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Leinster Senior Football Championship
Annual Gaelic football competition in Ireland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Leinster Senior Football Championship, known simply as the Leinster Championship and shortened to Leinster SFC, 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.
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The final serves as the culmination of a series of games played during April and May, 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 SFC is an integral part of the wider All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The winners of the Leinster SFC final, like their counterparts in Connacht, Munster and Ulster, are rewarded by advancing directly to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals. Depending on results earlier in the season and elsewhere, some of the defeated teams may advance to the All-Ireland SFC, while other defeated teams play any further games they may have in the Tailteann Cup.
11 teams currently participate in the Leinster SFC. One of the most successful team in Gaelic football, namely Dublin, play their provincial football in this competition, and have won the title on a record 63 occasions, while they have also claimed 30 All-Ireland SFC titles.
The Leinster SFC 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 winner Kilkenny no longer participate.[1] Dublin have dominated the competition since its beginning.[needs update].[2] Louth are the title holders, defeating Meath by 3–14 to 1–18 in the 2025 final.
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History
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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 1–4 to 0–2 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. In the 21st century Dublin set a new record of fourteen-in-a-row between 2011 and 2024. In 2025 Louth won the title, ending the long Dublin era.
Leinster SFC moments
- Meath 1–12 – 1–10 Louth (11 July 2010): Meath won the Leinster SFC final, due to a controversial late goal they scored. Many observers, particularly Louth supporters, believed that the goal should have been disallowed due to a foul. This incident led to debate regarding officiating standards and fair play.
- Carlow 2–14 – 1–10 Kildare (27 May 2018): In a quarter-final clash, Carlow pulled off a notable upset by defeating Kildare. Carlow's victory surprised many, as Division 1 Kildare were the favorites going into the game against their Division 4 opponents. The result marked the rise of Carlow football.
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Format
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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
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Qualification for subsequent competitions
- The winners and runners-up of the championship qualify to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship group stage. The remaining nine Leinster teams may also qualify to the all-Ireland group stage via the National Football League. Those who fail to do so qualify to the Tailteann Cup.[5]
- Before the introduction of the qualifiers in 2001, the winners of the Leinster Championship went straight to the semi-final stage of the All-Ireland Championship, along with the winners of the Connacht, Munster and Ulster Championships.
Teams
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2025 teams
Eleven counties competed in the 2025 Leinster Senior Football Championship.
Personnel and kits
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Trophy and medals
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At the end of the Leinster SFC 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 SFC final.
