Kerry Senior Hurling Championship | |
---|---|
Current season or competition: 2024 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship | |
Irish | Craobh Sinsear Iomána Chiarraí |
Code | Hurling |
Founded | 1889 |
Region | Kerry (GAA) |
Trophy | Neilus Flynn Cup |
No. of teams | 10 |
Title holders | Abbeydorney (5th title) |
Most titles | Kilmoyley (26 titles) |
Sponsors | Garvey's SuperValu |
Official website | https://www.kerrygaa.ie/ |
The Kerry Senior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as Garvey's SuperValu Senior Hurling Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1889 for the top hurling teams in the county of Kerry in Ireland.
The series of games are played during the summer months, with the county final currently being played in Austin Stack Park in August. Initially played a knock-out competition, the championship currently uses a double elimination format whereby each team is guaranteed at least two games. The 2020 championship reverted to a straight knock-out format due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Kerry County Championship is an integral part of the wider Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. The winners of the Kerry county final join the intermediate champions of the other five counties to contest the provincial championship.
The title has been won at least once by 21 different teams. The all-time record-holders are Kilmoyley who have won 26 titles.
Abbeydorney are the current title-holders after defeating Ballyduff by 1-17 to 1-10 in the 2024 championship final played at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.
The inaugural championship took place in 1889 with just five clubs entering. These were Abbeydorney, Ballyduff, Kenmare, Kilgarvan and Kilmoyley. The very first championship match was held on 10 March 1889 when Abbeydorney beat Ballyduff by 1-1 to 0-1. Walkovers and delays were regular occurrences in the early years of the championship, while no records exist for some championship finals. More clubs fielded teams as the years went on, with the championships of 1905 and 1913 being held on a league basis.[ citation needed ]
The championship suffered severe disruption between 1920 and 1924 due to the War of Independence and subsequent Civil War. Several championships were abandoned midway through, while the championships of 1921 and 1923 were cancelled. The last championship which failed to be completed was in 1935.[ citation needed ]
Since the beginning, the championship has been dominated at various times by Ballyduff and Kilmoyley who are collectively known as the "big two". They have won 51 championship titles between them. Kilmoyley dominated the first 25 years of the championship, winning ten titles between 1890 and 1914. The 1920s and 1930s saw a number of first-time winners, including Austin Stacks, Causeway and Lixnaw. Crotta O'Neill's also won their first championship in 1939 and dominated the next twelve years by winning eight titles in total.[ citation needed ]
The second half of the 20th century was dominated by Ballyduff. The club won 19 championship titles in a forty-year period between 1955 and 1995. The only club who came close to matching their dominance was Causeway who won six championships between 1979 and 1987. The first two decades of the 21st century has seen the Kilmoyley-Ballyduff hegemony continue. Kilmoyley won their first title after a 30-year fallow period in 2001, before claiming seven more titles up to 2016. Ballyduff won five championships between 2006 and 2017.[ citation needed ] Kilmoyley won back to back titles in 2020-21 to give them ten titles in 20 years.
The 2022 final included a first, a live referee microphone for its national broadcast on TG4. [1] It was also the first time the Kerry County Hurling Final was shown on live national TV. [2]
The 9 clubs are divided into three groups of three. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed two 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.
Following the completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each group are ranked (1-6) in terms of points accumulated and scoring difference. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.
Quarter-finals: Teams designated 3-6 contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: The two quarter-final winners and teams designated 1-2 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.
The three bottom-placed teams from the group stage take part in a series of play-offs, with the losing team being relegated to the Kerry Intermediate Hurling Championship.
At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.
The 10 teams competing in the 2024 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship are:
Team | Location | Division | Colours | Position in 2024 | In championship since | Championship titles | Last championship title |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbeydorney | Abbeydorney | North Kerry | Black and amber | Champions | ? | 5 | 2024 |
Ballyduff | Ballyduff | North Kerry | Green and white | Runners-up | ? | 25 | 2017 |
Ballyheigue | Ballyheigue | North Kerry | Orange and black | Semi-finals | ? | 5 | 2000 |
Causeway | Causeway | North Kerry | Maroon and white | Quarter-finals | ? | 9 | 2022 |
Crotta O'Neill's | Kilflynn | North Kerry | Red and green | Quarter-finals | ? | 10 | 2023 |
Dr Crokes | Killarney | East Kerry | Black and amber | Preliminary quarter-finals | 2021 | 0 | — |
Kilmoyley | Kilmoyley | North Kerry | Green and gold | Semi-finals | ? | 26 | 2021 |
Lixnaw | Lixnaw | North Kerry | Green and gold | Quarter-finals | ? | 9 | 2018 |
St Brendan's | Ardfert | North Kerry | Blue and white | Quarter-finals | ? | 7 | 2013 |
Tralee Parnells | Tralee | Tralee District | Blue and white | Preliminary quarter-finals | 2024 | 2 | 1919 |
The Neilus Flynn Cup is presented to the winners of the championship and is named after Neilus Flynn, who captained Causeway and St Brendan's (Div.) to County Championship successes in 1932 and 1936 respectively. The Flynn family donated both the original trophy (in 1987) and the new cup to the Kerry County Board. The current trophy, which was designed by silversmith Fintan Foley, was presented for the first time to the 2018 champions, Lixnaw.
