Tipperary Senior Football Championship


The Tipperary Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Gaelic football clubs in Tipperary. The winners of the Tipperary Championship qualify to represent their county in the Munster Senior Club Football Championship, the winners of which advance to the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

History

Over the decades, the Tipperary championship has been dominated by teams from South Tipperary, with Fethard and Clonmel Commercials leading the roll of honour, though Loughmore-Castleiney from Mid Tipperary strongly challenge in most seasons and are the current champions. Kilruane MacDonagh's were North Tipperary's last club team to be victorious in 1975, while teams from West Tipperary have also figured in the honours list, including Aherlow who won their first championship in 2006. Other teams from the West to have won the championship are Galtee Rovers and Arravale Rovers, champions in 1985. The latter were promoted from Intermediate level for 2008, thus providing Tipperary Town with a senior team once again, a welcome development for such a town steeped in the ancient history of the game. The game's administrators are struggling in Clonmel to keep abreast of population growth where the town with about 20,000 people, now has three senior clubs, Commercials, with Moyle Rovers located in the outer suburban fringe. The most recently formed club, Clonmel Óg, first contested the senior championships in 2009, having won the Intermediate Championship in 2008 and continue to make welcome progress.
Over the years, prominent senior football clubs have included Fethard, Clonmel Commercials, Moyle Rovers, Ardfinnan, Grangemockler, Kilsheelan and Cahir from South Tipperary. Western teams who are consistent participants in the championship are Aherlow, Arravale Rovers, Eire Og, Anacarty and Galtee Rovers. In recent years the Mid division has become much more competitive and now consists of 5 teams due to the recent promotions of Moycarkey Borris and Drom Inch teams. Loughmore-Castleiney and J.K. Bracken's current dominate the division with Moyne-Templetuohy following closely behind.
The most successful teams to date have been Fethard and Commercials, though in recent years, Moyle Rovers have been to the fore with a number of wins. The champions in 2005 were Ardfinnan who made a winning return to the roll of honour after an absence of 31 years, while 2006 will be recorded as a notable year in West Tipperary when their divisional champions, Aherlow, lifted the laurels for the first time and brought the title to the storied glen.
The old order was restored in 2007, when Moyle Rovers triumphed once again. The 2008 final saw Galtee Rovers defeat Cahir to bring the title back to Bansha after an absence of 27 years, but their reign was short-lived and Moyle Rovers restored the South's supremacy in 2009 with their win over West champions, Aherlow on 25 October at Semple Stadium. However, the glensmen came back for victory in 2010, taking the laurels from Loughmore-Castleiney in the final. The 2011 championship was quite unique in that for the first time, it was won by Thomas MacDonagh's, a combination team representing nine clubs in the North Tipperary Division. They won the title from Moyle Rovers in the final in Cashel on 6 November 2011. It was the first time in 36 years that the title went North, the last victorious team from the region being Kilruane MacDonagh's in 1975. However, MacDonagh's relinquished their title in 2012 when Clonmel Commercials returned as champions for the 15th time, thus bridging a 10-year gap since their last victory.
2013 will long be remembered in Loughmore-Castleiney as the Club gained immortality by winning the Senior Football Championship for the 12th time and also won the Senior Hurling Championship for good measure, thus becoming the first club to win both championships in the same year, a feat unlikely to be matched by another club in the foreseeable future. Loughmore-Castleiney's famous victory came at Semple Stadium on Sunday, 3 November, when their three-goal tally comfortably saw off the challenge of Aherlow Gaels which is a combination team representing the Aherlow and Lattin-Cullen clubs in West Tipperary. 2014 proved to be a disappointing year in the administration of the Club Championship as the fixture list was upset because of inter-county hurling commitments which resulted in the County being unable to take part in the Munster Club Football Championship, a fate strangely not visited upon the hurling clubs in the County. The County championship was eventually decided on St. Stephens Day following a replayed County final when the Loughmore-Casteleiny club successfully defended their title against a gallant Cahir team on a score of 0-9 to 2-2.
2015 was a historic year in Tipperary Football history which saw Clonmel Commercials win the Tipperary title for the 16th time before advancing to win a coveted Munster title, the first for the county. Their journey continued to the All-Ireland Final where in the closing stages their tremendous year ended with a defeat to Ballyboden St. Enda's of Dublin.

