2025 Leinster Senior Football Championship

Last updated

2025 Leinster SFC
Tournament details
Province Flag of Leinster.svg Leinster
Year2025
TrophyDelaney Cup
DateApril – May 2025
Defending champions Colours of Dublin.svg Dublin
Winners
Champions Colours of Louth.svg Louth (9th win)
Manager Ger Brennan
Captain Sam Mulroy [1]
Runners-up
Runners-up Colours of Meath.svg Meath
Manager Robbie Brennan
CaptainEoghan Frayne [2]
  2024
2026  

The 2025 Leinster Senior Football Championship was the 2025 iteration of the annual Leinster Senior Football Championship organised by Leinster GAA. It was one of the four provincial competitions of the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The winning team received the Delaney Cup. [3] The draw for the championship was made on 12 October 2024. [4]

Contents

The defending champion was Dublin; however, Dublin could not retain the title after losing to Meath in the semi-final. This was Dublin's first loss in the Leinster SFC in 15 years and broke a run of 14 consecutive championship wins. [5]

Louth defeated Meath by 3–14 to 1–18 in the final to win a first Leinster SFC title for 68 years. [6]

Teams

General Information

Eleven counties competed in the Leinster Senior Football Championship:

County Last Championship TitleLast All-Ireland TitlePosition in 2024 Championship
Colours of Carlow.svg Carlow 1944 Preliminary round
Colours of Kildare.svg Kildare 2000 1928 Semi-finals
Colours of Dublin.svg Dublin 2024 2023 Champions
Colours of Laois.svg Laois 2003 Quarter-finals
Colours of Longford.svg Longford 1968 Preliminary round
Colours of Louth.svg Louth 1957 1957 Runners-up
Colours of Meath.svg Meath 2010 1999 Quarter-finals
Colours of Offaly.svg Offaly 1997 1982 Semi-finals
Colours of Westmeath.svg Westmeath 2004 Preliminary round
Colours of Wexford.svg Wexford 1945 1918 Quarter-finals
Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow Quarter-finals

Draw

Pot 1

Pot 2

Bracket

 
Preliminary roundQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
 
 
 
12 April, Newbridge
 
 
Colours of Kildare.svg Kildare 2-17
 
 
Colours of Westmeath.svg Westmeath 0-21
 
 
27 April, Tullamore
 
 
Colours of Kildare.svg Kildare 0-18
 
5 April, Wexford
 
Colours of Louth.svg Louth 1-18
 
Colours of Wexford.svg Wexford 2-11
 
13 April, Newbridge
 
Colours of Laois.svg Laois 2-21
 
Colours of Louth.svg Louth 2-16
 
 
Colours of Laois.svg Laois 1-17
 
 
11 May, Dublin
 
 
Colours of Louth.svg Louth 3-14
 
6 April, Longford
 
Colours of Meath.svg Meath 1-18
 
Colours of Longford.svg Longford 1-20
 
13 April, Newbridge
 
Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow 2-23
 
Colours of Dublin.svg Dublin 2-21
 
 
Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow 0-18
 
 
27 April, Portlaoise
 
 
Colours of Dublin.svg Dublin 1-16
 
6 April, Navan
 
Colours of Meath.svg Meath 0-23
 
Colours of Meath.svg Meath 1-30
 
13 April, Navan
 
Colours of Carlow.svg Carlow 0-19
 
Colours of Offaly.svg Offaly 0-21
 
 
Colours of Meath.svg Meath 1-25
 
 
 
 

Preliminary round

Matches

5 April 2025Preliminary round Wexford Colours of Wexford.svg 2-11 2-21 Laois Colours of Laois.svg Wexford  
6.00pmVenue: Wexford Park
Gls: Michael Kinsella 1, Seán Ryan 1
Pts: Darragh Brooks 2 (1tpf), Eoin Porter 1, Niall Hughes 1, Mark Rossiter 5 (3f), Kevin O’Grady 2
Report Gls: Patrick O’Sullivan 1, Daniel O’Reilly 1
Pts: Killian Roche 1 (45'), Trevor Collins 1, Pa Kirwan 3, Mark Barry 7 (2f), Daniel O’Reilly 1, Ronan Coffey 6 (1tp,1tpf), Brian Byrne 1, Jonah Kelly 1
Referee: David Murnane (Cork)


6 April 2025Preliminary round Meath Colours of Meath.svg 1-30 0-19 Carlow Colours of Carlow.svg Navan  
3.00pmVenue: Pairc Tailteann
Gls: Ruairi Kinsella 1
Pts: Ciaran Caulfield 1, Jack Flynn 3 (1tp), Bryan Menton 1, Conor Duke 2, Ruairi Kinsella 5 (1tp), Jack Kinlough 2, Keith Curtis 2 (1tp), Mathew Costello 4 (2f), Eoghan Frayne 7 (1tp, 1tpf, 2f), Diarmuid Moriarty 2, Jason Scully 1
Report
Pts: Ciaran Moran 2 (1tp), Paddy McDonnell 1, Ross Dunphy 1, Conor Doyle 5 (1tp, 1tpf, 1 '45), Kevin Murphy 4 (1tpf, 1f), Conor Crowley 3 (1f, 1m), Niall Hickey 3 (1tp)
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)


