2017 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship

All-Ireland Minor Football Championship 2017

Championship details
Dates	April – 17 September 2017
Teams	31
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Kerry (15th win)
Captain	David Clifford
Manager	Peter Keane
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Derry
Captain	Padraig McGrogan
Manager	Damian McErlain
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Dublin
Ulster	Derry
Connacht	Galway
Championship statistics
Player of the Year	David Clifford
← 2016 2018 →

The 2017 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship was the GAA's premier inter-county gaelic football competition for under 18's. 31 county teams from Ireland competed (Kilkenny did not participate).

2017 was the final year of this competition with an under 18 age limit; an under 17 championship with a new format replaced it after a vote at the GAA congress on 26 February 2016.

The winners received the Tom Markham Cup.

Kerry won their fourth minor title in a row, defeating Derry in the final on 17 September 2017 by 6-17 to 1-08. This was the first time that any county had won four minor titles in a row. ^[1]

Teams

Thirty one teams contested the championship as Kilkenny withdrew after competing in 2016. New York and London did not participate in this competition.

Format

Provincial Championships

Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster organised four provincial championships. Each province determined the format for deciding their champions and it could have been a league, group, knock-out, double-elimination, etc. or a combination of these. The format for the 2017 championships are explained in the sections below.

All-Ireland

The four provincial winners play the four provincial runners-up in the All-Ireland quarter finals. Two semi-finals and a final follow. The final is normally played before the All-Ireland senior final on the third Sunday in September. All these matches are knock-out.

Provincial championships

Connacht Minor Football Championship

Connacht Format

All five Connacht counties competed in a straight knock-out format.

Connacht Main Draw

	Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Connacht Final
						Galway		1-13
	Mayo		0-11			Roscommon		1-6
	Galway		3-15								Galway		3-11
											Sligo		0-10
						Sligo		3-12
						Leitrim		3-7

Connacht Quarter-final

Quarter-final	Mayo	0-11 - 3-15	Galway	McHale Park Referee: E O’Grady (Leitrim)
	John Gallagher 0-4f, Tommy Conory 0-2, Michael McGarry, Cathal Slattery, Kuba Callaghan, Dylan Prendergast, Mikie Conroy 0-1 each		Daniel Kenny 2-0, Evan Murphy 0-5 (0-4f), Rory Cunningham 0-3, Martin Kerrigan 1-0, Darragh Silke (0-2f) and Padraic Costello 0-2 each Matthias Barrett, Matthew Tierney (0-1f), Conor Campbell 0-1 each

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Connacht Semi-finals

28 June 2017 Semi-final	Galway	1-13 - 1-6	Roscommon	Pearse Stadium, Salthill Referee: Eamonn O’Grady (Leitrim)
	Conor Newell 1-0, Liam Boyle 0-3, Brian Harlowe, Darragh Silke, Padraic Costello (0-1f) 0-2 each, Eoin McFadden, Matthias Barrett, Evan Murphy (0-1f), Conor Campbell 0-1 each	Report	Brian Derwin 1-3 (0-2f), Ronan Dowd 0-2, Sean Henry 0-1

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28 June 2017 Semi-final	Sligo	3-12 - 3-7	Leitrim	Markievicz Park Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
	Red Og Murphy 1-2 (0-2f), Conall Ryan 0-4, Evan Lavin and Ryan Walsh 1-1 each, Luke Towey 0-2, Barry Gorman and Roland Anderson 0-1	Report	Oisin McLoughlin 2-1 (0-1f), Caleb Duffy 0-3, Jordan Reynolds 1-0, Evan Harkin, Aaron Hoare, Riordan O'Rourke (0-1f) 0-1 each

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Connacht final

10 July 2016 2.00 PM Final	Galway	3-11 - 0-10	Sligo	Pearse Stadium Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
	Darragh Silke 0-4 (0-3f), Padraic Costello 1-1, Conor Campbell and Daniel Kenny 1-0, Matthias Barrett 0-2, Liam Boyle, Evan Murphy, Martin Kerrigan, Rory Cunningham	Report	Red Og Murphy (0-2f) and Conall Ryan 0-3 each, Niall Colsh, Barry Gorman, Luke Towey, Ryan Walsh 0-1 each

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Leinster Minor Football Championship

Leinster Format

Preliminary round

The eleven participating Leinster teams competed in six matches in the preliminary round of the main draw, with (Offaly) playing two matches due to the odd number of teams.

