2026 Kerry Club Football Championship
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| County | Kerry |
| Year | 2026 |
| Trophy | Michael O'Connor Cup |
| Sponsor | Kerry Petroleum |
| Teams | 10 |
| Defending champions |  Dr Crokes |
| Other | |
| Website | http://www.kerrygaa.ie/ |
The 2026 Kerry Club Football Championship (known as the Kerry Petroleum Senior Club Football Championship for sponsorship reasons) is scheduled to be the latest edition of the Kerry Club Football Championship. The tournament is to consist of Kerry GAA's 10 senior club teams, an increase of one from 2025. Dr Crokes are the defending champions having retained their title, as they won the championship for a record 10th time when they defeated Na Gaeil 0-20 to 1-12 in the 2025 Final.[1]
Format
As the number of teams in the championship has increased to 10 there is a change in format from 2025. The 10 teams were drawn into 3 groups with 1 containing 4 teams and the others 3. Each group will be a single round-robin competition with the top 2 teams in each group advancing to the knockout phase. The winner of the 4-team group will advance to the semi-finals along with 1 of the other group winners. The other 4 qualifiers will play in 2 quarter-finals with the winners advancing to the semi-finals.[2]
The 3 clubs who finish bottom of each group will advance to the relegation play-offs. The bottom team in the 4-team group will advance direct to the final while the other 2 teams will play in the semi-final. The semi-final winner will retain their senior status while the loser will play in the relegation final with the winner retaining their senior status and the loser being relegated to the Intermediate Championship for 2027.
Teams
After an 8-year absence An Ghaeltacht return to the senior championship having won the 2025 Intermediate Championship.[3]
| Team | Location | Club's Divisional Side | In Championship since | Championship Titles | Last Championship Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 An Ghaeltacht |
Gallarus | West Kerry | 2026 | 3 | 2005 |
| Austin Stacks |
Tralee | St Brendan's | 2025 | 6 | 2021 |
 Dingle |
Dingle | West Kerry | 2005 | 2 | 2023 |
| Dr Crokes |
Killarney | East Kerry | 1986 | 10 | 2025 |
 Kenmare Shamrocks |
Kenmare | Kenmare District | 2017 | 1 | 1983 |
 Milltown/Castlemaine |
Milltown | Mid Kerry | 2024 | 1 | 2004 |
| Na Gaeil |
Tralee | St Brendan's | 2022 | 0 | — |
| Rathmore |
Rathmore | East Kerry | 2023 | 1 | 2011 |
 Spa |
Killarney | East Kerry | 2021 | 0 | — |
 Templenoe |
Templenoe | Kenmare District | 2020 | 0 | — |
Group Stage
Group 1
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr Crokes |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +9 | 6 | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | Rathmore |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Advance to Quarter-finals |
| 3 | Dingle |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 2 | |
| 4 | Spa |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -7 | 0 | Advance to relegation play-off final |
Source:Kerry GAA Fixtures/Results/Tables
Round 1
| 7 August 2026 Round 1 | Dr Crokes | 0–21 (21) – (17) 2–11 | Spa | ||
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–12 - 1–06) | Venue: Fitzgerald Stadium | |||
Pts: C McMahon 7 (1tp, 2fs), D Shaw 6 (1tpf, 1tp, 1f), C Keating 3, T Doyle 2, G White, M Burns, A Hennigan 1 each |
Report | Gls: D Spillane 2 Pts: C Murphy 3 (1f), D Moynihan 2 (1tp), D Spillane 2, E Cronin 1 (1f), D O'Donoghue, M Foley, J McCarthy 1 each |
Referee: P Dowling (Ballylongford)
|
