Leinster Senior Football Championship
The Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship, known simply as the Leinster Championship, is an annual inter-county Gaelic football competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the highest inter-county Gaelic football competition in the province of Leinster, and has been contested every year since the 1888 championship.
Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship | |
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Current season or competition:![]() | |
Irish | Craobh Sinsir Peile Laighean |
Code | Gaelic football |
Founded | 1888 |
Region | Leinster (GAA) |
Trophy | Delaney Cup |
No. of teams | 11 |
Title holders | ![]() |
Most titles | ![]() |
Sponsors | SuperValu, Eir, AIB |
TV partner(s) | RTÉ Sky Sports |
Motto | Be there. All the way. |
Official website | Official website |
The final, currently held on the fourth Sunday in June, serves as the culmination of a series of games played during May and June, and the results determine which team receives the Delaney Cup. The championship has always been played on a straight knockout basis whereby once a team loses they are eliminated from the championship.
The Leinster Championship is an integral part of the wider GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship. The winners of the Leinster final, like their counterparts in Connacht, Munster and Ulster, are rewarded by advancing directly to the All-Ireland Super 8s. All other defeated teams advance to the All-Ireland Qualifiers.
11 teams currently participate in the Leinster Championship. One of the most successful team in Gaelic football, namely Dublin, play their provincial football in the Leinster Championship and have won the title on a record 59 occasions while they have also claimed 29 All-Ireland Championship titles.
The title has been won at least once by 11 of the Leinster counties, eight of which have won the title more than once. Wicklow are the only team never to have won the title, while three-time winners Kilkenny no longer participate.[1] The championship has been dominated since the beginning by Dublin, who are also the current champions.[2]
Current team details
The following teams will compete during the 2021 championship.
Team | Colours | Sponsor | Manager | Captain | Most recent success | |
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All-Ireland | Provincial | |||||
Carlow | ![]() |
Niall Carew | ||||
Dublin | ![]() |
AIG | Dessie Farrell | Stephen Cluxton | ||
Kildare | ![]() |
Jack O'Connor | ||||
Laois | ![]() |
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Longford | ![]() |
Padraic Davis | ||||
Louth | ![]() |
Mickey Harte | ||||
Meath | ![]() |
Andy McEntee | ||||
Offaly | ![]() |
John Maughan | ||||
Westmeath | ![]() |
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Wexford | ![]() |
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Wicklow | ![]() |
Joule | Davy Burke | Dean Healy |
Team | Position in 2020 |
Championship titles |
Last Championship title |
---|---|---|---|
Carlow | First round | 1 | 1944 |
Dublin | Winners | 59 | 2020 |
Kildare | Semi-finalist | 13 | 2000 |
Laois | Semi-finalist | 6 | 2003 |
Longford | Quarter-finalist | 1 | 1968 |
Louth | First round | 8 | 1957 |
Meath | Runners-up | 21 | 2010 |
Offaly | Quarter-finalist | 10 | 1997 |
Westmeath | Quarter-finalist | 1 | 2004 |
Wexford | First round | 10 | 1945 |
Wicklow | Quarter-finalist | 0 |
History
Development
Following the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884, new rules for Gaelic football and hurling were drawn up and published in the United Irishman newspaper. In 1886, county committees began to be established, with several counties affiliating over the next few years. The GAA ran its inaugural All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1887. The decision to establish that first championship was influenced by several factors. Firstly, inter-club contests in 1885 and 1886 were wildly popular and began to draw huge crowds. Clubs started to travel across the country to play against each other and these matches generated intense interest as the newspapers began to speculate which teams might be considered the best in the country. Secondly, although the number of clubs was growing, many were slow to affiliate to the Association, leaving it short of money. Establishing a central championship held the prospect of enticing GAA clubs to process their affiliations, just as the establishment of the FA Cup had done much in the 1870s to promote the development of the Football Association in England. The championships were open to all affiliated clubs who would first compete in county-based competitions, to be run by local county committees. The winners of each county championship would then proceed to represent that county in the All-Ireland series.[3] For the first and only time in its history the All-Ireland Championship used an open draw format. 12 teams entered the first championship, however, this number increased to 15 in 1888. Because of this, and in an effort to reduce travelling costs, the GAA decided to introduce provincial championships.