# | Team | Titles | Runners-Up | Championships won | Championships runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kilmoyley | 26 | 16 | 1890, 1892, 1894, 1895, 1900*, 1901, 1905, 1907, 1910, 1914, 1948, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1971, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021 | 1889, 1891, 1893, 1903, 1908, 1946, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965, 1983, 1988, 2007, 2014, 2018 |
2 | Ballyduff | 25 | 12 | 1891, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017 | 1890, 1892, 1912, 1938, 1949, 1981, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2016, 2022, 2024 |
3 | Crotta O'Neill's | 10 | 10 | 1939, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1968, 2023 | 1952, 1957, 1967, 1972, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1998, 1999, 2011 |
4 | Lixnaw | 9 | 21 | 1933, 1954, 1983, 1985, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2014, 2018 | 1894, 1896, 1901, 1907, 1914*, 1942, 1953, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1982, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2023 |
Causeway | 9 | 8 | 1932, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1998, 2019, 2022 | 1973, 1978, 1984, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2020 | |
6 | St Brendan's | 7 | 12 | 1949, 1952, 1967, 1975, 1986, 1990, 2013 | 1937, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1989, 1992, 2009, 2015, 2021 |
7 | Abbeydorney | 5 | 4 | 1893, 1896, 1913, 1974, 2024 | 1900*, 1954, 1971, 2005 |
Ballyheigue | 5 | 4 | 1946, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2000 | 1941, 1948, 1995, 2001 | |
8 | Kenmare Shamrocks | 4 | 9 | 1889, 1902, 1916*, 1942 | 1895, 1904, 1910, 1916, 1917, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1991 |
10 | Kilgarvan | 3 | 5 | 1953, 1956, 1958 | 1918, 1919, 1944, 1959, 1975 |
Austin Stacks | 3 | 3 | 1928, 1929, 1931 | 1968, 1969, 1974 | |
Tralee Mitchels | 3 | 0 | 1908, 1911, 1912 | — | |
13 | Tralee Celtic | 2 | 1 | 1903, 1904 | 1902 |
Tralee Parnells | 2 | 1 | 1918, 1919 | 1911 | |
Kilflynn Pearses* | 2 | 0 | 1937, 1938 | — | |
16 | Killarney | 1 | 2 | 1969 | 1951, 1970 |
Tullig | 1 | 0 | 1916* | — | |
Tubrid | 1 | 0 | 1917 | — | |
Tralee | 1 | 0 | 1925 | — | |
St. Brendans [3] | 1 | 0 | 1936 | — | |
Banna | 1 | 0 | 1940 | — | |
22 | Boherbee | 0 | 2 | — | 1928, 1929 |
Kilflynn | 0 | 2 | — | 1931, 1933 | |
North Kerry | 0 | 1 | — | 1925 | |
Rathmore | 0 | 1 | — | 1932 | |
John Mitchels | 0 | 1 | — | 1936 | |
Shannon Rovers | 0 | 1 | — | 1939 | |
Dingle | 0 | 1 | — | 1940 |
The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Kerry Senior Hurling Championship titles, is as follows:
Longest gaps between successive championship titles:
Longest active gaps since last championship title:
The 2013 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 112th completed staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment in 1889. The championship ran from 19 July to 27 October 2013.
The 2015 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 114th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The championship began on 17 July 2015 and ended on 27 September 2015.
The 2023 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 122nd staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the group stage pairings took place on 31 May 2023. The championship ran from 16 June to 6 August 2023.
The 2022 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 121st staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the group stage pairings took place on 26 May 2022. The championship ran from 24 June to 7 August 2022.
The 2024 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 123rd staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the group stage pairings took place on 22 April 2024. The championship ran from 15 June to 4 August 2024.
The 2021 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 120th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the group stage pairings took place on 15 July 2021. The championship ran from 30 July to 19 September 2021.
The 2019 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 118th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The championship ran from 6 July to 25 August 2019.
The 2018 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 117th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the opening round fixtures took place on 30 May 2018. The championship ran from 16 June to 26 August 2018.
The 2017 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 116th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The competition ran from 1 July to 15 October 2017.
The 2012 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 111th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The competition ran from 28 July to 7 October 2012.
The 2011 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 110th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the opening round fixtures took place on 26 June 2011. The championship ran from 22 July to 16 October 2011.
The 2008 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 107th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The competition ran from 1 August to 19 October 2008.
The 2006 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 105th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The championship ran from 11 August to 10 September 2006.
The 2005 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 104th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the opening round fixtures took place on 4 April 2005. The championship ran from 5 August to 16 October 2005.
The 2003 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 102nd staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the opening round fixtures took place in April 2003. The championship ran from 18 July to 5 October 2003.
The 2002 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 101st staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the opening round fixtures took place on 9 April 2002. The championship ran from 17 July to 29 September 2002.
The 2000 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 99th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The championship draw was made on 9 May 2000. The championship ran from 8 July to 19 November 2000.
The 1999 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 98th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The championship draw took place on 20 April 1999. The championship ran from 19 June to 10 October 1999.
The 1998 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 97th staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The championship draw took place on 24 February 1998. The championship ran from 10 July to 11 October 1998.
The 1974 Kerry Senior Hurling Championship was the 73rd staging of the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the opening round fixtures took place on 11 June 1974. The championship ran from 21 July 1974 to 13 October 1974.