Kerry Set Sights on Senior Glory
There is a particular kind of hunger that comes from falling one step short. Kerry Boston GFC know that feeling all too well. A near-perfect 2025 campaign — just two defeats across the entire season — ended at the semi-final stage, and the desire to go one better has been fuelling preparations ever since.
In 2026, Kerry are ready to make their case for the Senior Championship title.
The ambition in the camp is clear. As the club heads into the new season: “We have strong ambitions to continue building upon the hard work the club has done in the past 8 years to build up from Junior B to hopefully getting across the line and winning the senior championship.”
Eight years of graft. Eight years of climbing through the grades. The summit is in sight — and this squad believes 2026 is the year to reach it.
Management: Experience at the Helm
Leading Kerry into battle this season is Manager Timmy O’Neill, a familiar and trusted name within the club, joined on the sideline by Selectors Mossie Murphy and Mike Doherty. Between them, this management team brings a deep understanding of what it takes to compete at the top of Boston GAA — and the experience to get Kerry over the line when it matters most.
Pat O’Brien Cup Final: A Strong Start
Before a ball is kicked in the Senior Football Championship, Kerry have a fine early opportunity this weekend in the shape of the Pat O’Brien Cup Final against longtime rivals Donegal— a great occasion to build momentum and set the tone for the season ahead.
It promises to be a competitive and entertaining final, and a strong performance here would be an ideal platform for everything that follows.
Looking Back: The 2025 Season
Last year’s campaign gave Kerry supporters plenty to cheer about — and a little to agonise over.
Kerry showed their firepower in a dramatic June draw with Aidan McAnespies, coming back from 12 points down at half-time to level at 3-17 to 4-14 in a stunning second-half display. Joe Cooper was the hero of that comeback, scoring two goals in the final minutes to snatch a share of the spoils after Rob Stack had also put in a huge shift with 1-9 on the day.
Later in the season, Kerry pushed Shannon Blues all the way to a thrilling draw, with Stack again instrumental and Luke Breathnach and Jim Lynch also contributing — a tense, gutsy display that showed Kerry’s ability to grind out results in close games.
The semi-final exit was a tough one to take. Kerry showed plenty in patches throughout the season, and the character displayed across the campaign — particularly in those comeback moments — bodes well for what this group can do in 2026 with a full panel available.
The Returning Faithful
Every strong squad is built on a core, and Kerry’s is no different. Among those back pulling on the green and gold in 2026 are some names that will bring a smile to any Kerry supporter’s face.
Joe Cooper returns after a late-season injury cut his 2025 campaign short — his electrifying performances last summer, including that match-winning two-goal burst against McAnespies, showed what a difference-maker he is when fit and firing. Rob Stack remains one of the most consistent scorers in the division, while club stalwart John Cooper continues to anchor the side with the experience and leadership central to Kerry’s rise through the grades. The tireless Walter Hallyis back too, bringing his trademark energy and commitment across the field.
New Blood: A Squad Built to Compete
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Kerry’s 2026 preparations has been the volume and quality of new signings. The club has pulled in talent from both sides of the Atlantic, and the depth of this panel looks stronger than ever.
From Kerry, Ireland, four new arrivals bring fresh legs and top-level club football experience:
- Adam Hegarty — St Pats Blennerville
- Tomás Ó hAiniféin — Abbeydorney
- Matthew Flaherty — Dingle
- Stephen Palmer — Firies
From Cork, Ireland, another welcome addition to the panel:
- Kevin Cooper — Éire Óg, Cork
From the Boston scene, Kerry have also added several players with good experience of Northeast GAA:
- Robbie Croft — Aidan McAnespies
- John O’Riordan — Cork Boston
- Dylan Murtagh — Wolfe Tones
- Mikey Kerr — Wolfe Tones
- Conor Leahy — St Brendan’s
It is an encouraging set of additions that bolsters the depth of the panel heading into what promises to be a competitive season. With new faces arriving from both Ireland and Boston, the squad has the blend of fresh talent and local experience to make a real push this summer.
