Kerry Premier Junior Football Championship

The Kerry Premier Junior Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as Kerry Petroleum County Premier Junior Football Championship and abbreviated to the Kerry PJFC) is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking junior clubs in the county of Kerry in Ireland. It is the third tier overall in the entire Kerry Gaelic football championship system.

Kerry Premier Junior Football Championship
Current season or competition:
2023 Kerry Premier Junior Football Championship
IrishCraobhchomórtas Peile Príomh-Shóisearach Chiarraí
CodeGaelic football
Founded2016 (2016)
Region Kerry (GAA)
TrophyTom Keane Perpetual Cup
No. of teams16
Title holdersBorder Fossa (1st title)
SponsorsKerry Petroleum
Official websiteOfficial website

The Kerry Premier Junior Championship was introduced in 2016 following a restructuring of the entire Kerry Gaelic football championship system at all levels.[1]

In its current format, the 16 participating club are drawn into four groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system. The four group winners and the four runners-up proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at FitzGerald Stadium. The winner of the Kerry Premier Junior Championship, as well as being presented with the Tom Keane Perpetual Cup, qualifies for the subsequent Munster Club Championship.

The competition has been won by seven teams. Fossa are the title holders, after defeating Listry in the 2022 final.[2]

Format

Group stage: The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage and the bottom team in each group enters the relegation playoffs.

Relegation Playoffs: After a series of playoffs involving the four teams, the loser of the final is relegated to the Kerry Junior Football Championship.

Quarter-finals: The eight group stage winners contest this round. the top team in each group is drawn against a second-placed team from another group. The four winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals: The four quarter-final winners contest this round. The two winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.

Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions and gain automatic promotion to the following year's Kerry Intermediate Football Championship.

2023 Teams
Team Location Club's Divisional Side
Annascaul Annascaul West Kerry
Ardfert Ardfert St Brendan's
Ballyduff Ballyduff Shannon Rangers
Ballymacelligott Ballymacelligott St Kieran's
Brosna Brosna St Kieran's
Castlegregory Castlegregory West Kerry
Churchill Tralee St Brendan's
Firies Firies East Kerry
Keel Keel Mid Kerry
Listowel Emmets Listowel Feale Rangers
Listry Listry East Kerry
Skellig Rangers Portmagee South Kerry
St. Michael's/Foilmore Foilmore / Baile an Sceilg South Kerry
St. Pat's Blennerville Blennerville St Brendan's
St Senan's Listowel Feale Rangers
Waterville Waterville South Kerry

Sponsorship

Since 2019 the Premier Junior Championship has been sponsored by Kerry Petroleum. The competition was previously sponsored by Castleisland Mart.

Trophy and medals

The Tom Keane Perpetual Cup is the current prize for winning the championship. Colin McGillycuddy of Glenbeigh-Glencar was the first recipient of the cup when it was presented to him after the 2016 final replay.[3] In accordance with GAA rules, the County Board awards a set of gold medals to the championship winners. The medals depict a stylised version of the Kerry GAA crest.

Roll of honour
# Team Titles Years runners-up Years won Years runners-up
1 Na Gaeil 1 2 2019 2016, 2018
Gneeveguilla 1 1 2021 2020
Glenbeigh-Glencar 1 0 2016 —
Dromid Pearses 1 0 2017 —
Beaufort 1 0 2018 —
Ballydonoghue 1 0 2020 —
Fossa 1 0 2022 —
8 Firies 0 1 — 2017
St Senan's 0 1 — 2019
Skellig Rangers 0 1 — 2021
Listry 0 1 — 2022

List of finals
Year Winners Runners-up Venue #
Club Score Club Score
2023
2022 Fossa 4-15 Listry 0-22 FitzGerald Stadium
2021 Gneeveguilla 0-12 Skellig Rangers 0-09 FitzGerald Stadium [4]
2020 Ballydonoghue 3-20 Gneeveguilla 3-18 Austin Stack Park [5]
2019 Na Gaeil 3-14 St Senan's 1-10 Austin Stack Park [6]
2018 Beaufort 4-13 Na Gaeil 2-18 Austin Stack Park [7]
2017 Dromid Pearses 0-17 Firies 1-11 J. P. O'Sullivan Park [8]
2016 Glenbeigh-Glencar 1-16 Na Gaeil 0-12 FitzGerald Stadium [9]

Notes:

  • 2016 - The first match ended in a draw: Glenbeigh-Glencar 1-06, Na Gaeil 0-09.[10]

See also

References
  1. O'Mahony, John (20 October 2014). "GAA proposes major SFC surgery". Killarney Today. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  2. O'Dowd, John (14 November 2022). "Fossa boss Adrian Sheehan's dream comes true with Premier Junior glory". The Kerryman. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  3. Hurley, Denis (5 December 2016). "Glenbeigh-Glencar regroup to keep Kerry's title grip". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. Murphy, Murt (20 November 2021). "Gneeveguilla gain redemption in extra time to claim Kerry Junior Premier title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  5. O'Dowd, John (6 September 2021). "Night of high drama as Ballydonoghue win Premier Junior title with late, late Kennelly penalty". The Kerryman. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  6. Brennan, Paul (11 May 2019). "No luck needed for Na Gaeil who lift title at third time of asking". The Kerryman. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  7. Brennan, Paul (12 May 2018). "Brilliant Beaufort scale Premier Junior heights in six-goal extra-time thriller against Na Gaeil". The Kerryman. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  8. "Piarsaigh na Dromada: Junior Premier Champions 2017". Kerry GAA website. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  9. "Junior Premier Champ Final: Glenbeigh-Glencar 1-16 Na Gaeil 0-12". Kerry GAA website. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  10. O'Connor, Gavin (16 October 2016). "Culloty Rescues Draw For Na Gaeil Against 13 Man Glenbeigh/Glencar". Tralee Today. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
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