Kerry F.C. (Ireland) Explained

Clubname:Kerry FC
Nickname:The fingerlickers
Founded:2022
Ground:Mounthawk Park, Tralee
Capacity:1,400[1]
Manager:Conor McCarthy
League:League of Ireland First Division
Season:2023
Position:League of Ireland First Division, 10th of 10
Fullname:Kerry Football Club
Website:https://kerryfc.com/
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Kerry Football Club (Irish: Cumann Peile Chiarraí) is an Irish association football club based in Tralee, County Kerry. They play their home matches at Mounthawk Park.

The club competes in the League of Ireland First Division, starting in the 2023 season, with an inaugural fixture against Cobh Ramblers.[2]

History

Early Days

Participation from County Kerry in the League of Ireland began when a team representing the Kerry District League (KDL) participated in the Eircom U21 League in 2002 and 2003, while Tralee Dynamos subsequently played in the third-tier A Championship between 2009 and 2011.[3] [4] Following the folding of the A Championship in 2011, Tralee Dynamos submitted an application for a licence to compete in the League of Ireland First Division for the 2012 season. However, their application was unsuccessful.[5] [6]

Underage Leagues

The KDL resumed participation with the League of Ireland at underage level in the late 2010s, joining the Southern Elite Division of the Under-17 League in 2016 and subsequently that of the Under-19 League in 2019.[7] [8]

Senior Side

It was announced on 22 June 2022 that an application had been made by Kerry Football Club, an entity comprising the KDL and a consortium led by Brian Ainscough, Steven Conway and Billy Dennehy, for a licence to compete in the League of Ireland for the 2023 season.[9] [10] The application was deemed successful on 16 November, when Kerry were awarded a licence for the First Division.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] The club would operate on a fully amateur basis for the 2023 season, and play their games at Mounthawk Park.[16] [17] [18] Dennehy was announced as the club's first manager on 19 December.[19] [20] Later that same day, Treaty United midfielder Matt Keane was announced as the club's first signing, followed by Seán McGrath from Cobh Ramblers.[21]

The club's first ever competitive senior fixture took place on 17 February 2023, a 2–0 home defeat against Cobh Ramblers at Mounthawk Park.[22] [23] The following week, Leo Gaxha scored the club's first ever senior goal, in a 3–1 defeat against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.[24] [25] Kerry secured their first point in the League of Ireland on 3 March, following a 1–1 draw with Treaty United at Mounthawk Park.[26] Figures released upon the completion of the first series of First Division fixtures showed that Kerry had an average home attendance of 1,194, placing them fifth out of the ten clubs in the division, with all four home matches selling out.[27] [28] Kerry secured their first-ever win in the League of Ireland at the fourteenth attempt, with a 3–2 victory away to Athlone Town on 12 May,[29] before recording their first-ever clean sheet on 2 June, following a scoreless draw with Finn Harps at Finn Park.[30] On 17 November 2023, it was announced that Billy Dennehy had stepped down as manager to return to his original position of Sporting Director, with Conor McCarthy taking over as manager.[31] On 24 November 2023, Brian Ainscough departed the club to take over ownership of Dundalk, pulling his funding in Kerry after 1 year with the club.[32]

First team squad

Technical Staff

PositionName
ManagerConor McCarthy
Assistant ManagerJames Sugrue
Goalkeeping CoachDerek O'Shea
Goalkeeping CoachChris Hegarty
Strength & Conditioning CoachShane Guthrie
Head of Youth DevelopmentDamian Locke

Management

PositionName
Chief Executive OfficerTBC
Chief Operations OfficerSteven Conway
Sporting DirectorBilly Dennehy
General ManagerSean O'Keeffe
Operations ManagerGerardine Nagle
Media OfficerIvan Hurley
Commercial ManagerJames Foley

