The League of Ireland will see a new team added for the 2023 season, with Kerry FC set to enter the First Division ranks for the first time.
They will be a welcome addition.
Football in Munster has taken somewhat of a battering over the last few years, with no clubs from the province featuring in the top flight in 2022. As well as that, we have seen Limerick go out of business.
Things now look to be on the up. Cork City secured their return to Premier Division for next season, and while Waterford fell short in the play-offs, Treaty United also put together another impressive campaign during their second foray in the league.
It will be interesting to see how Kerry get on in the year ahead. They have been building towards a League of Ireland berth for quite some time, with the Kerry District League underage teams having been part of the national divisions since 2016.
Now under the umbrella of 'Kerry FC' at senior level, it looks like they will be depending heavily on local talent during their debut campaign.
Kerry FC set to become the Athletic Bilbao of the League of Ireland
With the League of Ireland First Division set to kick-off next month, Kerry FC have been announcing the signing of some first team players in recent weeks.
One noticeable trend has been developing: they all hail from The Kingdom.
Sean Kennedy became the third player to join the club, with his signing being announced this morning.
WELCOME HOME SEAN KENNEDY!
The former Sunderland and @CorkCityFC winger will take to the Mounthawk Park pitch in the green of Kerry for the 2023 @LeagueofIreland First Division season pic.twitter.com/4TaljtpQfp— Kerry Football Club (@KerryFC) January 9, 2023
Kennedy spent some time in the Sunderland academy, before returning to Ireland and signing for Cork City.
He will be joined at the club by Matt Keane and Sean McGrath, two more Kerry natives that signed on the dotted line just before Christmas.
Killarney native Keane was recently at Treaty United, while McGrath joined from Cobh Ramblers having previously come through the Kerry youth sides.
While they are only three players into forming their squad, Kerry FC are quickly becoming the Athletic Bilbao of the League of Ireland.
The La Liga club have employed a policy of only using players with strong links to the Basque region, meaning they do not sign anyone who lacks that heritage and depend heavily on their youth academy as a result.
It is unlikely that Kerry FC will be able to fill their squad solely with players from within the county, but it is encouraging to see them make the most of local resources ahead of their maiden campaign in the League of Ireland.
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