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List of finals
List of Leinster SFC finals
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Matches
Match details of all Finals
| 2025 |  Louth |
3-14 – 1-18 |  Meath |
Croke Park Attendance: 65,786 Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan) Man of the Match: Sam Mulroy |
| S. Mulroy 1-7 (2f, 1 2pf, 1 '45), R. Burns 1-3 (1 2p), C. Lennon 1-1, C. Downey, B. Duffy, C. Grimes 0-1 each | Report | M. Costello 1-1, E. Frayne 0-4 (2f), B. Hogan 0-4 (2 2pf), R. Kinsella 0-4 (1 2p), S. Coffey, J. Conlon, K. Curtis, D. Keogan, J. Morris 0-1 each |
| 2024 |  Dublin |
1-19 – 2-12 | Louth |
Croke Park Attendance: 23,113 Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan) |
| O'Callaghan 1-4, Costello 6, Fenton 3, Basquel, Bugler, Lahiff, Mannion, Kilkenny & P Small 1 | Report[13] | Mulroy 6 (5f), Grimes 4, Keenan & Lennon 1-0, Downey & Durnin 1 |
| 2023 | Dublin |
5-21 - 0-15 | Louth |
Croke Park Attendance: 40,115 Referee: Conor Lane (Cork) Man of the Match: Sean Bugler (St. OP/ER) |
| Sean Bugler 1-3, Cormac Costello 0-5 (0-3f, 1 '45), Paul Mannion 1-1 (0-1f), Con O'Callaghan 0-4 (0-2m), James McCarthy, Paddy Small, Colm Basquel 1-0 each, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3, Jack McCaffrey 0-2, John Small, Dean Rock, Sean McMahon 0-1 each | Report | Sam Mulroy 0-10 (0-7f, 1 '45), Conor Grimes 0-2, Ciaran Downey, Liam Jackson, Craig Lennon 0-1 each |
| 2022 | Dublin |
5-17 - 1-15 |  Kildare |
Croke Park Attendance: 38,000 (est.) Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon) Man of the Match: Con O'Callaghan (Cuala) |
| Con O'Callaghan 1-5 (0-1m), Cormac Costello 2-1, Dean Rock 0-4f, John Small and Ciaran Kilkenny 1-0 each, Brian Fenton 0-3, Lee Gannon 0-2, Niall Scully and Aaron Byrne 0-1 each | Report | Jimmy Hyland 1-4 (0-3f), Ben McCormack 0-5 (0-1m), Kevin Feely 0-2 (0-1m), Kevin Flynn, Paul Cribbin, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate (0-1f) 0-1 each |
| 2021 | Dublin |
0-20 - 1-9 | Kildare |
Croke Park Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan) Man of the Match: Daniel Flynn (Johnstownbridge) |
| Dean Rock 0-5 (0-3f), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-1m) and Cormac Costello 0-4 each, Niall Scully 0-2 (0-1m), James McCarthy, Brian Howard, Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Ryan Basquel 0-1 each | Report | Daniel Flynn 1-2 (0-1m), Jimmy Hyland 0-4 (0-1m, 0-1f), Neil Flynn, Alex Beirne, Brian McLoughlin 0-1 each |
| 2020 | Dublin |
3–21 – 0–9 | Meath |
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 | Dublin |
1–17 – 0–4 | Meath |
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 | Dublin |
1–25 – 0–10 |  Laois |
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 | Dublin |
2–23 – 1–17 | Kildare |
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 | Dublin |
2–19 – 0–10 |  Westmeath |
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 | Dublin |
2–13 – 0–6 | Westmeath |
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, Philly 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 | Dublin |
3–20 – 1–10 | Meath |
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 | Dublin |
2–15 – 0–14 | Meath |
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, 1 '45) and Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3 each, Dean Rock 0-2 (0-1f), Diarmuid Connolly and 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 | Dublin |
2–13 – 1–13 | Meath |
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 | Dublin |
2–12 – 1–12 |  Wexford |
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 | Meath |
1–12 – 1–10 | Louth |
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 | Dublin |
2–15 – 0–18 | Kildare |
