Kilkenny Senior Football Championship

Last updated

Kilkenny Senior Football Championship
Irish Craobh Peile Sinsearach Chill Chainnigh
Code Gaelic football
Founded1887;138 years ago (1887)
Region Colours of Kilkenny.svg Kilkenny (GAA)
No. of teams13
Title holders   Mullinavat (8th title)
Most titles Colours of Cork.svg Railyard (22 titles)
Sponsors J. J. Kavanagh & Sons
Official website Kilkenny GAA

The Kilkenny Senior Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the J. J. Kavanagh & Sons Senior Football Championship and abbreviated to the Kilkenny SFC) is an annual club Gaelic football competition organised by the Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking senior clubs in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition in Kilkenny Gaelic football.

Contents

Introduced in 1887 as the Kilkenny Football Championship, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to senior-ranking club teams. The championship has gone through a number of changes throughout the years, including the use of a round robin, before reverting to a straight knockout format.

In its current format, the Kilkenny Senior Championship begins in April with a first round series of games comprising ten teams, while the three remaining teams receive byes to the quarter-final stage. A team's finishing position in the Kilkenny Senior Football League determines at what stage they enter the championship. Four rounds of games are played, culminating with the final match at Nowlan Park. The winner of the Kilkenny Senior Championship qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Championship.

The competition has been won by 35 teams, 18 of which have won it more than once. Railyard is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it 22 times. Mullinavat are the 2025 champions, having beaten Mooncoin by 1–21 to 0–14 in the final. [1]

Format

Overview

The Kilkenny County Championship is a single elimination tournament. Each team is afforded just one defeat before being eliminated from the championship. Pairings for matches are drawn at random, however, there is a certain level of seeding based on league performance. The four top-ranking teams receive a bye into the quarter-finals.

Current format

First round: 10 teams contest this round. The 5 winning teams advance directly to the quarter-final stage. The 5 losing teams are eliminated from the championship. The lower-ranked teams from the league advance to a relegation playoff.

Quarter-finals: Eight teams contest this round. The four winning teams advance directly to the semi-final stage. The four losing teams are eliminated from the championship.

Semi-finals: Four teams contest this round. The two winning teams advance directly to the final. The two losing teams are eliminated from the championship.

Final: The final is contested by the two semi-final winners.

Teams

Participating teams

The following 13 teams participated in the 2023 championship:

TeamLocationColours
Clara Clara Maroon and white
Danesfort Danesfort Black and amber
Dicksboro PalmerstownMaroon and white
Erin's Own Castlecomer Blue and white
James Stephens LarchfieldRed and green
Kilmoganny Kilmoganny Yellow and green
Mooncoin Mooncoin Green and white
Mullinavat Mullinavat Black and white
O'Loughlin Gaels Hebron RoadGreen and white
Muckalee MuckaleeGreen and yellow
Railyard Moneenroe Red and white
Thomastown Thomastown Blue and white
Tullogher–Rosbercon Tullogher Black and amber

Wins listed by club

#ClubWinsYears won
1 Railyard 221951, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1992, 1999, 2014, 2015, 2016
2 Glenmore 201906, 1915, 1916, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1989, 1998, 2009
3 Muckalee 121968, 1975, 1977, 1987, 1990, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
4 Tullogher 81930, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1944, 1962
James Stephens 81976, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008
Mullinavat 82007, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025
7 Thomastown 51981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2021
8Commercials (City)41890, 1893, 1894, 1895
Knocktopher 41901, 1908, 1910, 1911
Lamogue41902, 1903, 1904, 1905
11Slatequarry Miners31900, 1907, 1913
Ballyhale Shamrocks 31979, 1980, 1982
Dicksboro 31994, 1997, 2024
14 Kilmacow 21887, 1888
Coolagh21914, 1919
St John's21946, 1948
Clann na Gael (City)21963, 1964
Erin's Own 22002, 2006
18Ballyhale11889
Sevenhouses11896
Green Rovers (City)11897
Callan '98 Volunteers11898
City Rangers11899
Coolroe11909
Ye Faire City11925
Cotterstown11926
Owen Roes (Army)11928
Black & Whites11932
Moneenroe11933
Barrow Rovers (Glenmore-Slieverue)11935
Northern Junior Selection11945
Sarsfields (Conahy)11947
Graiguenamanagh11956
St Kieran's (Mooncoin-Kilmacow)11974
Mooncoin 11986
Kilmoganny12000