Beginnings
The inaugural Leinster Championship featured Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Meath, Queen's County, Wexford and Wicklow. Dublin and Kildare contested the very first match on Sunday 3 June 1888. Wicklow beat Wexford in the third quarter-final a month later, however, a replay was ordered after the game was stopped with ten minutes to go as a result of a pitch invasion, and it was also revealed that Wicklow had played a number of illegal player. Postponements, disqualifications, objections, withdrawals and walkovers were regular occurrences during the initial years of the championship. The inaugural Leinster final between Kilkenny and Wexford was played on Sunday 23 September 1888, with Kilkenny claiming a 1-04 to 0-02 victory.
Team dominance
The first years of the Leinster Championship saw one of the most equitable eras in terms of titles won, with five different teams claiming their inaugural titles between 1888 and 1895. In winning the 1892 Leinster final, Dublin, as well as becoming the first team to retain the title, also set in train a level of championship dominance that continues to the present day. After two decades of dominance, Wexford broke the hegemony by setting a new record of six successive titles between 1913 and 1918. Dublin remained the standard-bearers of the province, however, Kildare emerged as a new force, winning eight titles between 1919 and 1935. Since winning their second ever title in 1939, Meath enjoyed some brief periods of dominance and claimed titles in each of the decades that followed to eventually become second only to Dublin in the all-time roll of honour by 1970. A Dublin resurgence in the 1970s was followed by Meath's most successful era, winning eight titles between 1986 and 2001 under Seán Boylan. The first two decades of the 21st Century has seen Dublin win 16 of a possible 21 Leinster Championship titles, including a new record of ten-in-a-row between 2011 and 2020.
Current format
Overview
The Leinster Championship is a single elimination tournament. Each team is afforded only one defeat before being eliminated from the championship. The draw is seeded, with the previous year's semi-finalists receiving byes to the quarter-finals. Six of the remaining seven teams are drawn together in three first round matches, while the seventh team also receives a bye to the quarter-finals.
In September 2019, the Leinster Council decided against awarding champions Dublin a bye into the semi-final stage; instead deciding to retain the status quo. The Leinster Council did, however, introduce a semi-final draw scheduled for the Sunday night when all quarter-final winners were confirmed, meaning that semi-finalists would not know if they were on the champions' side of the draw until two weeks before the game.[4]
Progression
Teams entering in this round | Teams advancing from previous round | ||
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First round (6 teams) |
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Quarter-finals (8 teams) |
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Semi-finals (4 teams) |
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Final (2 teams) |
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Qualification for subsequent competitions
As of the 2021 championship, qualification for the All-Ireland Championship will change due to the creation of a tier 2 championship known as the Tailteann Cup. The Leinster champions will continue to automatically qualify for the All-Ireland Super 8s. National League Division 3 and 4 teams who fail to reach the Leinster final will automatically qualify for the Tailteann Cup. All other teams from Division 1 and 2 will progress to the All-Ireland Qualifiers.[5]
Venues
![](../I/Croke_park_hogan_stand.jpg.webp)
History