Top winners

TeamWinnerWinning Years
1Fethard211887, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1938, 1942, 1954, 1957, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2001
2Clonmel Commercials181944, 1948, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019
3Loughmore-Castleiney141914, 1940, 1946, 1955, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2016
4Grangemockler/Ballyneale81890, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1931
4Clonmel Shamrocks81897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1933, 1934, 1937
4Ardfinnan81935, 1939, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1974, 2005
5Moyle Rovers81995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2018
6Arravale Rovers61894, 1895, 1896, 1899, 1941, 1985
6Galtee Rovers61949, 1950, 1976, 1980, 1981, 2008
7Mullinahone51912, 1913, 1916, 1926, 1929
8Kilsheelan41930, 1932, 1968, 1972
9St. Flannan's 31958, 1959, 1961
10Bohercrowe21888, 1889
10Nenagh21911, 1915
10Templemore21925, 1936
1010th Battalion Templemore21943, 1945
10St Patrick's 21947, 1953
10Aherlow22006, 2010
11Tipperary Town11902
11Cloneen11908
11Tipperary O'Leary's11910
11Castleiney11914
11Old Bridge11952
11Thurles Crokes11960
11Ballingarry11951
11Kilruane MacDonagh's11975
11Cahir12003
11Thomas MacDonagh's12011

