Kilkenny Senior Football Championship

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.

Kilkenny Senior Football Championship
IrishCraobh Peile Sinsearach Chill Chainnigh
CodeGaelic football
Founded1887 (1887)
Region Kilkenny (GAA)
No. of teams13
Title holders Mullinavat (7th title)
Most titles Railyard (22 titles)
SponsorsJ. J. Kavanagh & Sons
Official websiteKilkenny GAA

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 reigning champions, having beaten Thomastown by 3–07 to 1–09 in the 2023 final.[1]

The championship

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.

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.

Participating teams

The following 13 teams participated in the 2023 championship:

Team Location Colours
Clara Clara Maroon and white
Danesfort Danesfort Black and amber
Dicksboro Palmerstown Maroon and white
Erin's Own Castlecomer Blue and white
James Stephens Larchfield Red and green
Kilmoganny Kilmoganny Yellow and green
Mooncoin Mooncoin Green and white
Mullinavat Mullinavat Black and white
O'Loughlin Gaels Hebron Road Green and white
Muckalee Muckalee Green and yellow
Railyard Moneenroe Red and white
Thomastown Thomastown Blue and white
Tullogher–Rosbercon Tullogher Black and amber

Wins listed by club
# Club Wins Years won
1 Railyard 22 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1992, 1999, 2014, 2015, 2016
2 Glenmore 20 1906, 1915, 1916, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1989, 1998, 2009
3 Muckalee 12 1968, 1975, 1977, 1987, 1990, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
4 Tullogher 8 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1944, 1962
James Stephens 8 1976, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008
5 Mullinavat 7 2007, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
7 Thomastown 5 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2021
8 Commercials (City) 4 1890, 1893, 1894, 1895
Knocktopher 4 1901, 1908, 1910, 1911
Lamogue 4 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905
11 Slatequarry Miners 3 1900, 1907, 1913
Ballyhale Shamrocks 3 1979, 1980, 1982
13 Kilmacow 2 1887, 1888
Coolagh 2 1914, 1919
St John's 2 1946, 1948
Clann na Gael (City) 2 1963, 1964
Dicksboro 2 1994, 1997
Erin's Own 2 2002, 2006
18 Ballyhale 1 1889
Sevenhouses 1 1896
Green Rovers (City) 1 1897
Callan '98 Volunteers 1 1898
City Rangers 1 1899
Coolroe 1 1909
Ye Faire City 1 1925
Cotterstown 1 1926
Owen Roes (Army) 1 1928
Black & Whites 1 1932
Moneenroe 1 1933
Barrow Rovers (Glenmore-Slieverue) 1 1935
Northern Junior Selection 1 1945
Sarsfields (Conahy) 1 1947
Graiguenamanagh 1 1956
St Kieran's (Mooncoin-Kilmacow) 1 1974
Mooncoin 1 1986
Kilmoganny 1 2000

