Leinster Senior Football Championship
The Leinster Senior Football Championship (sponsored by Toyota, Ulster Bank, Vodafone) is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months. The competition involves the counties of Leinster playing against each other. The Leinster Football Final is played in July in Croke Park, Dublin. The winning county is presented with the Delaney Cup, named after a famous Laois GAA family,[2] and advance to the quarter finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Leinster Senior Football Championship | |
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Current season or competition:![]() | |
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Irish | Craobh Sinsir Peile Laighean |
Code | Gaelic football |
Founded | 1888 |
Region | Leinster (GAA) |
Trophy | Delaney Cup[1] |
No. of teams | 11 |
Title holders | Dublin (58th title) |
Most titles | Dublin (58 titles) |
Sponsors | Toyota Ulster Bank Vodafone |
TV partner(s) | RTÉ2 |
History
Dublin are the most successful county, having won the championship on 58 separate occasions, more than twice as many as their nearest rivals Meath. Up until the 1950s the success of Dublin teams was based on teams who had many non Dublin bred players playing with them [3] [4]
Wexford won 6 consecutive championships between 1913 and 1918, a feat equalled by Kildare between 1926 and 1931.[5] It was unequalled by any other team, until Dublin won their own 6-in-a-row between 1974 and 1979. Dublin have won 9 Leinster championships in a row between 2011 - 2019.
In 1941, the Leinster Senior Football Championship was disrupted by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease but the postponed Leinster final were later rescheduled for November, with Dublin (who would emerge as provincial winners) being nominated to contest the All-Ireland semi-final in advance.[6]
In September 2019, the Leinster Council decided against awarding champions Dublin a bye into the 2020 Leinster Senior Football Championship semi-finals; instead the system as it had until then been was maintained with Dublin as one of four 2019 semi-finalists to be given a bye into the 2020 Leinster SFC quarter-finals. Leinster did, though, introduce a semi-final draw scheduled for the Sunday night when all quarter-final winners are confirmed, meaning that semi-finalists would not know if they were on Dublin's side of the draw until two weeks before such an encounter.[7]
Teams
The Leinster championship is contested by 11 of the 12 counties in Leinster. Kilkenny is currently the only county not to compete, last doing so in 1982. Wicklow is the only one of the counties to have never won a Leinster Championship.
Team | Colours | Most recent success | |
---|---|---|---|
All-Ireland | Provincial | ||
Carlow | |||
Dublin | |||
Kildare | |||
Kilkenny | |||
Laois | |||
Longford | |||
Louth | |||
Meath | ![]() |
||
Offaly | |||
Westmeath | |||
Wexford | |||
Wicklow |
Format
The Leinster Football Championship is run on a knock-out basis, whereby a team is eliminated from the competition once they lose. All of the counties of Leinster except Kilkenny participate in the championship. The draw is seeded, with the previous year's semi-finalists getting byes to the quarter-finals. Six of the remaining seven teams are drawn for three preliminary round matches, while the seventh team also gets a bye to the quarter-finals.
Roll of honour
Team | Wins | Years won | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Dublin | 58 | 1891, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1941, 1942, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
2 | Meath | 20 | 1895, 1939, 1940, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2010 |
3 | Kildare | 13 | 1903, 1905, 1919, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1956, 1998, 2000 |
4 | Offaly | 10 | 1960, 1961, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1997 |
