Connacht Senior Football Championship
Annual Gaelic football competition played on two continents
The Connacht Senior Football Championship , known simply as the Connacht Championship and shortened to Connacht SFC , is an annual Gaelic football competition for the senior county teams of Connacht GAA . All of the county teams of Connacht participate in the championship, as well as London and New York . The winning team receives the Nestor Cup.[ 1]
The Connacht SFC is run on a knock-out basis through which teams are eliminated from the competition. A series of games are played during the summer months and the final is played in June or July. The winner and runner-up progresses directly to the All-Ireland SFC Group Stage . Before 2020, all losing teams progressed to the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers, while, prior to 2001, the All-Ireland SFC was a straight knock-out format, which meant all losing teams were eliminated after a single defeat.
Galway are the three-time title holder, having defeated Mayo by 0–16 to 0–15 in the 2024 final .[ 2]
History
Galway are Connacht's most successful county, with 50 Connacht SFC titles and 9 All-Ireland SFC titles. Mayo are next, with 47 Connacht SFC titles and 3 All-Ireland SFC titles. Roscommon have won the Connacht SFC title 24 times, most recently in 2019 , as well having won 2 All-Ireland SFC titles. Apart from those three, no other team competing in Connacht has won an All-Ireland SFC title.
Sligo have won the Nestor Cup three times, most recently in 2007 . Leitrim have won the competition twice, most recently in 1994 .
London have competed in the Connacht SFC since 1975, while New York joined in 1999. In this time London have managed three victories: one in 1977 and two in 2013 , against Sligo and Leitrim.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] New York recorded their first, and, so far, only, victory in the championship over Leitrim in 2023 .[ 6]
The competing counties play for the JJ Nestor Cup, which is presented to the winning captain on Connacht Final Day.
Connacht SFC moments
Leitrim 0–12 – 2–4 Mayo (24 July 1994 ):
Sligo 1–10 – 0–12 Galway (8 July 2007 ):
Mayo 5–11 – 0–10 London (21 July 2013 ):
New York 0–15 pen – 0–15 Leitrim (8 April 2023 ):
Teams
2025 Championship
Seven counties will compete in the 2025 Connacht Senior Football Championship : the five counties in the Irish province of Connacht and the two foreign-based teams of London and New York .
List of teams
The following teams have competed in the Connacht SFC for at least one season.
Personnel and kits
List of finals
Legend
All-Ireland SFC winner
All-Ireland SFC runner-up
List of Connacht SFC finals
Year
Date
Winner
Runner-up
Venue
Winning captain
Winning margin
Referee
Attendance
County team
Score
County team
Score
1900
Galway
1901
Mayo
2-4
Galway
0-3
1902
Galway
1903
Roscommon
1-2
Mayo
0-4
1904
Mayo
3-6
Roscommon
0-1
1905
Roscommon
0-7
Mayo
0-5
1906
Mayo
2-13
Roscommon
0-5
1907
Mayo
3-9
Galway
0-1
1908
Mayo
2-5
Galway
0-4
1909
Mayo
1-4
Galway
0-3
1910
Galway
1-3
Roscommon
1-2
1911