| 8 August 2026 Round 1 | Rathmore | 1–19 (22) – (20) 0–20 | Dingle | ||
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1–08 - 0–10) | Venue: Austin Stack Park | |||
| Gls: C Collins Pts: J Darmody 5 (1tp, 1f), A Dineen 4 (1tp), F Murphy 3, C Collins 2 (1tpf), M Reen 2 (1tp), D Nagle, J Moynihan, A Moynihan 1 each |
Report | Pts: P Geaney 10 (3fs, 2tp), C Flannery, N Geaney 2 (1tp), T O'Sullivan, A O'Connor, Billy O'Connor, T de Brún, Brian O'Connor, R McCarthy 1 each |
Referee: S Joy (Laune Rangers)
|
Round 2
| 16 August 2026 Round 2 | Rathmore | 0–18 (18) – (16) 0–16 | Spa | ||
| 13:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–07 - 0–11) | Venue: Rathmore | |||
Pts: J Darmody 4 (1f, 1tpf), P Murphy 3 (1tp), C Ryan, M Reen 3 each, D Nagle 2, A Moynihan, M Ryan, J Moynihan 1 each |
Report | Pts: E Cronin 4 (1f, 1tpf), C Murphy 4 (2tp), D O'Donoghue 2 (1tp), S Cronin, D Moynihan 2 each, D Spillane 1 |
Referee: P Hayes (Kerins O'Rahilly's)
|
| 16 August 2026 Round 2 | Dingle | 1–16 (19) – (20) 2–14 | Dr Crokes | ||
| 15:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–08 - 1–10) | Venue: Dingle | |||
| Gls: C Geaney Pts: P Geaney 6 (2tp, 2fs), C Flannery 2, S Moran, N Geaney, T de Brún, A O'Connor, D Geaney, N Ryan, BD O'Sullivan, C Geaney 1 each |
Report | Gls: C McMahon 2 (1p) Pts: C McMahon 3 (2fs), D Shaw 2 (1tpf), C Keating 2, E Looney, G White, B Looney, M Burns, T Doyle, B Courtney, A Hennigan 1 each |
Referee: B Griffin (Clounmacon)
|
Round 3
| 22 August 2026 Round 3 | Dr Crokes | 0–16 (16) – (12) 0–12 | Rathmore | ||
| 18:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–11 - 0–08) | Venue: Lewis Road | |||
| Report | Referee: S Mulvihill (St Senan's)
|
| 23 August 2026 Round 3 | Spa | 2–17 (23) – (24) 1–21 | Dingle | ||
| 13:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1–13 - 1–16) | Venue: Tullig | |||
| Gls: S Cronin, D Moynihan 1 each Pts: E Cronin 5 (1f), D O'Donoghue 4 (2tp), J McCarthy 3 (1f), C Murphy 2 (1f), S Cronin 2, C Spillane 1 |
Report | Gls: T O'Sullivan Pts: D Geaney 7 (2tp), P Geaney 4 (3fs), N Geaney 3, B O'Sullivan, C Bambbury 2 each, T O'Sullivan, C Geaney 1 (1f) each, M Flaherty 1 |
Referee: S Joy (Laune Rangers)
|
Group 2
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Stacks |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +8 | 3 | Advance to Quarter-finals |
| 2 | Kenmare Shamrocks |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 3 | |
| 3 | Templenoe |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -11 | 0 | Advance to relegation play-off semi-final |
Source:Kerry GAA Fixtures/Results/Tables
Round 1
| 9 August 2026 Round 1 | Austin Stacks | 0–18 (18) – (10) 0–10 | Templenoe | ||
| 16:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–09 - 0–01) | Venue: Connolly Park | |||
Pts: R Carroll 4, C Horan 2 (1tpf), A Heinrich, J O'Connor, C Purcell 2 each, M O'Donnell 1 (1f), M Tansley 1 (1'45), J Nagle, D Casey, D Kirby, E Carroll 1 each |
Report | Pts: K Spillane 3 (1tpf), G Crowley 3 (1tp), A Crowley 2 (1tp), P Spillane, A Spillane 1 each |
Referee: F Clifford (Listry)
|
Round 2
| 15 August 2026 Round 2 | Kenmare Shamrocks | 1–19 (22) – (22) 2–16 | Austin Stacks | ||
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–10 - 0–09) | Venue: Kenmare | |||
| Gls: S O'Shea Pts: S O'Shea 7 (2tpf, 2fs), T Murnane 4, E McCarthy 2 (2fs), K Fitzgibbon 1 (1'45), Z O'Shea, J Lehane, J O'Sullivan, D O'Sullivan, D Hallissey 1 each |
Report | Gls: C Purcell, R O'Driscoll 1 each Pts: J O'Connor 5 (1tp), C Horan 3 (2fs), M O'Donnell 3 (1tp), E Carroll 2, D Casey, S O'Callaghan, R Carroll 1 each |
