Kerins O’Rahillys relegated from Kerry Division 1 as All-Ireland champions Dingle escape

Tralee club drop to Division 2 along with Rathmore and Beaufort while up from Division 2 next year will be Laune Rangers, Glenbeigh-Glencar and Templenoe

KEY SCORE: Dingle's Cathal Bambury completed the comeback that ensured they remained in Kerry SFL Division 1. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

KERRY'S SFL final round of fixtures saw an unexpected casualty in the Division 1 relegation battle as Kerins O’Rahillys long stay in the top flight ended following a 1-25 to 1-15 defeat at home to Glenflesk. That coupled with All-Ireland Club SFC champions Dingle's late comeback win at home to already crowned Division 1 winners Kenmare Shamrocks was enough to send the Strand Road club down.

Dingle were seven points down early in the second-half (2-8 to 1-4) and facing the drop themselves but Cathal Bambury’s 57th minute free saved them as it ensured a 2-15 to 2-14 success. O’Rahillys then found themselves in a three-way tie with Gneeveguilla (who lost by 0-17 to 1-7 away to Spa) and Kilcummin, the latter wriggling free from the drop with a winning point from new recruit Mikey Casey away to Rathmore. that gave Kilcummin a 1-20 to 2-16 win on a day when former Kerry panelist Kevin McCarthy returned to the their ranks.

The result relegated Rathmore there and then but Kilcummin, Gneeveguilla and O’Rahillys found themselves tied on 10 points. With the decision to remove playoffs to settle matters this year and go with head-to-head results instead, Kilcummin and Gneeveguilla both stayed up on account of defeating Strand Road earlier in the campaign. Beaufort were the third side to go down from Division 1.

Heading up from Division 2 to replace them are champions Laune Rangers, their fellow Mid Kerry club Glenbeigh/Glencar and Templenoe, the latter pair emerging from the three way-tie for second place.

John Mitchels missed out marginally on 'goals scored' to Glenbeigh/Glencar as they had lost to Templenoe earlier in the year with their final game against Milltown/Castlemaine resulting in a 4-15 to 1-18 victory. Glenbeigh/Glencar were 2-15 to 1-11 winners over Keel as Templenoe returned to Division 1 courtesy of a 2-16 to 1-13 win over All-Ireland Club JFC winners Ballymacelligott. 

At the bottom, Keel’s and Milltown/Castlemaine’s defeats relegated both of them, An Ghaeltacht surviving ahead of Milltown/Castlemaine on head-to-head result after they defeated Laune Rangers away by 1-14 to 1-10. Caherciveen's St Marys were the other side relegated to Division 3 off the back of a 0-18 to 3-5 defeat to Firies.

In Division 3 Churchill claimed the third promotion spot after winners Listry and Na Gaeil had been promoted in the previous round, the St Brendans club defeating Duagh by 2-23 to 1-14. Due to clashes with the staging of the County SHC, the remaining games that will decide the relegation battle will be played at a later date.

In Division 4 while Beale, Reenard and Brosna were already confirmed as the three promoted sides in the previous round, Beale were confirmed as winners following a 2-10 to 1-13 draw away to St Michaels/Foilmore. At the bottom, Cromane and Waterville were relegated alongside Dr Crokes B as Cromane lost in Cordal, 2-18 to 1-12 while Waterville lost to fellow South Kerry side Sneem/Derrynane by 1-17 to 0-15.

In Division 5, a 1-10 to 0-13 draw between the B sides of Kenmare Shamrocks and Laune Rangers saw both go in opposite directions for 2027, Shamrocks B claiming the third promotion spot besides winners Knocknagoshel and Lispole as Laune Rangers B will join Ballyduff and Valentia in Division 6 next year.

Ballylongford, Glenflesk B and Austin Stacks B will be moving back to Division 5 next year as the promoted sides from Division 6 as Dr Crokes C and Asdee were already relegated prior to the final round.

Division 7 saw An Ghaeltacht B and John Mitchels B promoted for next year while Spa B won the Shield section in the same division.