By Miriam O’Callaghan 4 Pearl Kerry GAA By Miriam O’Callaghan 4 Pearl

Introduction Kerry known as ‘The Kingdom’ is the most successful team in the history of the GAA. The traditional game of Caid was very popular in Kerry. The modern game of Gaelic football was developed from this. The first Gaelic football final was held in 1884 but it was not until 1903 that Kerry won their first all Ireland final v London.

Honours Kerry have won the highest number of All Ireland finals and National League finals. They have won the All Ireland Senior Football Championship 36 times and 19 National Football Leagues. They have contested in 56 all Ireland finals with the next highest participator being Dublin with 36 appearances. They are also second to Kerry in All Ireland titles with 24.

Nearly 5… The Kerry team of the 1970s and 1980s is known to be one the greatest in the history of football and its manager Mick O’Dwyer the greatest of all time. Of the 20 All-Ireland finals held during those two decades, Kerry participated in 12, with victory coming on 9 occasions. In 1982, Kerry came within one minute of winning an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland title in a row, only for a late goal by Offaly’s Seamus Darby to give the title to Offaly  which was controversial as many claimed Darby pushed the Kerry defender in the back.

The glory years At the end of the 1980s, Kerry football went into decline and did not appear in an All-Ireland final for 11 years, between 1986 and 1997. The 1997 victory marked the beginning of a revival for Kerry which spanned roughly the first decade of the 21st century. Of the 15 All-Ireland finals between 1997 and 2011, Kerry contested ten and won six, including five titles in the 2000s. In 2006 and 2007, Kerry won consecutive All-Ireland titles and in 2009 they became only the third team to reach six consecutive All-Ireland finals winning their 36th title by beating Cork in that final. 

Hurling Kerry's first All-Ireland championship win was in hurling in 1981. It was the first time a Munster team won both Munster and All-Irelands in the same year. Kerry have not won another Munster of all Ireland championship since.

Greatest Players – Páidí Ó Sé Páudí Ó Sé made his first senior appearance for Kerry during the 1974 - 1975 National League campeign. He was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement at the end of the 1987 senior championship.  During that time he won eight All-Ireland medals, eleven Munster medals, four National League medals and five All Stars Awards. He captained Kerry to the 1985 All-Ireland title. At club level he won two County Senior Championship medals.

Greatest Players - Maurice Fitzgerald Maurice Fitzgerald made his senior championship debut against Waterford in 1988. Making his way onto the senior team during their decline, he won two all – Ireland medals and 5 Munster championship medals. His inspirational play is know to have helped kick start the revival of Kerry football. In the 58 senior inter county matches that he played he scored 12-205

Maurice Fitzgerald He is best known for this score from the sideline 45m out to draw level and force a replay. Click to play

Greatest Players - Seamus Moynihan Aged just 18 Seamus made his senior debut at midfield for Kerry in the Munster Final of 1992. During his career he won eight Munster titles, four All – Ireland medals, three National football league and three all stars. He scored over 61 points for Kerry in his best known position in the half back line. Moynihan announced his retirement from inter-county football on Saturday, 23 September 2006 through an article in The Irish Times. He was described as “a one-off player” and said Kerry football would never see his like again.

Greatest Player – Colm Cooper Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper is well know to be regarded as the greatest footballer of this decade. During his first year on the senior panel, he one the first of his 8 all star awards. There are only 3 seasons where he has not be awarded an all star. He has also won eight Munster titles, four all – Ireland medals and four national league titles. He has the highest scoring record in football history scoring 17-196 in fifty-six appearances. He has won a 4 in a row at club at club county level and a 3 in a row at club provincial level.

Greatest Players 2. 4. 1. 3.

Conclusion In conclusion I found that Kerry is by far the best and most successful Gaelic football county in the country. I also found hard facts to prove this to the Dublin fans who do not believe me or tell me that I am wrong.