| Tipperary Senior Football Championship | |
|---|---|
| Irish | Comórtas Péil Sínsear Thiobráid Árainn |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Title holders | Thomas McDonaghs (1st title) |
| First winner | Templemore |
| Most titles | Fethard (21 titles) |
| Sponsors | Enfer |
The Tipperary Senior Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Tipperary Clubs. The winners of the Tipperary Championship winners qualify to represent their county in the Munster Senior Club Football Championship and in turn, advance to the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship. Over the decades, the 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 were champions in 2004. Kilruane McDonaghs were the last North Tipperary 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. Alas, the game's administrators are struggling in Clonmel to keep abreast of population growth where the town has about 20,000 people, yet boasts just one senior club, Commercials with Moyle Rovers located in the outer suburban fringe. However, a second team, Clonmel Og will contest the senior championships in 2009, having won the Intermediate Championship in 2008.
Over the years, prominent senior football Clubs include Fethard, Clonmel Commercials, Moyle Rovers, Ardfinnan, Grangemockler, Kilsheelan and Cahir from South Tipperary. West County teams who are consistent participants in the championship are Aherlow, Arravale Rovers and Galtee Rovers while in most years, Loughmore-Castleiney almost unfailingly represent mid Tipperary while Templemore represented by J.K. Brackens and Templetuohy-Moyne also occasionally compete. 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, however 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.[1] 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 McDonaghs, 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 McDonaghs in 1975.
Contents |
| Team | Winner | Winning Years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fethard | 21 | 1887, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1938, 1942, 1954, 1957, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2001 |
| 2 | Clonmel Commercials | 14 | 1944, 1948, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2002 |
| 3 | Loughmore-Castleiney | 11 | 1914, 1940, 1946, 1955, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 2004 |
| 4 | Grangemockler | 8 | 1890, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1931 |
| Clonmel Shamrocks | 8 | 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1933, 1934, 1937 | |
| Ardfinnan | 8 | 1935, 1939, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1974, 2005 | |
| 5 | Moyle Rovers | 7 | 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2009 |
| 6 | Arravale Rovers | 6 | 1894, 1895, 1896, 1899, 1941, 1985 |
| Galtee Rovers | 6 | 1949, 1950, 1976, 1980, 1981, 2008 | |
| 7 | Mullinahone | 5 | 1912, 1913, 1916, 1926, 1929 |
| 8 | Kilsheelan | 4 | 1930, 1932, 1968, 1972 |
| 9 | St. Flannan's (North Selection) | 3 | 1958, 1959, 1961 |
| 10 | Templemore | 2 | 1925, 1936 |
| Bohercrowe | 2 | 1888, 1889 | |
| Nenagh | 2 | 1911, 1915 | |
| St. Patrick's (Drangan/Cloneen) | 2 | 1947, 1953 | |
| 10th Battalion Templemore | 2 | 1943, 1945 | |
| Aherlow | 2 | 2006, 2010 | |
| 11 | Tipperary Town | 1 | 1902 |
| Cloneen | 1 | 1908 | |
| Tipperary O'Leary's | 1 | 1910 | |
| Castleiney | 1 | 1914 | |
| Old Bridge | 1 | 1952 | |
| Thurles Crokes | 1 | 1960 | |
| Ballingarry | 1 | 1951 | |
| Kilruane McDonaghs | 1 | 1975 | |
| Cahir | 1 | 2003 | |
| Thomas McDonaghs | 1 | 2011 |
| Year | Winner | Runners Up |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Thomas McDonaghs 0-09 | Moyle Rovers 0-07[3] |
| 2010 | Aherlow 2-04 | Loughmore-Castleiney 1-06 [4] |
| 2009 | Moyle Rovers 3-06 | Aherlow 1-11 [5] |
| 2008 | Galtee Rovers 0-07 | Cahir 0-05 |
| 2007 | Moyle Rovers 1-09 | Fethard 0-04 |
| 2006 | Aherlow 2-10 | Moyle Rovers 0-05 |
| 2005 | Ardfinnan 1-05 | Loughmore-Castleiney 1-04 [6] |
| 2004 | Loughmore-Castleiney 0-09 | Moyle Rovers 0-06 |
