2023 Season Preview: Kerry

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Manager: Billy Dennehy

Stadium: Mounthawk Park

Transfers in: Matt Keane (Treaty United), Sean McGrath (Cobh Ramblers), Trpimir Vrljic (Killarney Celtic), Sean Kennedy, Nathan Gleeson, Junior Ankomah, Andy Quaid (Regional United), Cormac Buckley, Cian Brosnan, Nathan Gleeson, Junior Ankomah, Ryan Kelliher (Killarney Celtic), Cianan Cooney, Sean O'Connell, Ronan Teahan, Samuel Aladesanusi, Togor Silong, Wayne Guthrie, Callan Scully, Alex Ainscough, Kennedy Amechi (Cork City), Kalen Spillane, Mark Carey (Cork City), Jonathan Hannafin, Graham O'Reilly, Rob Vasiu, Kevin Williams, Aaron O'Sullivan, Steven McCarthy, Shane Guthrie.

Transfers out: N/A.

Extratime.com Key Player: Matt Keane

Joining his native Kingdom ahead of their debut League of Ireland campaign, Keane has impressed at Treaty United for the previous two seasons.

The Kerryman is Treaty’s second highest appearance holder and starred under Tommy Barrett with the Shannonsiders during his 63 games at the Market’s Field.

And having featured heavily with a newly-introduced League of Ireland side he will be looking to do the same this year.

The midfielder has been named as club captain by boss Billy Dennehy and will provide some much-needed experience to a relatively inexperienced group by First Division standards.

Extratime.com One to Watch: Sean McGrath



Joining Dennehy’s side from Cobh Ramblers, Sean McGrath has returned to Kerry and play for his now local club.

While at St Colman’s Park McGrath caught the eye under Darren Murphy and current boss Shane Keegan before opting to represent the Kingdom in their maiden First Division voyage.

The young forward played for Kerry District League at Under-15 level and has also been on the books of Limerick and Cork City.

But he played for Cobh last season and made 16 league appearances for the Rams. Nine of those appearances were starts while seven further outings came off the bench.

He could be key to any success Kerry have this season.

What to expect this season



Who knows, really.

Kerry have unveiled a 29-man squad with limited senior League of Ireland experience as they begin their debut campaign on Friday at home to Cobh.

Yes, there are some names that are familiar amongst First Division circles such as Matt Keane, Sean McGrath and Kalen Spillane (ex-Cork City) – but the majority of the group is made up of Under-19 players from the county.

Older players such as brothers Shane and Wayne Guthrie will add some steel to the group – but it will be difficult to see them contend for a play-off position.

Given the fact that Kerry are coming into a second-tier that includes three full-time teams and promotion chasing Bray Wanderers, Longford Town, Wexford and Treaty United – their task is great.

But if they manage to stay competitive and claim a few notable scalps throughout the season, that would be a job well done by Dennehy and Co. in the Kingdom during year one of their project.

First game: Cobh Ramblers, Mounthawk Park, February 17th (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

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