Leinster Championship matches were traditionally played at neutral venues or at a location that was deemed to be halfway between the two participants; however, teams eventually came to home and away agreements. Every second meeting between these teams is played at the home venue of one of them. Championship semi-finals were usually played both on the same day at Croke Park. The selection of Croke Park for the vast majority of Dublin's games in recent years has also come in for criticism in recent years, as it offers a perceived advantage to play in what is effectively their "home" stadium.[6][7]
Attendances
Stadium attendances are a significant source of regular income for the Leinster Council and for the teams involved. For the 2018 championship, gate receipts fell by almost 30% to €1,879,326, compared to €2,634,837 the previous year. The average attendance for the entire series of games was just over 20,000, down from a peak of over 60,000 in 2002.[8][9] The 2006 final between Dublin and Offaly saw a record attendance of 81,754.[10]
Roll of honour
Team | Wins | Years won | Runners-up | Years runners up | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dublin | 59 | 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, 2020 | 23 | 1890, 1895, 1910, 1912, 1915, 1917, 1919, 1927, 1928, 1944, 1957, 1961, 1964, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
2 | Meath | 21 | 1895, 1939, 1940, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2010 | 22 | 1894, 1896, 1911, 1923, 1930, 1950, 1955, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 |
3 | Kildare | 13 | 1903, 1905, 1919, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1956, 1998, 2000 | 22 | 1891, 1906, 1908, 1916, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1936, 1938, 1946, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1978, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2017 |
5 | Wexford | 10 | 1890, 1893, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1925, 1945 | 16 | 1888, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1924, 1926, 1932, 1933, 1939, 1948, 1953, 1956, 2008, 2011 |
Offaly | 10 | 1960, 1961, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1997 | 9 | 1907, 1945, 1954, 1962, 1967, 1970, 1979, 1983, 2006 | |
6 | Louth | 8 | 1909, 1910, 1912, 1943, 1948, 1950, 1953, 1957 | 14 | 1889, 1892, 1900, 1905, 1913, 1914, 1918, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1952, 1958, 1960, 2010 |
7 | Laois | 6 | 1889, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1946, 2003 | 15 | 1929, 1940, 1943, 1947, 1951, 1959, 1963, 1968, 1981, 1985, 1991, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2018 |
8 | Kilkenny | 3 | 1888, 1900, 1911 | 5 | 1893, 1903, 1904, 1909, 1922 |
9 | Westmeath | 1 | 2004 | 3 | 1931, 1949, 2015 |
Carlow | 1 | 1944 | 2 | 1941, 1942 | |
Longford | 1 | 1968 | 1 | 1965 | |
12 | Wicklow | 0 | 1 | 1897 |
Finals
2020 | ![]() |
3-21 - 0-9 | ![]() |
Croke Park Referee: Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary) Man of the Match: Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams) |
Dean Rock 1-7 (0-5f, 1 '45), Sean Bugler 1-2, Niall Scully 1-1, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-4, Paddy Small 0-3 (0-2m), Con O'Callaghan 0-2, John Small and Paul Mannion (0-1f) 0-1 each | Report | Jordan Morris 0-4 (0-1f), Bryan Menton, Cillian O'Sulivan, Thomas O'Reilly (0-1f), Joey Wallace, Jason Scully 0-1 each |
2019 | ![]() |
1-17 - 0-4 | ![]() |
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 |
2012 | ![]() |
2-13 - 1-13 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 69,657 Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo) Man of the Match: Bernard Brogan (St. OP/ER) |
Bernard Brogan 1-7 (0-4f), Denis Bastick 1-0, Alan Brogan and Eoghan O'Gara 0-2 each, James McCarthy and Kevin McManamon 0-1 each | Report | Brian Farrell 0-7 (0-6f), Jamie Queeney 1-0, Graham Reilly 0-3, Donnacha Tobin, Joe Sheridan (1 '45), Stephen Bray 0-1 each |
2011 | ![]() |
2-12 - 1-12 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 43,983 Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan) Man of the Match: Alan Brogan (St. OP/ER) |
