Rathkenny's first game was on 13 February 1887, against Grangegeeth. Rathkenny won 2 points to 0. The club's golden years were from the mid-1910s to 1923. During this period, Rathkenny won 2 Feis Cups and 5 Senior Football Championships. In 1923, Rathkenny won the Championship by playing just one game, against Martyr GAA. Just three teams entered that year and after defeating Martyr, Rathkenny were to play Navan Harps in the final in Kells. Navan Harps didn't arrive for the game and Rathkenny were awarded the title. In April 1925, Rathkenny applied to be reinstated as a junior team. The reinstatement was made on behalf of the old Rathkenny players. It would until winning the Intermediate Championship in 2006 for Rathkenny to become a Senior team again.