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 | Dublin |
3–23 – 0–9 | Wexford |
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 | Dublin |
3–14 – 1–14 | Laois |
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 | Dublin |
1–15 – 0–9 |  Offaly |
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 | Dublin |
0–14 – 0–13 | Laois |
Croke Park Attendance: 81,025 Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan) Man of the Match: Bryan Cullen (Skerries Harps) |
| 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 | Westmeath |
0–13 – 0–13 | Laois |
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 | Westmeath |
0–12 – 0–10 | Laois |
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 | Laois |
2–13 – 1–13 | Kildare |
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 | Dublin |
2–13 – 2–11 | Kildare |
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 | Meath |
2–11 – 0–14 | Dublin |
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 | Kildare |
0–14 – 0–14 | Dublin |
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 | Kildare |
2–11 – 0–12 | Dublin |
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 | Meath |
1–14 – 0–12 | Dublin |
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 | Kildare |
1–12 – 0–10 | Meath |
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 | Offaly |
3–17 – 1–15 | Meath |
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 | Meath |
0–10 – 0–8 | Dublin |
Croke Park Attendance: 55,182 Referee: Brian White (Wexford) Man of the Match: John McDermott (Skryne) |
| Trevor Giles 0–4 (0-3f), Tommy Dowd and Brendan Reilly 0–2 each, Evan Kelly and Barry Callaghan 0–1 each | Charlie Redmond 0–4 (1f, 1'45), Ciaran Whelan 0–2, Eamon Heery and Brian Stynes 0–1 each |
| 1995 | Dublin |
1–18 – 1–8 | Meath |
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 (0-1f), Graham Geraghty, Jody Devine, Brian Stafford (0-1f) 0–1 each |
| 1994 | Dublin |
1–09 – 1–08 | Meath |
Croke Park Attendance: 50,172 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 | Dublin |
0–11 – 0–7 | Kildare |
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 | Dublin |
1–13 – 0–10 | Kildare |
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 – 0–8 | Laois |
Croke Park Attendance: 28,157 Referee: Tommy Howard (Kildare) Man of the Match: Martin O'Connell (St. Michaels) |
| Brian Stafford 0–5 (0-4f), David Beggy 1–0, Bernard Flynn 0–3, Colm Coyle 0–2, Colm O'Rourke 0–1 | Michael Turley 0–4 (0-3f), Leo Turley 0–2, Pat Roe and Colm Maher 0–1 each |
| 1990 | Meath |
1–14 – 0–14 | Dublin |
Croke Park Attendance: 53,847 Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath) Man of the Match: Dave Foran (Thomas Davis) |
| Brian Stafford 0–8 (0-6f), Colm O'Rourke 1–1, Bernard Flynn 0–2, Martin O'Connell, David Beggy, PJ Gillic 0–1 each | Report | Barney Rock 0-5f, Paul Clarke and Kieran Duff (0-2f) 0–2 each, Keith Barr, Vinnie Murphy, Charlie Redmond, Joe McNally, Leo Close 0–1 each |
| 1989 | Dublin |
2–12 – 1–10 | Meath |
Croke Park Attendance: 56,839 Referee: S Kelly (Carlow) |
| V Murphy 1-2, K Duff 1-2, B Rock 0-5, P Curran 0-2, J McNally 0-1. | B Stafford 0-5, B Flynn 0-4, M McCabe 1-0, C O'Rourke 0-1. |
| 1988 | Meath |
2–05 – 0–09 | Dublin |
Croke Park Attendance: 42,302 Referee: Seamus Aldridge (Kildare) |
| PJ Gillic 1-3 (0-2f), Mattie McCabe 1-1, Liam Hayes 0-1 | Declan Sheehan 0-3 (0-1f), Vinnie Murphy 0-2, Noel McCaffrey, Charlie Redmond (0-1 pen), Barney Rock (0-1f), Mick Galvin 0-1 each |
| 1987 | Meath |
1–13 – 0–12 | Dublin |
Croke Park Attendance: 48,122 Referee: Seamus Aldridge (Kildare) |
| Brian Stafford 0-6 (0-5f) Mattie McCabe 1-2, Colm O'Rourke and Finian Murtagh 0-2 each, David Beggy 0-1. | Barney Rock 0-4 (0-3f), Noel McCaffrey and Joe McNally 0-2 each, Declan Bolger, Charlie Redmond, Mick Gavin, Anto McCaul 0-1 each |
