The promise shown at underage level with the winning of the 1978 North Kerry Minor Championship an d the 1979 North Kerry U-21 Championship finally paid off when the club reached it's first North Kerry Senior Championship final in 1980. The team had beaten teams like John Mitchel's from Tralee, Finuge (0-8 to 0-5) and Tarbert (2-7 to 2-5) along the way. Castlisland Desmonds provided the opposition in the final, which was played in Finuge before a large crowd on August 2nd, 1980. Billy Galvin (Listowel Emmets) was in charge of the whistle. Desmonds experience won the day and the gallant youthful St. Senan's team was beaten. The players that made 1980 memorable for the St. Senan's club included;

M.Kennelly(gls), P. Dillon, T. McElligott, C. Nolan, M. J. Thornton, G. O'Sullivan, J.Lyons, T.O'Connell, D. Kennelly, D.Falvey, D.Courtney, T.Canty, O.Quilter, M.Lyons, P.O'Connell, J.Horgan, T.Thornton, B.Maher, P.Whyte, D.Hunt, G.Behan, E.Relihan, D.Galvin, D.McElligott and T.Shanahan. Patrick Carey, Billy Doran and Tom Fitzgearld had helped to train the team to reach the final. Tom O'Connell captained Feale Rangers to victory in the County Senior Football Championship against Austin Stacks, in 1980, with Mike Joe Thomton was a sub on the team. All in all, the club had an excellent start to the'80's.

The team were young and although beaten by Desmonds, all that was needed was time and patience before a major breakthrough came. This happened in 1984, the centenary year of the G.A.A. The team reached the final of the North Kerry Senior League for the first time in the club's history. Moyvane were toppled in the semi-final. Ballydonoghue won through the other semi-final. The stage was set for August llth, 1984, in Listowel. Joe Langan of Tarbert refereed a close, tense game of two halves. Ballydonoghue ruled the first half (2-3 to 0-3) but Senans were masters of the second when Ballydonoghue failed to score. The game ended all square. The replay took on a similar pattern as the first game, with Ballydonoghue leading by 1 -4 to 0-5 at half-time. Senan's powered ahead in the second half to win their first senior title in North Kerry by 1 -15 to 1 -7. It was well worth the wait.

The team that lined out for the replay were: Mike Kennelly(gls), Joe Lyons(Captain), Tom McElligott, Richard Fitzmaurice, Mike Joe Thornton, Gerry Behan, Declan Falvey, Tom 0' Connell, Johnny Horgan, J.P. O'Connell, Denis Kennelly, Tom Finnerty, Jerry Keane, Pat 0' Connell and Aidan Falvey. Subs were; Maurice Lyons, Tom Thomton, Donal Hunt, Leo Allman, PatDoody, Denis O'Mahoney and Kenneth Hayes.

The team went on to win the County Novice Championship in Listowel on October 14th by beating Knocknagoshel. They capped off a memorable 1994 by winning the Mart Cup Final. 1984 will also be remembered as the year that the club purchased its field at Mountcoal. No more togging off under the furze bush.

1985 saw the team reach new heights when they captured the County Junior Championship and gained promotion to Division 2 of the County League. The team defeated An Gaeltacht in the County Junior final in Tralee. The team that brought further glory to the club in 1985 included; T.Kennelly, P.Doody, T.McElligott, T.Finnerty, J.Lyons, D.O'Mahoney, G.Behan, M.J.Thornton, T.O'Connell, J.Horgan, J.P.O'Connell, P.O'Connell, D.Kennelly, D.Fitzmaurice, A.Behan, A.Falvey, E.Whelan, P.Lyons, K.Hayes, G.O'Sullivan, J.Keane, T.Thornton, D.Behan, L.Allman, G.O'Sullivan, T.J.O'Sullivan, J.Doody.

1988, saw another famous victory in North Kerry when the club won the North Kerry Senior League for the second time in it's history. The team defeated Moyvane in the semi-final. Their opponents in the final were Beale. After a fierce struggle St.Senan's came out on top on the score 2-7 to 0-7. The team that lined out for St.Senan's in the final was; T.Kennelly(gls), P.O'Connell, J.Horgan, J.Horgan, G.Behan, D.O'Mahoney, A.Behan, J.Walsh, T.O'Connell, D.Kennelly, M.Keane, J.P.O'Connell, E.Whelan, B.O'Mahony, T.Finnerty, A.Falvey.

St.Senan's represented North Kerry in the County Club Championship in 1988. Their opponents from West Kerry where the Tommy Doyle led Aunascaul. The game was played in Austin Stack's Park. The team that represented the club on this historic occasion were; J.P. Hickey(gls), J.Keane, J.Horgan, M.Keane, D.O'Mahoney, A.Falvey, M.J.Thornton, T.O'Connell, J.Walsh, P.Keane, J.P.O'Connell, E.Whelan, P.Doody, T.Finnerty, D.Behan. The final score was Aunascaul 3-4, St.Senan's 1 -7.