Losers section

The six beaten teams entered the losers' section and played four play-off matches. Two teams then re-entered the main draw at the quarter-final stage. From the quarter-finals all matches were played under a straight knock-out format.

Leinster Main Draw

First round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Leinster Final

Offaly

3-18

Wexford

0-6

Rd 1 winner

Offaly

0-13

Westmeath

1-4

QF winner

Longford

1-19

QF winner

Wicklow

3-8

Rd 1 winner

Carlow

0-9

Kildare

2-13

Dublin

1-15 aet

Meath

1-13 aet

Rd 1 winner

Laois

0-15 aet

Louth

2-11 aet

QF winner

QF winner

Rd 1 winner

Leinster Losers' Section Matches

The six beaten teams in the preliminary round of the main draw play-off in three matches. Three teams from the losers' section re-enter the main draw at the quarter-final stage.

Losers Round 1

Leinster Quarter-finalists**

Final

Wexford

2-14

Wicklow

3-7

Quarter-finalist in Main Draw

n/a

Meath

0-10

Quarter-finalist in Main Draw

n/a

Laois

0-11

Westmeath

0-17

Carlow

2-12

Quarter-finalist in Main Draw

n/a

Leinster First round

17 April 2017 Preliminary round	Wexford	0-6 - 3-18	Offaly	Enniscorthy Referee: Seamus Mulhare
	Jamie Myler (0-2f) and Mick Molloy (0-2f) 0-2 each, Eoin Porter and David Gouldson 0-1 each	Report	Cian Johnston 2-5, Cian Farrell 1-3 (0-3f), Conor Lynam 0-4 (0-1f), Mark Newman 0-2, Adam Owens, Sean Ibbotson, Sean Farrell, Nathan Poland 0-1 each

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22 April 2017 First round	Carlow	0-9 - 2-13	Kildare	Dr. Cullen Park Referee: David O'Connor
		Report

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22 April 2017 First round	Longford	1-19 - 3-8	Wicklow	Pearse Park Referee: James King
		Report

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22 April 2017 First round	Offaly	0-13 - 1-4	Westmeath	O'Connor Park Referee: Stephen Murphy
		Report

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22 April 2017 First round	Dublin	1-15 - 1-13 AET	Meath	Parnell Park Referee: Patrick Maguire
	James Doran 1-5, Ciaran Archer 0-6 (0-1f), Ross McGarry 0-2 (0-1f), Donal Ryan and Mark Tracey 0-1 each	Report	Shane Walsh 0-6 (0-3f), Conor Freyne 1-1, Jordan Morris 0-3, Adam Murphy, Sean Martin and Paddy Conway 0-1 each

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22 April 2017 First round	Laois	0-15 - 2-11 AET	Louth	O'Moore Park Referee: Niall Ward
		Report

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Leinster Losers Section

6 May 2017 Losers Section	Wexford	2-14 - 3-7	Wicklow	Wexford Park Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin)

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6 May 2017 Losers Section	Meath	0-10 - 0-11	Laois	Páirc Tailteann Referee: David Hickey (Carlow)

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7 May 2017 Losers Section	Westmeath	0-17 - 2-12	Carlow	Cusack Park, Mullingar Referee: Fergal Smyth (Offaly)