James McCarthy 1-0, Alan Brogan and Bernard Brogan (0-1f) 0-3 each, Stephen Cluxton (1 '45), Denis Bastick, Paul Flynn, Bryan Cullen, Kevin McManamon, Ross McConnell 0-1 each, Graeme Molloy 1-0 o.g. | Report | Ben Brosnan 0-9 (0-5f, 2 '45), Redmond Barry 1-0, Ciaran Lyng 0-2, Adrian Flynn 0-1 |
2010 | ![]() |
1-12 - 1-10 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 48,875 Referee: Martin Sludden (Tyrone) Man of the Match: Eamonn McAuley (Na Piarsaigh) |
Graham Reilly and Cian Ward (0-4f) 0-4 each, Joe Sheridan 1-0, Stephen Bray 0-2, Anthony Moyles and Nigel Crawford 0-1 each | Report | JP Rooney 1-1, Brian White 0-4 (0-1f), Colm Judge 0-2 (0-1f), Paddy Keenan, Andy McDonnell, Adrian Reid 0-1 each |
2009 | ![]() |
2-15 - 0-18 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 74,573 Referee: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan) |
Bernard Brogan 0–7 (0-2f), Barry Cahill and Jason Sherlock 1–1 each, Conal Keaney 0–3 (0-2f), Alan Brogan 0–2, Ciaran Whelan 0–1 | Report | Ken Donnelly 0–3, Mikey Conway, James Kavanagh, Padraig O'Neill, Ronan Sweeney, Alan Smith, John Doyle 0–2 each, Dermot Earley, Robert Kelly, Eamon Callaghan 0–1 each |
2008 | ![]() |
3–23 - 0-9 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 80,112 Referee: Gearoid Ó Conamha (Galway) |
Alan Brogan 1-4 (1 '45), Diarmuid Connolly 1-3, Conal Keaney 0-6 (0-4f), Tomás Quinn 0-4f, Mark Vaughan 1–0, Jason Sherlock 0–3, Collie Moran, Barry Cahill, Shane Ryan 0–1 each | Report | Ciarán Lyng 0-4f, Eric Bradley and Matty Forde 0-2 each, Redmond Barry 0–1 |
2007 | ![]() |
3-14 - 1-14 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 81,394 Referee: Michael Hughes (Tyrone) |
Mark Vaughan 1-6 (0-5f), Alan Brogan and Bernard Brogan 1-1 each, Ciaran Whelan and Conal Keaney (0-1f) 0-2 each, Tomás Quinn and Ger Brennan 0-1 each | Report | MJ Tierney 0-7 (0-6f, 1 '45), Ross Munnelly 1-1, Colm Parkinson 0-3, Brian McCormack, Peter O'Leary, Billy Sheehan 0-1 each |
2006 | ![]() |
1-15 - 0-9 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 81,754 Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo) |
Tomás Quinn 0-7 (0-3f), Jason Sherlock 1-1, Alan Brogan 0-4, Conal Keaney 0-3 (0-1f) | Report | Niall McNamee 0-4 (0-1f), Ciaran McManus (0-2f) and Thomas Deehan 0-2 each, Alan McNamee 0-1 |
2005 | ![]() |
0-14 - 0-13 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 81,025 Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan) |
Tomás Quinn 0-4 (0-3f, 1 '45), Bryan Cullen 0-3, Jason Sherlock 0-2, Stephen O'Shaughnessy, Ciaran Whelan, Collie Moran, Alan Brogan, Conal Keaney 0-1 each | Report | Ross Munnelly 0-5 (0-2f), Chris Conway 0-4 (0-2f), Noel Garvan and Donie Brennan 0-2 each |
2004 | ![]() |
0-13 - 0-13 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 56,000 Referee: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan) |
Denis Glennon 0-5, Dessie Dolan 0-4 (0-3f), Fergal Wilson (0-2f) and Joe Fallon 0-2 each | Report | Brian McDonald 0-4 (0-2f), Ross Munnelly, Chris Conway, Shane Cooke (0-2f) 0-2 each, Darren Rooney, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Mick Lawlor 0-1 each |
2004 Replay | ![]() |
0-12 - 0-10 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 38,300 Referee: Mick Monahan (Kildare) |
Alan Mangan 0-4, Dessie Dolan 0-3 (0-1f), Denis Glennon 0-2, Michael Ennis, Brian Morley, Fergal Wilson (0-1f) 0-1 each | Report | Ross Munnelly 0-3f, Kevin Fitzpatrick 0-2, Tom Kelly, Padraig Clancy, Brian McDonald, Donie Brennan, Colm Parkinson 0-1 each |
2003 | ![]() |
2-13 - 1-13 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 61,786 Referee: Seamus McCormack (Meath) |
Brian McDonald 1-2, Ross Munnelly 1-1, Ian Fitzgerald 0-4, Tom Kelly 0-2, Padraig Clancy, Gary Kavanagh, Barry Brennan, Donal Miller 0-1 each | Report | John Doyle 0-5 (0-4f), Patrick Murray 0-4 (0-3f), Ronan Sweeney 1-0 pen, Stuart McKenzie-Smith 0-2, Glenn Ryan and Padraig Brennan 0-1 each |
2002 | ![]() |
2-13 - 2-11 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 78,033 Referee: Michael Collins (Cork) |
Ray Cosgrove 1-4 (0-2f), Alan Brogan 1-2, John McNally 0-3 (1 '45), Senan Connell 0-2, Paddy Christie and Ciaran Whelan 0-1 | Report | Tadhg Fennin 2-2, John Doyle 0-7 (0-5f), Karl O'Dwyer and Patrick Murray 0-1 each |