Roll of honour

YearWinnerRunners UpMan of the Match
2019Clonmel Commercials 3-19J.K. Bracken's 0-07Kevin Fahey
2018Moyle Rovers 1-15Ardfinnan 1-07Peter Acheson
2017Clonmel Commercials 2-09Killenaule 0-08Michael Quinlivan
2016 Loughmore-Castleiney 1-09Moyle Rovers 1-06Cian Hennessy
2015Clonmel Commercials 1-12Moyle Rovers 3-05Séamus Kennedy
2014Loughmore-Castleiney 2-07 0-09 Cahir 1-10 2-02 John McGrath
2013Loughmore-Castleiney 3-10Aherlow Gaels 0-09John McGrath
2012Clonmel Commercials 1-09Thomas MacDonagh's 0-05Colman Kennedy
2011Thomas MacDonagh's 0-09Moyle Rovers 0-07Philip Austin
2010Aherlow 2-04Loughmore-Castleiney 1-06Barry Grogan
2009Moyle Rovers 3-06Aherlow 1-11Declan Browne
2008Galtee Rovers 0-07Cahir 0-05
2007Moyle Rovers 1-09Fethard 0-04
2006Aherlow 2-10Moyle Rovers 0-05
2005Ardfinnan 1-05Loughmore-Castleiney 1-04
2004Loughmore-Castleiney 0-09Moyle Rovers 0-06
2003Cahir 0-07Ardfinnan 0-04
2002Clonmel Commercials 1-14Aherlow 1-05Fergal O’Callaghan
2001Fethard 1-13Aherlow 0-08
2000Moyle RoversLoughmore-Castleiney
1999Moyle RoversClonmel Commercials
1998Moyle RoversArdfinnan
1997FethardAherlow
1996Moyle RoversClonmel Commercials
1995Moyle RoversClonmel Commercials
1994Clonmel CommercialsLoughmore-Castleiney
1993FethardLoughmore-Castleiney
1992Loughmore-CastleineyFethard
1991FethardClonmel Commercials
1990Clonmel CommercialsLoughmore-Castleiney
1989Clonmel CommercialsFethard
1988FethardClonmel Commercials
1987Loughmore-CastleineyClonmel Commercials
1986Clonmel CommercialsFethard
1985Arravale RoversLoughmore-Castleiney
1984FethardClonmel Commercials
1983Loughmore-CastleineyFethard
1982Clonmel CommercialsFethard
1981Galtee RoversKilsheelan
1980Galtee Rovers 0-11Loughmore-Castleiney 0-10
1979Loughmore-CastleineyGaltee Rovers
1978FethardGaltee Rovers
1977Loughmore-CastleineyGaltee Rovers
1976Galtee Rovers 2-07Arravale Rovers 0-02
1975Kilruane MacDonagh'sLoughmore-Castleiney
1974ArdfinnanFethard
1973Loughmore-CastleineyArdfinnan
1972KilsheelanArdfinnan
1971Clonmel CommercialsArdfinnan
1970Ardfinnan
1969Clonmel CommercialsArdfinnan
1968KilsheelanArdfinnan
1967Clonmel CommercialsArdfinnan
1966Clonmel CommercialsInane Rovers
1965Clonmel CommercialsMoneygall
1964ArdfinnanClonmel Commercials
1963ArdfinnanTemplemore
1962ArdfinnanThurles Crokes
1961St. Flannan'sLattin-Cullen
1960Thurles CrokesClonmel Commercials
1959St. Flannan'sLoughmore-Castleiney
1958St. Flannan's,Loughmore-Castleiney
1957FethardLoughmore-Castleiney
1956Clonmel Commercials 3-09Loughmore-Castleiney 0-07
1955Loughmore-Castleiney 3-08Arravale Rovers 0-06
1954Fethard 2-03Loughmore-Castleiney 2-02
1953St Patrick's 0-05Ballingarry 0-04
1952Old Bridge, Clonmel - Awarded TitleGaltee Rovers -withdrew from Final
1951Ballingarry 1-05Galtee Rovers 0-05
1950Galtee Rovers 1-08Templetuohy 1-02
1949Galtee Rovers 1-07Templetuohy 1-02
1948Clonmel Commercials 4-05Loughmore-Castleiney 2-02
1947St Patrick's 0-06Galtee Rovers 0-03
1946Loughmore-Castleiney 3-08Clonmel Commercials 2-06
1945Army Mullinahone 1-02
1944Clonmel Commercials 1-06Army 1-04
1943Army 1-07Fethard 0-03
1942Fethard 4-05Arravale Rovers 1-02
1941Arravale Rovers 3-04Loughmore-Castleiney 0-00
1940Loughmore-Castleiney 1-08Clonmel Shamrocks 0-02
1939Ardfinnan 1-03West Tipperary Selection 1-01
1938Fethard 2-08West Tipperary Selection 1-01
1937Clonmel Shamrocks 3-02Ardfinnan 3-00
1936Templemore 2-05Arravale Rovers 1-06
1935Ardfinnan 3-05Templemore 2-01
1934Clonmel Shamrocks
1933Clonmel Shamrocks 1-05Templemore 0-03
1932KilsheelanGrangemockler
1931Grangemockler No teams in Mid, North or West
1930KilsheelanGrangemockler
1929Mullinahone 2-05Templemore 0-01
1928Fethard 1-03Templemore 0-04
1927FethardMid Tipperary Selection
1926Mullinahone 3-03Templemore 0-05
1925Templemore 1-04Fethard 1-01
1924Fethard 1-06Templemore 1-02
1923Fethard 3-03Templemore 0-05
1922Fethard 1-04Templemore 0-00
1921No Championship
1920Fethard 2-06Mullinahone 0-04
1919Fethard 3-05Nenagh 1-00
1918Fethard 2-02The Commons 1-02
1917Fethard 4-02Mullinahone 2-01
1916Final Abandoned
1915Nenagh 1-02Castleiney-Templetuohy 1-01
1914Castleiney 3-01Nenagh 1-00
1913Mullinahone 4-04Templemore 0-04
1912Mullinahone 1-02Nenagh 1-01
1911Nenagh 2-03Templetuohy 0-00
1910Tipperary O'Leary'sBorris-Ileigh
1909Grangemockler 1-05Clonmel Emmets 2-04
1908Cloneen Tipperary O'Leary's
1907Grangemockler 3-04Cashel 0-04
1906Grangemockler 2-05Kilcash 0-05
1905Grangemockler 0-11Kilcash 0-02
1904Grangemockler 2-05Poulacapple 0-06
1903Grangemockler 2-05Poulacapple 1-03
1902Tipperary Town 1-08Kilsheelan 0-03
1901Clonmel Shamrocks 1-12Fethard 0-04
1900Clonmel Shamrocks 1-08Clonmel Commercials 0-04
1899Arravale Rovers 0-06 Clonmel Shamrocks 0-06
1898Clonmel Shamrocks 0-10Kilcash 0-01
1897Coolmoyne 1-02Clonmel Shamrocks 0-01
1896Arravale Rovers 1-01Grangemockler 0-03
1895Arravale Rovers 4-06Loughmore 0-01
1894Arravale Rovers 1-02Tipperary Shamrocks 0-00
1893No Championshipdue to Parnell split
1892No Championshipdue to Parnell split
1891No Championshipdue to Parnell split
1890Grangemockler
1889Bohercrowe2-07Carrick 0-00
1888Bohercrowe 0-04Fethard 0-01
1887FethardN/A
1886TemplemoreN/A

