Feale Rangers GAA

History

Feale Rangers were founded in 1956 as a divisional side to represent North Kerry clubs in the Kerry Senior Football Championship of that year after two earlier sides, North Kerry and Shannon Rangers joined forces. The team reached its first County Final in 1959 which they lost to John Mitchels after a replay. Their next final appearance was in 1962 and again they lost to John Mitchels in a replay. The following year Rangers would lose to John Mitchels yet again in the Championship, this time at the semi-final stage.

In 1964 Listowel Emmets, Moyvane and Tarbert left Feale Rangers and formed a new team called St. Vincents. The remaining clubs then reformed Shannon Rangers and both teams competed in the 1964 Kerry Senior Football Championship with Shannon Rangers winning the title. St. Vincents had little success in the County Championship and in 1971 its three clubs were joined by Ballydonoghue, Clounmacon, Duagh, Finuge, Knockanure and St. Senan's and Feale Rangers were reformed. The following year Ballydonoghue returned to Shannon Rangers with Tarbert subsequently joining them later. Both sides were to switch allegiance again and rejoined Feale Rangers prior to the 1977 Kerry Senior Football Championship. They reached the final that year after a gap of 15 years, but lost to their neighbours and rivals Shannon Rangers.

Feale Rangers would meet Shannon Rangers again in the 1978 Kerry Senior Football Championship, this time at the semi-final stage and defeated them to reach the final again. In the final they defeated Mid Kerry 8pts to 3, to win the Championship for the first time in their history. Two years later Rangers were back in the Championship final having defeated Mid Kerry again, this time in the semi-final. In the final they defeated Austin Stacks 1–10 to 1–07. They reached the final again in 1982, 1983 and 1985, but lost all three.

By the time Feale Rangers reached the Championship final again, both Ballydonoghue and Tarbert had returned to Shannon Rangers, leaving them with the current member clubs. That final was in 1999 and ended in defeat for the Fealesiders. In 2007 Feale Rangers won their third Kerry Senior Football Championship title, defeating South Kerry 1–04 to 0–06. It was Rangers last appearance in the Senior Football Championship decider, with their best performances since being semi-final appearances in 2009, 2013 and 2022.

Member Clubs

The team is selected from the following clubs:

• [[File:Colours of Kilkenny.svg|20px|border]] Clounmacon
• [[File:Flag_of_Rome.svg|20px|border]] Duagh
• [[File:Colours of Kerry.svg|20px|border]] Finuge
• [[File:Colours of Cavan.svg|20px|border]] Knockanure
• [[File:Colours of Kilkenny.svg|20px|border]] Listowel Emmets
• [[File:Colours of Kerry.svg|20px|border]] Moyvane
• [[File:Colours of Tipperary.svg|20px|border]] St Senan's

Honours

• Kerry Senior Football Championship Winners:(3) 1978, 1980, 2007 Runners-Up:(7) 1959, 1962, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1999

• Kerry Minor Football Championship Winners:(3) 1978, 1979, 1983 Runners-Up:(2) 1971, 1995

• Kerry Under-21 Football Championship Winners:(2) 1997, 1998 Runners-Up:(1) 2019

Divisional competitions

• North Kerry Senior Football Championship

Notable players

• Eamonn Breen
• Johnny Bunyan
• Pat Corridan
• Conor Cox
• Jimmy Deenihan
• Éamonn Fitzmaurice
• Paul Galvin
• Brendan Guiney
• Noel Kennelly
• Tadhg Kennelly
• Tim Kennelly
• Anthony Maher
• Garry McMahon
• Bernie O'Callaghan
• Stephen Stack

References

References

1. (30 August 2019). "Three time winners Feale Rangers are out of the Senior Football Championship".
2. "NKFB History – Feale Rangers".
3. "John 'Thorny' O'Shea – RIP".
4. (April 2014). "Laune Rangers GAA – 1962".
5. (25 August 2010). "Shannon Rangers 1964". Irish Independent.
6. "NKFB Feale Rangers".
7. (13 October 2010). "Shannon Rangers 1972 and 1977". Irish Independent.
8. "NKFB – Did you know?".
9. (9 October 2003). "Feale Rangers legends to be honoured". Irish Independent.
10. (10 January 2011). "South Kerry 1982".
11. (19 February 2021). "A glorious memory when town rivals teamed up - and won".
12. (17 June 2014). "Laune Rangers GAA – 1985".
13. (25 October 1999). "East Kerry 0-10, Feale Rangers 1-6". The Irish Times.
14. (12 November 2007). "Rangers savour that special feeling". Irish Examiner.
15. (19 October 2009). "Crokes and South Kerry in decider". The Irish Times.
16. (7 October 2013). "Donaghy leads rout for Austin Stacks". The Irish Times.
17. (15 October 2022). "Feale Rangers feel the force of impressive Mid Kerry who are back in county SFC final". Irish Independent.