2001 | ![]() |
2-11 - 0-14 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 66,275 Referee: Michael Curley (Galway) |
Richie Kealy 1-1, Graham Geraghty 1-0, Evan Kelly and Trevor Giles (1 '45) 0-3 each, Donal Curtis 0-2, Ollie Murphy and Ray Magee 0-1 each | Report | Collie Moran 0-4, Ciaran Whelan, Dessie Farrell, Wayne McCarthy (0-3f) 0-3 each, Jason Sherlock 0-1 |
2000 | ![]() |
0-14 - 0-14 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 50,066 Referee: Paddy Russell (Tipperary) |
Padraig Brennan 0-5 (0-4f), John Doyle (0-2f) and Tadhg Fennin 0-3 each, Anthony Rainbow, Martin Lynch, Ronan Sweeney 0-1 each | Report | Brian Stynes, Collie Moran, Jason Sherlock 0-3 each, Johnny Magee, Ciaran Whelan, Dessie Farrell, Jim Gavin (0-1f), Vinnie Murphy 0-1 each |
2000 Replay | ![]() |
2-11 - 0-12 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 51,156 Referee: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan) |
Padraig Brennan 0-5 (0-4f), Dermot Earley and Tadhg Fennin 1-0 each, Willie McCreery and John Doyle (0-2f) 0-2 each, Martin Lynch and Bryan Murphy 0-1 each | Report | Collie Moran 0-3, Ciaran Whelan, Jim Gavin (0-2f), Dessie Farrell 0-2 each, Brian Stynes (0-1f), Jason Sherlock, Vinnie Murphy (0-1f) 0-1 each |
1999 | ![]() |
1-14 - 0-12 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 56,315 Referee: Michael Curley (Galway) |
Ollie Murphy 1-5, Trevor Giles 0-5 (0-4f), Graham Geraghty 0-2, Hank Traynor and Nigel Nestor 0-1 each | Report | Declan Darcy 0-6f, Jim Gavin 0-5 (0-3f), Ciaran Whelan 0-1 |
1998 | ![]() |
1-12 - 0-10 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 62,504 Referee: John Bannon (Longford) |
Padraig Graven 0-4f, Bryan Murphy 1-0, Willie McCreery, Eddie McCormack, Karl O'Dwyer 0-2 each, Anthony Rainbow and Declan Kerrigan 0-1 each | Report | Trevor Giles (0-2f) and Ray Magee (0-2f) 0-3 each, John McDermott, Tommy Dowd, Ollie Murphy, Jody Devine 0-1 each |
1997 | ![]() |
3-17 - 1-15 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 46,047 Referee: Brian White (Wexford) Man of the Match: Vinny Claffey (Doon) |
Roy Malone 2-0, Vinny Claffey 1-5, Colm Quinn 0-4, David Reynolds (0-1f) and Peter Brady 0-3 each, Ciaran McManus (0-1f) and Ronan Mooney 0-1 each | Brendan Reilly 0-7 (0-3f, 1 '45), Jimmy McGuinness 1-2, Trevor Giles and Ollie Murphy 0-3 each |
1996 | ![]() |
0–10 – 0–08 | ![]() |
Croke Park Referee: Brain White (Wexford) |
T Giles 0-4, T Dowd 0-2, B Reilly 0-2, E Kelly 0-1, B Callaghan 0-1. | C Redmond 0-3, C Whelan 0-2, E Herry 0-1, B Stynes 0-1, D Farrell 0-1. |
1995 | ![]() |
1-18 - 1-8 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 63,000 Referee: Pat Casserly (Westmeath) |
Charlie Redmond 0-7 (0-6f), Paul Clarke 1-2, Dessie Farrell 0-3 (0-1f), Paul Curran and Jason Sherlock 0-2 each, Jim Gavin and Mick Galvin 0-1 each | Report | Evan Kelly 1-0, Trevor Giles 0-3f, Colm O'Rourke 0-2, Graham Geraghty, Jody Devine, Brian Stafford 0-1 each |
1994 | ![]() |
1-09 - 1-08 | ![]() |
Croke Park Referee: Brian White (Wexford) |
Charlie Redmond 1-4 (0-4f), Brian Stynes 0-2, Niall Guiden, Dessie Farrell, Paul Clarke 0-1 each | Report | Graham Geraghty 1-2, Jimmy McGuinness, Brendan Reilly, Colm O'Rourke, Bernard Flynn, Tommy Dowd, PJ Gillic 0-1 each |
1993 | ![]() |
0-11 - 0-07 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 59,696 Referee: Tommy McDermott (Cavan) Man of the Match: Jack Sheedy (Lucan Sarsfields) |
Charlie Redmond 0-5 (0-3f, 1 '45), Pat Gilroy, Dessie Farrell, Paul Bealin, Vinnie Murphy, Mick Galvin, Johnny Barr 0-1 each | Report | Niall Buckley 0-4f, Sean McGovern, Johnny McDonald, Declan Kerrigan 0-1 each |
1992 | ![]() |
1-13 - 0-10 | ![]() |
Croke Park Attendance: 60,271 Referee: Brian White (Wexford) Man of the Match: Keith Barr (Erin's Isle) |
Charlie Redmond 0-5 (0-4f,1'45), Keith Barr 1-0, Vinnie Murphy 0-3, Paul Curran, Eamon Heery, Paul Clarke, Dessie Farrell, Mick Galvin 0-1 each | Report | Niall Buckley 0-4 (0-3f), Martin Lynch and Paul McLoughlin 0-2, Brian Fahy and Johnny McDonald 0-1 each |