Wexford | 10 | 1890, 1893, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1925, 1945 | |
6 | Louth | 9 | 1909, 1910, 1912, 1943, 1948, 1950, 1953, 1957 |
7 | Laois | 6 | 1889, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1946, 2003 |
8 | Kilkenny | 3 | 1888, 1900, 1911 |
9 | Carlow | 1 | 1944 |
Longford | 1 | 1968 | |
Westmeath | 1 | 2004 | |
12 | Wicklow | 0 | Finalists 1897 |
Finals
2019 | ![]() |
1-17 - 0-04 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 47,027 Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone) Man of the Match: Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes) |
Dean Rock 0-4 (0-1f), Con O'Callaghan 1-0, Cormac Costello (0-2f, 1 '45) and Paul Mannion 0-3 each, Jack McCaffrey 0-2, Philly McMahon, Brian Fenton, Brian Howard, Ciaran Kilkenny, Paddy Andrews 0-1 each | Report | Michael Newman 0-3 and Bryan Menton 0-1 |
2018 | ![]() |
1-25 - 0-10 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 41,728 Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry) Man of the Match: Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock) |
Dean Rock 0-8 (0-5f, 1 '45), Ciaran Kilkenny 1-4, Cormac Costello 0-4, Brian Fenton, Con O'Callaghan, Paddy Andrews 0-2 each, Brian Howard, Niall Scully, Paul Mannion 0-1 each | Report | Donie Kingston 0-4 (0-2f), Alan Farrell and Gary Walsh 0-2 each, Kieran Lillis and Evan O'Carroll 0-1 each |
2017 | ![]() |
2-23 - 1-17 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 66,734 Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow) Man of the Match: Con O'Callaghan (Cuala) |
Con O'Callaghan 0-12 (0-6f), Bernard Brogan 0-5, James McCarthy and Dean Rock 1-0 each, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-2, Paul Mannion, Paddy Andrews, Shane B. Carthy, Brian Howard 0-1 each | Report | Paddy Brophy 1-3 (0-1f), Kevin Feely 0-5 (0-4f), Daniel Flynn and Cathal McNally 0-2 each, Johnny Byrne, Keith Cribbin, Niall Kelly, David Slattery, Fionn Dowling 0-1 each |
2016 | ![]() |
2-19 - 0-10 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 38,885 Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford) Man of the Match: Bernard Brogan (St. OP/ER) |
Dean Rock 0-8f, Bernard Brogan 1-4, Kevin McManamon 1-2, Paddy Andrews 0-2, John Small, Paul Flynn, Diarmuid Connolly 0-1 each | Report | John Heslin 0-6 (0-5f), Ger Egan 0-2, Denis Corroon, Callum McCormack 0-1 each |
2015 | ![]() |
2-13 - 0-06 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 47,840 Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan) Man of the Match: Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincents) |
Bernard Brogan 1-1, Jack McCaffrey 1-0, Ciaran Kilkenny and Diarmuid Connolly 0-3 each, Dean Rock 0-2f, Philip McMahon, James McCarthy, Michael Darragh Macauley, Alan Brogan 0-1 each. | Report | John Heslin 0-3 (0-2f), Kieran Martin 0-2, Francis Boyle 0-1 |
2014 | ![]() |
3-20 – 1-10 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 62,660 Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh) Man of the Match: Kevin McManamon (St. Judes) |
Bernard Brogan 1-6 (0-4f), Kevin McManamon 1-5, Eoghan O’Gara 1-1, Diarmuid Connolly, Stephen Cluxton (1 '45), Cian O’Sullivan, Alan Brogan, Jack McCaffrey, Paul Flynn, Dean Rock, Cormac Costello 0-1 each | Report | Mickey Newman 1-2 (0-1f), Shane O’Rourke (0-2f), Andy Tormey, Stephen Bray 0-2 each, Damien Carroll and David Bray 0-1 each |
2013 | ![]() |
2-15 – 0-14 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 54,485 Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois) Man of the Match: Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock) |
Paul Mannion 1-4 (0-2f), Paul Flynn 1-1, Stephen Cluxton (0-2f, 0-1 ’45′) and Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3 each, Dean Rock 0-2 (0-1f), Diarmuid Connolly, Bernard Brogan (0-1f) 0-1 each. | Report | Michael Newman 0-8 (0-6f), Stephen Bray and Eamonn Wallace 0-2 each, Brian Meade and Joe Sheridan 0-1 each |
Dublin | 2–13 – 1–13 | Meath |
---|---|---|