North Tipperary

While there is currently no senior divisional championship, an occasional presence is maintained in the county championship by one or two teams, often representing an amalgamation of junior clubs who play in the divisional junior championship. Best known teams from the past have been Inane Rovers from Roscrea, St Flannan's and Kilruane MacDonagh's, the latter two having won the county championship on one occasion each. The region received a boost in 2011 when a combination team named after patriot Thomas MacDonagh, a representative outfit drawing from nine clubs won the County Championship, a feat last achieved in 1975, when the other MacDonagh's from Kilruane were champions.

Mid Tipperary

The Mid Tipperary Senior Football Championship is generally contested by three teams: J.K. Bracken's of Templemore, Loughmore-Castleiney and Moyne-Templetuohy. The following is a list of winners of the Mid Tipperary Championship.
YearWinnerRunner-Up
2016Loughmore-CastleineyUpperchurch-Drombane
2015Loughmore-CastleineyDrom-Inch
2014J.K. Bracken'sMoyne-Templetuohy
2013J.K. Bracken'sLoughmore-Castleiney
2012Loughmore-CastleineyJ.K. Bracken's
2011J.K. Bracken'sLoughmore-Castleiney
2010Loughmore-CastleineyJ.K. Bracken's
2009Loughmore-CastleineyJ.K. Bracken's
2008Loughmore-CastleineyMoyne-Templetuohy
2007Loughmore-CastleineyMoyne-Templetuohy
2006J.K. Bracken'sLoughmore-Castleiney
2005Loughmore-CastleineyJ.K. Bracken's
2004Loughmore-Castleiney
2003Loughmore-CastleineyJ.K. Bracken's
2002J.K. Bracken'sLoughmore-Castleiney
2001Moyne-TempletuohyLoughmore-Castleiney
2000Loughmore-CastleineyJ.K. Bracken's
1999Loughmore-Castleiney
1998Loughmore-CastleineyJ.K. Bracken's
1997Loughmore-Castleiney
1996Loughmore-Castleiney
1995Loughmore-CastleineySt. Kevin's
1994Loughmore-CastleineyPeil Durlas
1993Loughmore-CastleineyOliver Plunketts
1992Loughmore-CastleineyOliver Plunketts
1991Loughmore-Castleiney
1990Loughmore-Castleiney
1989Loughmore-CastleineyTemplemore
1988Loughmore-CastleineyTemplemore
1987Loughmore-CastleineyMoyne-Templetuohy
1986Moyne-TempletuohyLoughmore-Castleiney
1985Loughmore-Castleiney
1984Loughmore-Castleiney
1983Loughmore-CastleineyMoycarkey-Borris
1982Loughmore-Castleiney
1981Loughmore-Castleiney
1980Loughmore-CastleineyTemplemore
1979Loughmore-Castleiney
1978Loughmore-Castleiney
1977Loughmore-Castleiney
1976Loughmore-Castleiney
1975Loughmore-Castleiney
1974Loughmore-Castleiney
1973Loughmore-Castleiney
1972Loughmore-Castleiney
1971Loughmore-Castleiney
1970Loughmore-Castleiney
1969Loughmore-Castleiney
1968Loughmore-Castleiney
1967Loughmore-Castleiney
1966Loughmore-Castleiney
1965Loughmore-CastleineyTemplemore
1964Templemore Éire Óg
1963Templemore Éire Óg
1962Thurles Crokes
1961Thurles Crokes
1960Thurles Crokes
1959Templemore
1958Loughmore
1957Loughmore
1956Loughmore
1955Loughmore
1954Loughmore
1953-
1952-
1951-
1950Templetuohy
1949Templetuohy
1948Loughmore-Castleiney
1947
1946Loughmore-Castleiney
194510th Battalion, Army, Templemore
194410th Battalion, Army, Templemore
194310th Battalion, Army, Templemore
1942
1941Loughmore-Castleiney
1940Loughmore-Castleiney
1939
1938
1937
1936Templemore
1935Templemore
1934Templemore
1933
1932
1931
1930Mullinahone
1929Templemore
1928Templemore
1927Templemore
1926Templemore
1925Templemore
1924Templemore
1923Templemore
1922Templemore
1921No Championship
1920No Championship
1919Castleiney
1918The Commons
1917Mullinahone
1916Templemore
1915Castleiney
1914Castleiney
1913Templemore
1912Templetuohy
1911Templetuohy
1910Borrisoleigh
1909Thurles
1908Thurles

