Kerry chairman Patrick O Sullivan has confirmed that Kerry have applied to play in and have been accepted into the Hastings Cup for the first time.

Sixteen counties will compete in next year’s Hastings Cup U21 football tournament which gets underway on January 3rd and is run by the Longford County Board.

Kerry haven't won an All-Ireland U21 title since 2008, winning only two in the past 16 years. In fact they have also failed to win a Munster title at the grade in the past six years.

Traditionally the pre-championship tournament consisted of midland teams although in recent years a number of counties have entered including Tipperary and Wicklow.

The long-running competition, which the competing counties use to prepare for the U21 championship, will consist of four groups of four teams. The top team from each group will qualify for semi-finals. The group runners-up will contest the Hastings Shield.

Added competition

Kerry will feature in a tough group that includes Roscommon, Cavan and Meath. With the competition being ran on a round-robin basis, Kerry will play Roscommon on January 3rd, Cavan on January 10th and Meath on January 17th, all of which at neutral venues.

Patrick O Sullivan explained that as the U-21 Championship is knock-out, Kerry boss Darragh O Se wanted to see the players perform in competitive games rather than friendlies .

“It will give the U-21 management a chance to see the lads in competitive action, rather than going in cold to the Munster Championship, not knowing your best team maybe, and where you get no second chance.”

However the GAA rule which prevents U21 inter-county football teams from returning to collective training until January 1st has come in for criticism as it leaves the 16 competing counties with just two days to prepare themselves for the opening round.