Galway
won
Mayo
scr
1912
Roscommon
0-2
Galway
0-0
1913
Galway
1-2
Mayo
0-3
1914
Roscommon
1-2
Leitrim
0-1
1915
Mayo
3-1
Roscommon
1-3
1916
Mayo
1-5
Roscommon
0-3
1917
Galway
1-4
Mayo
1-1
1918
Mayo
0-4
Galway
0-1
1919
Galway
1-6
Roscommon
0-5
1920
Mayo
2-3
Sligo
1-4
1921
Mayo
1-4
Roscommon
0-1
1922
Galway
1-7 2-4 *
Sligo
3-2 2-2
1923
Mayo
0-3
Galway
0-2
1924
Mayo
0-1 2-6 (R)
Galway
0-1 0-5 (R)
1925
Galway
1-5
Mayo
1-3
1926
Galway
3-2
Mayo
1-2
1927
Leitrim
2-4
Galway
0-3
1928
Sligo
1-4
Mayo
0-6
1929
Mayo
1-6
Galway
0-4
1930
Mayo
1-7
Sligo
1-2
1931
Mayo
2-10
Roscommon
3-2
1932
Mayo
2-6
Sligo
0-7
1933
Galway
1-7
Mayo
1-5
1934
Galway
2-4
Mayo
0-5
1935
Mayo
0-12
Galway
0-5
1936
Mayo
2-4 2-7 (R)
Galway
1-7 1-4 (R)
1937
Mayo
3-5
Galway
0-8
1938
Galway
0-8
Mayo
0-5
1939
Mayo
2-6 *
Galway
0-3
1940
Galway
1-7
Mayo
0-5
1941
Galway
0-8
Roscommon
1-4
1942
Galway
2-6
Roscommon
3-2
1943
Roscommon
2-6
Galway
0-8
1944
Roscommon
2-11
Mayo
1-6
1945
Galway
2-6
Mayo
1-7
1946
Roscommon
1-4 1-9*
Mayo
0-6 1-2
1947
Roscommon
2-12
Sligo
1-8
1948
Mayo
2-4 2-10 (R)
Galway
1-7 2-7 (R)
1949
Mayo
4-6
Leitrim
0-3
1950
Mayo
1-7
Roscommon
0-4
1951
Mayo
4-13
Galway
2-3
1952
Roscommon
3-5
Mayo
0-6
1953
Roscommon
1-6
Mayo
0-6
1954
Galway
2-10
Sligo
3-4
1955
Mayo
3-11
Roscommon
1-3
1956
Galway
3-12
Sligo
1-5
1957
Galway
4-8
Leitrim
0-4
1958
Galway
2-10
Leitrim
1-11
1959
Galway
5-8
Leitrim
0-12
1960
Galway
2-5
Leitrim
0-5
1961
Roscommon
1-11
Galway
2-7
1962
Roscommon
3-7
Galway
2-9
1963
Galway
4-11
Leitrim
1-8
1964
Galway
2-12
Mayo
1-5
1965
Galway
1-12
Sligo
2-6
1966
Galway
0-12
Mayo
1-8
1967
Mayo
4-15
Leitrim
0-7
1968
Galway
2-10
Mayo
2-9
1969
Mayo
0–11 1-11 (14)
Galway
1-8 1-8 (11)
1970
Galway
2-15 (21)
Roscommon
1-8 (11)
1971
Galway
2–15 1-17 (R)
Sligo
2–15 3-10 (R)
1972
Roscommon
5-8
Mayo
3-10
1973
Galway
1-17
Mayo
2-12
1974
Galway
2-14
Roscommon
0-8
1975
Sligo
2–10 2-10 (R)
Mayo
1–13 0-15 (R)
1976
18 July
Galway
1-8 1-14 (R)
Roscommon
1-8 0-9 (R)
St Jarlath's Park
5
1977
10 July
Roscommon
1-12
Galway
2-8
Dr Hyde Park
14
1978
9 July
Roscommon
2-7
Galway
0-9
Pearse Stadium
4
1979
15 July
Roscommon
3-15
Mayo
2-10
MacHale Park
9
1980
13 July
Roscommon
3-13
Mayo
0-8
Dr Hyde Park
14
1981
12 July
Mayo
0-12
Sligo
0-4
MacHale Park
8
1982
11 July
Galway
3-17
Mayo
0-10
St Jarlath's Park
16
1983
17 July
Galway
1-13
Mayo
1-10
MacHale Park
3
1984
8 July
Galway
2-13
Mayo
2-9
Pearse Stadium
4
1985
14 July
Mayo
2-11
Roscommon
0-8
Dr Hyde Park
9
1986
13 July
Galway
1-8
Roscommon
1-5
Dr Hyde Park
3
1987
12 July
Galway
0-8
Mayo
0-7
MacHale Park
1
1988
24 July
Mayo
1-12
Roscommon
0-8
Dr Hyde Park
7
1989
30 July
Mayo
0–12 3-14 (R)
Roscommon
1-9 2-13 (R)
Dr Hyde Park
4
1990
22 July
Roscommon
0-16
Galway
1-11
Dr Hyde Park
2
18,000
1991
28 July
Roscommon
0–14 0-13 (R)
Mayo
0–14 1-9 (R)
Dr Hyde Park
1
25,000 24,000 (R)
1992
26 July
Mayo
1-14
Roscommon
0-10
MacHale Park
7
30,000
1993
25 July
Mayo
1-5
Roscommon
0-7
Dr Hyde Park
1
26,000
1994
24 July
Leitrim
0-12
Mayo
2-4
Dr Hyde Park
2
18,271
1995
23 July
Galway
0-17
Mayo
1-7
St Jarlath's Park
7
17,000
1996
21 July
Mayo
3-9
Galway
1-11
MacHale Park
