View source for All-Ireland Kick Fada Championship

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Irish English|date=July 2017}}
{{more references|date=September 2021}}
The '''All-Ireland Kick Fada Championship''' is an annual tournament testing the skills of Ireland's best [[Gaelic football]]ers. ''Fada'' is [[Irish language|Irish]] for "long". Until 2012 the ''Kick Fada'' was sponsored by [[MBNA]] while the [[Dublin Airport Authority|DAA]] will sponsor the event in 2013.
The tournament (first played in 2000) is held annually at [[Bray Emmets GAA]] club, [[Wicklow GAA|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===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Year
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Winner
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Club
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | County
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Winning kick
|-
|2016
| Fintan Ruddy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brayemmets.com/brayemmets/news/all-news-items/2015/club-notes-28th-september.aspx|title=Club Notes 28th September-Bray Emmets|website=www.brayemmets.com|access-date=22 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119001442/http://brayemmets.com/brayemmets/news/all-news-items/2015/club-notes-28th-september.aspx|archive-date=19 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| [[CLG Cill Chomáin|Cill Chomáin]]
| [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]]
| 
|-
|2015
| Fintan Ruddy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BrayEmmets/status/774600615792152576|title=Bray Emmets GAA Club on Twitter|publisher=}}</ref>
| [[CLG Cill Chomáin|Cill Chomáin]]
| [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]]
| 
|-
|2014
| [[Damien Sheridan]]
| Dromard
| [[Longford GAA|Longford]]
|75m
|-
| 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2013/0914/474305-kick-fada/|title=Kick Fada title for Longford's Sheridan|date=14 September 2013|publisher=}}</ref>
| [[Damien Sheridan]]
| Dromard
| [[Longford GAA|Longford]]
|75m
|-
| 2012<ref name="brayemmets.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.brayemmets.com/brayemmets/news/all-news-items/2012/kick-fada-2012-(2).aspx|title=Sheridan and Hannon take Kick Fada titles-Bray Emmets|website=www.brayemmets.com|access-date=23 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429044710/http://www.brayemmets.com/brayemmets/news/all-news-items/2012/kick-fada-2012-(2).aspx|archive-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| [[Damien Sheridan]]
| Dromard
| [[Longford GAA|Longford]]
| 65m
|-
| 2011
| [[Shane Duffy (Gaelic footballer)|Shane Duffy]]
| [[Magheracloone Mitchells]]
| [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]
| 60m
|-
| 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=135332|title=Sheridan crowned Kick Fada champion - Hoganstand.com|website=www.hoganstand.com}}</ref>
| Damien Sheridan
| Dromard
| [[Longford GAA|Longford]]
| 65m
|-
| 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/dublin/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=117673|title=Sheridan is Kick Fada champion - Hoganstand.com|website=www.hoganstand.com}}</ref>
| Brian Sheridan
| [[Seneschalstown GAA|Seneschalstown]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 71m
|-
| 2008
| [[Paul Hearty]]
| [[Crossmaglen Rangers GAC|Crossmaglen]]
| [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]
| 70m
|-
| 2007
| John Brennan
| [[O'Hanrahans GFC|O'Hanrahans]]
| [[Carlow GAA|Carlow]]
| 67m
|-
| 2006
| Fintan Ruddy
| [[CLG Cill Chomáin|Cill Chomáin]]
| [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]]
| 62m
|-
| 2005
| [[Padraic Kelly|Pádraig Kelly]]
| [[Shamrocks GAA (County Cork)|Shamrocks]]
| [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]]
| 63m
|-
| 2004
| [[Padraic Kelly|Pádraig Kelly]]
| [[Shamrocks GAA (County Cork)|Shamrocks]]
| [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]]
| 70m
|-
| 2003
| Mark Herbert
| [[Ballyteague GFC|Ballyteague]]
| [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]]
| 59m
|-
| 2002
| Mark Herbert
| [[Ballyteague GFC|Ballyteague]]
| [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]]
| 61m
|-
| 2001
| Mark Herbert
| [[Ballyteague GFC|Ballyteague]]
| [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]]
| 72m
|-
| 2000
| Mark Herbert
| [[Ballyteague GFC|Ballyteague]]
| [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]]
| 63m
|}

