Kenmare GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association division in the south of County Kerry, Ireland. The division includes the town of Kenmare. It is one of nine divisions of Kerry County Board. It organizes competitions for the clubs within the division, from Under 12 up to the adult level. The winners of these competitions compete against other divisional champions to determine which club is the county champion.
In addition, the division selects football teams from the adult teams playing at intermediate and junior level, and these then compete for the Kerry Senior Football Championship.
Hurling is the weaker sport in the division, without a district team and only two clubs, Kenmare Shamrocks and Kilgarvan fielding teams.
History
Clubs The Kenmare District is the smallest such district in Kerry consisting of 4 clubs:
Kenmare Shamrocks Kilgarvan Templenoe (Football only) Tousist (Football only)
Divisional team The team competes as a joint divisional side with other clubs from the Kenmare area in the county championships. Most matches are played in Templenoe nowadays but some are played at Father Breen Park, Kenmare.
Member clubs Football clubs unless stated. Kenmare Shamrocks (dual) Kilgarvan (dual) Templenoe Tuosist
Honours
Kerry Senior Football Championship Winners (2): 1974, 1987 Runners-Up (4): 1952, 1954, 1976, 2016 Kerry Minor Football Championship Runners-Up (2): 1959, 2012 Kerry Under-21 Football Championship Winners (3): 1985, 2014, 2017 Runners-Up (3): 1981, 1982, 1984
Hurling Grades ChampionshipClubSenior ChampionshipsSeniorNoneIntermediate ChampionshipsIntermediate Kenmare Shamrocks KilgarvanJunior ChampionshipsJuniorNone
Football
Grades ChampionshipClubSenior ChampionshipsSenior Kenmare Shamrocks TemplenoeIntermediate ChampionshipsIntermediateNoneJunior ChampionshipsPremier JuniorNone Junior Kilgarvan Tuosist
Divisional competitions
Kenmare District Board Senior Football Championship (Finnegan Cup) Kenmare District Board Intermediate Football Championship (Murphy Cup) Kenmare District Board Junior Football Championship (Purcell Cup) Kenmare District Board Senior League (Spillane Cup)
Finnegan Cup
Teams The 4 clubs in the Kenmare District play for the Finnegan Cup in the Kenmare district board championship. As of 2023, they included:
TeamLocationColoursChampionship titlesLast championship title Kenmare ShamrocksKenmareBlack and red92011 KilgarvanKilgarvanRed and white11961 TemplenoeTemplenoeBlue and white102014 TuosistTuosistGreen and red42006
List of finals YearWinnersRunners-upClubScoreClubScore2014Templenoe3-10Kenmare0-0620132012Templenoe3-17Kilgarvan0-042011Kenmare0-08 FT, 0-11Templenoe0-08 FT, 0-102010Templenoew/oKenmarescr2009200820072006Tuosist1-11Templenoe0-082005Tuosist2-07Kenmare0-112004 2003KenmareTuosist 2002Tuosist 2001Tuosist1-12Templenoe1-08 2000KenmareTemplenoe 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993Templenoe3-11Kenmare1-11 1992 1991 1990Templenoe2-12Kenmare0-05 1989 1988 KenmareTemplenoe 1987KenmareTemplenoe 1986Kenmare 1985Templenoe1-08Kenmare1-07 1984Templenoe1-11Kenmare0-06 1983KenmareTuosist 1982Kenmare 1981Templenoe1-06Kenmare0-05 1980Templenoe3-07Kenmare2-04 1979Kenmare 1978Templenoe2-13Kenmare2-05 1961Kilgarvan
Roll of honour #TeamTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up1 Templenoe106 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1993, 2010, 2012, 20141987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2006, 20112 Kenmare Shamrocks910 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2003, 20111978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1993, 2005, 2010, 20143 Tuosist42 2001, 2002, 2005, 20061983, 20034 Kilgarvan11 19612012
Notable players Stephen O'Brien Seán O'Shea Paul O'Connor Pat Spillane Tom Spillane Mick Spillane Alan O'Sullivan Phil O'Sullivan Though from Tuosist parish Phil O'Sullivan played for Kenmare. He captained Kerry to an All Ireland Football title in 1924, played with Kenmare and won a Senior Co. Hurling medal in 1917. Mickey O'Sullivan Mickey "Ned" O’Sullivan won a county league medal in 1972, as well as a senior county championship in 1974. It was Kenmare's first county title ever, with a second medal following in 1987.
References