| 1986 | Meath |
0–09 – 0–07 | Dublin |
Croke Park Attendance: 43,763 Referee: Seamus Aldridge (Kildare) |
| Finian Murtagh (0-1f) and Colm O'Rourke 0-3 each, Liam Hayes (0-1f), David Beggy, Bernard Flynn (0-1f) 0-1 each | Barney Rock 0-3 (0-2f, 1 '45), Kieran Duff (0-1f) and Charlie Redmond (0-1f) 0-2 each |
| 1985 | Dublin |
0–10 – 0–04 | Laois |
Croke Park Attendance: 33,425 Referee: Paddy Kavanagh (Meath) |
| Barney Rock 0-6 (0-4f), Anto McCaul 0-2, Jim Ronayne and Tommy Carr 0-1 each | Liam Irwin (0-1f), Willie Brennan, Christy Maguire (0-1f), Gerry Browne 0-1 each |
| 1984 | Dublin |
2–10 – 1–09 | Meath |
Croke Park Attendance: 56,051 Referee: J Gunning (Offaly) |
| Barney Rock 1-4 (0-3f), Kieran Duff 1-4, Anton O'Toole and Joe McNally 0-1 each | Ben Tansey 1-0, Liam Smith 0-3f, Mattie McCabe 0-2, Martin O'Connell (1 '50), Liam Hayes, Colm O'Rourke, Bernard Flynn 0-1 each |
| 1983 | Dublin |
2–13 – 1–11 | Offaly |
Croke Park Attendance: 36,912 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath) |
| Joe McNally 1-2, Barney Rock 0-5f, John Caffrey 1-0, Tommy Conroy and Kieran Duff 0-2 each, Anton O'Toole and John Kearns 0-1 each | Matt Connor 1-7 (0-6f), Brendan Lowry 0-2, Tomas O'Connor and Martin Fitzpatrick 0-1 each |
| 1982 | Offaly |
1–16 – 1–07 | Dublin |
Croke Park Attendance: 32,50 Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath) |
| Séamus Darby 1-3, Gerry Carroll, John Guinan, Matt Connor (0-1f, 1 '50), Liam O'Mahony 0-3 each, Brendan Lowry 0-1 | Niall Gaffney 1-1, Barney Rock 0-2, John Kearns 0-2, Anto McCaul 0-1, Kieran Duff 0-1 |
| 1981 | Offaly |
1–18 – 3–09 | Laois |
Croke Park Attendance: 28,398 Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath) |
| Brendan Lowry 1-4, Matt Connor 0-5 (0-3f), Tomas O'Connor, Pat Fitzgerald, Gerry Carroll, Sean Lowry 0-2 each, Aidan O'Halloran 0-1 | Willie Brennan 1-3 (0-2f), Mick Moore 1-2, Tom Prendergast 1-1, John Costello, Eamon Whelan, Declan O'Loughlin 0-1 each |
| 1980 | Offaly |
1–10 – 1–08 | Dublin |
Croke Park Attendance: 50,276 Referee: Paddy Kavanagh (Meath) |
| Matt Connor 1-7 (0-3f), Aiden O'Halloran 0-2, Gerry Carroll 0-1 | Bobby Doyle 1-1, Barney Rock 0-3f, Tommy Drumm, Anton O'Toole, David Hickey, John Caffrey 0-1 each |
| 1979 | Dublin |
1–08 – 0–09 | Offaly |
Croke Park Attendance: 52,348 Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath) |
| Bernard Brogan Sr 1-1, Jim Ronayne 0-3, Jimmy Keaveney 0-2f, Bobby Doyle and Mick Hickey (0-1f) each | Sean Lowry 0-6 (0-4f), Kevin Kilmurray 0-2, Matt Connor 0-1 |
| 1978 | Dublin |
1–17 – 1–06 | Kildare |
Croke Park Attendance: 53,512 Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath) |
| Jimmy Keaveney 0-7 (0-3f, 1 '45), Tony Hanahoe 1-2, Anton O'Toole 0-2, Robbie Kelleher, Brian Mullins, Bernard Brogan Sr, John McCarthy, Padraig Hogan, Paddy Gogarty 0-1 each | Denis Dalton 1-0, Tommy Carew 0-3 (0-2f), Mick Condon 0-2, Pat Dunny 0-1 |
| 1977 | Dublin |
1–09 – 0–08 | Meath |
Croke Park Attendance: 46,044 Referee: Seamus Aldridge (Kildare) |
| Jimmy Keaveney 0-6 (0-4f), Anton O'Toole 1-0, Bobby Doyle, John McCarthy, Fran Ryder 0-1 each | Ken Rennicks and Gerry Farrelly (0-2f) 0-2 each, Ollie O'Brien (0-1f), John Gibbons (0-1f), Cormac Rowe, Matt Kerrigan 0-1 each |
Attendance: 26,826
Attendance: 27,353
Attendance: 9,873
Attendance: 15,317
Attendance: 13,567
Inchicore
Kilkenny
Inchicore
Clonturk
Clonturk
Inchicore
Inchicore
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Team records and statistics
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Perspective
Roll of honour
Legend
- Golden background – Leinster SFC winner or runner-up also won the All-Ireland SFC that year.