Referee: S Mulvihill (St Senan's)
|
Round 3
| 23 August 2026 Round 3 | Templenoe | 1–17 (20) – (23) 2–17 | Kenmare Shamrocks | ||
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1–08 - 1–05) | Venue: Templenoe | |||
| Gls: G Crowley Pts: K Spillane 7 (4fs), B Crowley 3, A Crowley 2 (1'45), M Casey, P Spillane 2 each, G Crowley 1 |
Report | Gls: T Murnane 2 Pts: S O'Shea 5 (3fs), P O'Connor 3, J Lehane, D O'Sullivan, S O'Brien 2 each, Z O'Shea, J O'Sullivan 1 each |
Referee: E Horan (Glenflesk)
|
Group 3
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Na Gaeil |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 2 | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | Milltown/Castlemaine |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Advance to Quarter-finals |
| 3 | An Ghaeltacht |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 2 | Advance to relegation play-off semi-final |
Source:Kerry GAA Fixtures/Results/Tables
Round 1
| 7 August 2026 Round 1 | Milltown/Castelmaine | 0–11 (11) – (14) 1–11 | An Ghaeltacht | ||
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–06 - 1–03) | Venue: Milltown | |||
Pts: E O'Connor 5 (1tpf, 1tp, 1f), P Wren 3, D Quirke, B Casey, D Hogan 1 each |
Report | Gls: F Sauerland Pts: C Ó Beaglaoich 3 (1tp, 1f), D Ó Sé 2 (1tpf), C MacGearailt 2 (2fs), T Ó Sé 2, D Ó Beaglaoich, C Ó Riagáin 1 each |
Referee: B Brosnan (Glenflesk)
|
Round 2
| 15 August 2026 Round 2 | Na Gaeil | 1–10 (13) – (16) 1–13 | Milltown/Castelmaine | ||
| 16:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1–08 - 0–06) | Venue: Killeen | |||
| Gls: J Doyle Pts: L Cooper 7 (3fs), R Ó hAiniféin, D Reen, J Bourke 1 each |
Report | Gls: M Lynch Pts: É O'Connor 4 (3fs, 1'45), G Horan, D Hogan 3 each, S Hogan 2, B Casey 1 |
Referee: P O'Sullivan (Firies)
|
Round 3
| 23 August 2026 Round 3 | An Ghaeltacht | 0–09 (9) – (14) 2–08 | Na Gaeil | ||
| 16:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–04 - 1–04) | Venue: Gallarus | |||
Pts: R Ó Beaglaoich 3 (2fs), B Ó Beaglaoich, C Ó Beaglaoich 2 (1tp) each, P Ó Sé, T Ó Sé 1 each |
Report | Gls: L Cooper, L Ó hAiniféin 1 each Pts: L Cooper 2 (2fs), J Doyle 2 (1tp), D Goggin 2, S Okunbor, J O'Connor 1 each |
Referee: B Brosnan (Glenflesk)
|
Knockout Stage
Quarter-finals
| 5 September 2026 Quarter-final 1 | Kenmare Shamrocks |
v | Milltown/Castlemaine |
Fitzgerald Stadium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
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| 5 September 2026 Quarter-final 2 | Rathmore |
v | Austin Stacks |
Fitzgerald Stadium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
|
Semi-finals
| Semi-final 1 | Dr Crokes |
v | Quarter-final winner | ||
|
|
| Semi-final 2 | Na Gaeil |
v | Quarter-final winner | ||
|
|
Final
| Final | Semi-final winner | v | Semi-final winner | ||
|
|
Relegation play-offs
Semi-final
| 6 September 2026 Semi-final | Templenoe |
v | An Ghaeltacht |
Direen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | |||||
|
|
Play-off final
| Play-off final | Spa |
v | Semi-final loser | ||
|
|
See also
References
- ↑ O'Dowd, John (14 September 2025). "Tony Brosnan and Gavin White ensure Dr Crokes defeat Na Gaeil to retain Kerry senior club title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ↑ Stack, Damian (23 January 2026). "How the 2026 Kerry SFC will work". The Kerryman. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- ↑ Leen, Tony (14 September 2025). "Gaeltacht back at Kerry's top table after convincing IFC final win over weary Fossa". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 July 2026.