All-Ireland Kick Fada Championship


The All-Ireland Kick Fada Championship is an annual tournament testing the skills of Ireland's best Gaelic footballers. Fada is Irish for "long". Until 2012 the Kick Fada was sponsored by MBNA while the DAA will sponsor the event in 2013.
The tournament is held annually at Bray Emmets GAA club, County Wicklow. In 2012, 19 men and 22 women competed in the competition. The competition starts at the 35 meter mark, with each contestant allowed 3 attempts to kick the ball over the bar. Each contestant can kick from their hands, off the ground or drop-kick the ball. If a contestant fails to kick the ball over the bar in the 3 attempts they are eliminated from the competition. Rounds proceed with the successful contestant from the previous round kicking with the distance increased by a further 5 meters. Whoever can score a point from the furthest distance is the winner. There are separate competitions for men and women.
The Kick Fada record, which stands at 72 metres, was achieved by four time champion Mark Herbert from Kildare. Suzanne Hughes from Ballyboden St Endas GAA Club holds the all time female record of 52m from back in 2001.
As part of the Kick Fada, famous GAA stars and legends of the past are inducted into the "Hall of Fame"

Roll of honour

Men

YearWinnerClubCountyWinning kick
2016Fintan RuddyKilcommonMayo
2015Fintan RuddyKilcommonMayo
2014Damien SheridanDromardLongford75m
2013Damien SheridanDromardLongford75m
2012Damien SheridanDromardLongford65m
2011Shane DuffyMagheracloone MitchellsMonaghan60m
2010Damien SheridanDromardLongford65m
2009Brian SheridanSeneschalstownMeath71m
2008Paul HeartyCrossmaglenArmagh70m
2007John BrennanO'HanrahansCarlow67m
2006Fintan RuddyKilcommonMayo62m
2005Pádraig KellyShamrocksOffaly63m
2004Pádraig KellyShamrocksOffaly70m
2003Mark HerbertBallyteagueKildare59m
2002Mark HerbertBallyteagueKildare61m
2001Mark HerbertBallyteagueKildare72m
2000Mark HerbertBallyteagueKildare63m

Women

YearWinnerClubCountyWinning kick
2016Serena HannonClanna Gael FontenoyDublin
2015Serena HannonClanna Gael FontenoyDublin
2014Serena HannonClanna Gael FontenoyDublin48m
2013Serena HannonClanna Gael FontenoyDublin51m
2012Serena HannonClanna Gael FontenoyDublin45m
2011Irene MunnellyWolfe TonesMeath37m
2010Mary SheridanSeneschalstownMeath45m
2009Suzanne HughesBallyboden St. Enda'sDublin48m
2008Mary SheridanSeneschalstownMeath43m
2007Irene MunnellyWolfe TonesMeath45m
2006Gillian BennettSeneschalstownMeath48m
2005Irene MunnellyWolfe TonesMeath45m
2004Gráinne NultySeneschalstownMeath45m
2003Mary SheridanSeneschalstownMeath40m
2002Vourneen QuigleyKilkerley EmmetsMonaghan43m
2001Suzanne HughesBallyboden St. Enda'sDublin52m
2000Ann McGillycuddyAn TócharWicklow40m

Hall of Fame

YearInducteeCounty
2012Mickey WhelanDublin
2011Brian McEniffDonegal
2010Billy MorganCork
2009Frank McGuiganTyrone
2008Paddy DohertyDown
2007Mick O'DwyerKerry
2006Jimmy KeaveneyDublin
2005Dermot EarlyRoscommon
2004Donie O'SullivanKerry
2003Peter NolanOffaly

Masters

YearWinnerCountyWinning kick
2003Damien SheridanMeath49m
2002Martin McHughDonegal54m
2001Keith BarrDublin62m
2000Pat SpillaneKerry51m

Rules