Early days Participation from
County Kerry in the
League of Ireland began when a team representing the
Kerry District League (KDL) participated in the
Eircom U21 League in 2002 and 2003, while
Tralee Dynamos subsequently played in the third-tier
A Championship between 2009 and 2011. Following the folding of the A Championship in 2011, Tralee Dynamos submitted an application for a licence to compete in the
League of Ireland First Division for the
2012 season. However, their application was unsuccessful.
Underage leagues The KDL resumed participation with the League of Ireland at underage level in the late 2010s, joining the Southern Elite Division of the
Under-17 League in 2016 and subsequently that of the Under-19 League in 2019.
Senior side It was announced on 22 June 2022 that an application had been made by Kerry Football Club, an entity comprising the KDL and a consortium led by
Brian Ainscough, Steven Conway and
Billy Dennehy, for a licence to compete in the League of Ireland for the 2023 season. The application was deemed successful on 16 November, when Kerry were awarded a licence for the First Division. The club would operate on a fully
amateur basis for the 2023 season, and play their games at
Mounthawk Park. Dennehy was announced as the club's first manager on 19 December. Later that same day,
Treaty United midfielder Matt Keane was announced as the club's first signing, followed by Seán McGrath from
Cobh Ramblers. The club's first ever competitive senior fixture took place on 17 February 2023, a 2–0 home defeat against
Cobh Ramblers at
Mounthawk Park. The following week, Leo Gaxha scored the club's first ever senior goal, in a 3–1 defeat against
Bray Wanderers at the
Carlisle Grounds. Kerry secured their first point in the League of Ireland on 3 March, following a 1–1 draw with Treaty United at Mounthawk Park. Figures released upon the completion of the first series of First Division fixtures showed that Kerry had an average home attendance of 1,194, placing them fifth out of the ten clubs in the division, with all four home matches selling out. Kerry secured their first-ever win in the League of Ireland at the fourteenth attempt, with a 3–2 victory away to
Athlone Town on 12 May, before recording their first-ever clean sheet on 2 June, following a scoreless draw with
Finn Harps at
Finn Park. On 17 November 2023, it was announced that
Billy Dennehy had stepped down as manager to return to his original position of Sporting Director, with Conor McCarthy taking over as manager. On 24 November 2023, Brian Ainscough departed the club to take over ownership of
Dundalk, pulling his funding in Kerry after one year with the club. The club qualified for the final of the 2023-24
Munster Senior Cup but lost out to
Waterford. At the end of the 2024 league season, the club finished bottom of the First Division. In December 2024, businessman John Wall took a controlling interest in the club. On the 29 July 2025 Kerry announced the departure of first team players
Mathyas Randriamamy a
Madagascar international goalkeeper and
Zimbabwe international
Shane Maroodza who had signed for the club just five days previously and made one appearance, while Radriamamy had made 4 after signing at the start of the year. The announcement on the club's
Twitter page stated that "their values and principles didn’t match the standards of the club". On 15 August 2025, Kerry reached the quarter final stages of the
FAI Cup for the first time. In the quarter final, held on 12 September 2025, the club pulled-off a significant comeback, as they came from 3 goals down to win 4–3 after extra time at home to
Sligo Rovers (their first ever win over
League of Ireland Premier Division opposition). They played
Shamrock Rovers in the
2025 FAI Cup semi-final on 5 October. Around 1,000 travelling Kerry supporters made the journey to
Tallaght Stadium where Kerry lost the match 6-1. ==First team squad==