Kerry F.C. (Ireland)

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.

"Kerry FC" redirects here. For the Welsh football club, see Kerry F.C. (Wales).

Kerry
Full nameKerry Football Club
Founded2022
GroundMounthawk Park, Tralee
Capacity1,400[1]
ChairmanBrian Ainscough
ManagerBilly Dennehy
LeagueLeague of Ireland First Division
WebsiteClub website


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

History

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]

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]

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 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 will operate on a fully amateur basis for the 2023 season, and play their games in Mounthawk Park.[16][17][18] On 19 December 2022, Dennehy was announced as the club's first manager.[19][20] Later that same day, Treaty United midfielder Matt Keane became Kerry FC's first contracted player, followed by Seán McGrath from Cobh Ramblers.[21]

First Team Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  IRL Wayne Guthrie (vice-captain)
2 DF  IRL Robert Vasiu
3 DF  IRL Sean O'Connell
4 DF  IRL Shane Guthrie
5 DF  IRL Kalen Spillane
6 MF  USA Alex Ainscough
7 MF  IRL Seán McGrath
8 MF  IRL Matt Keane (captain)
9 FW  IRL Ryan Kelliher
10 FW  IRL Leo Gaxha
11 MF  IRL Seán Kennedy
12 MF  IRL Cianan Cooney
13 MF  IRL Togor Silong
14 MF  IRL Andy Quaid
15 DF  IRL Kevin Williams
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK  IRL Callan Scully
17 MF  IRL Nathan Gleeson
18 DF  IRL Samuel Aladesanusi
19 DF  IRL Cormac Buckley
20 FW  CRO Trpimir Vrljicak
21 MF  IRL Junior Ankomah
23 MF  IRL Ronan Teahan
24 DF  IRL Jonathan Hannafin
25 DF  IRL Mark Carey
26 FW  IRL Stephen McCarthy
27 DF  IRL Graham O'Reilly
28 FW  IRL Cian Brosnan
29 FW  IRL Kennedy Amechi
30 GK  IRL Aaron O'Sullivan

2023 Fixtures

SSE Airtricity League First Division

Home Home Opposition Away Away

See also

References
  1. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41072483.html
  2. Stack, Damian (12 December 2022). "Kerry FC get home tie for their League of Ireland debut". Kerryman – via Independent.ie.
  3. "Eircom U21 League , 2002 & 2003". Kerry District League. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  4. Rice, Mike (1 April 2009). "Tralee Dynamos have more than a sporting chance". The Kerryman. Retrieved 17 November 2022 – via Independent.ie.
  5. "Cobh and Tralee fail to gain First Division licences". Irish Examiner. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  6. Malone, Emmet (27 January 2012). "Tralee Dynamos and Cobh Ramblers surprised by exclusion from first division". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  7. "Kerry District League to join SSE Airtricity U17 League". FAI. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  8. "Kerry U19". extratime. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. Browne, P. J. (2 June 2022). "Kerry FC Take Major Step Towards Joining The League Of Ireland". Balls.ie. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  10. 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". The Kerryman. Retrieved 17 November 2022 – via Independent.ie.
  11. "Clubs issued League of Ireland licences for 2023". FAI. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  12. "'A dream come true' – Historic day for Kingdom as Kerry FC joins League of Ireland First Division". independent.
  13. Galvin, T. J. (16 November 2022). "Kerry FC awarded licence to compete in First Division next season". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  14. Moynihan, Adam (16 November 2022). "BREAKING: Kerry FC granted League of Ireland licence". Killarney Advertiser. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  15. Brennan, Paul (17 November 2022). "Kerry FC games will be huge boost to local economy as county looks forward to League of Ireland soccer". The Kerryman. Retrieved 17 November 2022 – via Independent.ie.
  16. Murphy, Murt (17 November 2022). "Billy Dennehy: Fully amateur Kerry FC not fearful of competititon with GAA". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  17. Barry, Brian (17 November 2022). "Kerry FC: League of Ireland's newest club are prepared to build success slowly". The42.ie. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  18. Stack, Damian (15 November 2022). "FAI's decision on Kerry FC's League of Ireland application imminent". The Kerryman. Retrieved 17 November 2022 – via Independent.ie.
  19. "Kerry FC name Billy Dennehy as manager and announce first two signings". The42.
  20. Fallon, John (19 December 2022). "Billy Dennehy appointed Kerry FC manager ahead of League of Ireland tilt". Irish Examiner.
  21. "Kerry reveal Billy Dennehy as manager; Keane and McGrath to play for Kingdom in 2023". RadioKerry.ie.
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