B Brogan 1-7 (0-4f), D Bastick 1-0, A Brogan, E O’Gara 0-2 each, K McManamon and J McCarthy 0-1 each | Report | B Farrell 0-7 (0-6f), J Queeney 1-0, G Reilly 0-3, S Bray, J Sheridan (1 '45), D Tobin 0-01 each |
Dublin | 2–12 – 1–12 | Wexford |
---|---|---|
J McCarthy 1-0, A Brogan, B Brogan (1f) 0-03 each, S Cluxton (1'45), D Bastick, P Flynn, B Cullen, K McMenamin, R McConnell 0-01 each, G Molloy 1-0 (o.g.) | Report | B Brosnan 0-9 (4f, 2 '45), R Barry 1-0, C Lyng 0-2, A Flynn 0-1 |
Meath | 1–12 – 1–10 | Louth |
---|---|---|
G Reilly 0–4, C Ward 0–4, J Sheridan 1–0, S Bray 0–2, A Moyles, N Crawford 0–1 each. | Report | B White 0–4, JP Rooney 1–1, C Judge 0–2, P Keenan, A McDonnell, A Reed 0–1 each. |
Dublin | 2–15 – 0–18 | Kildare |
---|---|---|
B Brogan 0–7, B Cahill, J Sherlock 1–1 each, C Keaney 0–3, A Brogan 0–2, C Whelan 0–1. | K Donnelly 0–3, M Conway, J Kavanagh, P O'Neill, R Sweeney, A Smith, J Doyle 0–2 each, D Earley, R Kelly, E Callaghan 0–1 each. |
Dublin | 3–23 – 0-09 | Wexford |
---|---|---|
A Brogan 1–4 (1 '45'), D Connolly 1–3, C Keaney 0–6 (0-4f), T Quinn 0–4 (0-4f), M Vaughan 1–0, J Sherlock 0–3, C Moran, B Cahill, S Ryan 0–1 each. | C Lyng 0–20 (0-4f), E Bradley 0–2, M Forde 3-2, R Barry 0–1. |
Dublin | 3–14 – 1–14 | Laois |
---|---|---|
M Vaughan 1–6 (0-5f), A Brogan, B Brogan 1–1 each, C Whelan, C Keaney (0-1f) 0–2 each, T Quinn, G Brennan 0–1 each. | M Tierney 0–7 (0-6f, 0–1 `45'), R Munnelly 1–1, C Parkinson 0–3, B McCormack, P O'Leary, B Sheehan 0–1 each. |
Dublin | 1–15 – 0–09 | Offaly |
---|---|---|
T Quinn 0–7 (0-3f), J Sherlock 1–1, A Brogan 0–4, C Keaney 0–3 (0-1f). | N McNamee 0–4 (0-1f), T Deehan, C McManus (0-2f) 0–2 each, A McNamee 0–1. |
Dublin | 0–14 – 0–13 | Laois |
---|---|---|
T. Quinn 0-4, B. Cullen 0-3, J. Sherlock 0-2, S. O'Shaughnessy, C. Whelan, C. Moran, A. Brogan, C. Keaney 0-1 each | R. Munnelly 0-5, C. Conway 0-4, N. Garvan, D. Brennan 0-2 each |
Westmeath | 0–13 – 0–13 | Laois |
---|---|---|
D. Glennon 0-5, D. Dolan 0-4, F. Wilson, J. Fallon 0-2 each | B. McDonald, C. Conway 0-3 each, R. Munnelly, S. Cooke 0-2 each, M. Lawlor, K. Fitzpatrick, D. Rooney 0-1 each |
Westmeath | 0–12 – 0–10 | Laois |
---|---|---|
A. Mangan 0-4, D. Dolan 0-3, D. Glennon 0-2, M. Ennis, B. Morley, F. Wilson 0-1 each | R. Munnelly 0-3, K. Fitzpatrick 0-2, T. Kelly, P. Clancy, B. McDonald, D. Brennan, C. Parkinson 0-1 each |
![]() | 2–13 – 1–13 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
B McDonald 1–2, R Munnelly 1–1, I Fitzgerald 0–4, T Kelly 0–2, G Kavanagh, P Clancy, B Brennan, D Miller 0–1 each. | J Doyle 0–5 (0-4f), P Murray 0–4 (0-3f), R Sweeney 1–0 pen, S McKenzie-Smyth 0–2, P Brennan, G Ryan 0–1 each. |
Meath | 2–11 – 0–14 | Dublin |
---|---|---|
R. Kealy 1-1, G. Geraghty 1-0, E. Kelly, T. Giles 0-3 each, D. Curtis 0-2, O. Murphy, R. Magee 0-1 each | C. Moran 0-4, C. Whelan, D. Farrell, W. McCarthy, 0-3 each, J. Sherlock 0-1 |
Kildare | 0–14 – 0–14 | Dublin |
---|---|---|
B Stynes, J Sherlock, C Moran 0-3 each, J Gavin (f), C Whelan, D Farrell, J Magee, V Murphy 0-1 each | P Brennan 0-5 (4f), T Fennin, J Doyle 0-3 (2f) 0-3 each, A Rainbow, R Sweeney, M Lynch 0-1 each |
Kildare | 2–11 – 0–12 | Dublin |
---|---|---|
P Brennan 0-5, D Earley, T Fennin 1-0 each, W McCreery, J Doyle 0-2 each, M Lynch, B Murphy 0-1 each | C Moran 0-3, C Whelan, D Farrell, V Murphy 0-2 each, J Gavin, B Stynes, J Sherlock 0-1 each |
Managers
Managers in the Leinster Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players from the club championships. Their influence varies from county-to-county and is related to the individual county boards. From 2018, all inter-county head coaches must be Award 2 qualified. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and an extensive backroom team consisting of various coaches. Prior to the development of the concept of a manager in the 1970s, teams were usually managed by a team of selectors with one member acting as chairman.
