Major boost to women’s football in the Kingdom as Kerry FC introduce a Women’s Under 19 League of Ireland team for 2026.
Kerry Football Club is delighted to announce that we are extending our Academy structure by adding a 6th Kerry FC team from the 2026 season. The Kingdom have been granted a license to enter a second women’s team into the EA Sports League of Ireland Academy, adding to the club’s current women’s team at under 17 level as well as our 4 men’s underage sides at Under 14, 15, 17 and 20.
Kerry FC introduced the first women’s League of Ireland team in late 2023, with the club’s Women’s Under 17 side entering the EA Sports League of Ireland Academy in 2024. It was an impressive inaugural season, with the Kingdom finishing 2nd in the league phase, an excellent achievement. The team has grown from strength to strength under the fantastic guidance of all the coaching staff.
It’s another major step in the club’s future plans, and the development of women’s football in Kerry has taken another huge step forward. Expressions of interest for our Women’s Under 19 side will open soon, and we look forward to continuing the future growth of Women’s football in the Kingdom at League of Ireland level.
Speaking on the announcement, Kerry Football Club CEO Billy Dennehy said, “It gives us great pride to introduce a women’s under-19 team here at Kerry Football Club for the 2026 season. It has always been on our strategic vision to further develop the game for both the girls and boys of Kerry and the wider region. We hope adding a sixth team to the Kerry FC Academy plays a part in giving the players an option to continue the player pathway from the exceptional work that grassroots clubs provide into the League of Ireland Academy, where players can strive to compete at the highest level for their specific age groups. We are all looking forward to what’s to come from all these talented players in 2026. Up the Kingdom”
