2020 Kerry Senior Football Championship Explained

2019 Kerry SFC
County:Kerry
Year:2020
Trophy:Bishop Moynihan Cup
Sponsor:Garvey's Supervalu
Num Teams:17
Defending Champions: East Kerry
Winners:East Kerry
Manager:Jerry O'Sullivan
Captain:Dan O'Donoghue
Promoted:Templenoe
Relegated:Kilcummin
Topscorer:Gavan O'Grady
Website:Kerry GAA
Previous:2019
Next:2021

The 2020 Kerry Senior Football Championship was the 119th edition of Kerry GAA's premier Gaelic football tournament for senior teams in County Kerry, Ireland. The tournament consists of 16 teams (8 club teams and 8 divisional teams), with the winners representing Kerry in the Munster Senior Club Football Championship if they are a club team. If the winners are a divisional team the winners of the Kerry Club Football Championship represent the county.

The championship usually has a back-door format for the first two rounds before proceeding to a knock-out format. Generally, any team to lose two matches will be knocked out of the championship. This year however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic seen the competition employ a straight knockout format.

It was Templenoe's first ever year as a senior club. Rathmore (who were relegated to the I.F.C. for 2020) will provide the East Kerry Divisional side with players for the S.F.C.[1] Additionally, the Kenmare District board ceased to run competitions this year meaning that Kenmare Shamrocks, Kilgarvan, and Tousist will move to East Kerry to make it a 16-club division. The fourth club in the Kenmare District, Templenoe, who have been promoted to senior for 2020, joined the South Kerry Division.[2]

East Kerry were the 2019 champions after they defeated Dr. Crokes in the final.[3]

Format Structure Change

8 club teams and 8 divisional teams (16 in total) will take part in this year's S.F.C.

Kenmare District did not field a team for this year's S.F.C.

Relegation (See below): The club team to be relegated from the Senior County Championship will be the same team to be relegated from the Senior Club Championship (The 8 senior clubs play off against each other in two pools in the Club Championship. The two teams that finished bottom of the Group Pools enter a Relegation Final. This loser will be relegated to the I.F.C. for 2021. Should a club reach the final of the County championship they will be exempt from the Relegation process in the Club championship).

The winner of the 2020 I.F.C. will be promoted to the 2021 Senior County and Club Championships.

Team Changes

[4] [5] [6]

The following teams have changed division since the 2019 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from 2019 I.F.C.

From S.F.C.

Relegated to 2020 I.F.C.

Participating teams

The teams taking part in the 2020 Kerry Senior Football Championship are:

TeamTeam LocationClub/DivisionalClub's Divisional Side
Austin StacksTraleeClubSt. Brendan's
DingleDingleClubWest Kerry
Dr. CrokesKillarneyClubEast Kerry
East KerryxDivisional (Firies, Fossa, Glenflesk, Gneevguilla, Kilgarvan, Listry, Rathmore, Spa, Tousist)x
Feale Rangersx Divisional (Clounmacon, Duagh, Finuge, Listowel Emmets, Moyvane, St. Senan's)x
Kenmare ShamrocksKenmareClubEast Kerry
Kerins O'RahillysTraleeClubSt. Brendan's
KilcumminKilcumminClubEast Kerry
Killarney LegionKillarneyClubEast Kerry
Mid KerryxDivisional (Beaufort, Cromane, Glenbeigh-Glencar, Keel, Laune Rangers, Milltown/Castlemaine)x
RathmoreRathmoreClubEast Kerry
Shannon RangersxDivisional (Asdee, Ballydonoghue, Ballyduff, Ballylongford, Beale, Tarbert)x
South KerryxDivisional (Derrynane, Dromid Pearses, Renard, Skellig Rangers, Sneem, St. Mary's, St. Michael's/Foilmore, Valentia Young Islanders, Waterville)x
St Brendan'sxDivisional (Ardfert, Churchill, John Mitchell's, Na Gaeil, St. Patrick's Blennerville)x
St Kieran'sxDivisional (Ballymacelligott, Brosna, Castleisland Desmonds, Cordal, Currow, Knocknagoshel, Scartaglin)x
TemplenoeTemplenoeClubSouth Kerry
West KerryxDivisional (An Ghaeltacht, Annascaul, Castlegregory, Lispole)x

Results

Round 1

[7]

All 16 teams enter the competition in Round 1. The eight winners proceed to the Quarter-Finals while the eight losers are eliminated.

Semi-finals

Relegation play-off

The club team to be relegated from the Senior County Championship will be the same team to be relegated from the Senior Club Championship. The 8 senior clubs are placed into two groups containing four teams during the Club Championship. The teams to finish bottom of both groups will face off in the Relegation Final, with the loser being relegated to the I.F.C. for 2020. Should a club reach the final of the County championship they will be exempt from the Relegation process in the Club championship.

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Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Gavan O'GradyMid Kerry3-192847.00
2Tony BrosnanDr. Crokes2-1824212.00
Killian SpillaneTemplenoe2-182438.00
4David CliffordEast Kerry2-152137.00
Darragh RocheEast Kerry2-152145.25
6Liam CareyMid Kerry1-151844.50
7Ivan ParkerSt. Brendan's Board0-161635.33
8Paul O'ConnorKenmare Shamrocks1-121527.50
Micheál BurnsDr. Crokes1-121535.00
10Eddie HoranSt. Brendan's Board0-141427.00
In a single game
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalOpposition
1Tony BrosnanDr. Crokes2-1016Austin Stacks
2Gavan O'GradyMid Kerry1-0811Dr. Crokes
3Gavan O'GradyMid Kerry1-0710Kilcummin
Paul O'ConnorKenmare Shamrocks1-0710Mid Kerry
5Ivan ParkerSt. Brendan's Board0-099West Kerry
6Killian SpillaneTemplenoe1-058Kilcummin
Micheál BurnsDr. Crokes1-058Mid Kerry
David CliffordEast Kerry1-058St. Kieran's
Eddie HoranSt. Kieran's0-088East Kerry
Tony BrosnanDr. Crokes0-088Templenoe

Miscellaneous

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Templenoe -vs- An Ghaeltacht (2019 I.F.C. Final). 11 May 2019. Independent.ie. 11 May 2019.
  2. Web site: Kenmare District Not Fielding in 2020. 27 November 2019. Irishexaminer.com. 27 November 2019.
  3. Web site: Clifford and Roche grab goals as East Kerry dethrone Dr Crokes for first title in 20 years. Paul. Brennan. The42.
  4. Web site: Kerry GAA Website. 30 July 2019. Kerrygaa.ie. 30 July 2019.
  5. Web site: Kerry GAA Forum. 30 July 2019. Kerrygaa.proboards.com. 30 July 2019.
  6. Web site: HoganStand Kerry. 30 July 2019. Hoganstand.com. 30 July 2019.
  7. Web site: 2020 Kerry S.F.C. Draw. 29 June 2020. Kerrysportshub.ie. 29 June 2020.