6 April 2025Preliminary round Longford Colours of Longford.svg 1-20 2-23 Wicklow Colours of Wicklow.svg Longford  
3.30pmVenue: Pearse Park
Gls: Padraig O’Toole 1, Kevin Quinn 1
Pts: Joe Prendergast 1, Patrick Keane 2, Dean Healy 3 (1tp), Liam O’Neill 1, John Paul Nolan 1 ('45), Padraig O’Toole 1, Oisin McGraynor 7 (1tp, 1f), Kevin Quinn 5 (4f), Christopher O’Brien 1, Mark Jackson 1 (‘45)
Report Gls: Dessie Reynolds 1
Pts: James Moran 1, Jayson Matthews 4 (2f), Dylan Farrell 3 (1tpf), Aaron Farrell 1, Matthew Carey 7 (1tpf, 1tp, 2f), Cathal McCabe 1m, Oran Kenny 3 (1tp)
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)


Quarter-finals

Matches

12 April 2025Quarter-final Kildare Colours of Kildare.svg 2-17 0-21 Westmeath Colours of Westmeath.svg Newbridge  
Venue: St Conleth's Park
Gls: David Hyland 1, Alex Beirne 1
Pts: David Hyland 2 (1tp), Colm Dalton 1, Alex Beirne 5 (3fs), Ben McCormack 2, Ryan Sinkey 2, Darragh Kirwan 1, Brian McLoughlin 2 (1tp)
Report
Pts: Jamie Gonoud 1, Sam McCartan 1, Ray Connellan 1, Kevin O'Sullivan 1, Danny McCartan 3, Robbie Forde 2, Luke Loughlin 11 (1tp, 1tpf, 1f)
Referee: David Gough (Meath)


13 April 2025Quarter-final Dublin Colours of Dublin.svg 2-21 0-18 Wicklow Colours of Wicklow.svg Aughrim  
Venue: Aughrim Park
Gls: Niall Scully 1, Con O’Callaghan 1
Pts: Greg McEneaney 1, Tom Lahiff 3 (1tp), Niall Scully 1, Sean Bugler 2, Ciaran Kilkenny 3, Con O’Callaghan 7 (1tp, 1f), Colm Basquel 2
Report
Pts: Joe Prendergast 1, Patrick O’Keane 1, Dean Healy 4 (1tp), Pádraig O’Toole 1, Darragh Fee 1, Oisin McGraynor 5 (1tp, 1f), Kevin Quinn 3 (1tp), Mark Kenny 2 (1tp)
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)


13 April 2025Quarter-final Offaly Colours of Offaly.svg 0-21 1-25 Meath Colours of Meath.svg Navan  
2.30pmVenue: Pairc Tailteann

Pts: Paddy Dunican 5 (1 '45, 2tpf), Cormac Egan 1, Kyle Higgins 2 (1tp), Keith O’Neill 6 (2tp, 1f); Dylan Hyland 4 (3fs), Jack Bryant 1, Shane Tierney 2
Report Gls: James Conlon 1
Pts: Billy Hogan 2 (1tpf), Seán Coffey 1, Jack Flynn 2 (1tp), Bryan Menton 1, Conor Duke 4 (2tp), Mathew Costello 9 (2fs, 1tp, 1tpf), Eoghan Frayne 3 (1f, 1tpf), Aaron Lynch 1, James Conlon 2
Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary)


13 April 2025Quarter-final Louth Colours of Louth.svg 2-16 0-17 Laois Colours of Laois.svg Newbridge  
3.00pmVenue: St Conleth's Park
Gls: Ciaran Byrne 1, Ryan Burns 1 (pen)
Pts: Peter Lynch 1, Andy McDonnell 1, Ciaran Downey 3, Conor Grimes; Kieran McArdle 1, Ciaran Byrne 3, Ryan Burns 4 (1 ’45, 1f), Tommy Durnin 1, Craig Lennon 1, Dylan McKeown 1
Report
Pts: Damon Larkin 2, Daniel O’Reilly 1, Ronan Coffey 3 (1f), Kevin Swayne 1, Mark Barry 8 (4fs), Niall Corbet 1, Brian Byrne 1
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)


Semi-finals

Colm O'Rourke wrote before the semi-finals: "Meath's chance is determined by how far the mighty have fallen. Dublin can disimprove by 10 points and still beat everyone in Leinster... it is still a stretch to think that Meath might beat a vulnerable Dublin team who survived quite easily in Division 1". On the other game he wrote: "Kildare should be able for an understrength Louth". [7]

Matches

The first semi-final was preceded by a 2025 Ulster SFC semi-final at St Tiernach's Park, carried live by the BBC. Former Dublin player Philly McMahon was working on that broadcast. When the Ulster SFC semi-final had concluded, presenter Mark Sidebottom informed McMahon live on air what was happening in Dublin's Leinster SFC semi-final: "Philly", said Mark Sidebottom. "I want to bring you some really big breaking news from Portlaoise. Half-time: Meath 17 points, Dublin five." McMahon said, "Jesus", and he looked at Oisín McConville and Conor McManus, who were also in the studio. "April Fool's?" hen wondered. [8]

