The Cork-Kerry rivalry is a Gaelic football rivalry between Irish county teams Cork and Kerry, who first played each other in 1889. It is considered to be one of the biggest rivalries in Gaelic games. Cork's home ground is Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Kerry's home ground is Fitzgerald Stadium, however, some of their championship meetings have been held at neutral venues, usually Croke Park. While Kerry have the highest number of Munster titles and Cork are ranked second on the roll of honour, they have also enjoyed success in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, having won 44 championship titles between them to date. Regarded as, possibly, the greatest rivalry of all in Gaelic football, a Munster final between Cork and Kerry, is regarded as a special occasion. As of 2024 the sides have met 123 times in the championship including meeting twice at the All-Ireland final stage. Kerry won both of these games.

Roots

History

The Cork-Kerry rivalry can lay claim to be the greatest rivalry in Gaelic football. As the nearest of neighbours these two teams are also the fiercest of rivals. In spite of an almost annual meeting in the Munster Senior Football Championship, interest in the clash of these two teams has endured over the last 120 years. Kerry are the most successful team in the history of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, leading the all-time roll of honour with thirty-five titles. Cork, in comparison, have only won seven All-Ireland titles. The rivalry began in 1889 when these two sides met in the championship for the first time. Cork dominated the first decade, before Kerry found their niche. A brief resurgence by Cork in the early years of the new century was followed by an unprecedented era of dominance by Kerry. Between 1909 and 1943 Cork faced Kerry on sixteen different occasions and, unfortunately, they faced defeat in all of these games. The 1940s saw Cork flourish for a brief period, before Kerry asserted their dominance once again. Cork only claimed two victories over Kerry in the 1950s and 1960s, however, the rivalry intensified to unprecedented levels in the 1970s and 1980s. The early part of the 1970s saw Cork win three Munster titles in four years. After winning the All-Ireland title in 1973 the county looked set for a few more years of dominance. Kerry, however, bounced back with what has been described as the greatest team of all-time. Kerry won twelve Munster titles between 1975 and 1986, defeating Cork on each occasion. Cork's lone victory came in the 1983 provincial decider when they stopped Kerry from claiming a record nine-in-a-row. In 1987 Cork broke the Kerry stranglehold at last and made hay while their biggest rivals were going through a transition. Over the next nine years they won seven Munster titles and two All-Ireland titles. The introduction of the qualifiers system in 2001 saw the launch of the Cork-Kerry rivalry on the national stage at Croke Park. Although Cork have defeated Kerry in the provincial series of games on a number of occasions, Kerry have proved themselves to be the masters in the All-Ireland series, particularly in 2007 when Kerry trounced Cork in a unique all-Munster All-Ireland final. Usually games are held in rotation on home soil between 2015 and 2017 played 3 times running at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney due to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork been renovated. Between 2018 and 2020 meet 3 times running in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork as to even out games. Very rare if the teams meet in unusual side of the draw was a Munster Quarter-final the teams usually meet in either a Munster Semi-final or Final. Only once since 1946 in 1992 they meet at the Quarter-final stage of the Munster championship the year Clare won the Munster title.

Statistics

Notable moments

All-time results

Legend

Senior

Records

Scorelines