Manager | Team(s) | Wins | Winning years |
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Meath | 8 | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001 |
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Dublin | 7 | 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985 |
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Dublin | 7 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
![]() |
Dublin | 4 | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
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Offaly | 3 | 1971, 1972, 1973 |
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Offaly | 3 | 1980, 1981, 1982 |
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Dublin | 3 | 1993, 1994, 1995 |
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Kildare Laois |
3 | 1998, 2000, 2003 |
![]() |
Dublin | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2012 |
![]() |
Dublin | 2 | 1977, 1978 |
![]() |
Offaly Dublin |
2 | 1997, 2002 |
![]() |
Dublin | 1 | 1989 |
![]() |
Dublin | 1 | 1992 |
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Westmeath | 1 | 2004 |
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Meath | 1 | 2010 |
Records and statistics
Teams by decade
The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Leinster Senior Football Championship titles, is as follows:
- 1880s: 1 each for Kilkenny (1888) and Laois (1889)
- 1890s: 7 for Dublin (1891-92-94-96-97-98-99)
- 1900s: 6 for Dublin (1901-02-04-06-07-08)
- 1910s: 6 for Wexford (1913–14-15-16-17-18)
- 1920s: 5 for Dublin (1920-21-22-23-24)
- 1930s: 3 each for Kildare (1930-31-35), Dublin (1932-33-34) and Laois (1936-37-38)
- 1940s: 3 for Meath (1940-47-49)
- 1950s: 3 each for Louth (1950-53-57), Meath (1951-52-54) and Dublin (1955-58-59)
- 1960s: 3 each for Offaly (1960-61-69), Dublin (1962-63-65) and Meath (1964-66-67)
- 1970s: 6 for Dublin (1974-75-76-77-78-79)
- 1980s: 4 for Dublin (1983-84-85-89)
- 1990s: 4 each for Meath (1990-91-96-99) and Dublin (1992-93-94-95)
- 2000s: 6 for Dublin (2002-05-06-07-08-09)
- 2010s: 9 for Dublin (2011-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19)
Other records
Gaps
- Longest gaps between successive Leinster titles:
- 57 years: Laois (1946-2003)
- 44 years: Meath (1895-1939)
- 42 years: Kildare (1956-1998)
- 31 years: Louth (1912-1943)
- 20 years: Wexford (1925-1945)
Most successive titles
- 9 in a row
- Dublin (2011-19)
- 6 in a row
- Wexford (1913-18)
- Kildare (1926-31)
- Dublin (1974-79)
- 5 in a row
- Dublin (2005-09)
See also
References
- https://leinstergaa.ie/leinster-gaa/archive/leinster-gaa-trophies/
- "GAA agree on name for Leinster trophy". Breaking News .ie. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- https://amp.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/dublin-became-a-football-force-after-the-team-went-only-dubs-need-apply-31536699.html
- https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/captain-s-log-the-voyage-that-foundered-before-dublin-discovered-route-forward-1.2357113?mode=amp
- Smith, Raymond (1968). "Chapter 4 - Wexford's Four-in-a-row". The Football Immortals. Dublin: Bruce Spicer Ltd. pp. 50–61.
- Moran, Seán (11 September 2019). "Remembering when Kerry kicked ahead of Dublin 78 years ago: This year will be only the third replay between the counties, and the first in Croke Park". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
Dublin... hadn't won Leinster for seven years and didn't go into the All-Ireland semi-final as provincial champions – they were nominated by the province because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak that year, which caused the Leinster final against Carlow to be postponed until November. Postscript: Dublin won by 4-6 to 1-4.
- Keys, Colm (26 September 2019). "Leinster say no to All-Ireland champions Dublin getting bye to semi-final". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 26 September 2019.