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Leinster Quarter-finals

Quarter-final	Dublin	6-12 - 0-5	Longford	Parnell Park Referee: Seamus Mulhaire (Laois)
	Ross McGarry 2-2, James Doran 1-2, Seán Hawkshaw and Adam Byrne 1-1 each, James Madden 1-0, Eoin O'Dea and Niall O'Leary 0-2 each, Darragh Conlon and David Lacey 0-1 each	Report	Dylan Farrell 0-2f, Joseph Hagan, Shane Farrell, Robbie O’Connell 0-1 each

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Quarter-final	Kildare	1-14 - 2-6	Laois	Newbridge Referee: John Hickey (Carlow)
	Darragh Ryan 1-2, David Kelly 0-5f, Shane O'Sullivan (0-1f) and Darragh Kirwan (0-1f) 0-2 each, James Carey, Ger Cunningham, David Foley 0-1 each	Report	Ciaran Comerford 1-1, Niall Dunne 1-0, Mark Barry 0-2, Alan Kinsella, Diarmuid Whelan (0-1f), Jack Owens 0-1 each

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Quarter-final	Louth	0-15 - 1-11	Offaly	Drogheda Park Referee: David Hickey

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Quarter-final	Carlow	2-8 - 1-12	Wexford	Dr. Cullen Park Referee: Stephen Murphy

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Leinster Semi-finals

Semi-final	Wexford	2-15 - 4-10	Louth	Wexford Park

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Semi-final	Kildare	0-14 - 1-16	Dublin	St. Conleth's Park Referee: John Hickey (Carlow)
	Darragh Kirwan 0-4, Jack Barrett 0-3f, Shane O’Sullivan 0-2, Darragh Ryan, Brian McDonnell, James Burke, Findlay Nairn and Jack Cully 0-1 each	Report	Ross McGarry 1-2 (0-2f), David Lacey 0-5 (0-1f), Sean Hawkshaw 0-3, Donal Ryan and Daniel Brennan 0-2 each, James Doran and Ciaran Archer 0-1 each

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Leinster final

16 July 2017 2.00 pm Final	Dublin	2-19 - 0-12	Louth	Croke Park, Dublin Referee: Patrick Maguire (Longford) Man of the Match: Kieran Kennedy
	James Doran 1-1, David Lacey 0-4 (0-1f, 1 '45), James Madden 1-0, Ross McGarry 0-3, Eoin O'Dea, Sean Hawkshaw, Ciaran Archer (0-1f) 0-2 each, Kieran Kennedy, Mark Tracey, Daniel Brennan, Adam Byrne, Luke Doran 0-1 each	Report	Ciaran Keenan (0-5f) and John Gallagher (0-3f, 1 '45) 0-5 each, Liam Jackson and Ferghal Malone 0-1 each

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GK 1 David O'Hanlon (Na Fianna) RCB 2 Darren Maher (St Patrick's, Donabate) FB 3 Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Cuala) LCB 4 Liam Flatman (Kilmacud Crokes) RHB 5 Kieran Kennedy (Ballyboden St Enda's) CHB 6 Neil Matthews (Erin's Isle) LHB 7 Eoin O'Dea (Na Fianna) MF 8 Mark Tracey (Cuala) MF 9 Donal Ryan (Na Fianna) (c) RHF 10 Daniel Brennan (St Sylvester's) CHF 11 James Doran (Na Fianna) LHF 12 James Madden (Ballyboden St Enda's) RCF 13 Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda's) FF 14 Seán Hawkshaw (Naomh Mearnóg) LCF 15 David Lacey (Na Fianna) Substitutes: 16 Adam Byrne (Naomh Ólaf) for Brennan 17 Ciarán Archer (St Maur's) for Lacey 18 Aaron Lynch (St Sylvester's) for Maher 19 Luke Doran (Naomh Ólaf) for O'Dea 20 Karl Lynch Bissett (Naomh Mearnóg) for Tracey 21 Eoghan Joyce (Ballinteer St John's) for Hawkshaw