Performance by team
Team progress: 2001–2019
Below is a record of each county's performance following the introduction of the qualifier system to the All-Ireland series in 2001. Before 2001 only the Leinster SFC title winner contested the All-Ireland SFC. Qualifiers did not occur from 2020–2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games. The qualifiers have since been replaced by a revamped All Ireland format made up of the 16 teams top teams and the Tailteann cup for the lower 16 teams.
Key
| Winner |
| Finalist |
| Semi-finalist |
| Quarter-finalist / Super 8s |
| Qualifier Rounds 1–4 / Tommy Murphy Cup |
Post-COVID team results
Legend
- 1st – Winner
- 2nd – Runner-up
- SF/QF/PR – Semi-finalist / Quarter-finalist / Preliminary round exit
For each year, the number of competing teams is shown (in brackets).
Most recent championship meetings
Titles by decade
The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Leinster SFC 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)
- 2020s: 5 for Dublin (2020-21-22-23-24)
Other records
Gaps
- Longest gaps between successive Leinster SFC titles:
- 68 years:
Louth (1957–2025) - 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)
- 68 years:
Active gaps
- Longest gaps since last Leinster SFC title:
- 114 years:
Kilkenny (1911–) - 81 years:
Carlow (1944–) - 80 years: Wexford (1945–)
- 57 years:
Longford (1968–) - 28 years:
Offaly (1997–) - 25 years: Kildare (2000–)
- 22 years: Laois (2003–)
- 21 years:
Westmeath (2004–) - 15 years: Meath (2010–)
- 1 year:
Dublin (2024–) - 0 years: Louth (2025–)
- 114 years:
- Longest gaps since last Leinster SFC final appearance:
- 128 years: Wicklow (1897–)
- 103 years: Kilkenny (1922–)
- 81 years: Carlow (1944–)
- 57 years: Longford (1968–)
- 19 years: Offaly (2006–)
- 14 years: Wexford (2011–)
- 9 years: Westmeath (2016–)
- 7 years: Laois (2018–)
- 3 years: Kildare (2022–)
- 1 year: Dublin (2024–)
- 0 years: Louth (2025–)
- 0 years: Meath (2025–)
- 128 years:
Longest undefeated run
- Dublin - 43 matches (2011–2025): The record for the longest unbeaten run stands at 39 games held by Dublin. It began with a 1–16 to 0–11 win over Laois on 5 June 2011. Dublin completed a provincial 10 in a row with a 3–21 to 0–9 win over Meath on 21 November 2020.[14] The streak is still running at 42 matches, after Dublin won the 2024 Leinster SFC title. In 2025 Meath ended Dublin spell in the Leinster championship semi-final.
Leinster SFC final pairings
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Player records
Top scorers
All time
By year
Single game
Finals
Leinster SFC medal winners
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Managers
Summarize
Perspective
Managers in the Leinster SFC 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.
Winning managers (1971–present)
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Sponsorship
Since 1994, the Leinster SFC has been sponsored. The sponsor has usually been able to determine the championship's sponsorship name.
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Venues
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Perspective
History
Leinster SFC 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 the 2nd decade of the 21st century, as it offers a perceived advantage to play in what is effectively their "home" stadium.[15][16] This has continued into the 2020s.
Cavan took part in 1895 when the Connacht and Ulster championships were abolished between 1893 and 1899. London played Louth in the 1913 championship.
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.[17][18] The 2006 final between Dublin and Offaly saw a record attendance of 81,754.[19]
Current venues
See also
References
Sources
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