1991 | Meath | 1–11 – 0–08 | Laois | Croke Park Referee: T Howard (Kildare) |
B Stafford 0-5, D Beggy 1-0, B Flynn 0-3, C Coyle 0-2, C O'Rourke 0-1. | M Turley 0-4, L Turley 0-2, P Roe 0-1. |
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 |
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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 |
2 1 |
1998, 2000 2003 |
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Dublin | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2012 |
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Dublin | 2 | 1977, 1978 |
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Offaly Dublin |
2 | 1997, 2002 |
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Dublin | 1 | 1989 |
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Dublin | 1 | 1992 |
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Westmeath | 1 | 2004 |
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Meath | 1 | 2010 |
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Dublin | 1 | 2020 |
Trophy and medals
![](../I/Kickout_2012.jpg.webp)
At the end of the Leinster final, the winning team is presented with a trophy. The Delaney Cup is held by the winning team until the following year's final. Traditionally, the presentation is made at a special rostrum in the Hogan Stand of Croke Park where GAA and political dignitaries and special guests view the match.
The cup is decorated with ribbons in the colours of the winning team. During the game the cup actually has both teams' sets of ribbons attached and the runners-up ribbons are removed before the presentation. The winning captain accepts the cup on behalf of his team before giving a short speech. Individual members of the winning team and management then have an opportunity to come to the rostrum to lift the cup.
The current cup was first presented after the 1953 final, however, it would be another 50 years before it was named the Delaney Cup.[11] The Delaney brothers were a famous Gaelic football family from Portlaoise who lined out at club, county and provincial level.[12]
In accordance with GAA rules, the Leinster Council awards up to twenty-six gold medals to the winners of the Leinster final.
Sponsorship
Since 1994, the Leinster Championship has been sponsored. The sponsor has usually been able to determine the championship's sponsorship name.
Period | Sponsor(s) | Name |
---|---|---|
1888-1993 | No main sponsor | The Leinster Championship |
1994-2007 | ![]() |
The Bank of Ireland Leinster Championship |
2008-2009 | ![]() ![]() |
The Leinster GAA Football Championship |
2010 | ![]() ![]() |
The Leinster GAA Football Championship |
2011-2013 | ![]() ![]() |
The Leinster GAA Football Championship |
2014 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Leinster GAA Football Championship |
2015 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Leinster GAA Football Championship |
2016- | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Leinster GAA Football Championship |
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)
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)
Players
All time
Pos. | Name | Team | Goals | Points | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brian Stafford | Meath | 9 | 152 | 179 |
2 | Barney Rock | Dublin | 10 | 136 | 166 |
3 | Tony McTague | Offaly | 3 | 149 | 158 |
4 | Jimmy Keaveney | Dublin | 10 | 125 | 155 |
5 | Charlie Redmond | Dublin | 6 | 124 | 142 |
By year
Year | Top scorer | Team | Score | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | John Lalor | Laois | 1-22 | 25 |
1969 | Jack Berry | Wexford | 2-18 | 24 |
1970 | Jim Hanniffy | Longford | 1-21 | 24 |
Tony Brennan | Meath | 0-21 | ||
1971 | Tony McTague | Offaly | 1-20 | 23 |
1972 | Tony McTague | Offaly | 0-14 | 14 |
1973 | Tony McTague | Offaly | 0-22 | 22 |
1974 | Jimmy Keaveney | Dublin | 1-24 | 27 |
1975 | Jimmy Keaveney | Dublin | 1-23 | 26 |
1976 | Jimmy Keaveney | Dublin | 4-11 | 23 |
1977 | Vincent Henry | Offaly | 1-18 | 21 |