GK 1 Alan McGauley (St Mary's) RCB 2 Alan Connor (Newtown Blues) FB 3 Philip Trainor (St Mary's) LCB 4 Dan Corcoran (Geraldines) RHB 5 Leonard Grey (St Patrick's) CHB 6 Eoghan Callaghan (Naomh Máirtin) (c) LHB 7 James O'Reilly (Cooley Kickhams) MF 8 Liam Jackson (St Mary's) MF 9 Conor Morgan (Naomh Máirtin) RHF 10 Ben Mooney (Geraldines) CHF 11 Gerry Garland (St Mochta's) LHF 12 Ciaran Keenan (St Mary's) RCF 13 Fearghal Malone (Cooley Kickhams) FF 14 John Gallagher (John Mitchels) LCF 15 Conor Gillespie (St Mary's) Substitutes: 16 Adam Molloy (Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock) for McGauley 17 Conor Nicholson (Dundalk Gaels) for Malone 18 Shane Hickey (Mattock Rangers) for Morgan 19 Nicky Browne (St Mochta's) for Mooney 20 Shane Byrne (Roche Emmets) for Gillespie 21 Keelan O'Neill (Glen Emmets) for Garland 21 Dean McGreehan (Cooley Kickhams) for Grey

Munster Minor Football Championship Munster Format All six Munster teams competed in the three quarter-finals of the main draw. The three beaten teams entered the play-off section and, after two play-off matches, one team re-entered the main draw at the semi-final stage. From the semi-finals all matches followed a knock-out format. Munster Main Draw Quarter-finals Semi-finals Munster Final Tipperary 1-8 Cork 3-21 Cork 1-10 Kerry 2-16 Kerry 2-17 Clare 1-6 Kerry 2-21 Clare 0-3 Limerick 0-12 Limerick 1-10 Clare 3-13 Waterford 0-9 Munster Playoff Rounds 1 and 2 The three beaten teams in the quarter-finals of the main draw competed in a play-off in two matches. The winning team from the play-offs re-entered the main draw at the semi-final stage. Playoff 1 Playoff 2 Clare 5-11 Waterford 0-6 Clare 0-10 Tipperary 0-5 Munster Quarter-finals 12 April 2017 Quarter-final Tipperary 1-8 - 3-21 Cork Semple Stadium Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick) Report 12 April 2017 Quarter-final Kerry 2-16 - 1-6 Clare Austin Stack Park Referee: David Murnane (Cork) Report 12 April 2017 Quarter-final Limerick 1-10 - 0-9 Waterford Gaelic Grounds Referee: David Grogan (Tipperary) Report Munster Semi-finals 10 May 2017 Semi-final Cork 1-10 - 2-17 Kerry Pairc Ui Rinn Report 10 May 2017 Semi-final Limerick 0-12 - 3-13 Clare Gaelic Grounds Report Munster final 2 July 2017 1:00 pm Final Kerry 2-21 - 0-3 Clare Report Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney Referee: David Murnane (Cork) Ulster Minor Football Championship Ulster Format All nine Ulster teams competed with the fixtures mirroring the senior fixtures i.e. if Derry are drawn to play Tyrone in their first match in the senior championship then Derry minors play Tyrone minors in their first match. Often the minor teams played immediately before the seniors. All matches followed a knock-out format. The winners receive the Fr. Murray Cup. Ulster Main Draw Preliminary round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Ulster Final Donegal Antrim Derry 3-17 Antrim 0-9 Derry 0-18 Tyrone 1-14 Derry 2-22 Cavan 1-12 Down Armagh Down 2-7 Cavan 0-15 Cavan Monaghan Monaghan Fermanagh Ulster Preliminary round First round Monaghan 1-17 - 2-7 Fermanagh St. Tiernach's Park Referee: Stephen Campbell Ulster Quarter-finals 21 May 2017 Quarter-final Donegal 2-14 - 0-21 Antrim MacCumhaill Park Referee: Paul McKeever 28 May 2017 Quarter-final Derry 0-18 - 1-14 Tyrone Celtic Park Report 28 May 2017 Quarter-final Cavan 3-14 - 1-15 