Clare Senior Football Championship

Munster & All-Ireland club qualification

Munster club championship

Two Clare clubs have won the Munster Senior Club Football Championship:

• Having lost both the 1972 and 1983 finals to Nemo Rangers (Cork), and the 1991 final to Dr. Croke's (Kerry), Doonbeg won the 1998 Munster senior club title, beating Moyle Rovers (Tipperary) in the final after a replay. They lost to Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) in the All-Ireland senior club semi-final. They were denied back-to-back Munster titles when they lost the 1999 final to University College Cork (Cork).
• Having lost the 1993 final to Nemo Rangers (Cork), Kilmurry Ibrickane won the 2004 Munster senior club title, beating Stradbally (Waterford) in the final after a replay. They lost to Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) in the All-Ireland senior club semi-final. Kilmurry Ibrickane lost the 2008 final to Dromcollogher-Broadford (Limerick), however they reversed that result the following year to win the 2009 Munster senior club title. They beat Portlaoise (Laois) on their way to the 2010 All-Ireland senior club final.

Five more Clare clubs have reached the Munster senior club final:

• Cooraclare lost the 1964 final to Shannon Rangers (Kerry).
• Kilrush Shamrocks reached three finals in four years, but lost to Nemo Rangers (Cork) in both 1978 and 1981, and to St. Finbarr's (Cork) in 1979.
• St. Senan's have reached four finals, but lost to Castlehaven (Cork) in 1989, O'Donovan Rossa (Cork) in 1992, An Ghaeltacht (Kerry) in 2003, and Nemo Rangers (Cork) in 2005.
• Cratloe lost the 2013 final to Dr. Croke's (Kerry).
• Miltown Malbay lost the 2018 final to Dr. Croke's (Kerry).

All-Ireland club championship

One Clare club has reached the All-Ireland senior club final:

• Kilmurry Ibrickane lost the 2010 final to St. Gall's (Antrim) at Croke Park, Dublin.

No Clare club has won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

2026 Senior clubs

The twelve team competing in the 2026 Clare Senior Football Championship are:

Venues

Early rounds

Fixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams. Some of the more common venues include Clarecastle GAA Grounds, Cooraclare GAA Grounds, Hennessy Memorial Park, Páirc Finne, Páirc na Muintire, Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Páirc Uí Seancháin and St. Michael’s Park. Cusack Park in Ennis also hosts several double-headers in the early rounds of the championship.

Later stages

The semi-finals and final are usually played at Cusack Park in Ennis. Named after the founder of the GAA, Michael Cusack, the ground has a capacity of just over 20,000. In 2017 a major renovation of the stadium was completed which included the demolition and re-erection of the main stand and construction of a new entrance at the north side of the stadium.

Winning managers since [[1990 Clare Senior Football Championship|1990]]

Trophy

The winning team is presented with the Jack Daly Cup. A native of Ennis and life-long member of Éire Óg, John (Jack) Daly (1938-2020) lined out at full-forward for Éire Óg when they won the 1957 Clare Senior Hurling Championship. In 1963 he became the youngest ever chairman of the Clare County Board, serving two terms in the role. In 1965 he became the Clare GAA representative on the GAA Central Council until 1970. He was hugely supportive of Clare football and his willingness to donate a trophy for the 1969 Clare Senior Football Championship is testament to this. Mr Daly also donated a second trophy for the 1980 Clare Senior Football Championship after Kilrush Shamrocks completed a historic five-in-a-row from 1975 to 1979, and kept the originally trophy. The third version of the Jack Daly Cup was donated by the Daly family in 2024.

