St Kiernan's Gaelic Football Club is a

Gaelic football Gaelic football ( ga, Peil Ghaelach; short name '), commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA or Football is an Irish team sport. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kic ...

club based in the

London Borough of Barnet The London Borough of Barnet () is a suburban London boroughs, London borough in North London. The borough was formed in 1965 from parts of the ceremonial counties of Middlesex and Hertfordshire. It forms part of Outer London and is the largest ...

. It currently fields teams, men's and ladies', from Under 6's up to Adult (Men's & Ladies'), including Senior, Junior (London-born development team) and Reserve at men's adult level with in excess of 300 members throughout the club.

History

The club was founded in September 1984 in St Anthonys parish, Edgware; it was named in honour of its founding president and parish priest, Fr. Tom Kiernan; Kiernan is a variant of

Ternan Saint Ternan (''fl.'' fifth or sixth century) is venerated as the "Bishop of the Picts". Not much is known of his life. Different historians place him either at the mid-fifth century or the latter part of the sixth. Those who place him in the earl ...

. Three years after the club's formation in 1988 St. Kiernan's moved to Montrose Playing Fields in

Burnt Oak Burnt Oak is a suburb of London, England, located northwest of Charing Cross. It lies to the west of the M1 motorway between Edgware and Colindale, located predominantly in the London Borough of Barnet, with parts comprising the London Boroughs ...

, remaining at the pitch until 2016. As of 2022, the club are based at King George V Playing Fields south of Barnet, with development of clubhouse and indoor training facility due for completion in 2023. Following a number of barren years at senior level, the club was relegated to the Intermediate ranks in 2008 triggering a full-scale reset, resulting in the promotion of players from the successful Minor and U21 team up to adult level. This resulted in the club winning its second

London Intermediate Football Championship The London Intermediate Football Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association cup competition between the second tier Gaelic football clubs in London, England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borde ...

, securing promotion back to Senior at the first attempt. Having secured promotion as Intermediate champions in 2009, the club reached five consecutive semi final's between 2010 and 2014, and a final in 2015. Kiernan's finally won their first

London Senior Football Championship The London Senior Football Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association cup competition between the top Gaelic football clubs in London, England. The London Football championship began in 1897 with Ireland United winning the first title. Tir Ch ...

in 2016 defeating Tir Chonaill Gaels 0-13 - 0–5; and then advancing to the 2016–17 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship where they lost to Slaughtneil (Derry). They won a second

in 2021, defeating

Fulham Irish Fulham Irish GAA Club is a Gaelic Football and Hurling Club who play on Wormwood Scrubs in West London. Fulham Irish GAA hold the unique status of being the only club in London to offer dual players Senior Football & Senior Hurling. It is a un ...

in the final on a scoreline of 1-13 - 0–12. They advanced to the 2021–22 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship, losing to Tourlestrane of

County Sligo County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in the county. Sligo County Council is the local ...

Notable players

* Cathal Óg Greene — was a prominent member of the

Laois county football team The Laois county football team ( ) represents Laois in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Laois GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Irelan ...

team in the early 2010s. He won the

All-Ireland Minor Football Championship The Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier under-17 "knockout" competition in Gaelic football played in Ireland. 2017 was the final year of the minor under 18 football championship as it were replaced by an under ...

with Laois in 2003 and was a member of the

London county football team The London county football team represents London in men's Gaelic football and is governed by London GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland ...

that reached the 2013 Connacht Senior Football Championship final. Cathal played midfield for St Kiernans in the 2016

final as well as managing St Kiernans to the

in 2021 and 2022. * Barry O'Shea — All-Ireland winner with the

Kerry county football team The Kerry county football team represents County Kerry, Kerry in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Kerry GAA, the County board (Gaelic games), county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual in ...

in the

1997 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship The 1997 Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 111th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on ...

against Mayo. *James Moran — current midfielder who played with the

Mayo county football team The Mayo county football team (;) represents Mayo in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Mayo GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland ...

in the early 2010s, winning the 2011

FBD Insurance League The FBD, also called the FBD Insurance League, FBD Connacht League, the Connacht FBD Football League or FBD Insurance Connacht GAA Senior Football Competition, is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by Connacht GAA and sponsored by ...

. *Wayne O'Sullivan — former Arsenal F.C.,

Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the team are competing in League One, the third tier of English football. They have played at Home Park, ...

and

Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Exeter, Devon, England. The team play in , the third tier of the English football league system. Known as "the Grecians", the origin of their nickname is subject to ...

footballer played with the club from under age including for the senior team as well as the

in the late 2000s. *

John-Joe O'Toole John Joseph O'Toole (born 30 September 1988) is an Irish professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Mansfield Town. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-21 level. Club career Watford Born in Harrow, Greater ...

— current

Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is a professional football club based in the town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The team competes in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed 'The Stags', they play in a blue and ye ...

defender, who started out at

Watford F.C Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. They play in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football. The club’s original foundation is 1881, aligned with that of its antec ...

in the

EFL Championship The English Football League Championship (often referred to as the Championship for short or the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship purposes) is the highest division of the English Football League (EFL) and second-highest overall in the E ...

as well as gaining honours for the

Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland. The team played its first match in 1978 and has competed in the U ...

, played for the club right through the under-age ranks up to senior level before embarking on a full-time career as an association footballer.

Honours

(3): 2016, 2021, 2022 * London Division 1 Senior Football League (3): 2016, 2017, 2022 *

(2): 2001, 2009 * London Division 2 Intermediate Football League (1): 2004 *

London Junior Football Championship The London Junior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by lower-tier London GAA clubs. Wandsworth Gaels are the title holders (2022) defeating Tara in the Final. Conor Gilsenan, the former professional rugby pl ...

(1): 1997 * London Under-21 Football Championship (3): 2008, 2009, 2011 * London Minor Football Championship (4): 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007 * London Reserve Championship (3): 2011, 2016, 2019

References

External links

* {{London GAA clubs Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in London Gaelic football clubs in London GAA Hurling clubs in London GAA Sport in Hammersmith and Fulham Sport in the London Borough of Barnet