Finals listed by year

YearWinnerScoreOpponentScore
2025 [2] Mullinavat 1-21 Mooncoin 0-14
2024 [3] Dicksboro 1-09 Lisdowney 1-06
2023 [4] Mullinavat 3-07 Thomastown 1-09
2022 Mullinavat 1-12 Thomastown 0-08
2021 Thomastown 2-06 Mullinavat 1-05
2020 [5] Mullinavat 5-07 Mooncoin 1-04
2019 Mullinavat 1-13 Railyard 0-10
2018 Mullinavat 5-11 Muckalee 2-09
2017 [6] Mullinavat 3-12 Railyard 2-05
2016 [7] Railyard 1-08 Kilmoganny 2-03
2015 Railyard 2-08 R (0-08) D Muckalee 1-09 R (1-05) D
2014 Railyard 1-05 Muckalee 1-04
2013 [8] Muckalee 2-10 James Stephens 1-09
2012 Muckalee 1-10 Mullinavat 0-07
2011 Muckalee 0-06 Kilmoganny 0-04
2010 Muckalee 1-10 Glenmore 1-07
2009 Glenmore 2-07 Muckalee 0-10
2008 James Stephens 1-09 Erin's Own 1-08
2007 Mullinavat 0-09, 3-07 (R) Glenmore 1-06, 0-11 (R)
2006 Erin's Own 1-05 Mullinavat 1-03
2005 Muckalee 3-10 Railyard 0-09
2004 Muckalee 0-10, 0-09 (R) Erin's Own 1-07, 0-07 (R)
2003 James Stephens 2-07 O'Loughlin Gaels 0-06
2002 Erin's Own 1-08 James Stephens 0-08
2001 Muckalee 2-07, 1-11 (R) Erin's Own 1-10, 0-09 (R)
2000 Kilmoganny 0-07, 2-11 (R) Dicksboro 0-07, 1-09 (R)
1999 Railyard 1-05 Graigue-Ballycallan 0-07
1998* Glenmore 0-09 James Stephens 0-09
1997 Dicksboro 0-11 James Stephens 0-08
1996 James Stephens 0-12 Kilmoganny 2-04
1995 James Stephens 0-11, 2-12 (R) Dicksboro 1-08, 1-11 (R)
1994 Dicksboro 0-09 Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-06
1993 James Stephens 1-07, 4-10 (R) Railyard 0-10, 0-07 (R)
1992 Railyard 0-11 James Stephens 0-08
1991 James Stephens 1-09 Railyard 1-07
1990 Muckalee 1-11 Glenmore 0-04
1989 Glenmore 0-11 Railyard 1-05
1988 James Stephens 1-06, 0-07 (R) Railyard 1-06, 0-04 (R)
1987 Muckalee 0-06 Railyard 0-05
1986 Mooncoin 1-06, 0-09 (R) James Stephens 1-06, 0-07 (R)
1985 Thomastown 5-03 Railyard 1-05
1984 Thomastown 1-09 Railyard 0-04
1983 Thomastown 1-05 Railyard 1-02
1982 Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-06, 0-07 (R) Thomastown 0-06, 0-02 (R)
1981 Thomastown 2-06 Muckalee 0-06
1980 Ballyhale Shamrocks 4-07 Muckalee 1-01
1979 Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-12The Gaels (City)0-04
1978 Railyard 2-06 James Stephens 0-07
1977 Muckalee W/O James Stephens Scr.
1976 James Stephens 1-09 Railyard 0-06
1975 Muckalee 0-04, 0-09 (R) James Stephens 0-04, 0-03 (R)
1974St Kieran's (Mooncoin-Kilmacow)0-07 Muckalee 0-02
1973 Railyard 0-09 Glenmore 0-03
1972 Railyard 2-10Clann na Gael0-09
1971 Railyard 3-10 Thomastown 0-03
1970 Railyard 0-08 Muckalee 0-04
1969 Railyard 0-11 Mooncoin 0-06
1968 Muckalee 1-09 James Stephens 1-03
1967 Railyard 3-05Clan na Gael1-02
1966 Railyard 1-11 James Stephens 2-05
1965 Railyard W/O Tullogher Scr.
1964Clann na Gael2=-3, 3-03 (R)Lamogue1-06, 0-04 (R)
1963Clann na Gael1-06Lamogue0-02
1962 Tullogher 1-07 Muckalee 0-02