The Championship Campaign Ahead
Kerry will line out in the Men’s Senior Football Championship (MSFC) across a demanding league schedule running from late May through to late July. The road to the semi-finals — scheduled for the weekends of 2nd and 9th August — will be long, competitive, and unforgiving.
Men’s Senior Football Championship Fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 31 May | Donegal v Kerry | 17:00 | Field A, Canton |
| Sun 7 Jun | Shannon Blues v Kerry | 17:00 | Field A, Canton |
| Sat 27 Jun | Kerry v Aidan McAnespies | 15:30 | Field A, Canton |
| Sun 5 Jul | Kerry v Galway | 15:30 | Field A, Canton |
| Sun 19 Jul | Kerry v Connemara Gaels | 15:30 | Field A, Canton |
| Sun 26 Jul | Donegal v Kerry | 17:00 | Field A, Canton |
The fixture list is a demanding one. Shannon Blues, McAnespies, Galway, Connemara Gaels, and Donegal will all bring their own ambitions to Canton, and there will be no easy afternoons across the summer. Kerry will need to be at their best week in, week out if they are to reach the semi-finals in the shape they want.
Galway in particular arrive as a side with serious pedigree after reaching last year’s Senior Final, while McAnespies — familiar opponents for Kerry — will be looking to improve on their own semi-final exit. Every game matters from the first whistle.
Junior B: Growing the Panel
Alongside the senior campaign, Kerry will also field a side in the Men’s Junior B Football Championship (MJBFC), providing vital game time across the full panel and continuing to develop the next generation of Kerry Boston footballers.
Men’s Junior B Football Championship Fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 6 Jun | Aidan McAnespies v Kerry | 17:00 | Field B, Canton |
| Wed 17 Jun | Shannon Blues v Kerry | 18:00 | Field B, Canton |
| Sat 27 Jun | Donegal v Kerry | 14:00 | Field B, Canton |
| Sat 11 Jul | Kerry v Connemara Gaels | 18:00 | Field B, Canton |
| Sat 18 Jul | Kerry v Trinity | 16:30 | Field B, Canton |
A Club Built Over Eight Years
Founded in 1888, Kerry Boston GFC is one of the oldest Gaelic football clubs in Boston — a proud standard-bearer for the Kingdom on American soil. The club trains in North Quincy and competes in the Northeastern Division of the USGAA, with all home matches played at the Irish Cultural Center of New England in Canton.
But the story of the modern Kerry Boston is one of patient, hard-won progress. Eight years ago, the club were competing at Junior B level. Step by step, season by season, through the grades they climbed — Junior B, Junior A, Intermediate, and now Senior. Back-to-back Intermediate Championships — a perfect, unbeaten season in 2022, and another title in 2024 — stand as the crowning moments of that journey so far. The 2025 season, for all its frustration, confirmed they belong at the top table.
Now, with arguably the most exciting squad in recent memory, a management team that knows how to win, and a real belief in the camp, everything is pointing toward what could be a memorable summer for the green and q
All that remains is to go out and do it.
Come Out and Support Kerry
All matches are played at the Irish Cultural Center of New England, 200 New Boston Drive, Canton, MA 02021. Admission is $10 on the gate, and with several matches on any given weekend, it is a brilliant day out for supporters, families, and the wider Irish community alike.
The 2026 season kicks off in earnest on Sunday 31st May. Get out to Canton, make some noise, and let’s bring that championship home.
Labhair Gaeilge. Imirt le hÁthas. Buaigh le Ciarraí. (Speak Irish. Play with Joy. Win with Kerry.)
New to the club or looking to get involved? Visit kerrybostongfc.com or reach out through the club’s social media channels. New members — all abilities, all backgrounds — are always welcome.
Kerry Boston GFC 