4
1997
3 August
Mayo
0-11
Sligo
1-7
Dr Hyde Park
1
22,000
1998
1 August
Galway
0–11 1-17 (R)
Roscommon
0–11 0-17 (R)
Dr Hyde Park
3
25,000 30,000 (R)
1999
18 July
Mayo
1-14
Galway
1-10
St Jarlath's Park
4
31,000
2000
30 July
Galway
1-13
Leitrim
0-8
Dr Hyde Park
8
28,000
2001
1 July
Roscommon
2-10
Mayo
1-12
Dr Hyde Park
1
28,000
2002
30 June
Galway
1-11
Sligo
0-11
MacHale Park
3
14,000
2003
6 July
Galway
1-14
Mayo
0-13
Pearse Stadium
4
2004
18 July
Mayo
2-13
Roscommon
0-9
MacHale Park
10
34,790
2005
10 July
Galway
0-10
Mayo
0-8
Pearse Stadium
2
29,711
2006
16 July
Mayo
0-12
Galway
1-8
MacHale Park
1
34,613
2007
8 July
Sligo
1-10
Galway
0-12
Dr Hyde Park
1
11,317
2008
13 July
Galway
2-12
Mayo
1-14
MacHale Park
1
31,789
2009
19 July
Mayo
2-12
Galway
1-14
Pearse Stadium
1
25,627
2010
18 July
Roscommon
0-14
Sligo
0-13
MacHale Park
1
Jimmy White (Donegal)
25,300
2011
17 July
Mayo
0-13
Roscommon
0-11
Dr Hyde Park
2
Michael Collins (Cork)
25,609
2012 [ 8]
15 July
Mayo
0-12
Sligo
0-10
Dr Hyde Park
2
Cormac Reilly (Meath)
23,257
2013 [ 9]
21 July
Mayo
5-11
London
0-10
MacHale Park
16
Conor Lane (Cork)
21,274
2014 [ 10]
13 July
Mayo
3-14
Galway
0-16
MacHale Park
7
Rory Hickey (Clare)
26,738
2015 [ 11]
19 July
Mayo
6-25
Sligo
2-11
Dr Hyde Park
Keith Higgins
26
Padraig O'Sullivan (Kerry)
23,196
2016 [citation needed ]
17 July
Galway
0–13 3-16 (R)
Roscommon
1–10 0-14(R)
MacHale Park
Gary O'Donnell
11 (R)
Ciaran Branagan (Down)
24,324 15,960 (R)
2017 [ 12]
9 July
Roscommon
2-15
Galway
0-12
Pearse Stadium
Ciarán Murtagh
9
David Gough (Meath)
18,287
2018 [ 13]
17 June
Galway
0-16
Roscommon
2-6
Dr Hyde Park
Conor Devaney
4
David Coldrick (Meath)
18,864
2019 [ 14]
16 June
Roscommon
1-13
Galway
0-12
Pearse Stadium
Enda Smith
4
Barry Cassidy (Derry)
17,639
2020 [ 15]
15 November
Mayo
0-14
Galway
0-13
Pearse Stadium
Aidan O'Shea
1
Sean Hurson (Tyrone)
0
2021 [ 16]
25 July
Mayo
2-14
Galway
2-8
Croke Park
Aidan O'Shea
6
Conor Lane (Cork)
18,000
2022 [ 17]
29 May
Galway
2-19
Roscommon
2-16
Pearse Stadium
Seán Kelly
3
Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
21,419
2023 [ 18]
7 May
Galway
2-20
Sligo
0-12
MacHale Park
Seán Kelly
14
Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
11,867
2024 [ 2]
5 May
Galway
0-16
Mayo
0-15
Pearse Stadium
Seán Kelly
1
David Gough (Meath)
19,193
Notes
1888–1891: No Connacht representative in All-Ireland series
1892: Roscommon represented the province
1893–1899: No Connacht representative in All-Ireland series
1900: Galway unopposed
1902: Galway unopposed
1946: Objection and counter-objection – replay ordered
1939: Game unfinished – awarded to Mayo
1922: Objection – refixed
Team records and statistics
Roll of honour
Legend
Golden background – Connacht SFC winner or runner-up also won the All-Ireland SFC that year.
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).
Winning teams
Most recent championship meetings
* = Rescheduled for 2025, after being postponed in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games are Roscommon v London and Galway v New York, for their first fixtures since 2015.