Women's Team

In June 2023, Kerry FC announced the establishment of a women's football club, via acceptance into the FAI U17 Women's League for the 2024 season.[33]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fallon . John . 16 February 2023 . League of Ireland soccer has arrived in the Kingdom, and Kerry FC have no intentions of departing anytime soon . Irish Examiner.
  2. News: Stack . Damian . 12 December 2022 . Kerry FC get home tie for their League of Ireland debut . . Independent.ie.
  3. Web site: Eircom U21 League, 2002 & 2003 . 17 November 2022 . Kerry District League.
  4. News: Rice . Mike . 1 April 2009 . Tralee Dynamos have more than a sporting chance . 17 November 2022 . . en . Independent.ie.
  5. Web site: 15 February 2012 . Cobh and Tralee fail to gain First Division licences . 17 November 2022 . Irish Examiner.
  6. News: Malone . Emmet . 27 January 2012 . Tralee Dynamos and Cobh Ramblers surprised by exclusion from first division . 17 November 2022 . . en.
  7. Web site: 17 December 2015 . Kerry District League to join SSE Airtricity U17 League . 17 November 2022 . FAI.
  8. Web site: Kerry U19 . 17 November 2022 . extratime.
  9. Web site: Browne . P. J. . 2 June 2022 . Kerry FC Take Major Step Towards Joining The League Of Ireland . 17 November 2022 . . en.
  10. News: Brennan . Paul . 23 June 2022 . Kerry FC Director of Football Billy Dennehy says club will recruit local talent rather than investing heavily on outside players . 17 November 2022 . . en . Independent.ie.
  11. Web site: Clubs issued League of Ireland licences for 2023 . 17 November 2022 . FAI.
  12. Web site: O'Connor . Seán . 16 November 2022 . 'A dream come true' – Historic day for Kingdom as Kerry FC joins League of Ireland First Division . 27 June 2023 . Independent.ie.
  13. Web site: Galvin . T. J. . 16 November 2022 . Kerry FC awarded licence to compete in First Division next season . 17 November 2022 . . en.
  14. Web site: Moynihan . Adam . 16 November 2022 . BREAKING: Kerry FC granted League of Ireland licence . 17 November 2022 . Killarney Advertiser . en-GB.
  15. News: Brennan . Paul . 17 November 2022 . Kerry FC games will be huge boost to local economy as county looks forward to League of Ireland soccer . 17 November 2022 . . en . Independent.ie.
  16. Web site: Murphy . Murt . 17 November 2022 . Billy Dennehy: Fully amateur Kerry FC not fearful of competititon with GAA . 17 November 2022 . . en.
  17. Web site: Barry . Brian . 17 November 2022 . Kerry FC: League of Ireland's newest club are prepared to build success slowly . 17 November 2022 . . en.
  18. News: Stack . Damian . 15 November 2022 . FAI's decision on Kerry FC's League of Ireland application imminent . 17 November 2022 . . en . Independent.ie.
  19. Web site: 19 December 2022 . Kerry FC name Billy Dennehy as manager and announce first two signings . The42.
  20. Web site: Fallon . John . 19 December 2022 . Billy Dennehy appointed Kerry FC manager ahead of League of Ireland tilt . Irish Examiner.
  21. Web site: 19 December 2022 . Kerry reveal Billy Dennehy as manager; Keane and McGrath to play for Kingdom in 2023 . Radio Kerry.
  22. News: Stack . Damian . 12 December 2022 . Kerry FC get home tie for their League of Ireland debut . . Independent.ie.
  23. Web site: Murphy . Murt . 17 February 2023 . Kerry FC's first-ever League of Ireland match ends in defeat . The42.
  24. Web site: Gorman . Daniel . 25 February 2023 . Bray Wanderers defeat Kerry FC to make it two wins from two as Ian Ryan era gathers momentum . 27 June 2023 . . Independent.ie.
  25. Web site: Gorman . Dan . 25 February 2023 . Kerry FC boss Billy Dennehy says there were 'lots of positives' against Bray but it was 'the basics that cost us' . 27 June 2023 . . Independent.ie.
  26. Web site: Stack . Damian . 3 March 2023 . Kerry FC claim first ever point in hard fought draw with Treaty United . 27 June 2023 . . Independent.ie.
  27. Web site: Stack . Damian . 2023-04-21 . Kerry FC attendances 'exceeding expectations' at quarter mark of the season . 2023-06-27 . . en . Independent.ie.
  28. Web site: Scanlon . Cronan . 2023-04-21 . Finn Harps see increase in average home attendances . 2023-06-27 . Donegal Daily . en-US.
  29. Web site: Donoghue . Eamon . 12 May 2023 . Kerry FC finally get their first win as Kelliher brace helps them to 3-2 win away to Athlone Town . 27 June 2023 . . Independent.ie.
  30. Web site: Craig . Frank . 2 June 2023 . Relief as Kerry FC take first clean-sheet and draw away to Finn Harps . 27 June 2023 . . Independent.ie.
  31. Web site: Change in Senior Management Team Ahead of the 2024 Season . 17 November 2023 .
  32. Web site: Fallon . John . 24 November 2023 . Kerry FC owner Brian Ainscough switches to Dundalk . Irish Examiner.
  33. Web site: Brennan . Paul . 26 June 2023 . Kerry FC to field a team in the women's under-17 League of Ireland Academy from 2024 . 6 August 2023 . Independent.ie.

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