Back in Croke Park for the third time in nine years, Ardfert are doing North Kerry proud.
Most clubs that make it as far as Croke Park on All-Ireland club final day are venturing into unknown territory, but Ardfert have become pretty familiar with HQ in recent years.
The North Kerry club appeared in back-to-back All-Ireland club finals in 2006 and 2007, winning both, so much like their county men in green and gold, they’re familiar with success on the biggest stage.
We think it’s worth taking a minute to acknowledge what an unbelievable achievement that was. Having won the All-Ireland Junior club title in 2006, Ardfert managed to win, county, provincial and All-Ireland Intermediate titles the very next season.
Winning back-to-back in your own county while moving up a grade is special, but winning a Munster and All-Ireland as well? That’s fairy-tale stuff.
Ardfert will be hoping for another successful day out in Croker on Valentine’s weekend and they’ll have to overcome the considerable obstacle posed by Roscommon side St. Croan’s to do so.
Ahead of that encounter, we caught up with Ardfert’s Darren Wallace, who was more than happy to dish some dirt on his teammates.
Spotlight on Ardfert
Club: Ardfert GAA
Club colours: Black and White
Year established: 1979
Estimated size of population covered by parish: 1,500
Proudest moment in the club’s history? Winning back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 2006 & 2007
Most loyal/fanatical supporter? Frank Wallace (our club President) & Willie Sullivan.
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Best nickname: Steven Leen, AKA Henry Sellers, the character from Father Ted. Nice guy without drink, absolutely crazy with it. (JOE: He made the BBC to be fair.)
Ardfert celebrating their Munster Final victory over Valley Rovers of Cork
Most likely player to be found on Tinder? Darren Delaney. He still can’t find a match.
Most likely player to break a beer ban? Shane Griffin. He just loves Heineken, full stop.
Player still dressing themselves like it’s 1999? John Egan still wears the jackets that Miley Byrne from Glenroe used to wear. Horrendous.
Team-mate you wouldn’t like to meet down a dark alley? Mairtín Ferris. Tough. As. Nails.
Mairtín Ferris (left) with his Dad, Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris
Biggest shaper on the pitch? Mike Moloney. He has the tan – which may be fake, we don’t know – and the white socks.
Oldest player to ever have played for the club: John Crowley, aged 39.
Best ‘Junior B GAA story’ involving your club? Where to start because we have a few. The best one would be when our club secretary was in goals one day a good few years back.
He was kicking out the ball and kicked it straight off the back of our full-back’s head and back over the bar.
