Killarney RFC

Killarney's earliest recorded links with rugby date back to the 1800s, notable players of the era were Jack McKay and MacGillycuddy of the Reeks. [1]Early matches were played in the Cricket Field, a piece of ground on the northern banks of the Flesk opposite the Gleneagle piton and putt course. The earliest recorded game is detailed in the archives of Laune Rangers GAA, which recounts a match between Killarney and Killorglin in January 1888 . This was not a one-off as there are newspaper reports the following year of a match between Tralee and Killarney on Thursday, 17 January 1889. The score was one try a piece.[2]

Whilst there are no records of an official club being founded before this time, there are reports of a "large and enthusiastic public meeting" being held on 22 November 1898 to revive Killarney Rugby Football Club.[3] According to records from the time this meeting got a great response and within a couple of months rugby was once again flourishing in Killarney.

In 1928 that Killarney RFC was again reformed after an interested group managed to secure a playing field at Countess Road from the Earl of Kenmare. The club was founded at a meeting in the Commercial Club, New St., Killarney on 28 April 1928. At the time the club had players who had senior experience with clubs such as Cork Constitution, Dolphin, Sunday's Well and U.C.C. They enjoyed relative success for a number of years but by the mid 1930s things began to decline. Initially emigration and then the Emergency resulted in the club ceasing to function. However a number of locals did form a team in 1941 and won the Galwey-Foley Cup beating Castleisland in the Final. It was almost 20 years before the club was re-established again.

The club was established again in time for the 1953/54 season and almost immediately enjoyed success which continued right up to the 1970s. The club won both the McGillycuddy Cup and Galwey-Foley Cup in both 1954/55 and 1955/56 and also reached the semi-finals of the Munster Junior Cup in 1955/56. Also that season Welsh side Aberavon visited and played Killarney. The following year they lost the Cork County Cup Final to Cobh Pirates but became the first Kerry side to tour ‘overseas’ when they travelled to Wales to play Port Talbot and Margan.

Killarney won the Aberavon Shield in 1957/58 and the following season they were involved in an epic Galwey-Foley Cup Final encounter with their neighbours and great rivals Castleisland. The sides could not be separated after three matches including extra-time. The club won the Hayes Cup in 1959/60 and again in 1961/62. The club continued to have success until it was wound up in the early 1970s.

It was then in 1983 that the club was re-established yet again with Seán O’Sullivan becoming Club Secretary just as he did 30 years before. Junior Finnegan (later a club President) was appointed coach; Liam McGuirewas elected treasurer and Conor O’Mahony as captain. The players who joined up included the Fullers (Mike, John, and Declan), the Sullivans (Kevin, Dee and Ben), Seamus Kelly, Pete O’Sullivan, John Dermody, John O’Connor, Dave Whitby, Dan McSweeney, Mike Sheehan, Ger O’Leary, Mike McGuire and the officers mentioned above. Early results were encouraging and while the successes of the 1950s didn't happen the club still won the Munster Junior 3 Cup in 1985. Those involved were determined to keep the club going and indeed many of those mentioned above are still actively involved in the club today.

The club struggled for success in recent times largely languishing in the bottom half of Division 3 of the Munster Junior League. However the arrival of Bill Stack as coach in 2008 who forged a strong partnership with then manager Luke O'Sullivan led to an improvement in the club's fortunes though not immediately. The Division was split in two for the 2008/09 season and when Killarney lost their first 4 league games it looked like being a disaster. However they then went on to win 7 games in a row to put themselves into contention for promotion with their final game away to their great rivals Castleisland, being played under lights at Crageens. Killarney needed to win to move into 2nd place and led 18-14 when the game moved into injury time. A further 13 minutes were played during which Castleisland scored a breakaway try. A long range penalty (the last kick of the game) was missed for Killarney and the dream was over. Highlight of that season was undoubtedly the 13-12 win over Shannon in the Munster Junior Plate, with an injury time penalty being the winning score.[4] They also reached the semi-final of the Martin O’Sullivan Cup losing out to Waterford City.[5]

The 2009/10 season saw the club fulfill a long term ambition in gaining promotion to Division 2 of the Munster Junior League. The effort put in by both players and management paid off in a dramatic season finale, as they won the promotion play-off over Charleville 21-20 with an injury time penalty.[6] Fielding a 2nd XV for the season for the first time was a huge boost for the club and the panel of players has now grown considerably.

Off the field the club acquired land to become the club's permanent home with plans to build two full size pitches, an all-weather pitch and ancillary facilities. Unfortunately the project had to be shelved as planning couldn't be obtained.[7]

However, during the 2010/11 season the club acquired new property at Aghadoe, 3 km north of the town. Work commenced in 2012 and the club opened the new Aghadoe grounds in September 2016. 2010-11 was a successful year for the club who finished in the top half of Division 2 in their first season, and then went on to win their first major provincial trophy by beating Newport in the Final of the Munster Junior Plate.[8]

Killarney has three Irish Internationals over the years. Dr. William O’Sullivan became the first Killarney man to represent Ireland at International level when he earned his first cap against Scotland in 1895. The next Killarney man to don the green of Ireland was Jerome Guerin in 1913. Ironically he made his debut against France, the country where he lost his life during the Great War. In 1931, James Egan became the third Killarney man to be capped. [9]

See also: Killarney RFC historical results