===Women===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Year
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Winner
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Club
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | County
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Winning kick
|-
|2016
| Serena Hannon
| [[Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA|Clanna Gael Fontenoy]]
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 
|-
|2015
| Serena Hannon
| [[Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA|Clanna Gael Fontenoy]]
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 
|-
| 2014<ref name="brayemmets.com"/>
| Serena Hannon
| [[Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA|Clanna Gael Fontenoy]]
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 48m
|-
| 2013<ref name="brayemmets.com"/>
| Serena Hannon
| [[Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA|Clanna Gael Fontenoy]]
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 51m
|-
| 2012<ref name="brayemmets.com"/>
| Serena Hannon
| [[Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA|Clanna Gael Fontenoy]]
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 45m
|-
| 2011
| Irene Munnelly
| [[Wolfe Tones GAA|Wolfe Tones]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 37m
|-
| 2010
| Mary Sheridan
| [[Seneschalstown GAA|Seneschalstown]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 45m
|-
| 2009
| Suzanne Hughes
| [[Ballyboden St. Enda's GAA|Ballyboden St. Enda's]]
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 48m
|-
| 2008
| Mary Sheridan
| [[Seneschalstown GAA|Seneschalstown]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 43m
|-
| 2007
| Irene Munnelly
| [[Wolfe Tones GAA|Wolfe Tones]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 45m
|-
| 2006
| Gillian Bennett
| [[Seneschalstown GAA|Seneschalstown]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 48m
|-
| 2005
| Irene Munnelly
| [[Wolfe Tones GAA|Wolfe Tones]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 45m
|-
| 2004
| Gráinne Nulty
| [[Seneschalstown GAA|Seneschalstown]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 45m
|-
| 2003
| Mary Sheridan
| [[Seneschalstown GAA|Seneschalstown]]
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 40m
|-
| 2002
| Vourneen Quigley
|Kilkerley Emmets
| [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]
| 43m
|-
| 2001
| Suzanne Hughes
| [[Ballyboden St. Enda's GAA|Ballyboden St. Enda's]]
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 52m
|-
| 2000
| Ann McGillycuddy
| [[An Tóchar GAA|An Tóchar]]
| [[Wicklow GAA|Wicklow]]
| 40m
|}

===Hall of Fame===
{{uncited section|date=September 2021}}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Year
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Inductee
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | County team
|-
| 2012
| [[Mickey Whelan]]
| [[Dublin county football team|Dublin]]
|-
| 2011
| [[Brian McEniff]]
| [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]]
|-
| 2010
| [[Billy Morgan (Gaelic footballer)|Billy Morgan]]
| [[Cork county football team|Cork]]
|-
| 2009
| [[Frank McGuigan]]
| [[Tyrone county football team|Tyrone]]
|-
| 2008
| [[Paddy Doherty (Gaelic footballer)|Paddy Doherty]]
| [[Down county football team|Down]]
|-
| 2007
| [[Mick O'Dwyer]]
| [[Kerry county football team|Kerry]]
|-
| 2006
| [[Jimmy Keaveney]]
| [[Dublin county football team|Dublin]]
|-
| 2005
| [[Dermot Earley Jnr|Dermot Early]]
| [[Roscommon county football team|Roscommon]]
|-
| 2004
| [[Donie O'Sullivan (Gaelic footballer)|Donie O'Sullivan]]
| [[Kerry county football team|Kerry]]
|-
| 2003
| Peter Nolan
| [[Offaly county football team|Offaly]]
|}

===Masters===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Year
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Winner
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | County
! style="background:#069; color:white;" | Winning kick
|-
| 2003
| Damien Sheridan
| [[Meath GAA|Meath]]
| 49m
|-
| 2002
| Martin McHugh
| [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]]
| 54m
|-
| 2001
| Keith Barr
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 62m
|-
| 2000
| [[Pat Spillane]]
| [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]
| 51m
|}

==Rules==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2021}}
* The competition is open to all current GAA members over the age of 18.
* The object of the event is to find the longest yet most accurate kickers of a standard GAA football.
* The winner of the competition will be the contestant with the longest successful kick.
* A successful kick is deemed to be one where the ball crosses over the bar and between the posts prior to touching the ground.
* The ball used will be standard Size 5 for men and Size 4 for ladies.
* Each kick will be taken from a pre-determined marked distance from the target.
* The kick may be taken from the hand or from the ground.
* Players may use a tee if they so wish.
* The taking of a kick by each remaining contestant as a specific distance will be called a 'round'.
* There will be a maximum of three rounds per distance.
* Once a contestant has achieved a successful kick they will be deemed to have qualified for the next round and will not be required to take a further kick at the current distance.
* Each contestant will take a kick in turn until all remaining members of the group have completed an attempt at the current distance.
* After a maximum of three rounds at a particular distance the distance will be increased by a pre-determined number of metres and a new round will begin for all successful kickers.
* If a contestant fails to make any successful kick at a particular distance they will not go forward to the next round.
* In the event of no contestant achieving a successful kick in a round, there will be a sudden-death playoff of all contestants who qualified for that round.
* The winners of the competition will have the choice of continuing within the rules, to establish the longest successful kick and attempt to set a new record.
* The decision of the Kica Fada Event Co-ordinator will be final in the event of a dispute.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://archive.today/20130118232141/http://www.brayemmets.com/brayemmets/kick-fada.aspx Bray Emmets club page on the Kick Fada]

{{Gaelic football}}
{{Ladies' Gaelic games}}

[[Category:All-Ireland Football Championships|Kick Fada Championship]]