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

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.[2][3] 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.[4][5]

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.[6][7]

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.[8][9] The application was deemed successful on 16 November, when Kerry were awarded a licence for the First Division.[10][11][12][13][14] The club will operate on a fully amateur basis for the 2023 season, and play their games at Mounthawk Park.[15][16][17] Dennehy was announced as the club's first manager on 19 December.[18][19] Later that same day, Treaty United midfielder Matt Keane was announced as the club's first signing, followed by Seán McGrath from Cobh Ramblers.[20]

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.[21][22] 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.[23][24] Kerry secured their first point in the League of Ireland on 3 March, following a 1–1 draw with Treaty United at Mounthawk Park.[25] 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.[26][27] 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,[28] before recording their first-ever clean sheet on 2 June, following a scoreless draw with Finn Harps at Finn Park.[29]

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
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Robert Vasiu
3 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Sean O'Connell
4 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Shane Guthrie
5 DF United States USA Ethan Kos
6 MF United States USA Alex Ainscough
7 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Seán McGrath
9 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Ryan Kelliher
10 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Leo Gaxha (captain)
11 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Seán Kennedy
12 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Cianan Cooney
13 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Togor Silong
14 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Andy Quaid
15 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Kevin Williams
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK Cameroon CMR Arthur Nganou
17 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Nathan Gleeson
18 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Samuel Aladesanusi
19 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Cormac Buckley
21 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Daniel Okwute
22 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Cian Barrett (on loan from Shamrock Rovers)
23 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Ronan Teahan
25 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Mark Carey
26 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Stephen McCarthy
27 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Graham O'Reilly
28 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Cian Brosnan
29 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Kennedy Amechi
30 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Aaron O'Sullivan

Technical Staff
Position Name
Manager Billy Dennehy
Assistant Manager James Sugrue
Goalkeeping Coach Derek O'Shea
Goalkeeping Coach Chris Hegarty
First Team Coach Conor McCarthy
Head of Youth Development Damian Locke

Management
Position Name
Chief Executive Officer Brian Ainscough
Chief Operations Officer Steven Conway
Sporting Director Billy Dennehy
General Manager Sean O'Keeffe
Operations Manager Gerardine Nagle
Media Officer Ivan Hurley
Commercial Manager James 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.[30]

References
  1. 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. "Eircom U21 League , 2002 & 2003". Kerry District League. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  3. Rice, Mike (1 April 2009). "Tralee Dynamos have more than a sporting chance". The Kerryman. Retrieved 17 November 2022 – via Independent.ie.
  4. "Cobh and Tralee fail to gain First Division licences". Irish Examiner. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  5. Malone, Emmet (27 January 2012). "Tralee Dynamos and Cobh Ramblers surprised by exclusion from first division". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  6. "Kerry District League to join SSE Airtricity U17 League". FAI. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  7. "Kerry U19". extratime. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  8. Browne, P. J. (2 June 2022). "Kerry FC Take Major Step Towards Joining The League Of Ireland". Balls.ie. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. 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.
  10. "Clubs issued League of Ireland licences for 2023". FAI. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  11. O'Connor, Seán (16 November 2022). "'A dream come true' – Historic day for Kingdom as Kerry FC joins League of Ireland First Division". Independent.ie. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  12. Galvin, T. J. (16 November 2022). "Kerry FC awarded licence to compete in First Division next season". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  13. Moynihan, Adam (16 November 2022). "BREAKING: Kerry FC granted League of Ireland licence". Killarney Advertiser. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  14. 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.
  15. Murphy, Murt (17 November 2022). "Billy Dennehy: Fully amateur Kerry FC not fearful of competititon with GAA". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. "Kerry FC name Billy Dennehy as manager and announce first two signings". The42. 19 December 2022.
  19. Fallon, John (19 December 2022). "Billy Dennehy appointed Kerry FC manager ahead of League of Ireland tilt". Irish Examiner.
  20. "Kerry reveal Billy Dennehy as manager; Keane and McGrath to play for Kingdom in 2023". Radio Kerry.
  21. Stack, Damian (12 December 2022). "Kerry FC get home tie for their League of Ireland debut". The Kerryman – via Independent.ie.
  22. Murphy, Murt (17 February 2023). "Kerry FC's first-ever League of Ireland match ends in defeat". The42.
  23. Gorman, Daniel (25 February 2023). "Bray Wanderers defeat Kerry FC to make it two wins from two as Ian Ryan era gathers momentum". Wicklow People. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Independent.ie.
  24. 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'". The Kerryman. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Independent.ie.
  25. Stack, Damian (3 March 2023). "Kerry FC claim first ever point in hard fought draw with Treaty United". The Kerryman. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Independent.ie.
  26. Stack, Damian (21 April 2023). "Kerry FC attendances 'exceeding expectations' at quarter mark of the season". The Kerryman. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Independent.ie.
  27. Scanlon, Cronan (21 April 2023). "Finn Harps see increase in average home attendances". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  28. 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". The Kerryman. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Independent.ie.
  29. Craig, Frank (2 June 2023). "Relief as Kerry FC take first clean-sheet and draw away to Finn Harps". The Kerryman. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Independent.ie.
  30. Brennan, Paul (26 June 2023). "Kerry FC to field a team in the women's under-17 League of Ireland Academy from 2024". Independent.ie. Retrieved 6 August 2023.

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