Christy O'Connor: Cork-Kerry Munster club finals are rarer than you’d expect

After Laune Rangers and Clonakilty faced off in the 1996 Munster Club SFC final, and Nemo played Glenflesk in the 2000 decider, there wasn’t a Cork-Kerry club final again for another 10 years

The 2023 Munster Club SFC final between Castlehaven and Dingle was just the eighth time Cork and Kerry clubs have met in the decider. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile

In the history of the provincial and All-Ireland club championships, Castleisland Desmonds’ story has always been unique, for a variety of reasons. Before the Desmonds won the 1985 All-Ireland, 12 of the previous 14 All-Ireland club football titles had been won by the big city and town clubs, or colleges sides. Castleisland isn’t a small place but their odyssey was all the more memorable again because they didn’t win the Kerry county title. The Desmonds’ success was even more of a bolter because they were still an Intermediate team.

The circuitous route to the 1985 All-Ireland began in a 1984 Kerry county league game against Beaufort, which Castleisland had to win to finish in the top four in order to gain access to the Kerry club championship. Desmonds were down seven points late on before a late surge got them over the line. Beating St Mary’s, Cahirciveen after a replay in the Kerry club final stamped Castleisland's ticket into the Munster championship because West Kerry had beaten South Kerry in the county final.