1961 Railyard 1-07 Graigue 0-02
1960 Railyard 5-11 Clara 1-02
1959 Railyard 4-07St Niochlas2-03
1958 Railyard 3-07St Niochlas1-05
1957* Railyard 3-06St Niochlas2-04
1956 Graiguenamanagh 1-06, 1-03 (R) Glenmore 1-06, 1-01 (R)
1955 Glenmore 2-04 Railyard 0-05
1954 Glenmore 2-03 Railyard 0-04
1953 Railyard 1-04Cotterstown0-03
1952 Railyard 2-08St John's0-04
1951 Railyard 2-05 Glenmore 2-02
1950 Glenmore 0-05St John's1-01
1949 Glenmore 1-06 Tullogher 1-00
1948*St John's1-07, 0-04 (1R), 2-04 (2nd R)Sarsfields (Conahy)0-04, 1-01 (1R), 0-02 (2nd R)
1947Sarsfields (Conahy)0-03, 2-02 (R) Glenmore 0-03, 1-03 (R)
1946St John's1-07 Glenmore 1-01
1945Northern Juniors1-4 Glenmore 1-03
1944 Tullogher 2-07Coolagh1-02
1943 Glenmore 2-06 Carrickshock 0-01
1942 Glenmore 3-04 Tullogher 0-00
1941 Tullogher 2-08The Rower0-01
1940* Glenmore 2-00Sarsfields (Conahy)2-03
1939 Glenmore 1-03 Tullogher 1-02
1938 [9] Glenmore 1-02 Tullogher 0-02
1937 Tullogher 2-05 Glenmore 2-00
1936 Tullogher 1-05 Black & Whites 1-03
1935Barrow Rovers (Glenmore/Slieverue)0-05 Mullinavat 0-03
1934 Tullogher 1-04 Mullinavat 0-01
1933Moneenroe0-05 Glenmore 0-02
1932 Black & Whites 0-04 O'Loughlin Gaels 1-01
1931* Tullogher
1930 Tullogher 0-06 Glenmore 0-02
1929 Glenmore 0-03Cotterstown0-01
1928Owen Roes (Army)2-05 Glenmore 1-02
1927*No Championship
1926Cotterstown1-06Barrow Rovers (Tullogher)0-02
1925Ye Faire Citie0-02, 3-03 (R)Cotterstown0-02, 0-03 (R)
1924 Glenmore 3-01Barrow Rovers (Tullogher)0-00
1923 Glenmore 2-07Cloneen0-02
1922 Glenmore W/OCotterstownScr.
1921No Championship
1920* Glenmore 1-05, 2-06 (R)Cloneen1-03, 0-03 (R)
1919Coolagh W/O Glenmore Scr.
1918No Championship
1917No Championship
1916 Glenmore 1-00Coolroe0-00
1915 Glenmore 1-01, 1-00 (R) 1-03 (2R), 1-00 (3R)Coolagh1-01, 1-00 (R), 2-00 (2R), 0-02 (3R)
1914Coolagh0-03 Knocktopher 0-02
1913Slatequarry Miners1-00Clogh0-00
1912No Championship
1911 Knocktopher 0-04Clogh0-01
1910* Knocktopher 0-02Slatequarry Miners0-03
1909Coolroe0-06Clodiagh0-02
1908 Knocktopher 0-03Slatequarry Miners0-02
1907Slatequarry Miners0-07 Knocktopher 0-04
1906 Glenmore 2-02Kells1-02
1905LamogueHarristown
1904Lamogue Mullinavat
1903Lamogue3-08 Tullogher 0-00
1902Lamogue0-08 Tullogher 0-07
1901* Knocktopher 0-06, 0-05 (R)Green & Whites (The Rower)0-06, 0-02 (R)
1900Slatequarry Miners0-12City Rangers1-02
1899City Rangers2-08 Knocktopher 2-07
1898Callan '98 VolunteersSlatequarry Miners
1897Green Rovers (City)1-09City Rangers0-02
1896Seven Houses1-07Callan0-05
1895Commercials (City)W/OCallanScr.
1894Commercials (City)2-02Callan0-01
1893Commercials (City)1-01Callan0-00
1892No Championship
1891No Championship
1890Commercials (City)1-00Ballyhale0-01
1889*BallyhaleKells
1888 Kilmacow 0-03Thomas Larkins (City)0-00
1887 [10] Kilmacow 0-02, 1-03 (R)Kilkenny0-02, 0-00 (R)

