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BREAKING: Two changes for Kerry as Jack O’Connor names team for league final

Published

8 months ago

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Paudie Clifford, Jack O'Connor and Dylan Geaney. Photos: Sportsfile. Artwork: Adam Moynihan.

by Adam Moynihan

National League Division 1 Final

Kerry v Mayo

Sunday 4pm

Croke Park, Dublin

Live on TG4

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor has made two changes to his starting 15 for Sunday's league final against Mayo.

Regular first choice keeper Shane Ryan sat out last weekend's eight-point victory over Galway but he reclaims the number one jersey with Shane Murphy returning to the bench. At midfield, Seán O’Brien misses out having injured his calf last weekend. The Beaufort man is replaced by Barry Dan O'Sullivan.

Attack-minded corner back Tom O'Sullivan is named amongst the substitutes after missing the last four games due to a calf injury but, as expected, Diarmuid O'Connor (shoulder) and Seánie O'Shea (knee ligament) remain absent with both now aiming to return for the championship.

KERRY TEAM TO PLAY MAYO

1. Shane Ryan

2. Paul Murphy

3. Jason Foley

4. Dylan Casey

5. Gavin White

6. Mike Breen

7. Brian Ó Beaglaoich

8. Joe O'Connor

9. Barry Dan O'Sullivan

10. Micheál Burns

11. Paudie Clifford

12. Graham O'Sullivan

13. David Clifford

14. Paul Geaney

15. Dylan Geaney

Subs: Shane Murphy, Conor Geaney, Damien Bourke, Tony Brosnan, Tom O'Sullivan, Armin Heinrich, Ruairí Murphy, Killian Spillane, Evan Looney, Cathal Ó Beaglaoich, Mark O'Shea, Tom Leo O'Sullivan.

As for Mayo, Kevin McStay's line-up shows one change from last Sunday's two-point victory over Donegal as Fenton Kelly makes way for Davitt Neary.

MAYO TEAM TO PLAY KERRY

1. Colm Reape

2. Jack Coyne

3. Donnacha McHugh

4. Enda Hession

5. Sam Callinan

6. David McBrien

7. Stephen Coen

8. Jack Carney

9. Matthew Ruane

10. Davitt Neary

11. Darren McHale

12. Jordan Flynn

13. Aidan O'Shea

14. Frank Irwin

15. Ryan O'Donoghue

Subs: Not named.

After a totally unpredictable Division 1 campaign, Kerry arrive in Sunday’s decider on the back of two impressive victories over last year’s All-Ireland finalists Armagh and Galway. That’s fine form in anyone’s language but they will be taking nothing for granted against Mayo, a team who deservedly beat them as recently as the first day of March.

The Kingdom laboured in that fixture in Castlebar and trailed by seven (0-14 to 1-4) at the break, with Mayo’s midfield dominance particularly concerning. It was only a two-point game in the end but the consensus was that the better team won on the day. The joyous pitch invasion that followed signalled how much victories over Kerry still mean to the westerners.

Aidan O’Shea was influential around the middle third with marksman Ryan O’Donoghue causing problems inside – those two will need special attention if Kerry are to avoid a repeat result.

Kerry are hoping to win their 24th National League title, having last prevailed in 2022 after defeating Mayo in the final on an emphatic scoreline of 3-19 to 0-13. David Clifford scored 1-6 including a spectacular goal into the Hill 16 end, and he and his teammates climbed the Hogan steps again later that year to lift the Sam Maguire.

In fact, each of Jack O’Connor’s previous four league titles as Kerry manager have been followed by All-Irelands that same year (2004, 2006, 2009, 2022).

Mayo, meanwhile, are seeking their 14th league triumph. Winning will draw them level with Dublin in second place on the all-time National League honours list.

This year for the first time the Division 1 finalists will be vying for the Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup, renamed in honour of the legendary Kerry broadcaster who sadly passed away in 2024.

Kerry v Mayo will form part of a double header with the Division 3 final between Kildare and Offaly (1.45pm). The Division 2 and Division 4 finals (Monaghan v Roscommon and Wexford v Limerick) will be staged in Croke Park on Saturday evening.

Follow Adam on Twitter @AdamMoynihan for all the latest Kerry football updates

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Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

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4 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

By

Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

Saturday 7.30pm

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

LAKERS

The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

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Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

Published

1 month ago

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7 November 2025

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After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

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