North Kerry inclusion could mean very different Kingdom SFC format for 2025
The proposed format will see the seven district teams play off in preliminary rounds with five of them qualifying for the Kerry SFC proper. They will then be joined by nine clubs. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The proposed inclusion of a single north Kerry team, made up of players from current district sides Feale Rangers and Shannon Rangers, has given the Kerry CCC a headache on what is the best format to employ for the 2025 SFC.
Following the February County Board meeting, it was agreed in principle that North Kerry would be allowed to participate in 2025 provided that the CCC could devise a format. The merger of the two teams had been sought late in the day.
Chairman Patrick O’Sullivan promised that the format would be distributed to all clubs and districts, and would be voted on at the next County Board meeting on April 14.
The CCC has come up with a proposed format that is based on the recommendations of the County Senior Championship Review Committee, which was chaired by Dara Ó Cinnéide.
That committee proposed that the "SFC is to be made up of 10 senior clubs and 6 district teams from 2026 onwards. Preliminary round(s) will be required to arrive at 6 district teams. There will also need to be adjustments made in 2024, 2025 and 2026 to accommodate this format.”
The format proposed for 2025 has to be different to that of 2024 as the merger of Shannon Rangers and Feale Rangers means there will be one district team fewer.
The proposed format will see the seven district teams play off in preliminary rounds with five of them qualifying for the SFC proper. They will then be joined by nine clubs. Two of those 14 teams will get byes straight to the quarter-finals.
The remaining 12 sides will compete in round 1 with the six winners joined by the two byes in the quarters. The byes will be decided by open draw, but North Kerry, if still involved, will not be eligible for a bye as they received one in the preliminary round.
Another bone of contention may well be the fact that North Kerry will get that bye in preliminary round 1 but that is a negative for them as they will be the only district side to get a single chance of reaching the SFC proper. All the other sides in the preliminary rounds will get two strikes before they exit the championship.
3 V 3 (District teams with North Kerry getting a bye).
3 winners progress to round 1, 3 beaten teams and North Kerry go into preliminary round 2.
2 v 2 (2 winners progress to Rd 1).
5 district teams in total progress from this section to join the 9 clubs in round 1.
14 teams, 6 v 6 with two byes. There will be an open draw for the 2 byes and for the 6 Rd 1 games. Thereafter, repeat pairings from preliminary rounds 1 and 2 will be avoided.
4 V 4. Avoid repeat pairings where possible.
2 V 2. Open draw.