1978 | John McCarthy | Dublin | 4-09 | 21 |
1979 | Seán Lowry | Offaly | 0-21 | 21 |
1980 | Matt Connor | Offaly | 3-22 | 31 |
1981 | Tom Prendergast | Laois | 6-05 | 23 |
Matt Connor | Offaly | 1-20 | ||
1982 | Barney Rock | Dublin | 1-18 | 21 |
1983 | Matt Connor | Offaly | 3-19 | 28 |
1984 | Matt Connor | Offaly | 2-17 | 23 |
1985 | Barney Rock | Dublin | 2-13 | 19 |
1986 | Robert McHugh | Wicklow | 0-16 | 16 |
1987 | Barney Rock | Dublin | 0-23 | 23 |
1988 | John McCormack | Longford | 1-21 | 24 |
1989 | Brian Stafford | Meath | 1-19 | 22 |
1990 | Mick Turley | Laois | 2-12 | 18 |
1991 | Brian Stafford | Meath | 4-48 | 60 |
1992 | Charlie Redmond | Dublin | 1-20 | 23 |
1993 | Niall Buckley | Kildare | 1-17 | 20 |
1994 | Charlie Redmond | Dublin | 3-20 | 29 |
1995 | Charlie Redmond | Dublin | 0-23 | 23 |
1996 | Anthony Keating | Carlow | 1-19 | 22 |
1997 | Trevor Giles | Meath | 2-18 | 24 |
1998 | Ger Heavin | Westmeath | 2-14 | 20 |
1999 | Dessie Dolan | Westmeath | 2-13 | 19 |
2000 | Leigh O'Brien | Wexford | 0-21 | 21 |
2001 | Trevor Giles | Meath | 1-14 | 17 |
2002 | Ray Cosgrove | Dublin | 3-12 | 21 |
2003 | Brian McDonald | Laois | 2-13 | 19 |
2004 | Dessie Dolan | Westmeath | 1-23 | 26 |
2005 | Tomás Quinn | Dublin | 0-20 | 20 |
2006 | Mattie Forde | Wexford | 1-19 | 22 |
2007 | Mark Vaughan | Dublin | 2-17 | 23 |
2008 | Alan Brogan | Dublin | 2-12 | 18 |
2009 | Bernard Brogan | Dublin | 2-17 | 23 |
2010 | Cian Ward | Meath | 1-21 | 24 |
2011 | Ben Brosnan | Wexford | 0-29 | 29 |
2012 | Brian Farrell | Meath | 0-29 | 29 |
2013 | Michael Newman | Meath | 0-22 | 22 |
2014 | Michael Newman | Meath | 4-04 | 16 |
Ross Munnelly | Laois | 0-16 | ||
2015 | John Heslin | Westmeath | 1-23 | 26 |
2016 | Dean Rock | Dublin | 1-28 | 31 |
2017 | Dean Rock | Dublin | 2-11 | 17 |
Con O'Callaghan | Dublin | 0-17 | ||
2018 | Dean Rock | Dublin | 2-16 | 22 |
2019 | Cormac Costello | Dublin | 1-24 | 27 |
2020 | Jordan Morris | Meath | 4-09 | 21 |
Single game
Year | Top scorer | Team | Score | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | Damien Delaney | Laois | 2-05 | 11 |
1996 | Dessie Barry | Longford | 2-05 | 11 |
1997 | Trevor Giles | Meath | 2-08 | 14 |
1998 | Dessie Barry | Longford | 0-09 | 9 |
1999 | Dessie Dolan | Westmeath | 1-07 | 10 |
2000 | Tommy Gill | Wicklow | 1-06 | 9 |
Pádraig Davis | Longford | 0-09 | ||
2001 | Ollie Murphy | Meath | 2-02 | 8 |
Pádraig Davis | Longford | 1-05 | ||
Pádraig Davis | Longford | 1-05 | ||
Ger Heavin | Westmeath | 1-05 | ||
Trevor Giles | Meath | 1-05 | ||
Pádraig Brennan | Kildare | 0-08 | ||
2002 | Ray Cosgrove | Dublin | 2-03 | 9 |
Ciaran McManus | Offaly | 1-06 | ||
2003 | Dessie Dolan | Westmeath | 1-07 | 10 |
2004 | Dessie Dolan | Westmeath | 1-07 | 10 |
2005 | Tomás Quinn | Dublin | 0-10 | 10 |
2006 | Mattie Forde | Wexford | 0-12 | 12 |
2007 | Brian Kavanagh | Longford | 2-06 | 12 |
2008 | Alan Brogan | Dublin | 1-07 | 10 |
2009 | Bernard Brogan | Dublin | 2-08 | 14 |
2010 | Bernard Brogan | Dublin | 2-04 | 10 |
2011 | Shane Roche | Wexford | 2-04 | 10 |
Ciarán Lyng | Wexford | 0-10 | ||
2012 | Bernard Brogan | Dublin | 2-05 | 11 |
2013 | Michael Newman | Meath | 0-09 | 9 |
2014 | Michael Newman | Meath | 3-02 | 11 |
2015 | John Heslin | Westmeath | 1-09 | 12 |
2016 | Dean Rock | Dublin | 1-10 | 13 |
2017 | Con O'Callaghan | Dublin | 0-12 | 12 |
2018 | Ciarán Kilkenny | Dublin | 1-07 | 10 |
2019 | Cormac Costello | Dublin | 1-12 | 15 |
2020 | Jordan Morris | Meath | 3-04 | 13 |
Finals
Leinster medal winners
Rank | Player | Team | No. | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Stephen Cluxton | Dublin | 16 | 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
2 | Bernard Brogan | Dublin | 13 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
3 | Philly McMahon | Dublin | 12 | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
Paddy Andrews | Dublin | 12 | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 | |
4 | Alan Brogan | Dublin | 11 | 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