| 2003 | Cahir 0-07 | Ardfinnan 0-04 |
| 2002 | Clonmel Commercials 1-14 | Aherlow 1-05 |
| 2001 | Fethard 1-13 | Aherlow 0-08 |
| 2000 | Moyle Rovers | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1999 | Moyle Rovers | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1998 | Moyle Rovers | Ardfinnan |
| 1997 | Fethard | Aherlow |
| 1996 | Moyle Rovers | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1995 | Moyle Rovers | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1994 | Clonmel Commercials | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1993 | Fethard | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1992 | Loughmore-Castleiney | Fethard |
| 1991 | Fethard | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1990 | Clonmel Commercials | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1989 | Clonmel Commercials | Fethard |
| 1988 | Fethard | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1987 | Loughmore-Castleiney | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1986 | Clonmel Commercials | Fethard |
| 1985 | Arravale Rovers | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1984 | Fethard | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1983 | Loughmore-Castleiney | Fethard |
| 1982 | Clonmel Commercials | Fethard |
| 1981 | Galtee Rovers | Kilsheelan |
| 1980 | Galtee Rovers 0-11 | Loughmore-Castleiney 0-10 |
| 1979 | Loughmore-Castleiney | Galtee Rovers |
| 1978 | Fethard | Galtee Rovers |
| 1977 | Loughmore-Castleiney | Galtee Rovers |
| 1976 | Galtee Rovers 2-07 | Arravale Rovers 0-02 |
| 1975 | Kilruane McDonaghs | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1974 | Ardfinnan | Fethard |
| 1973 | Loughmore-Castleiney | Ardfinnan |
| 1972 | Kilsheelan | Ardfinnan |
| 1971 | Clonmel Commercials | Ardfinnan |
| 1970 | Ardfinnan | |
| 1969 | Clonmel Commercials | Ardfinnan |
| 1968 | Kilsheelan | Ardfinnan |
| 1967 | Clonmel Commercials | Ardfinnan |
| 1966 | Clonmel Commercials | Inane Rovers |
| 1965 | Clonmel Commercials | Moneygall |
| 1964 | Ardfinnan | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1963 | Ardfinnan | Templemore |
| 1962 | Ardfinnan | Thurles Crokes |
| 1961 | St. Flannan's | Lattin-Cullen |
| 1960 | Thurles Crokes | Clonmel Commercials |
| 1959 | St. Flannan's | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1958 | St. Flannan's, | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1957 | Fethard | Loughmore-Castleiney |
| 1956 | Clonmel Commercials 3-09 | Loughmore-Castleiney 0-07 |
| 1955 | Loughmore-Castleiney 3-08 | Arravale Rovers 0-06 |
| 1954 | Fethard 2-03 | Loughmore-Castleiney 2-02 |
| 1953 | St. Patrick's Drangan/Cloneen) 0-05 | Ballingarry 0-04 |
| 1952 | Old Bridge, Clonmel - Awarded Title | Galtee Rovers -withdrew from Final |
| 1951 | Ballingarry 1-05 | Galtee Rovers 0-05 |
| 1950 | Galtee Rovers 1-08 | Templetuohy 1-02 |
| 1949 | Galtee Rovers 1-07 | Templetuohy 1-02 |
| 1948 | Clonmel Commercials 4-05 | Loughmore-Castleiney 2-02 |
| 1947 | St. Patrick's, Drangan/Cloneen 0-06 | Galtee Rovers 0-03 |
| 1946 | Loughmore-Castleiney 3-08 | Clonmel Commercials 2-06 |
| 1945 | Army (10th Battalion) | Mullinahone 1-02 |
| 1944 | Clonmel Commercials 1-06 | Army (10th Battalion) 1-04 |
| 1943 | Army (10th Battalion) 1-07 | Fethard 0-03 |
| 1942 | Fethard 4-05 | Arravale Rovers 1-02 |
| 1941 | Arravale Rovers 3-4 | Loughmore-Castleiney 0-0 |
| 1940 | Loughmore-Castleiney 1-8 | Clonmel Shamrocks 0-2 |
| 1939 | Ardfinnan 1-3 | West Tipperary 1-1 |
| 1938 | Fethard 2-8 | West Tipperary 1-1 |
| 1937 | Clonmel Shamrocks 3-2 | Ardfinnan 3-0 |
| 1936 | Templemore 2-5 | Arravale Rovers 1-6 |
| 1935 | Ardfinnan 3-5 | Templemore 2-1 |
| 1934 | Clonmel Shamrocks | |
| 1933 | Clonmel Shamrocks 1-5 | Templemore 0-3 |
| 1932 | Kilsheelan | Grangemockler |
| 1931 | Grangemockler (awarded Title) | No teams in Mid, North or West |
| 1930 | Kilsheelan | Grangemockler |
| 1929 | Mullinahone 2-5 | Templemore 0-1 |
| 1928 | Fethard 1-3 | Templemore 0-4 |
| 1927 | Fethard | Mid Tipperary |
| 1926 | Mullinahone 3-3 | Templemore 0-5 |