Roll of honour

List of Clare SFC finals

• North Clare were an amalgamation similar to the modern-day divisional teams seen in Cork and Kerry. North Clare drew it's players from the Ballyvaughan-Fanore, Corofin, Ennistymon, Kilfenora, Liscannor, Michael Cusack's and St. Breckan's clubs. They competed together at senior level when they were all competing individually at intermediate or junior level. North Clare lost the 1934, 1977 and 1978 senior football finals to Kilrush Shamrocks.
• In late 1943, after Ennis Dalcassians won the junior A football final, they offered an opportunity to any players from their neighbours and fellow junior club, Doora-Barefield, to join with them and compete for titles at a higher level in both codes. Ennis Faughs won the 1947 senior football final against Clohanes. Ennis Faughs won back-to-back titles against O'Curry's in the 1948 senior football final. This agreement continued when Ennis Dalcassians became Éire Óg in 1952. Ennis Faughs contested four consecutive senior football finals from 1952 to 1955, winning both the 1952 and 1954 senior football finals against Kilrush Shamrocks. Ennis Faughs disbanded after losing the 1955 senior football final replay to Doonbeg.
• In late 1992, Éire Óg once again offered an opportunity to any players from their neighbours and fellow intermediate club, Doora-Barefield, to join with them and try to replicate their previous successes at senior level. Ennis Faughs won the 1994 senior football final replay against Kilrush Shamrocks. Ennis Faughs were denied back-to-back titles when they lost the 1995 senior football final to Doonbeg. When Éire Óg won the 1995 intermediate football final, Ennis Faughs were once again disbanded. Doora-Barefield later won the 1997 intermediate football final.

Records and statistics

The "Double"

The following clubs have won both the Clare Senior Football Championship and Clare Senior Hurling Championship in the same year:

• Four times by [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] Ennis Dalcassianss (1890, 1911, 1914 & 1929)
• Once by [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] Cratloe (2014)
• Once by [[File:Colours of Cork.svg|20px|border]] Éire Óg, Ennis (2025)

Consecutive championships

• 5-in-a-row:
  • Once by [[File:Colours of Limerick.svg|20px|border]] Kilrush Shamrocks (1975–1979)
• 3-in-a-row:
  • Twice by [[File:Colours of Sligo.svg|20px|border]] Doonbeg (1967–1969) & (1972–1974)
  • Once by [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] Ennis Dalcassians (1909–1911)

By decade

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

• 1880s: Two titles for [[File:Blue Gold GAA Flag.png|20px|border]] Newmarket-on-Fergus (1887, 1888)
• 1890s: Three titles for [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] Ennis Dalcassians (1890, 1897, 1899)
• 1900s: Three titles for [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] Ennis Dalcassians (1904, 1907, 1909)
• 1910s: Four titles for [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] Ennis Dalcassians (1910, 1911, 1913, 1914)
• 1920s: Three titles for [[File:Maroon Gold GAA Flag.png|20px|border]] St. Joseph's, Miltown Malbay (1923, 1925, 1927)
• 1930s: Five titles for [[File:Colours of Limerick.svg|20px|border]] Kilrush Shamrocks (1930, 1931, 1934, 1937, 1938)
• 1940s: Two titles for [[File:White Green GAA Flag.png|20px|border]] Ennis Faughs (1947, 1948)
• 1950s: Three titles for [[File:Colours of Limerick.svg|20px|border]] Kilrush Shamrocks (1951, 1957, 1958)
• 1960s: Four titles for [[File:Colours of Sligo.svg|20px|border]] Doonbeg (1961, 1967, 1968, 1969)
• 1970s: Five titles for [[File:Colours of Limerick.svg|20px|border]] Kilrush Shamrocks (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)
• 1980s: Three titles for [[File:Colours of Sligo.svg|20px|border]] Doonbeg (1982, 1983, 1988)
• 1990s: Five titles for [[File:Colours of Sligo.svg|20px|border]] Doonbeg (1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999)
• 2000s: Four titles for [[File:Colours of Mayo.svg|20px|border]] Kilmurry Ibrickane (2002, 2004, 2008, 2009)
• 2010s: Four titles for [[File:Colours of Mayo.svg|20px|border]] Kilmurry Ibrickane (2011, 2012, 2016, 2017)
• 2020s: Four titles for [[File:Colours of Cork.svg|20px|border]] Éire Óg, Ennis (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)

Barren spells

The longest gaps between successive Clare Senior Football Championship titles are:

