Kerry District League Explained

Confed:Munster Football Association[1]
Country: Ireland
Founded:1971
Divisions:Premier A
Premier B
Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Youth League
U17 League
Ladies League
New Yorkers Over 35
Teams:76 (2015–16)[2]
Levels:7–12
League Cup:Greyhound Bar KO Cup
Champions:Killarney Celtic
Website: www.kerrydistrictleague.ie

The Kerry District League (known as the Denny Kerry District League for sponsorship reasons) is an association football league featuring amateur and junior clubs from County Kerry. The KDL is a winter league run by Adrian Casey. Its top division, the Premier A, is a seventh level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. The league is regularly featured in the local newspapers – The Kerryman and the Kerry's Eye. Killarney Celtic FC recently won the Premier A for a fifth successive season.

History

The league was formed in 1971 with eight teams competing in its first season. Its founding members included Tralee Dynamos and Killarney Athletic, both of whom had previously played in the Limerick Desmond League. Other founding members included St Brendan's Park. Tralee Dynamos were the inaugural champions and subsequently became the league's most successful team.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Mounthawk Park

The KDL purchased Mounthawk Park in Tralee in the mid–1990s. It now serves as both the headquarters of the league and as home ground for the Kerry League representative teams. Several KDL clubs, especially those in the greater Tralee area, also use Mounthawk Park as their home pitch.[5] In August 2015 a new all-weather pitch was opened at Mounthawk Park by Martin O'Neill and John Delaney.[7] It is the home ground of Kerry F.C. in the League of Ireland First Division.

Representative teams

A senior Kerry League representative team regularly competes in the Oscar Traynor Trophy, playing against teams representing other leagues.[8] In recent seasons they have also competed in the League of Ireland Cup. In 2016 a Kerry League U17 team will play in the League of Ireland U17 Division.[9] [10] Kerry now have both U17 & U19 teams competing in both the SSE Airtricity National U17 & U19 respectively.

Clubs

Premier A

List of winners by season

SeasonWinner
2022-23 Killarney Celtic Killarney Athletic
2021-22 Killarney Celtic Killarney Athletic
2020-21 Cancelled due to Covid 19
2019-20 Killarney Celtic Killarney Athletic
2018-19 Killarney Celtic
2017-18 Killarney Celtic
2016–17 Killarney Athletic Killarney Celtic
2015–16 Dingle Bay RoversKillarney Celtic
2014–15 Listowel Celtic
2013–14 Listowel Celtic
2012–13 Killarney Celtic St Brendan's Park
2011–12 St Brendan's Park Castleisland
2010–11 Killarney Celtic
2009–10 Killarney Celtic Lisselton Rovers
2008–09 Lisselton Rovers
2007–08 Lisselton Rovers
2006–07 Killarney Celtic Tralee Dynamos
2005–06 Killarney Celtic Killarney Athletic
2004–05
2003–04
2002–03
2001–02 St Brendan's Park
2000–01 Listowel Celtic
1999–00 St Brendan's Park
1998–99 Rattoo Rovers
1997–98 Rattoo Rovers
1996–97 Killarney Celtic
1995–96 Killarney Celtic
1994–95
1992–93
1991–92
1988–89 Listowel Celtic
1987–88 Tralee Utd
1986–87
1985–86 Killarney Celtic
1984–85 Tralee Dynamos
1983–84
1982–83
1981–82 Killarney Celtic
1980–81 St Brendans Park
1979–80 Callinafercy
1977–78
1976–77 St Brendan's Park
1975–76 St Brendan's Park
1974–75 St Brendan's Park
1973–74 Cahersiveen
1972–73
1971–72
[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Details of Affiliated Leagues & Clubs 2015/2016. munsterfa.com. 20 October 2016. 21 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161021003059/http://www.munsterfa.com/affiliated.html. dead.
  2. Web site: List of Teams Affiliated to the Kerry District League. munsterfa.com. 20 October 2016.
  3. Web site: Kerry District League Roll of Honour. kerrydistrictleague.ie. 10 March 2016.
  4. Web site: St Brendan's Park – History. stbrendansparkfc.com. 11 March 2016.
  5. Web site: Soccer in the Kingdom – a story of success and unprecedented growth. kerrydistrictleague.ie. 10 March 2016.
  6. Web site: Killarney Athletic – Club History. killarneyathletic.com. 10 March 2016.
  7. Web site: Martin O'Neill And John Delaney Officially Open New All-Weather Pitch in Mounthawk Park . traleetoday.ie. 10 March 2016. 20 August 2015.
  8. Web site: FAI Oscar Traynor Trophy. kerrydistrictleague.ie. 10 March 2016.
  9. Web site: SSE Airtricity National U17 League. kerrydistrictleague.ie. 10 March 2016.
  10. Web site: SSE Airtricity National U17 League. fai.ie. 10 March 2016.
  11. Web site: Kerry District League | Roll of Honour .