The 2002 Kerry Senior Football Championship was the 102nd staging of the Kerry Senior Football Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the opening round fixtures took place on 9 April 2002. The championship ran from 24 May to 10 November 2002.
An Ghaeltacht entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were beaten by Kilcummin in the semi-finals.
The final was played on 10 November 2002 at FitzGerald Stadium in Killarney, between Kerins O'Rahilly's and Kilcummin, in what was their first ever meeting in the final. Kerins O'Rahilly's won the match by 0-14 to 0-05 to claim their sixth championship title overall and a first title in 45 years.
Declan Quill was the championship's top scorer with 1-27.
Format change
The championship brought a change in format with the introduction of a second chance for defeated first-round teams via a losers' round. The four semi-finalists from the previous year - An Ghaeltacht, Austin Stacks, Dr. Crokes and South Kerry - received byes to the last 16, but did not have the benefit of a second chance. Relegation was also introduced for the club team that lost all their matches.
Results Round 1
Round 2
Relegation playoff
Round 3
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Championship statistics Top scorers
Overall
Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Declan QuillKerins O'Rahilly's1-273056.002D. J. FlemingKilcummin0-232354.603Mike Frank RussellLaune Rangers1-141735.66Dara Ó CinnéideAn Ghaeltacht0-171735.665Pa O'SullivanLaune Rangers0-141434.666Michael O'ConnorKilcummin1-101352.40Paud O'DonoghueGlenflesk0-131334.33James O'NeillKenmare0-131326.509Kevin LynchCastleisland Desmonds0-121234.0010Maurice FitzgeraldSouth Kerry0-111125.50Aodán Mac GearailtAn Ghaeltacht0-111133.66John O'ConnorKerins O'Rahilly's0-111152.20
In a single game
Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition1Liam BrosnanSt. Kieran's2-039KenmareJames O'NeillKenmare0-099Shannon Rangers3Paud O'DonoghueGlenflesk0-088Castleisland DesmondsMike Frank RussellLaune Rangers0-088St. Kieran'sD. J. FlemingKilcummin0-088GlenfleskDeclan QuillKerins O'Rahilly's0-088RathmoreMaurice FitzgeraldSouth Kerry0-088An Ghaeltacht8Jack FerriterWest Kerry1-047East KerryAidan O'SheaDr. Crokes1-047Shannon RangersKevin LynchCastleisland Desmonds0-077GlenfleskDeclan QuillKerins O'Rahilly's0-077West KerryPa O'SullivanLaune Rangers0-077Dr. Crokes
Miscellaneous
Kerins O'Rahilly's won a first title in 45 years. Kerins O'Rahilly's qualify for the final for the first time since 1963. Kilcummin qualify for the final for the first time since 1913.
References