	—
	Ardfert	2	0	2006, 2014	—
	Kilcummin	2	0	1997, 2018	—
	Rathmore	2	0	1999, 2022	—
17	Tarbert	1	3	1977	1969, 1975, 1976
	Waterville	1	3	1993	1974, 2003, 2011
	Finuge	1	3	2012	1968, 2005, 2010
	Currow	1	3	2013	1943, 1997, 2009
	Templenoe	1	3	2019	1988, 2016, 2017
	Keel	1	1	1969	1977
	Beale	1	1	1984	1982
	Dr Crokes	1	1	1985	1971
	Listowel Emmets	1	1	2002	2007
	Gneeveguilla	1	1	2010	2008
	Army Ballymullen Barracks	1	0	1943	—
	Castleisland District	1	0	1959	—
	Killarney Legion	1	0	2005	—
	St Michael's/Foilmore	1	0	2008	—
	Na Gaeil	1	0	2021	—
32	South Kerry	0	3	—	1931, 1932, 1933
	Kenmare District	0	2	—	1942, 1949
	Moyvane	0	2	—	1984, 1985
	Ballymacelligott	0	2	—	2000, 2001
	Glenflesk	0	2	—	1999, 2018
	Listry	0	1	—	1940
	East Kerry	0	1	—	1959
	Fossa	0	1	—	2023

By division

Division	Titles	Runners-Up	Total
West Kerry	13	9	22
East Kerry	10	12	22
Mid Kerry	8	5	13
Kenmare District	6	8	14
South Kerry	6	8	14
Shannon Rangers	5	5	10
St Kieran's	5	5	10
St Brendan's Board	4	0	4
North Kerry	3	0	3
Feale Rangers	2	6	8
Tralee District	0	0	0

Records and statistics

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Kerry Intermediate Football Championship titles, is as follows:

• 1930s: 2 for North Kerry (1931, 1932)
• 1940s: 1 each for Kenmare Shamrocks (1940), Castlegregory (1942), Army Ballymullen Barracks (1943) and North Kerry (1949)
• 1950s: 1 for Castleisland District (1959)
• 1960s: 1 each for Kenmare Shamrocks (1968) and Keel (1969)
• 1970s: 3 for Ballylongford (1971, 1972, 1976)
• 1980s: 2 each for Annascaul (1982, 1987) and Dingle (1988, 1989)
• 1990s: 2 for Milltown/Castlemaine (1991, 1994)
• 2000s: 1 each for ten clubs (2000–2009)
• 2010s: 1 each for ten clubs (2010–2019)
• 2020s: 1 each for four clubs (2020–2023)

See also

• Kerry Senior Football Championship (Tier 1)
• Kerry Premier Junior Football Championship (Tier 3)
• Kerry Junior Football Championship (Tier 4)
• Kerry Novice Football Championship (Tier 5)
• Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship
• Kerry Intermediate Hurling Championship

References

1. Stack, Damian (3 December 2021). "Beaufort to play Spa in 2020 county intermediate football final". Irish Independent . Independent News & Media . Retrieved 3 December 2021.
2. "Leinster club hurling glory for Kildare champions and Kerry reign again in Munster intermediate final". the42.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
3. "Intermediate Football Championship", The Kerryman, 21 February 1959, p. 25
4. "Season-ending cruciate injury for Kerry's Peter Crowley". RTÉ.ie . RTÉ. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
5. "Peter Crowley out for Championship after suffering season-ending knee injury". the42.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
6. McMullan, Michael (29 January 2022). "Steelstown face strong Kerry challenge in quest for All-Ireland final spot". The Irish News . The Irish News Ltd. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
7. "Kerry IFC: Stefan Okunbor returns to club action with Na Gaeil". Irish Examiner . Linn Dubh. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
8. "Munster club IFC final: Templenoe justify favoritism". Hoganstand.com. Hogan Stand. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
9. "Leinster club hurling glory for Kildare champions and Kerry reign again in Munster intermediate final". the42.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
10. Hurley, Denis (25 November 2018). "Kilcummin continue Kerry's strong record in Munster as they're crowned intermediate champions". the42.ie. Journal Media Ltd. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
11. "Milltown-Castlemaine reign". Irish Examiner . Linn Dubh. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
12. "INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2007" . Retrieved 6 April 2008.
13. "Leinster club hurling glory for Kildare champions and Kerry reign again in Munster intermediate final". the42.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
14. "Na Gaeil and Beaufort to contest Kerry IFC decider". Irish Examiner . Linn Dubh. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
15. Brennan, Paul (5 September 2021). "Beaufort to play Spa in 2020 county intermediate football final". Irish Independent . Independent News & Media . Retrieved 5 September 2021.
16. "Munster club IFC final: Templenoe justify favoritism". Hoganstand.com. Hogan Stand. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
17. Stack, Damian (31 March 2018). "Temple are slight early favourites". Irish Independent . Independent News & Media . Retrieved 31 March 2018. The An Gaeltacht team celebrate their 2017 County IFC Final win over Templenoe at Austin Stack Park, Tralee
18. Murphy, Mortimer (24 October 2016). "John Morgan O'Sullivan hails heroes as Kenmare turn on the style". Irish Examiner . Linn Dubh. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
19. "Unfancied Carrigaline will play without pressur: According to the bookmakers, Kerry side St Mary's are short-priced favourites to claim the Munster Club IFC title in Killarney tomorrow". Irish Examiner . Linn Dubh. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
20. "Griffin stars as Ardfert shock Spa". Irish Examiner . 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
21. "Dingle just edge out", The Kerryman, 13 December 1996, p. 25
22. "Champs Dingle", The Kerryman, 17 November 1989, p. 19
23. "Resurgent Dingle gain well-deserved victory", The Kerryman, 7 October 1988, p. 16
24. "Dr. Crokes win Intermediate title", The Kerryman, 6 December 1985, p. 25
25. "Beale capture Inter title", The Kerryman, 30 November 1984, p. 30
26. "Sweet victory as Aunascaul take Intermediate title", The Kerryman, 24 December 1982, p. 58
27. "Beaufort deteremination was too much for Dingle", The Kerryman, 17 October 1980, p. 40
28. "Tarbert's great title victory", The Kerryman, 9 December 1977, p. 10
29. "A disgrace to the name of Kerry football", The Kerryman, 29 October 1976, p. 12
30. "Late rally gives Spa 1974 title", The Kerryman, 20 December 1974, p. 13
31. "Ballylongford win '72 final", The Kerryman, 26 October 1973, p. 13
32. "Easy for Kenmare in a disappointing Intermediate final", The Kerryman, 21 August 1971, p. 19
33. "Keel take Intermediate title in thrilling final", The Kerryman, 11 October 1969, p. 22
34. "Kenmare are now Inter champions!", The Kerryman, 19 April 1969, p. 14
35. "Intermediate title win for Castleisland", The Kerryman, 12 September 1959, p. 12
36. "North Kerry's win", Kerry Champion, 22 October 1949, p. 4
37. "Hurling and Football Finals", Kerry Champion, 23 October 1943, p.72
38. "1942". 18 February 2014.
39. "Intermediate football title goes to Kenmare", Kerry Champion, 14 September 1940, p. 2
40. "Gaeltacht defeat South Kerry in Intermediate Final", The Kerryman, 11 November 1933, p. 17
41. "1932". 3 February 2014.
42. "North Kerry win Intermediate Football Final", Kerry Reporter, 30 July 1932, p. 13