All-Ireland Club SFC champions Dingle have been drawn in the toughest group of this year’s Kerry Senior Club championship, with the Kingdom’s other pair of All-Ireland winners, An Ghaeltacht and Ballymacelligott, also handed difficult tasks.
All Ireland junior champions Ballymac’s first year back in IFC sees them in the same group as the Cliffords-led Fossa.
Dr Crokes, who beat Dingle in the 2024 Club Championship final, are going for three in a row after defeating Na Gaeil in last year’s final.
Dingle, who won the county championship on the way to All-Ireland glory in January with that pulsating victory over St Brigid’s, will probably have to beat Crokes to top the group and go straight to the semi-finals. Group 1 is the only four-team group, and it also contains East Kerry sides Rathmore and Spa.
The first round games will be played at neutral venues, and it will see Rathmore take on Dingle while Dr Crokes will take on Spa.
An Ghaeltacht who became the 10th senior club when winning the Kerry IFC final when beating Fossa are in group 3 along with last year’s surprise finalists Na Gaeil and Milltown/Castlemaine, who are yet to confirm their management for 2026.
The Mid Kerry side will face An Ghaeltacht in the first round with Na Gaeil having a bye.
Last season’s beaten SFC finals Austin Stacks are in Group 2 and will face Kenmare Shamrocks, led by Seanie O’Shea, who lost the 2024 final and neighbours Templenoe.
Stacks will face Templenoe in the first round, while Kenmare Shamrocks have a bye.
Competition will be keen as relegation returns this year and it’s also important to remember that only two of the three group winners will get byes to the semis.
Often described as the most cutthroat club football championship in the country, Fossa will be trying to make it third time lucky have lost the last two finals to Milltown/Castlemaine and An Ghaeltacht.
They will face a tough task against Ballymac, 2024 beaten semi-finalists Glenbeigh/Glencar and Gneeveguilla, who should have beaten An Ghaeltacht last year.
Kilcummin will be favourites to top group 2, as they are paired with John Mitchels, Firies and Ballydonoghue.
Group 3 looks a minefield with three of the teams in the same group as last year, Killarney Legion, Listowel Emmets and Laune Rangers, while St Mary’s Cahersiveen are former All-Ireland club champions.
Group 4 will see former Stacks boss Wayne Quillinan take Glenflesk to face Kerins O’Rahilly’s while Beaufort were so close over the past number of years that they will be favourites to reach the quarterfinals but Desmonds might have something to say about that.
In the Junior Premier Listry are probable favourites but they are in a tough group with Junior champions Tarbert, Annascaul and Ardfert.
While Keel will be fancied to top their group, Currow could be the dark horses in group 3. Last year’s beaten finalists St Senan’s, along with Castlegregory, will be fancied in group 4.
Kerry Petroleum Senior Club Championship:
Group 1:
Dr. Crokes
Dingle
Rathmore
Spa
Group 2:
Kenmare Shamrocks
Templenoe
Austin Stacks
Group 3:
Na Gaeil
An Ghaeltacht
Milltown/Castlemaine
Intermediate Club Championship:
Group 1:
Fossa
Ballymac
Glenbeigh/Glencar
Gneeveguilla
Group 2:
Kilcummin
John Mitchels
Firies
Ballydonoghue
Group 3:
Killarney Legion
Listowel Emmets
Laune Rangers
St. Mary’s Caherciveen
Group 4:
Kerins O’Rahilly’s
Glenflesk
Beaufort
Desmonds
Premier Junior Championship:
Group 1:
Listry
Annascaul
Tarbert
Ardfert
Group 2:
Keel
Waterville
Duagh
St. Pat’s
Group 3:
Piarsiagh na Dromoda
Currow
Churchill
Brosna
Group 4:
St Senans
Ballyduff
Renard
Castlegregory
Junior Club Championship:
Group 1:
Cordal
Valentia
St. Michael’s Foilmore
Sneem/Derrynane
Group 2:
Moyvane
Ballylongford
Finuge
Tuosist
Group 3:
Beale
Cromane
Lios Póil
Group 4:
Scartaglen
Skellig Rangers
Knocknagoshel
Kilgarvan