Diarmuid Connolly | Dublin | 11 | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 | |
Cian O'Sullivan | Dublin | 11 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
Team progress since 2001
Below is a record of each county's performance since the introduction of the qualifier system to the All-Ireland series in 2001. From 2021, the All-Ireland series will be tiered.
- Key
Winner |
Final |
Semi Final |
Quarter Final / Super 8s |
Qualifier Rounds 1-4 / Tommy Murphy Cup |
Championship | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carlow | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | TM | TM | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q1 | Q1 |
Dublin | QF | SF | Q3 | QF | QF | SF | SF | QF | QF | SF | W | SF | W | SF | W | W | W | W | W |
Kildare | Q3 | Q4 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | QF | QF | SF | QF | QF | Q3 | Q4 | QF | Q3 | Q4 | S8s | Q3 |
Laois | Q3 | Q3 | QF | Q4 | QF | QF | Q4 | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | QF | Q4 | Q3 | Q1 | Q2 | Q2 | Q4 | Q4 |
Longford | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q3 | Q1 | Q4 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | Q3 | Q3 | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 |
Louth | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q1 | Q3 | Q1 | Q1 | Q4 | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 |
Meath | F | Q4 | Q3 | Q2 | Q3 | Q3 | SF | Q1 | SF | QF | Q3 | Q4 | Q4 | Q4 | Q2 | Q2 | Q3 | Q1 | S8s |
Offaly | Q2 | Q2 | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Q4 | TM | Q1 | Q1 | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
Westmeath | QF | Q2 | Q1 | QF | Q2 | QF | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q4 | Q4 | Q2 | Q1 | Q3 |
Wexford | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q3 | Q2 | Q3 | Q1 | SF | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q2 | Q3 | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 |
Wicklow | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | TM | TM | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 |
See also
References
- O'Riordan, Ian (26 May 2018). "Wicklow football still has a mountain to climb". Irish Times. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- Roche, Frank (21 November 2020). "Dublin make it perfect ten in Leinster with facile beating of Meath on emotional night in Croke Park". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- Rouse, Paul. "How Leix Won the All-Ireland Hurling Championship of 1915". Century Ireland. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- Keys, Colm (26 September 2019). "Leinster say no to All-Ireland champions Dublin getting bye to semi-final". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- Fogarty, John (29 February 2020). "New second tier All-Ireland football championship to be called Tailteann Cup". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- O'Toole, Fintan (7 May 2015). "Here's the official reason why Dublin's footballers play all their Leinster games in Croke Park". The 42. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- Ó Scannáil, Mícheál (29 June 2018). "Comment: Croke Park is in Dublin but it wasn't built for them - the GAA must not let them have two home Super 8 games". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- "Leinster football gate receipts down nearly 30%". RTÉ Sport. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- Keane, Paul (7 June 2019). "Leinster bosses not worried by falling attendances". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- "Dubs see off Offaly challenge". Irish Examiner. 16 July 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- "GAA agree on name for Leinster trophy". Irish Examiner. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- "Sadness at loss of true GAA legend". Irish Independent. 4 July 2002. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- O'Brien, Brendan (21 November 2020). "Dublin secure perfect 10 on emotional night at Croke Park". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 December 2020.