• 70 years: [[File:Colours of Cork.svg|20px|border]] Shannon Gaels, Labasheeda (1900–1970)
• 42 years: [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] St. Senan's, Kilkee (1942–1984)
• 40 years: [[File:Colours of Cork.svg|20px|border]] Éire Óg, Ennis (1954–1994)
• 30 years: [[File:Colours of Mayo.svg|20px|border]] Kilmurry Ibrickane (1933–1963)
• 27 years: [[File:Colours of Dublin.svg|20px|border]] Cooraclare (1918–1945) & [[File:Colours of Mayo.svg|20px|border]] Kilmurry Ibrickane (1966–1993)
• 26 years: [[File:Maroon Gold GAA Flag.png|20px|border]] St. Joseph's, Miltown Malbay (1959–1985)
• 25 years: [[File:Maroon Gold GAA Flag.png|20px|border]] St. Joseph's, Miltown Malbay (1990–2015)
• 21 years: [[File:Colours of Dublin.svg|20px|border]] Cooraclare (1965–1986)
• 17 years: [[File:Maroon Gold GAA Flag.png|20px|border]] St. Joseph's, Miltown Malbay (1932–1949)
• 15 years: [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] Ennis Dalcassians (1914–1929) & [[File:Colours of Cork.svg|20px|border]] Éire Óg, Ennis (2006–2021)
• 14 years: [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] St. Senan's, Kilkee (1928–1942)
• 13 years: [[File:Colours of Limerick.svg|20px|border]] Kilrush Shamrocks (1938–1951 & 1962–1975)
• 12 years: [[File:Colours of Limerick.svg|20px|border]] Kilrush Shamrocks (1912–1924)
• 11 years: [[File:Colours of Dublin.svg|20px|border]] Cooraclare (1945–1956 & 1986–1997) & [[File:Colours of Laois.svg|20px|border]] St. Senan's, Kilkee (1992–2003)
• 10 years: [[File:Maroon Gold GAA Flag.png|20px|border]] St. Joseph's, Miltown Malbay (1906–1916)

References

References

1. "Collins Clan Inspire Super Cratloe To Historic Double". [[Irish Independent]].
2. "Naomh Eoin-O'Currys Safe From Relegation". The Clare Echo.
3. "Éire Óg Ride Storm To Secure Clare Double". [[RTÉ Sport]].
4. "Presentation Of The Jack Daly Cup". [[Éire Óg, Inis GAA]].
5. "Éire Óg Ride Storm To Secure Clare Double". [[RTÉ Sport]].
6. "Éire Óg Make It Three Clare SFC Titles In Four Years". [[RTÉ Sport]].
7. "Collins Steers Cratloe To First County Title In Nine Years". [[RTÉ Sport]].
8. "Patience A Virtue As Éire Óg Defend Clare SFC Crown With Victory Over Ennistymon". [[RTÉ Sport]].
9. "Éire Óg End 15-Year Wait For Clare SFC Crown". [[Irish Examiner]].
10. "Clare SFC final: Sweet Sixteen For Kilmurry Ibrickane". [[Hogan Stand]].
11. "Late Surge Sees St Joseph's Miltown Claim Clare SFC Title". [[RTÉ Sport]].
12. "O'Dwyer Provides The Spark For Holders". [[Irish Examiner]].
13. "Kilmurry Ibrickane Win 11th Clare title". [[Irish Examiner]].
14. "St Joseph's End 25-year Famine". [[Irish Examiner]].
15. "Clare SFC Final: Podge Purrs As Cratloe Complete Double". [[Hogan Stand]].
16. "Champagne On Ice As Cratloe Make History With First Ever Senior Football Title". [[TheJournal.ie.
17. "Kilmurry Ibrickane's Guile Sees Them Home". [[Irish Examiner]].
18. "McInerney Exposes Gulf In Class". [[Irish Independent]].
19. "Tubridy Takes Centre Stage In Dull Show To Deliver Title For Doonbeg". [[Irish Independent]].
20. "Lissycasey Ease To Maiden Success At Third Try". [[Irish Independent]].
21. "Éire Óg Withstand Brave Lissycasey Fightback". [[Irish Independent]].
22. "Daly Plays Hero For Kilmurry". [[The Irish Times]].
23. "Clare SFC Final: Kilkee Take Advantage Of Reprieve". [[Irish Independent]].
24. "Doonbeg Take Revenge". [[Irish Independent]].