West Tipperary

The West Tipperary Championship has been contested by the same four teams in recent years: Aherlow Gaels, Éire Óg Annacarty, Galtee Rovers and Arravale Rovers with Galtee Rovers winning their 26th title in 2018 to consolidate their place at the top of the roll of honour which they have maintained since their inaugural win in the championship of 1947. Since 2008 the championship has been a round-robin affair with the top teams qualifying for the final. In some years, the emerging champions also advanced to the quarter final of the County Championship. The stranglehold on the championship enjoyed by the Aherlow/Galtee Rovers axis was broken in 2011 and new champions other than these two clubs were crowned for the first time since Knockavilla Kickhams took the laurels in 1998. The 2011 final contestants were the age-old Arravale Rovers of Tipperary Town and the more hurling orientated club of Éire Óg, Annacarty who were making a strong bid to win their first championship at this level and code, having proved their mettle in the senior hurling championship on many past occasions. However, it was Arravale's turn once again to take the laurels after an exceptionally long barren period of 18 years, when they were a goal to the good in the final played at Golden on 25 September.
Éire Óg, however fulfilled their ambition in 2012 when they won their inaugural championship, a noteworthy achievement given their dual status and their challenging assignments in the hurling championship. However, their reign was short-lived as Arravale Rovers were worthy winners of the 2013 championship, when they saw off Galtee Rovers in one of the few finals to be played at Lattin, whose new ground development is a showpiece for other clubs to copy. The final was something of an anti-climax as the champions did not have an avenue to progress to the county championship as in former years. Galtee Rovers reached a notable milestone when they won their 25th title on Sunday, 3 October 2014 when defeating Éire Óg Anacarty by 4-6 to 0-7 in the final played at Dundrum.
In the early years of the championship which was inaugurated in 1940 but was not concluded that year, Arravale Rovers fine team of the war years, claim to be champions of West Tipperary in 1942, a claim not disputed by the other clubs, though details are scarce on the victory records. Notwithstanding this early episode, the black and amber of the Arravales were All-Ireland Senior Football Champions when other clubs were just starting out at the end of the 19th century. The combination team of Aherlow and Lattin-Cullen playing under the banner of Aherlow Gaels won their only championship to date when they prevailed in the 2016 final, producing a goal rush against finalists Galtee Rovers at Dundrum on 25 September 2016. The 2017 Championship saw Arravale Rovers regain the title by a three-point margin the final against Galtee Rovers in the final played in Annacarty. Galtee Rovers were Champions again in 2018, defeating Eire Og, Annacarty by 2-8 to 1-7, in the final played at Cappawhite on 14 December. The following is the list of winners of the West Tipperary Senior Football Championship since the inauguration of the championship in 1940 to 2018.
Galtee Rovers: - 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1963, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2018.
Arravale Rovers: - 1942, 1948, 1955, 1972, 1973, 1981, 1984, 1992, 1993, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017.
Lattin-Cullen: - 1958, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1982, 1994.
Aherlow: - 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010.
Solohead: - 1956, 1957, 1970, 1977.
Golden-Kilfeacle: - 1986, 1988, 1995, 1996.
Emly: - 1959, 1960, 1987.
Cappawhite: - 1978.
Cashel King Cormacs: - 1990.
Knockavilla Kickhams: - 1998.
St. Ailbe's : - 1968.
Golden-Rockwell : - 1980.
Éire Óg Annacarty: - 2012.
Aherlow Gaels : - 2016

South Tipperary

The South Tipperary Championship is contested by ten teams: Ardfinnan, Cahir, Carrick Swans, Clonmel Commercials, Fethard, Clonmel Óg, Killenaule, Moyle Rovers, Kilsheelan and Mullinahone.
The championship is currently a two group competition. The winners of each group go directly into two semi finals, with the 2nd and 3rd placed teams playing off in two quarter finals.