Finals listed by year
Year Winner Score Opponent Score
2023 Mullinavat 3-07 Thomastown 1-09
2022 Mullinavat 1-12 Thomastown 0-08
2021 Thomastown 2-06 Mullinavat 1-05
2020[2] Mullinavat 5-07 Mooncoin 1-04
2019 Mullinavat 1-13 Railyard 0-10
2018 Mullinavat 5-11 Muckalee 2-09
2017[3] Mullinavat 3-12 Railyard 2-05
2016[4] 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[5] 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 0-12 The 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)
1974 St Kieran's (Mooncoin-Kilmacow) 0-07 Muckalee 0-02
1973 Railyard 0-09 Glenmore 0-03
1972 Railyard 2-10 Clann na Gael 0-09
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 3-05 Clan na Gael 1-02
1966 Railyard 1-11 James Stephens 2-05
1965 Railyard W/O Tullogher Scr.
1964 Clann na Gael 2=-3, 3-03 (R) Lamogue 1-06, 0-04 (R)
1963 Clann na Gael 1-06 Lamogue 0-02
1962 Tullogher 1-07 Muckalee 0-02
1961 Railyard 1-07 Graigue 0-02
1960 Railyard 5-11 Clara 1-02
1959 Railyard 4-07 St Niochlas 2-03
1958 Railyard 3-07 St Niochlas 1-05
1957* Railyard 3-06 St Niochlas 2-04
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 1-04 Cotterstown 0-03
1952 Railyard 2-08 St John's 0-04
1951 Railyard 2-05 Glenmore 2-02
1950 Glenmore 0-05 St John's 1-01
1949 Glenmore 1-06 Tullogher 1-00
1948* St John's 1-07, 0-04 (1R), 2-04 (2nd R) Sarsfields (Conahy) 0-04, 1-01 (1R), 0-02 (2nd R)
1947 Sarsfields (Conahy) 0-03, 2-02 (R) Glenmore 0-03, 1-03 (R)
1946 St John's 1-07 Glenmore 1-01
1945 Northern Juniors 1-4 Glenmore 1-03
1944 Tullogher 2-07 Coolagh 1-02
1943 Glenmore 2-06 Carrickshock 0-01
1942 Glenmore 3-04 Tullogher 0-00
1941 Tullogher 2-08 The Rower 0-01
1940* Glenmore 2-00 Sarsfields (Conahy) 2-03
1939 Glenmore 1-03 Tullogher 1-02
1938 Glenmore 6-08 Tullogher 4-05
1937 Tullogher 2-05 Glenmore 2-00
1936 Tullogher 1-05 Black & Whites 1-03
1935 Barrow Rovers (Glenmore/Slieverue) 0-05 Mullinavat 0-03
1934 Tullogher 1-04 Mullinavat 0-01
1933 Moneenroe 0-05 Glenmore 0-02
1932 Black & Whites 0-04 O'Loughlin Gaels 1-01
1931* Tullogher
1930 Tullogher 0-06 Glenmore 0-02
1929 Glenmore 0-03 Cotterstown 0-01
1928 Owen Roes (Army) 2-05 Glenmore 1-02
1927* No Championship
1926 Cotterstown 1-06 Barrow Rovers (Tullogher) 0-02
1925 Ye Faire Citie 0-02, 3-03 (R) Cotterstown 0-02, 0-03 (R)
1924 Glenmore 3-01 Barrow Rovers (Tullogher) 0-00
1923 Glenmore 2-07 Cloneen 0-02
1922 Glenmore W/O Cotterstown Scr.
1921 No Championship
1920* Glenmore 1-05, 2-06 (R) Cloneen 1-03, 0-03 (R)
1919 Coolagh W/O Glenmore Scr.
1918 No Championship
1917 No Championship
1916 Glenmore 1-00 Coolroe 0-00
1915 Glenmore 1-01, 1-00 (R) 1-03 (2R), 1-00 (3R) Coolagh 1-01, 1-00 (R), 2-00 (2R), 0-02 (3R)
1914 Coolagh 0-03 Knocktopher 0-02
1913 Slatequarry Miners 1-00 Clogh 0-00
1912 No Championship
1911 Knocktopher 0-04 Clogh 0-01
1910* Knocktopher 0-02 Slatequarry Miners 0-03
1909 Coolroe 0-06 Clodiagh 0-02
1908 Knocktopher 0-03 Slatequarry Miners 0-02
1907 Slatequarry Miners 0-07 Knocktopher 0-04
1906 Glenmore 2-02 Kells 1-02
1905 Lamogue Harristown
1904 Lamogue Mullinavat
1903 Lamogue 3-08 Tullogher 0-00
1902 Lamogue 0-08 Tullogher 0-07
1901* Knocktopher 0-06, 0-05 (R) Green & Whites (The Rower) 0-06, 0-02 (R)
1900 Slatequarry Miners 0-12 City Rangers 1-02
1899 City Rangers 2-08 Knocktopher 2-07
1898 Callan '98 Volunteers Slatequarry Miners
1897 Green Rovers (City) 1-09 City Rangers 0-02
1896 Seven Houses 1-07 Callan 0-05
1895 Commercials (City) W/O Callan Scr.
1894 Commercials (City) 2-02 Callan 0-01
1893 Commercials (City) 1-01 Callan 0-00
1892 No Championship
1891 No Championship
1890 Commercials (City) 1-00 Ballyhale 0-01
1889* Ballyhale Kells
1888 Kilmacow 0-03 Thomas Larkins (City) 0-00
1887 [6] Kilmacow 0-02, 1-03 (R) Kilkenny 0-02, 0-00 (R)
  • 1998 No replay - Glenmore won in a replay
  • 1957 - Unfinished - Railyard awarded tit;e
  • 1948 - Reply ordered after objection
  • 1940 Glenmore awarded title on objection
  • 1931 Played on a league basis
  • 1927 Glenmore 1-02, Cotterstown 0-02 Declared null & void
  • 1911 Knocktopher awarded title after an objection
  • 1920 Reply ordered following an objection
  • 1901 Unfinished. Rower claimed they scored a goal. Knocktopher awarded match.
  • 1889 Kells 3-05, Thomas Larkins 0-02; This was declared not the final and Ballyhale was allowed back in championship. Kells refused to play them, and Ballyhale awarded title

Records

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: 3 for Mullinavat (2020-22-23)

Most consecutive wins
# Wins Club Years won
1st 5 Railyard 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
Railyard 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
2nd 3 Lamogue 1902, 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. "Mullinavat regain Kilkenny SFC honours with victory over Thomastown". Kilkenny People. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. "Mullinavat complete Kilkenny SFC four-in-a-row". Hogan Stand. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. "Kilkenny SFC final: Mullinavat topple champions". Hogan Stand. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. "Kilkenny SFC final: Railyard complete three-in-a-row". Hogan Stand. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  5. "Kilkenny SFC final: Muckalee seal four-in-a-row". Hogan Stand. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  6. Munster Express 1860-current, Saturday, 21 May 1887; Page: 8
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