Kerry out to beat the drop and defend proud top-flight record

Dara Ó Cinnéide, who has the unenviable record of being on the last two Kerry teams to go down, says the league is the best environment to blood new players for the Kingdom. 

Michael Comer of Galway in action against Dara Ó Cinnéide of Kerry at Tuam Stadium in 2001. Defeat that day consigned Kerry to relegation from Division 1. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Twenty-three seasons Kerry have been a Division 1 team. The same amount of time Mayo were a member of the elite before their fall in 2020.

Another proud record is on the line this weekend and no other county currently comes close to boasting such a stay in the top flight. Table toppers Galway only returned to Division 1 in 2023, Dublin and Derry in ’24 and Armagh and Donegal this year. Mayo jumped back up in ’22 and Tyrone, who are also threatened by relegation, have the second-longest stretch going back to ’17.