East Kerry continued their dominance of the Kerry County Championship over the weekend, with the divisional side winning their fourth title in five years after a 2-10 to 0-15 victory over Mid Kerry in the final at Austin Park in Tralee.
With this being the third meeting of these two sides in the final of this competition in recent years, it was always likely to be a tense affair. That turned out to be the case, with the only really sparking into life on the back of a Paudie Clifford goal near the end of the first half.
#GAABEO 27 nóim
Ciarraí Láir 0-04@EastKerryGAA 1-04
Cúl do Ciarraí Thoir! - Paudie Clifford leis an gcríoch!
Paudie Clifford with a huge goal for his side as we approach the break!@Kerry_Official
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/6djoJc9lgj— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) November 5, 2023
That would be a key moment in the game.
Mid Kerry had more of the scoring opportunities, but they were wasteful in front of goal. In contrast, East Kerry made the most of their chances as they ultimately emerged as one-point winners.
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Paudie Clifford on potential divisional teams change in Kerry
As mentioned above, this is the third time in recent seasons that these two sides have met in the final. With that in mind, and on the back of Kerin O'Rahillys being relegated less than a year on from winning a Munster title, some have questioned the status of the divisional sides in the Kerry Senior Football Championship.
Na Gaeil manager Paul Fitzmaurice was among those to wonder about the special treatment given to such teams within the county.
Some feel that it is unfair that divisional sides occupy eight of the 16 places in the competition, especially when some of those teams have performed poorly in recent times. They are also not eligible to be relegated, meaning that relegation is a real possibility for each of the standalone senior clubs in the county if they perform poorly on a couple of occasions.
Even those who have experienced success as part of divisional teams are wondering if changes should be made.
Paudie Clifford captained East Kerry to victory on Sunday, and while he wants to see divisional teams continue in the competition, he asked when speaking on TG4 if some sort of qualification system should be put in place for those sides.
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"It's no easy feat to win a county championship in Kerry"
Labhair Paudie Clifford linn i ndiaidh an cluiche.@EastKerryGAA | @Kerry_Official
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/K4eCNhCENL— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) November 5, 2023
I always think there's a place for divisional teams.
There could obviously be more senior teams in Kerry, there's no doubt about that. You can only have 16 and then there will be eight divisional teams, so maybe you could do what they do in Cork, where they (the divisional teams) play off or whatever.
But look, there is always a place for divisional teams in Kerry football and in the Kerry County Championship.
This is an interesting take, with a similar system in place in Cork to decide which of that county's divisional teams will take part in the senior championship.
Paudie Clifford would go on to reassert his belief about the future of divisional teams when speaking on RTÉ's Sunday Sport:
It's been very helpful for may a Kerry player for a long time, the divisional teams. There is definitely a place for divisional teams.
Look at the effort that us and Mid Kerry put in over the last seven or eight weeks. If you went to any training session you would definitely say that there is a place for divisional teams in Kerry football.
Of course, East Kerry may not be the force they have been in 2024 if results in other competitions go a certain way over the coming weeks.
They could be forced to play without Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, and their other Fossa representatives next year if that club can win the Kerry Intermediate Championship later this month.
That would certainly go a long way towards readdressing the balance of power within the county.
SEE ALSO: Kerry Selector Suggests Intriguing Rule Change To Save Dying Gaelic Football
