'That is non-negotiable': Killarney Celtic target positive start to FAI National league against UCC

GAME ON: Killarney Celtic's Matt Keane and assistant manager Tim Jones during the 2026 FAI National League Season launch. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

The Cork City and Kerry FC rivalry continues to grow and grow, but now the battle between the two counties is reaching a more local level although still on the FAI football pyramid.

The FAI's National League got underway last weekend, and it has already produced a number of entertaining storylines, including former Paraguay international Milton Rodrigo Benitez Liero being an unused substitute in Newbridge’s loss to CK United.

But now it’s the turn of the sole representatives of the Kingdom and the Rebels to embark on their new journey in this 15-club third tier of Irish football as Killarney Celtic host UCC Soccer at Celtic Park on Saturday (kick-off is at 2pm).

“It’s obviously a very proud moment to be going into the National League now with Killarney Celtic,” said their captain Matt Keane, who was also Kerry FC’s inaugural captain when they joined the League of Ireland.

“A club I’ve played with since I was a child and even have my own family and kids playing with them today. It’s going to be very, very exciting. A very proud moment to be representing Killarney Celtic on a national level.

“It (playing in a National League) probably seemed a long way away. I suppose with the facilities and stuff that Killarney have, and the team that we’ve had over the last number of years, it’s something that the club is prepared for and ready for now.

“We were pushing for this the last couple of years. We’ve won the (Kerry District) league the last eight years in a row, and I think it was starting to go a small bit stale for the group.

“It’s obviously hard to keep going all the time when we were winning the league every year, and everyone in the group really wanted a new challenge, and I think this was it.

“We looked at maybe going to Munster Senior League and different things like that, but again, you’re standing at the bottom there.

“I just think for us, as a senior player, and for Killarney Celtic as a club, this was the logical next step, to really push on as a club and to really push on as a team.

“It was now or never for us to take the next step. It’s going to be a brilliant occasion Saturday. I think everyone in the club is buzzing for it.”

While Keane will lead the side on the pitch, Brian Spillane will be the main man in the dugout after returning to the club he left in 2022 on the back of four consecutive league titles.

“The last few years was maybe a bit too easy for the boys, so I’m delighted to come back in again. They need that lift, they need that competition, and it’s fantastic to see them striving for it,” said Spillane.

“You want to play at the highest level possible, so we are delighted to get this opportunity.

“The minute Celtic rang to offer me the position the first thing I did was ring players, I must have rang 120 players!

“This is an opportunity and the players are delighted, they want to play at the highest level possible, and Celtic are giving them this opportunity.

“We’ve set our targets; we want to be unbeaten at home. Our first two games are at home so that is non-negotiable.”