Watch and read: Éamonn Fitzmaurice helps guide Finuge to first Kerry junior title in 22 yearsJamie Galvin points Finuge to victory over Knocknagoshel Sun, 13 Sep, 2026 – 15:01Diarmuid Kearney, Austin Stack Park
Kerry JFC final: Finuge 0-13 Knocknagoshel 0-12
A heroic late score from Jamie Galvin sent Finuge into raptures as they captured their first Kerry Petroleum Junior Club Championship title since 2004 with a pulsating one-point victory over Knocknagoshel at Austin Stack Park.
In a final that ebbed and flowed throughout, the sides were level on no fewer than eight occasions before Galvin emerged as the Finuge hero, firing over the decisive score in the 57th minute.
Managed by Raymond Galvin, who lined out in 2004 when they last won this competition, and with former Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice in the backroom team, they had plenty of encouragement on the sideline, as they ended their long awaited search for a Junior title. And the underdogs needed to dig deep in a game of numerous narrative swings.
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Finuge made the brighter start. Ivan Conway almost found the net after four minutes, hitting the side netting while being fouled, with Galvin converting the resulting free. Darragh Conway doubled their advantage moments later.
Knocknagoshel responded through Cathal McElligott before Edmond Walsh announced himself with a magnificent two point free from 50 metres to edge Knock in front by a point in the 16th minute.
Shane Conway levelled after excellent work by Ricky Heffernan, while Gavin O’Keeffe’s two point free swung the advantage back Finuge’s way. Walsh answered with another superb two pointer, this time off the outside of his left boot, before Conor Cahill registered Knocknagoshel’s first score from play in the 25th minute.
Ivan Conway’s point on the stroke of half-time ensured the sides went in deadlocked at 0-6 apiece. The tension only increased after the restart. John Bell produced an electrifying two point score to put Knock 0-8 to 0-6 ahead after five minutes, but Darragh Conway and inspirational Finuge captain Heffernan quickly restored parity.
Heffernan then nudged Finuge ahead, only for Michael Walsh to level once more. O’Keeffe and Bell traded scores, with Bell’s crucial two pointer putting Knock back in front at 0-11 to 0-10 in the 48th minute.
O’Keeffe levelled again before Knock player/manager Shane O’Connell fisted over in the 52nd minute to leave his side tantalisingly close to glory. Finuge however, refused to yield.
Ivan Conway restored parity at 0-12 apiece with six minutes remaining, setting up a nerve shredding finale.
Then came the moment Finuge had waited 22 years for. With three minutes remaining, Galvin took responsibility and split the posts to edge Finuge ahead by the minimum.
This time there was no Knocknagoshel response.
The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations as Finuge finally reclaimed the Junior Club Championship crown, Galvin’s late intervention writing his name into the club’s history after a final worthy of the occasion.
Match footage via Clubber TV
Scorers for Finuge: G O’Keeffe 0-4 (1tpf, 1f), R Heffernan, I Conway, D Conway, J Galvin (1f) 0-2 each, S Conway 0-1
Scorers for Knocknagoshel: E Walsh (2tpf), J Bell (2tp) 0-4 each, C McElligott (M), C Cahill, M Walsh, S O’Connell 0-1 each Teams:
FINUGE: K Mackessy; G Stackpoole, G O’Sullivan, J McKenna; A O’Brien, R Heffernan, G O’Keeffe; C O’Keeffe, E Stack; A Shanahan, S Conway, D Conway, L O’Brien, J Galvin, I Conway
Subs: D O’Sullivan for L O’Brien (35), A Mahony for G O’Sullivan (47), M MCElligott for G Stackpoole (51), D McCarthy for R Heffernan (60)
KNOCKNAGOSHEL: M Casey; E McSweeney, J Bell, J Walsh; M Walsh, J McElligott, C Sheehan; S O’Connell, J Brosnan; J Walsh, C McElligott, J Bell; C Cahill, E Walsh, C Mangan
Subs: B O’Rahilly for C Sheehan (48)
Referee: E Walsh (Rathmore)
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