Monaghan Breffni Park 4 June 2017 Quarter-final Down 2-13 - 2-11 Armagh Páirc Esler Ulster Semi-finals 18 June 2017 12:00 pm Semi-final Derry 3-17 - 0-9 Antrim St Tiernach's Park, Clones 24 June 2017 Semi-final Cavan 0-15 - 2-7 Down Ulster final 16 July 2017 Noon Final Derry 1-22 - 2-12 Cavan St Tiernach's Park, Clones Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan) Man of the Match: Padraig McGrogan Ben McCarron 1-3, Lorcan McWillians 0-6 (0-3f), Paddy Quigg 0-4 (0-1f), Declan Cassidy 0-3, Conleth McShane, Padraig McGrogan, Oisin McWilliams (0-1f), Tiarnan McHugh, Fergal Mortimer, Alex Doherty 0-1 each Report Philip Rogers 1-2, James Smith 1-0, Cian Madden and Oisin Pierson (0-2f) 0-3 each, Patrick Lynch (0-1f) and John Cooke 0-2 each All-Ireland All-Ireland Main Draw   Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final                                                                                                                 l All-Ireland Quarter-finals The four provincial champions played the four beaten finalists from the provincial championships. 5 August Quarter-final Cavan 1-11 – 0-11 Galway Report Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon 5 August 2:00 pm Quarter-final Derry 1-13 – 0-15 Sligo MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey 5 August Quarter-final Kerry 1-22 - 2-9 Louth Report O'Moore Park, Portlaoise 7 August Quarter-final Dublin 2-11 – 0-10 Clare Report O'Moore Park, Portlaoise All-Ireland Semi-finals There was no draw for the semi-finals as the fixtures are pre-determined on a three yearly rotation. This rotation ensures that a provinces's champions play the champions of all the other provinces once every three years in the semi-finals, if they each win their quarter-finals. If a provincial winner loses their quarter final, then the provincial runner-up who beat them take their place in the semi-final. 20 August 1:30 pm Semi-final Kerry 2-22 - 2-10 Cavan Croke Park, Dublin Man of the Match: David Clifford (Fossa) Report 27 August 2:00 pm Semi-final Dublin 0-14 - 0-17 Derry Croke Park, Dublin Referee: Sean Lonergan Man of the Match: Lorcan McWilliams (Swatragh) James Doran 0-6, David Lacey 0-5 (0-4f), Ross McGarry 0-2, Sean Hawshaw 0-1 Report Paddy Quigg (0-4f) and Lorcan McWilliams (0-4f) 0-5 each, Ben McCarron 0-3 (0-2f), Oisin McWilliams, Richie Mullan, Mark McGrogan, Jon Paul Devlin 0-1 each All-Ireland final 17 September 1:15 pm Final Kerry 6-17 – 1-8 Derry David Clifford 4-4, Fiachra Clifford 2-0, Brian Friel 0-5 (0-1f), Dónal O’Sullivan 0-3, Jack Griffin 0-2, Adam Donoghue, Donnchadh O’Sullivan, Eddie Horan 0-1 each. Report Patrick Quigg 1-1 (1-0 pen), Lorcan McWilliams (0-1f), Mark McGrogan, Oisin McWilliams 0-2 each, Richie Mullan 0-1. Croke Park, Dublin Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow) Miscellaneous Kerry win a fourth consecutive All-Ireland minor title. This is the first time this has been achieved since the beginning of the Minor Championship. Kerry set a new record of 24 consecutive wins since their last defeat in the 2013 All-Ireland Quarter-final defeat to Tyrone. See also 2017 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2017 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship References "Unstoppable David Clifford announces his true brilliance in Kerry stroll". RTE Sport. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.