Our Club

Finuge is a proud rural Gaelic Football club situated in the heart of North Kerry, serving the communities of Finuge, Lixnaw and the surrounding townlands. The club has a rich history of producing many fine footballers that have represented the Finuge club, Feale Rangers division and the county of Kerry at every level within the GAA. The club’s logo encapsulates many aspects of a proud local community, heritage, culture, fauna, landscape and environment, with a motto of “Neart trí Iarracht” (Strength through Effort) reflecting the ethos of the club and as seen in many Finuge teams through the year.

History Of The Club

Finuge GAA Club, like many at the time, existed in a number of forms in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Politically the country was in flux and this was reflected socially as well. “Irremore” and “Erin’s Hope” were two early forms of Finuge GAA Club and even had a hurling team for a while.

The current Finuge Club came into existence in 1961 and during the following decades built its structures and facilities. The club has operated primarily at Junior and Intermediate grades within the county and has also put in some appearances at Senior level over time.

The North Kerry Championship is a competition that has grown in fame and notoriety throughout the years and Finuge has had its share of successes, winning it first in 1967 and again in 1987, 1996, 2001 and 2011. County Junior titles were won in 1983, 1996, 2002, 2004 and a county Intermediate title was secured in 2012.

A famous day for this proud club was being crowned All-Ireland Junior Club Champions in 2005 – only the fourth club to win this competition, at the time and the first Kerry club to do. In February 2013, Finuge made it all the way to Croke Park to contest the All Ireland Club Intermediate Final, having won the Kerry and Munster competitions.

Many Finuge players have worn the Kerry jersey in all grades of football and hurling over the decades with pride and distinction. Finuge proudly boasts having the holders of 17 All Ireland Senior medals among its ranks – Jimmy Deenihan, Paul Galvin, Éamonn Fitzmaurice, Paud O’Sullivan, Eamon Breen, Enda Galvin and Maurice Corridan. Many other players have won All-Ireland and Munster medals at various grades along with All-Star recognitions.

Finuge’s own Éamonn Fitzmaurice went on to manage the Kerry Senior Football team for six seasons, winning six Munster titles in a row. Under Éamonn’s reign, Kerry won the All-Ireland title in 2014 and the National Football League in 2017 – quite an achievement for a little rural club located in the heart of North Kerry.

The club is also the starting point and springboard for many young girls at academy level where they learn the basic skills of Gaelic Football. The girls then graduate to play competitive football with the ladies club thereafter. The Finuge GAA Club is truly at the heart of our community and a jewel we need to preserve into the future.