Records

Teams

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Kilkenny Senior Football Championship titles, is as follows:

  • 1880s: 2 for Kilmacow (1887–88)
  • 1890s: 4 for Commercials (1890-93-94-95)
  • 1900s: 4 for Lamogue (1902-03-04-05)
  • 1910s: 2 each for Knocktopher (1910-11), Coolagh (1914-19) and Glenmore (1915-16)
  • 1920s: 5 for Glenmore (1920-22-23-24-29)
  • 1930s: 5 for Tullogher (1930-31-34-36-37)
  • 1940s: 4 for Glenmore (1940-42-43-49)
  • 1950s: 6 for Railyard (1951-52-53-57-58-59)
  • 1960s: 6 for Railyard (1960-61-65-66-67-69)
  • 1970s: 5 for Railyard (1970-71-72-73-78)
  • 1980s: 4 for Thomastown (1981-83-84-85)
  • 1990s: 4 for James Stephens (1991-93-95-96)
  • 2000s: 3 for Muckalee (2001-04-05)
  • 2010s: 4 for Muckalee (2010-11-12-13)
  • 2020s: 4 for Mullinavat (2020-22-23-25)

Most consecutive wins

#WinsClubYears won
1st5 Railyard 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
Railyard 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
2nd4Lamogue1902, 1903, 1904, 1905
Muckalee 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Mullinavat 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Gaps/wins

Top three longest gaps between championship titles:

Winners and finalists

The Double

Two teams have won the Kilkenny Senior Football Championship and the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship in a single year as part of a Gaelic football-hurling double. James Stephens became the first team to win the double in 1976, having won the All-Ireland Club SHC title earlier that year. Ballyhale Shamrocks won their own double in 1979, before repeating the feat in 1980 and 1982.

Dicksboro, Erin's Own, Glenmore, Mooncoin and Thomastown also hold the distinction of being dual county senior championship-winning teams, however, these were not achieved in a single calendar season. Muckalee and their sister club St. Martin's have also achieved the double.

References

  1. ↑ "Kilkenny SFC Mullinavat continue senior football dominance title". Kilkenny People. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "Kilkenny SFC Mullinavat continue senior football dominance title". Kilkenny People. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  3. ↑ "SENIOR FOOTBALL COUNTY CHAMPS 2024". Kilkenny Observer. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  4. ↑ "Back to Back: Mullinavat are Kilkenny Senior Football Champions for 2023". scoreline. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "Mullinavat complete Kilkenny SFC four-in-a-row". Hogan Stand . 19 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "Kilkenny SFC final: Mullinavat topple champions". Hogan Stand . 28 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "Kilkenny SFC final: Railyard complete three-in-a-row". Hogan Stand . 2 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Kilkenny SFC final: Muckalee seal four-in-a-row". Hogan Stand . 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  9. ↑ "glenmores-championship-senior-football-county-final-1938". glenmore-history.com. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Munster Express 1860-current, Saturday, 21 May 1887; Page: 8
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