The North Kerry Senior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition for GAA clubs affiliated to the North Kerry Football Board, a division of Kerry GAA. The official name of the competition became The Bernard O'Callaghan Memorial North Kerry Senior Football Championship in 2000, in honour of the late Bernie O'Callaghan (Beale) who was Chairman of the North Kerry GAA Board for 25 years (1974 to 1998) and did a huge amount of work for North Kerry football.
The Championship runs from October to December each year but has on occasion continued into the New Year due to replays and postponements. It is currently sponsored by McMunn's Bar and Restaurant, Ballybunion. The current champions are Listowel Emmets, who defeated Knocknagoshel in the 2025 final, retaining their title and winning the competition for a record equalling 18th time.
History The first North Kerry Championship took place in 1925 and was won by Newtownsandes (Moyvane), who defeated Faha. Moyvane, along with Listowel Emmets have been the most successful teams in the Championship with 18 titles each. In 1983, shortly after the death of Asdee native Éamonn O'Donoghue (who won 5 Championships with Ballylongford), Castleisland Desmonds and Ballylongford jointly presented a Cup in his honour to the North Kerry Football Board to be presented to the Championship winners each year. As of 2025 fourteen different clubs have won the Championship.
Format The Championship is played on a straight knock-out basis. First round games give home advantage to first drawn out in ties following an open draw, with all further round matches being played at neutral venues.
Current format First round: 12 teams contest this round. The 6 winning teams advance directly to the quarter-final stage. The 6 losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Quarter-finals: The six first round winners and the two teams given a bye contest this round. The four winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: The four quarter-final winners contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
All first round and quarter-final matches are decided on the day, with extra-time and penalties being used if necessary to decide the winner. The semi-finals and final will go to a replay if level at full-time.
Teams
Fourteen clubs compete in the North Kerry Senior Football Championship: five teams from Feale Rangers, three teams from St Kieran's and six teams from Shannon Rangers. TeamHome GroundDivisional SideFounded AsdeeJack Walsh Park, Tullahennel Shannon Rangers 1986 BallydonoghueDenis Dowling Park, Coolard Shannon Rangers 1930s BallyduffBallyduff Sportsfield, Ballyduff Shannon Rangers 1911 BallylongfordO'Rahilly Park, Ballylongford Shannon Rangers BealeBob Stack Park, Ballybunion Shannon Rangers 1972 BrosnaPáirc na Féile, Brosna St. Kieran's 1970s Castleisland DesmondsMoanmore, Castleisland St. Kieran's 1885 DuaghDuagh GAA Field, Duagh Feale Rangers 1891 FinugeJames O'Sullivan Park, Finuge Feale Rangers 1961 KnocknagoshelWillie Walsh Park, Knocknagoshel St. Kieran's 1932 Listowel EmmetsFrank Sheehy Park, Listowel Feale Rangers 1885 MoyvaneCon Brosnan Park, Moyvane Feale Rangers 1900 St Senan'sJackie Finnerty Park, Mountcoal Feale Rangers 1934 TarbertShannon Park, Tarbert Shannon Rangers 1904
2025 Championship 13 teams entered the 2025 championship, with Asdee dropping out. The draw for the First Round and Quarter-finals took place on 2 October which resulted in 10 teams drawn to play in the first round with 3 teams receiving byes to the quarter-finals.
After victories over Brosna (1st Round), Castleisland Desmonds (Quarter-finals) and St Senan's (Semi-finals), Knocknagoshel played in their first ever North Kerry Championship Final. Their opponents were reigning Champions Listowel Emmets who reached the final with wins over Beale (1st Round), Ballydonoghue (Quarter-finals) and Ballyduff (Semi-finals). They were looking to win a record equalling 18th title.
The final was played on Sunday, 23 November at Páirc na Féile in Brosna and it ended in a draw. The replay, played a week later in Ballylongford was won by Listowel Emmets.
