Austin Stacks have found themselves in relegation trouble following the conclusion of the group stages in the Kerry Senior Club Football Championship.
Stacks - who are both the three-in-a-row Kerry senior club champions and reigning county champions - finished bottom of Group B in the Senior Club Championship.
On Sunday, they lost 1-13 to 0-11 to Dr Crokes, adding to a seven-point loss to Templenoe in the opening round. In between, they had defeated Kerins O'Rahillys by a point in a Tralee derby.
Stacks are set to face Kenmare Shamrocks in the relegation final. The club of All-Ireland winners Seanie O'Shea and Stephen O'Brien finished bottom of Group A following a one-point loss to Dingle at the weekend. In their other games, they had lost to Na Gaeil by a point and drawn with Spa.
5 December 2021; Austin Stacks captain Dylan Casey, centre, and teammates, from left, Shane O'Callaghan, Gearoid Fitzgerald and Barry Shanahan celebrate with the Bishop Moynihan Cup after the Kerry County Senior Football Championship Final match between Austin Stacks and Kerins O'Rahilly's at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The relegation playoff will not be played until both sides are knocked out of the Kerry Senior Football Championship (a separate competition which features the divisional teams along with the eight senior clubs).
However, should either of Austin Stacks or Kenmare qualify for the Kerry SFC final, the other team in the relegation playoff will drop to intermediate level.
Should both Austin Stacks and Kenmare reach the Kerry SFC final, then Dr Crokes and Na Gaeil - the third-placed teams in the Senior Club Championship groups - would face off in the relegation playoff.
Last season, Killarney Legion were relegated to intermediate level in Kerry following defeat to town rivals Dr Crokes in a playoff.
In the Kerry senior club semi-finals - which are being played this Saturday - Spa face Kerins O'Rahillys, while Templenoe play Dingle.
Disappointing result for us today. Here’s how the Group finished:
1. Templenoe (5 pts)
2. Rahillys (3 pts)
3. Dr Crokes (2 pts)
4. Stacks (2 pts).
We will now face Kenmare in a playoff to retain our Senior Club Status. This Game to be played after Co Championship concludes.— AustinStacksGAA (@AustinStacksGAA) August 21, 2022
Picture credit: Sportsfile
See Also: 'Stampede' For David Clifford In Kerry Captures Beauty Of The Split Season
