The Kerry District League (known as the Denny Kerry District League for sponsorship reasons) is an association football league featuring amateur and junior clubs from County Kerry. The KDL is a winter league run by Adrian Casey. Its top division, the Premier A, is a seventh level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. The league is regularly featured in the local newspapers – The Kerryman and the Kerry's Eye. Killarney Celtic FC recently won the Premier A for a fifth successive season.
 | |
| Founded | 1971 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Ireland |
| Confederation | Munster Football Association[1] |
| Divisions | Premier A Premier B Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Youth League U17 League Ladies League New Yorkers Over 35 |
| Number of teams | 76 (2015–16)[2] |
| Level on pyramid | 7–12 |
| Domestic cup(s) | MFA Champions Trophy FAI Junior Cup Munster Junior Cup |
| League cup(s) | Greyhound Bar KO Cup |
| Current champions | Killarney Celtic |
| Most championships | Tralee Dynamos |
| Website | www.kerrydistrictleague.ie |
History
editThe league was formed in 1971 with eight teams competing in its first season. Its founding members included Tralee Dynamos and Killarney Athletic, both of whom had previously played in the Limerick Desmond League. Other founding members included St Brendan's Park. Tralee Dynamos were the inaugural champions and subsequently became the league's most successful team.[3][4][5][6]
Mounthawk Park
editThe KDL purchased Mounthawk Park in Tralee in the mid-1990s. It now serves as both the headquarters of the league and as home ground for the Kerry League representative teams. Several KDL clubs, especially those in the greater Tralee area, also use Mounthawk Park as their home pitch.[5] In August 2015 a new all-weather pitch was opened at Mounthawk Park by Martin O'Neill and John Delaney.[7] It is the home ground of Kerry F.C. in the League of Ireland First Division.
Representative teams
editA senior Kerry League representative team regularly competes in the Oscar Traynor Trophy, playing against teams representing other leagues.[8] In recent seasons they have also competed in the League of Ireland Cup. In 2016 a Kerry League U17 team will play in the League of Ireland U17 Division.[9][10] Kerry now have both U17 & U19 teams competing in both the SSE Airtricity National U17 & U19 respectively.
Clubs
editPremier A
editAs of 2015, clubs included:[11]
| Team | Home town/suburb | Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Camp United | Camp, County Kerry | |
| Castleisland | Castleisland | Limerick Road |
| Dingle Bay Rovers | Dingle | |
| Fenit Samphires | Fenit | |
| Killarney Athletic | Killarney | Woodlawn |
| Killarney Celtic | Killarney | |
| Listowel Celtic | Listowel | |
| Mastergeeha F.C. | Killarney | |
| St Brendan's Park | Tralee | Christy Leahy Park |
| Tralee Dynamos | Tralee | Cahermoneen Stadium |
List of winners by season
edit| Season | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Killarney Celtic | Killarney Athletic |
| 2021-22 | Killarney Celtic | Killarney Athletic |
| 2020-21 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 | |
| 2019-20 | Killarney Celtic | Killarney Athletic |
| 2018-19 | Killarney Celtic | |
| 2017-18 | Killarney Celtic | |
| 2016–17 | Killarney Athletic | Killarney Celtic |
| 2015–16 | Dingle Bay Rovers | Killarney Celtic |
| 2014–15 | Tralee Dynamos | Listowel Celtic |
| 2013–14 | Castleisland | Listowel Celtic |
| 2012–13 | Killarney Celtic | St Brendan's Park |
| 2011–12 | St Brendan's Park | Castleisland |
| 2010–11 | Killarney Celtic | |
| 2009–10 | Killarney Celtic | Lisselton Rovers |
| 2008–09 | Lisselton Rovers | |
| 2007–08 | Lisselton Rovers | |
| 2006–07 | Killarney Celtic | Tralee Dynamos |
| 2005–06 | Killarney Celtic | Killarney Athletic |
| 2004–05 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 2003–04 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 2002–03 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 2001–02 | St Brendan's Park | |
| 2000–01 | Listowel Celtic | |
| 1999–00 | St Brendan's Park | |
| 1998–99 | Rattoo Rovers | |
| 1997–98 | Rattoo Rovers | |
| 1996–97 | Killarney Celtic | |
| 1995–96 | Killarney Celtic | |
| 1994–95 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 1992–93 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 1991–92 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 1988–89 | Listowel Celtic | |
| 1987–88 | Tralee Utd | |
| 1986–87 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 1985–86 | Killarney Celtic | |
| 1984–85 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 1983–84 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 1982–83 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 1981–82 | Killarney Celtic | |
| 1980–81 | St Brendans Park | |
| 1979–80 | Callinafercy | |
| 1977–78 | Castleisland | |
| 1976–77 | St Brendan's Park | |
| 1975–76 | St Brendan's Park | |
| 1974–75 | St Brendan's Park | |
| 1973–74 | Cahersiveen | |
| 1972–73 | Tralee Dynamos | |
| 1971–72 | Tralee Dynamos |
References
edit- ^ "Details of Affiliated Leagues & Clubs 2015/2016". munsterfa.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ^ "List of Teams Affiliated to the Kerry District League". munsterfa.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ^ "Kerry District League Roll of Honour". kerrydistrictleague.ie. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "St Brendan's Park – History". stbrendansparkfc.com. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Soccer in the Kingdom – a story of success and unprecedented growth". kerrydistrictleague.ie. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Killarney Athletic – Club History". killarneyathletic.com. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Martin O'Neill And John Delaney Officially Open New All-Weather Pitch in Mounthawk Park". traleetoday.ie. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "FAI Oscar Traynor Trophy". kerrydistrictleague.ie. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "SSE Airtricity National U17 League". kerrydistrictleague.ie. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "SSE Airtricity National U17 League". fai.ie. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Denny Premier A 2015/16". www.kerrydistrictleague.ie. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Kerry District League | Roll of Honour".