Round 1
Byes: Moyvane, St. Senan's, Tarbert
Quarter-Finals
Semi-finals
Final
Roll of honour
By club # Team Titles Runners-Up Winning years Losing years1 Moyvane 18 14 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1983, 1995, 1999, 2003 1926, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1960, 1971, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1996 Listowel Emmets 18 11 1926, 1931, 1933, 1957, 1965, 1972, 1976, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2024, 2025 1927, 1928, 1946, 1962, 1985, 1992, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2010, 20143 Ballylongford 13 14 1940, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1953, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1986, 1993, 2000 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1950, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1982, 19834 Ballydonoghue 10 7 1945, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1959, 1992, 2016, 2017, 2023 1944, 1951, 1953, 1961, 1994, 2018, 20205 Beale 8 4 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1989, 2014 1988, 1997, 2011, 2012 6 Tarbert 7 13 1942, 1948, 1969, 1973, 1985, 1990, 2010 1930, 1931, 1932, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1964, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 19997 Castleisland Desmonds 6 7 1980, 1988, 2002, 2007, 2020, 2021 1986, 1991, 2001, 2003, 2013, 2022, 2024 Duagh 6 5 1951, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1962, 2012 1947, 1949, 1952, 2002, 2008 9 Finuge 5 6 1967, 1987, 1996, 2001, 2011 1945, 1972, 1998, 2004, 2007, 2009 10 Ballyduff 3 6 1994, 2005, 2006 1948, 1963, 1968, 1993, 2017, 2021 11 St. Senan's 2 4 2018, 2019 1980, 2000, 2016, 202312 Clounmacon 1 2 1954 1955, 1957Craughdarrig 1 0 1934—An tArm 1 0 1944—15 Brosna 0 2— 2015, 2019Faha 0 1— 1925 Knocknagoshel 0 1—2025
List of finals
YearWinnersRunners-upVenueClubScoreClubScore2025 Listowel Emmets (3-09) 2-18 (R) Knocknagoshel (1-15) 2-07 (R) (Brosna), Ballylongford (R)2024 Listowel Emmets 1-11 Castleisland Desmonds 0-08 Moyvane2023 Ballydonoghue 2-06 St. Senan's 1-06 Ballyduff2022 Listowel Emmets 0-13 Castleisland Desmonds 0-07 Ballylongford2021 Castleisland Desmonds (1-11) 3-14 (R) Ballyduff (1-11) 1-05 (R) (Moyvane), Listowel (R)2020 Castleisland Desmonds 1-14 Ballydonoghue 1-07 Brosna2019 St. Senan's 2-06 Brosna 0-06 Ballylongford2018 St. Senan's 1-12 Ballydonoghue 1-06 Moyvane2017 Ballydonoghue 1-13 Ballyduff 1-04 Listowel2016 Ballydonoghue 5-09 St. Senan's 0-08 Listowel2015 Listowel Emmets (0-09) 0-09 (R) Brosna (1-06) 0-06 (R) (Moyvane), Ballybunion (R)2014 Beale 0-11 Listowel Emmets 0-10 Ballylongford2013 Listowel Emmets 1-08 Castleisland Desmonds 0-10 Tarbert2012 Duagh (0-07) 0-09 (R) Beale (1-04) 0-06 (R) Listowel2011 Finuge 1-09 Beale 0-11 Ballylongford2010 Tarbert (2-04) 2-12 (R) Listowel Emmets (1-07) 1-14 (R) (Ballybunion), Moyvane (R)2009 Listowel Emmets 0-12 Finuge 0-11 Ballybunion2008 Listowel Emmets 0-10 Duagh 0-07 Moyvane2007 Castleisland Desmonds 1-13 Finuge 1-06 Ballylongford2006 Ballyduff 1-12 Listowel Emmets 0-14 Moyvane2005 Ballyduff 2-06 Listowel Emmets 0-07 Moyvane2004 Listowel Emmets 0-12 Finuge 0-05 Ballybunion2003 Moyvane 0-10 Castleisland Desmonds 0-08 Ballylongford2002 Castleisland Desmonds 0-10 Duagh 0-06 Ballybunion2001 Finuge 1-09 Castleisland Desmonds 1-072000 Ballylongford 4-09 St. Senan's 1-09 Tarbert1999 Moyvane 0-10 Tarbert 0-06 Ballybunion1998 Listowel Emmets 3-12 Finuge 2-08 Tarbert1997 Listowel Emmets 1-09 Beale 0-09 Ballylongford1996 Finuge 1-07 (R) Moyvane 0-04 (R) Listowel (R)1995 Moyvane 1-11 Listowel Emmets 0-06 Finuge1994 Ballyduff 0-05 Ballydonoghue 1-01 Ballybunion1993 Ballylongford 1-08 Ballyduff 1-04 Ballybunion1992 Ballydonoghue 0-08 Listowel Emmets 0-03 Ballybunion1991 Listowel Emmets 0-09 Castleisland Desmonds 0-04 Ballybunion1990 Tarbert 3-04 Moyvane 1-07 Finuge1989 Beale (2-03) 0-06 (R) Moyvane (1-06) 0-05 (R) Ballylongford (R)1988 Castleisland Desmonds (1-07) 1-05 (R) Beale (1-07) 0-05 (R) Listowel (R)1987 Finuge 1-07 Moyvane 1-06 Ballybunion1986 Ballylongford 0-09 Castleisland Desmonds 2-02 Listowel1985 Tarbert 1-04 Listowel Emmets 0-04 Moyvane1984 Beale 2-10 Moyvane 2-08 Tarbert1983 Moyvane 0-08 Ballylongford 0-04 Ballybunion1982 Beale 0-09 Ballylongford 1-05 Listowel1981 Beale 2-11 Moyvane 2-10 Listowel1980 Castleisland Desmonds 3-10 St. Senan's 1-04 Finuge1979 Beale 4-08 Moyvane 2-03 Ballylongford1978 Beale 1-09 Moyvane 0-07 Finuge1977 Beale 1-11 Ballylongford 0-07 Ballylongford1976 Listowel Emmets 2-09 Tarbert 0-09 Ballylongford1975 Ballylongford 1-08 Tarbert 1-05 Listowel1974 Ballylongford 2-05 Tarbert 1-07 Ballylongford1973 Tarbert 3-07 Ballylongford 2-03 Ballylongford1972 Listowel Emmets 1-07 Finuge 1-05 Ballylongford1971 Ballylongford 0-13 Moyvane 2-01 Ballylongford1970 Ballylongford 3-16 Tarbert 3-05 Moyvane1969 Tarbert 1-07 Ballylongford 0-08 Listowel1968 Ballylongford 2-12 Ballyduff 0-03 Listowel1967 Finuge 1-08 Ballylongford 0-08 Listowel1966 Moyvane 3-06 Ballylongford 1-05 Ballybunion1965 Listowel Emmets 0-12 Ballylongford 1-08 Ballybunion1964 Moyvane 1-10 Tarbert 0-05 Listowel1963 Moyvane Ballyduff Listowel1962 Duagh 0-07 Listowel Emmets 1-00 Listowel1961 Moyvane Ballydonoghue Listowel1960 Duagh 4-07 Moyvane 1-04 Ballybunion1959 Ballydonoghue 3-06 Tarbert 1-02 Ballylongford1958 Moyvane 2-03 Tarbert 0-06 Ballylongford1957 Listowel Emmets 2-03 Clounmacon 0-06 Listowel1956 DuaghNo final played1955 Duagh Clounmacon Ballybunion1954 Clounmacon Tarbert Ballybunion1953 Ballylongford 2-09 Ballydonoghue 0-021952 Ballydonoghue 2-01 Duagh 0-071951 Duagh 3-01 Ballydonoghue 0-01 Ballybunion1950 Ballydonoghue 3-04 Ballylongford 2-05 Moyvane1949 Ballydonoghue 2-05 Duagh 0-031948 Tarbert 4-02 Ballyduff 1-041947 Ballylongford 2-00 Duagh 1-02 Listowel1946 Ballydonoghue 0-09 Listowel Emmets 1-05 Ballylongford1945 Ballydonoghue 1-08 Finuge 0-02 Listowel1944 An tArm (Fort Shannon) 1-06 Ballydonoghue 1-01 Ballylongford1943 BallylongfordChampionship unfinished1942 Tarbert 5-03 Moyvane 1-03 Ballylongford1941 Ballylongford 2-05 Moyvane 0-051940 Ballylongford 0-03 Moyvane 0-021939 Moyvane 2-05 Ballylongford 0-041938 Moyvane 3-05 Tarbert 0-081937 Moyvane Ballylongford1936 Moyvane 3-04 Ballylongford 1-031935 No Final played1934 Craughdarrig Ballylongford1933 Listowel Emmets 2-08 Ballylongford 1-051932 Moyvane (Newtownsandes) 2-08 Tarbert 0-031931 Listowel Emmets 2-04 Tarbert 1-03 Moyvane1930 Moyvane (Newtownsandes) 5-04 Tarbert 3-031929 No Championship held1928 Moyvane (Newtownsandes) 2-03 Listowel Emmets 0-01 Moyvane1927 Moyvane (Newtownsandes) 1-08 Listowel Emmets 1-011926 Listowel Emmets 2-05 Moyvane (Newtownsandes) 0-031925 Moyvane (Newtownsandes) 2-05 Faha 1-02 Listowel
Notes Source:
Duagh awarded title as the only team to reach the final. The second semi-final was abandoned and never replayed.
Ballydonoghue awarded title without replay being played.
Championship unfinished, Ballylongford awarded title.
Match was semi-final but the last match to be played in Championship so Moyvane were awarded title.
Records Most titles (Team) 18 – Moyvane, Listowel Emmets Most titles (Individual) 10 – Ger McCarthy (Listowel Emmets) 9 – Shane Quinn (Listowel Emmets) Most Consecutive titles 4 – Moyvane (1936-39) 3 – Moyvane (1927-30), Beale (1977-79) Most Final appearances 32 – Moyvane 29 – Listowel Emmets 27 – Ballylongford Biggest final winning margin 16 pts – Ballydonoghue v. St. Senan's, 2016 Longest gaps between titles 50 years – Duagh (1962 - 2012) 33 years – Ballydonoghue (1959 - 1992) 25 years – Beale (1989 - 2014) 24 years – Listowel Emmets (1933 - 1957), Ballydonoghue (1992 - 2016) 21 years – Tarbert (1948 - 1969) 20 years – Finuge (1967 - 1987), Tarbert (1990 - 2010) Longest time since last title (Current Championship teams) 25 years – Ballylongford (last title in 2000) 22 years – Moyvane (last title in 2003)