Dingle have finally done it. After 77 long years, the West Kerry side are county champions again. They sealed a famous 2-13 to 1-12 win over Austin Stacks at Austin Stack Park today.
Captain Paul Geaney was the hero. The veteran forward produced a stunning display, scoring 2-2 and driving his side to their first Kerry Senior Football Championship since 1948.
Geaney’s Emotional Reaction
After the final whistle, Geaney struggled to hold back the emotion.
“Some emotions lifted there when the hooter went,” he said. “I knew they couldn’t catch us. Even a goal didn’t matter. I just can’t wait to join the lads now.”
He reflected on the team’s long journey to this moment.
“About ten years ago, we decided as a group that the sky was the limit,” Geaney explained. “It took five or six years to get our act together, and we’ve been knocking at the door ever since. It’s just unbelievable, a great day for Dingle.”
Second-Half Comeback Seals It
Dingle trailed 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time, struggling against the wind. But they exploded into life after the break.
Geaney struck twice for goals, while Tom O’Sullivan and Conor Geaney added key points.
Mark O’Connor, back from a first-half black card, steadied midfield and inspired the turnaround.
Austin Stacks briefly threatened when Cian Purcell converted a penalty with five minutes left. However, Geaney’s second goal moments later ended the contest.
History Made in Kerry
Despite strong efforts from Joe O’Connor and Ben Murphy, Stacks couldn’t match Dingle’s intensity late on.
As the final whistle blew, decades of heartbreak ended in celebration. Dingle are Kerry champions once more, and the squad of 2025’s names are now written into club history forevermore.
