by Adam Moynihan

Senior Club Relegation Playoff

Austin Stacks v Kenmare Shamrocks

Sunday at 1.15pm

Fitzgerald Stadium

Austin Stacks may be one of the most successful clubs in the county but the ruthless nature of Kerry football means that no one is ever really safe.

With just eight senior teams in the Club Championship and two of those teams guaranteed an unwanted spot in the relegation playoff every year, it is perhaps inevitable that even the big dogs will flirt with demotion at one point or another.

Still and all it came as a shock to see Dr Crokes in last year’s playoff, although they ultimately survived at the expense of local rivals Legion.

This year it’s Austin Stacks’ turn to look down the barrel of the gun. The reigning Club and County champions have failed to re-establish their dominance in 2022 and defeats to Templenoe and Dr Crokes (either side of a victory over Rahillys) left them bottom of Group A.

Reaching the final of the County Championship would have spared them the ignominy of the relegation playoff but, in truth, that never looked particularly likely – especially with star midfielder Joe O’Connor sidelined with a serious knee injury.

Their last outing, an extra-time defeat to Feale Rangers, will have done little for their confidence and it is notable that they are going into Sunday’s playoff as slight underdogs.

Kenmare Shamrocks also exited the County Championship at the quarter-final stage but the manner of their defeat to East Kerry was more heartening. They pushed the apparent champions-in-waiting all the way and in the end they only missed out by a kick of a ball.

After losing to Stacks in the last two Club Championship finals, Seán O’Shea and co. will feel as though they owe the Tralee side one.

Verdict: Kenmare Shamrocks by one.