| 1925 | Templemore 1-4 | Fethard 1-1 |
| 1924 | Fethard 1-6 | Templemore 1-2 |
| 1923 | Fethard 3-3 | Templemore 0-5 |
| 1922 | Fethard 1-4 | Templemore 0-0 |
| 1921 | No Championship (War of Independence) | |
| 1920 | Fethard 2-6 | Mullinahone 0-4 |
| 1919 | Fethard 3-5 | Nenagh 1-0 |
| 1918 | Fethard 2-2 | The Commons 1-2 |
| 1917 | Fethard 4-2 | Mullinahone 2-1 |
| 1916 | Final Abandoned | |
| 1915 | Nenagh 1-2 | Castleiney/Templetuohy 1-1 |
| 1914 | Castleiney 3-1 | Nenagh 1-0 |
| 1913 | Mullinahone4-4 | Templemore 0-4 |
| 1912 | Mullinahone 1-2 | Nenagh 1-1 |
| 1911 | Nenagh 2-3 | Templetuohy 0-0 |
| 1910 | Tipperary O'Leary's | Borris-Ileigh |
| 1909 | Grangemockler 1-5 | Clonmel Emmets 2-4 |
| 1908 | Cloneen (awarded Title) | Tipperary O'Leary's |
| 1907 | Grangemockler 3-4 | Cashel 0-4 |
| 1906 | Grangemockler 2-5 | Kilcash 0-5 |
| 1905 | Grangemockler 0-11 | Kilcash 0-2 |
| 1904 | Grangemockler 2-5 | Poulacapple 0-6 |
| 1903 | Grangemockler 2-5 | Poulacapple 1-3 |
| 1902 | Tipperary Town 1-8 | Kilsheelan 0-3 (Replay) |
| 1901 | Clonmel Shamrocks 1-12 | Fethard 0-4 |
| 1900 | Clonmel Shamrocks 1-8 | Clonmel Commercials 0-4 |
| 1899 | Arravale Rovers 0-6 (Awarded Title) | Clonmel Shamrocks 0-6 |
| 1898 | Clonmel Shamrocks 0-10 | Kilcash 0-1 |
| 1897 | Coolmoyne 1-2 | Clonmel Shamrocks 0-1 |
| 1896 | Arravale Rovers 1-1 | Grangemockler 0-03 |
| 1895 | Arravale Rovers 4-6 | Loughmore 0-1 |
| 1894 | Arravale Rovers 1-2 | Tipperary Shamrocks 0-0 |
| 1893 | No Championship | due to Parnell split |
| 1892 | No Championship | due to Parnell split |
| 1891 | No Championship | due to Parnell split |
| 1890 | Grangemockler | |
| 1889 | Bohercrowe2-7 | Carrick 0-0 |
| 1888 | Bohercrowe 0-4 | Fethard 0-1 (Replay) |
| 1887 | Fethard | N/A |
| 1886 | Templemore | N/A |
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 McDonagh, the latter two having won the county championship on one occasion each.
The Mid Tipperary Championship is generally contested by three teams:J.K. Brackens, Loughmore-Castleiney and Moyne-Templetuohy. The following is a list of winners of the Mid-Tipperary Football Championship.
The West Tipperary Championship has been contested by the same four teams in recent years: Aherlow, Éire Óg Anacarty, Galtee Rovers and Arravale Rovers with Galtee Rovers winning their 24th title in 2008 to consolidate their place at the top of the roll of honour which they have maintained since the inaugural year of the championship in 1947. The championship is a round-robin affair with the top team qualifying for the final and the second and third teams contesting a semi-final. The emerging champions also advance to the quarter final of the County Championship. The holders of the championship as of 2010 are Aherlow.
However, 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 25th September. Éire Óg, therefore must still pursue their inaugural championship, a challenging assignment given their hurling commitments. The following is the list of winners of the West Tipperary Senior Football Championship since the inauguration of the championship in 1947 to 2011:
Galtee Rovers: (24) - 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1963, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008.
Lattin-Cullen: (10) - 1958, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1982, 1994.
Arravale Rovers: (9) - 1948, 1955, 1972, 1973, 1981, 1984, 1992, 1993, 2011.
Aherlow: (6) - 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010.
Solohead: (4) - 1956, 1957, 1970, 1977.
Golden-Kilfeacle: (4) - 1986, 1988, 1995, 1996.
Emly: (3) - 1959, 1960, 1987.
Cappawhite: (1) - 1978.
Cashel King Cormacs: (1) - 1990.
Knockavilla Kickhams: (1) - 1998.
St. Ailbe's ( Aherlow/Emly): (1) - 1968.
Golden-Rockwell (Golden/Kilfeacle & Rockwell Rovers): (1) - 1980.
The South Tipperary Championship is contested by nine teams: Ardfinnan, Cahir, Carrick Swans, Clonmel Commercials, Fethard, Grangemockler-Ballyneale, Killenaule, Moyle Rovers and Mullinahone. The championship is a 'knockout' competition.