As the hotter sounded Meath had a three-point lead and a free in front of the Dublin goal. The only way for Dublin to stay in the Leinster SFC was if Eoghan Frayne struck the post, the ball had come back into play, a Dublin player had retrieved the ball and then scored a goal that would have brought about extra-time. This did not happen. [9]

27 April 2025Semi-final Meath Colours of Meath.svg 0-23 1-16 Dublin Colours of Dublin.svg Portlaoise  
4.00pmVenue: O'Moore Park


27 April 2025Semi-final Kildare Colours of Kildare.svg 0-18 1-18 Louth Colours of Louth.svg Tullamore  
2.00pmVenue: O'Connor Park


Final

Leinster final

11 May 2025 [10] Final Meath Colours of Meath.svg 1-18 3-14 Louth Colours of Louth.svg Dublin  
4.15pmVenue: Croke Park
Gls: M. Costello 1-0
Pts: E. Frayne 0-4 (2f), B. Hogan 0-4 (2 2pf), R. Kinsella 0-4 (1 2p), S. Coffey, J. Conlon, M. Costello, K. Curtis, D. Keogan, J. Morris 0-1 each
Report Gls: R. Burns, C. Lennon, S. Mulroy (pen) 1-0 each
Pts: S. Mulroy 0-7 (2f, 1 2pf, 1 '45), R. Burns 0-3 (1 2p), C. Downey, B. Duffy, C. Grimes, C. Lennon 0-1 each
Referee: Martin NcNally (Monaghan)
Attendance: 65,786


GK1Billy Hogan (Longwood)
RCB2Séamus Lavin (St Peter's Dunboyne)
FB3Seán Rafferty (Na Fianna)
LCB4Brian O'Halloran (Ballivor)
RHB5 Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
CHB6Seán Coffey (Ballinabrackey)
LHB7Ciarán Caulfield (Trim)
MF8Jack Flynn (Ratoath)
MF9Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne)
RHF10Conor Duke (Dunshaughlin)
CHF11Ruairí Kinsella (Dunshaughlin)
LHF12Keith Curtis (Rathkenny)
RCF13Mathew Costello (Dunshaughlin)
FF14James Conlon (St. Colmcille's)
LCF15Eoghan Frayne (Summerhill) (c)
Substitutes:
16Jordan Morris (Kingscourt Stars, Cavan) for Curtis
17Shane Walsh (Na Fianna) for Duke
18Aaron Lynch (Trim) for Kinsella
19Daithí McGowan (Ratoath) for Conlon
GK1Niall McDonnell (St Fechin's)
RCB2Dáire Nally (Newtown Blues)
FB3Dermot Campbell (Dreadnots)
LCB4Donal McKenny (St Mary's)
RHB5Conal McKeever (Clan na Gael)
CHB6Peter Lynch (Roche Emmets)
LHB7Craig Lennon (St Mochta's)
MF8Tommy Durnin (St Mary's)
MF9Andy McDonnell (Newtown Blues)
RHF10Bevan Duffy (St Fechin's)
CHF11Ciarán Downey (Newtown Blues)
LHF12Conor Grimes (Glen Emmets)
RCF13Ryan Burns (Hunterstown Rovers)
FF14 Sam Mulroy (Naomh Máirtín) (c)
LCF15Kieran McArdle (St Bride's)
Substitutes:
16Ciarán Keenan (St Mary's) for McArdle
17Paul Matthews (St Fechin's) for Andy McDonnell
18 Ciarán Byrne (St Mochta's) for Burns
19Dara McDonnell (Naomh Máirtín) for Duffy
20Emmet Carolan (Newtown Blues) for Nally

References

  1. "Sam Mulroy voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week". 13 May 2025.
  2. "Surprise victory over Dublin was no shock to Meath players". RTÉ. 27 April 2025.
  3. Martin, Conor (5 May 2024). "Preview: Dublin v Louth- Leinster Football Final". Dublin GAA . Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  4. "2025 Senior Football Championship Draw". Leinster GAA . 12 October 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  5. Roche, Frank (12 May 2024). "Louth give Dublin a Croke Park fright as All-Ireland champions limp to 14th consecutive Leinster title". Irish Independent . Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  6. Keane, Paul (11 May 2025). "Louth land Leinster crown to end 68-year famine". RTÉ News . Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  7. O'Rourke, Colm (27 April 2025). "Dublin look their most vulnerable for several years but can Royals slay the dragon?". Sunday Independent.
  8. Hannigan, Mary (27 April 2025). "TV View: Cork sparkle and Meath shock on day of many underpants". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025.
  9. Boyle, Donnchadh (27 April 2025). "Joyous scenes in Portlaoise as Meath hold on to finally dethrone Dublin". Independent.ie.
  10. "Louth land Leinster crown to end 68-year famine". RTÉ Sport . 11 May 2025.