+ = Rescheduled for 2026, after being absent in 2021 for the same reason are Mayo v London and Roscommon v New York, for their first fixtures since 2016 (in rotation).
In 2027, Sligo v New York, Leitrim v London are lined up. In 2028, Sligo v London, Leitrim v New York if London and New York don't win before that in 2029 Galway v London and Mayo v New York like in 2024.
Consecutive titles
Quintuple
Mayo (1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910)
Galway (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)
Mayo (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Quadruple
Mayo (1929, 1930, 1931, 1932)
Mayo (1948, 1949, 1950, 1951)
Galway (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)
Roscommon (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Treble
Double
Mayo (1915, 1916)
Mayo (1920, 1921)
Mayo (1923, 1924)
Galway (1925, 1926)
Galway (1933, 1934)
Roscommon (1943, 1944)
Roscommon (1946, 1947)
Roscommon (1952, 1953)
Roscommon (1961, 1962)
Galway (1970, 1971)
Galway (1973, 1974)
Galway (1986, 1987)
Mayo (1988, 1989)
Roscommon (1990, 1991)
Mayo (1992, 1993)
Mayo (1996, 1997)
Galway (2002, 2003)
Mayo (2020, 2021)
Single
Galway (1900, 1902, 1911, 1913, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1938, 1945, 1954, 1968, 1976, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2016, 2018)
Mayo (1901, 1904, 1918, 1939, 1955, 1967, 1969, 1981, 1985, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2009)
Roscommon (1892, 1903, 1905, 1912, 1914, 1972, 2001, 2010, 2017, 2019)
Sligo (1928, 1975, 2007)
Leitrim (1927, 1994)
Titles by decade
The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Connacht SFC titles, is as follows:
1900s : 6 for Mayo (1901, 1904, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909)
1910s : 4 each for Mayo (1910, 1915, 1916, 1918) and Galway (1911, 1913, 1917, 1919)
1920s : 5 for Mayo (1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1929)
1930s : 7 for Mayo (1930, 1931, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939)
1940s : 4 each for Mayo (1940, 1941, 1942, 1945) and Roscommon (1943, 1944, 1946, 1947)
1950s : 5 for Galway (1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959)
1960s : 6 for Galway (1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968)
1970s : 5 for Galway (1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976)
1980s : 5 for Galway (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987)
1990s : 5 for Mayo (1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999)
2000s : 5 for Galway (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008)
2010s : 5 for Mayo (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
2020s : 3 for Galway (2022, 2023, 2024)
Team debuts
Other records
Final success rate
No county teamss have appeared in the final, being victorious on all occasions.
On the opposite end of the scale, one team has appeared in the final, losing on each occasion:
Gaps
Longest gaps between successive Connacht SFC titles:
Longest gaps between successive Connacht SFC finals:
Active gaps
Longest active gaps since a Connacht SFC title:
Longest active gap since a Connacht SFC final appearance:
Player records
Each team's most recent winning captain
Managers
Managers in the Connacht 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 (1983–2024)
#
Manager(s)
Winning team(s)
Titles(s)
Winning years
1
John O'Mahony
Mayo Leitrim Galway
8
1988, 1989, 2009 1994 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003
2
James Horan
Mayo
6
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021
3
John Maughan
Mayo
4
1996, 1997, 1999, 2004
4
Pádraic Joyce
Galway
3
2022, 2023, 2024
5
Mattie McDonagh
Galway
2
1982, 1983
Martin McDermott
Roscommon
2
1990, 1991
Jack O'Shea
Mayo
2
1992, 1993
Kevin Walsh
Galway
2
2016, 2018
9
Brian McEniff
Sligo
1
1975
Tony Regan
Galway
1
1984
Liam O'Neill
Mayo
1
1985
Cyril Dunne
Galway
1
1986
Willie Joyce
Galway
1
1987
Bosco McDermott
Galway
1
1995
John Tobin
Roscommon
1
2001
Peter Ford
Galway
1
2005
Mickey Moran
Mayo
1
2006
Tommy Breheny
Sligo
1
2007
Liam Sammon
Galway
1
2008
Fergal O'Donnell
Roscommon
1
2010
Noel Connelly
Mayo
1
2015
Pat Holmes
Kevin McStay
Roscommon
1
2017
Anthony Cunningham
Roscommon
1
2019
Venues
Stadia and locations
See also
References
Pre-1928
Beginning of Sam Maguire
80-minute experiment
Post-experiment
Qualifiers and quarter-finals era
Associated competitions Statistics and awards