The Cahersiveen O'Connell team was founded on December 10th 1890 and adapted the colours of black and amber. Cahersiveen entered the county championship and were declared winners in 1896. In 1929 Cahersiveen Christian Brothers school were given permission to enter a team in the South Kerry Junior Championship under the name of Saint Mary's. Cahersiveen had two teams for about four years but due to emigration numbers dwingled and the town was only able to field one team. From 1933 to the present day Saint Mary's football club has represented Cahersiveen on the playing field of Kerry. In 1947 the club purchased a playing field in the West end and the Con Keating Park was officially opened on August 6th 1950.

During the past 70 years Saint Mary's have won numerous South Kerry  Senior and Minor Championships. Seamus O'Connor has the distinction of winning ten South Kerry trophies, a record that has held since 1950. The club has assisted the county to win many All-Irelands . Jack Murphy (1924, 1926), William Keating (1914), P.J Sullivan (1931), Jerome O Shea (1953, 1955 and 1959), Gerald O'Sullivan (1953, 1955), Jack O Shea (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986) and Maurice Fitzgerald (1997, 2000).

The club was very much to the forefront when South Kerry captured the County Championship in 1955 after a lapse of 59 years. South Kerry were again successful in 1956, 1958, 1981 and 1982 as well as senior All Irelands medals. The club has also captured Minor and Junior All-Ireland medals. The highlight from the Minor point of view was in 1975 when three club members, Jack O Shea,  Paudie Sheehan and Jo Jo O'Connor assisted Kerry to take the All-Ireland.