Clare Junior A Football Championship

For the hurling equivalent, see Clare Junior A Hurling Championship.

Clare Junior A Football Championship
IrishCraobh Soisear A Peile an Chláir
Founded1922
TrophyMichael Toner Cup
No. of teams16
Title holders Killimer (2nd title)
Most titlesÉire Óg & Kilmurry Ibrickane (7 titles)
SponsorsMartin Murphy Building & Civil Contractors Ltd.

The Clare Junior A Football Championship (abbreviated to Clare JAFC) is an annual GAA club competition organised by the Clare County Board for gaelic football clubs below intermediate and senior level. It is contested by the top-ranking junior gaelic football clubs in County Clare, Ireland. It is the third-tier adult competition of the Clare football pyramid.

The Clare JAFC was introduced in 1922 as a county-wide competition for gaelic football clubs deemed not strong enough for senior level. Intermediate level was introduced in 1927 for the same reason and placed above the Clare JAFC in the Clare football pyramid. In later years the Clare JAFC was opened to the second-, third-, and/or fourth-string teams from higher-ranked clubs.

The winners of the Clare JAFC are presented with the Michael Toner Cup, and are promoted to the Clare Intermediate Football Championship.

The current (2025) champions are Killimer who defeated Lissycasey by 0-17 to 1-13, to win their first title since 2023, and second overall at this grade.

Munster club qualification

The winners of the Clare JAFC also qualify to represent Clare in the Munster Junior Club Football Championship. However, if a second-, third-, or fourth-string team wins the Clare JAFC, the highest finishing first-string team qualifies instead.

Three Clare clubs have reached the Munster junior club final:

No Clare club has progressed to the All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship.

2026 Junior A clubs

The sixteen teams competing in the 2026 Clare Junior A Football Championship are:

Club Location Colours Titles Last title
Ballyvaughan-Fanore Ballyvaughan / Fanore Orange & Black 1 2003
Clarecastle Clarecastle Black & White 3 2012
Clondegad Ballynacally Red & Black 4 2000
Clooney-Quin Clooney / Quin Green & Red 2 2009
Corofin Corofin Red & White 1 1978
Cooraclare Cooraclare Sky Blue & Navy 3 1998
Cratloe Cratloe Blue & White 1 2002
Éire Óg, Ennis Ennis Red & White 7 2018
Kilfenora Kilfenora Green & Yellow 5 2010
Kilmurry Ibrickane Quilty Green & Red 7 2012
Lissycasey| Lissycasey Maroon & White 4 1992
O'Curry's, Doonaha Doonaha Yellow & Green 3 1995
Parteen-Meelick Parteen / Meelick Blue & Red 2 2016
St. Breckan's, Lisdoonvarna Lisdoonvarna Maroon & White 2 1979
St. Senan's, Kilkee Kilkee Blue & White 5 1996
Wolfe Tones, Shannon Shannon Green & White 2 1972

  Second-String Team

Roll of honour

# Club Wins Years won
1. Éire Óg, Ennis 7 1927 (as Ennis Dals), 1943 (as Ennis Dals), 1968 (as Ennis Faughs), 1975, 2001, 2013,[2] 2018[3]
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933 (as Quilty), 1950 (as Mullagh), 1994, 2006
3. Coolmeen 6 1922, 1958, 1964, 1983, 1999, 2015
4. Kildysart 5 1945, 1953, 1966, 1984, 2008
Kilfenora 1931, 1934, 1947, 1977, 2010
Naomh Eoin, Cross 1991, 1997, 2005, 2014, 2017[4]
O'Curry's, Doonaha 1940 (as Doonaha), 1948 (as Carrigaholt), 1961, 1976 (as St. Cronan’s with Shannon Rangers), 1995
St. Senan's, Kilkee 1926, 1970, 1974, 1990, 1996
9. Clondegad 4 1942 (as Ballycorick), 1963 (as Moohane), 1969, 2000
Kilmihil 1925, 1937, 1955, 1956 (as Cahermurphy)
Lissycasey 1938 (as Caherea), 1971, 1981, 1992
Michael Cusack's, Carron 1946 (as Belharbour), 1962, 1980, 2019, 2024
13. Clarecastle 3 1936, 1982, 2012
Cooraclare 1965, 1988, 1998
Ennistymon 1973, 1987, 2021[5]
Kilrush Shamrocks 1944, 1951 (as Ballykett), 1954 (as Ballykett)
St. Joseph's, Miltown Malbay 1923, 1924, 1949
18. Clooney-Quin 2 2004, 2009
Doonbeg 1928, 1939
Killimer 2023, 2025[6]
Liscannor 1985, 2022
Parteen-Meelick 2011 (as Meelick), 2016 (as Meelick)
Scariff 1952, 1960
Shannon Gaels, Labasheeda 1941, 1959
Shannon Rangers 1957, 1976 (as St. Cronan’s with O’Curry’s),
St. Breckan's, Lisdoonvarna 1935 (as Doolin), 1979
St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 1989, 1993
Wolfe Tones, Shannon 1967, 1972
29. Ballyvaughan-Fanore 1 2003 (as Ballyvaughan)
Corofin 1978
Cratloe 2002
Moy 1986
O'Callaghan's Mills 2007
The Banner 2020[7]
  • In late 1943, Ennis Dalcassians 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 1968 junior A football final.
  • St. Cronan's were an amalgamation of the O'Curry's and the now defunct Shannon Rangers club from West Clare. St. Cronan's won the 1976 junior A football final.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Temple Of Doom For Coolmeen As Templenoe Inflict Hammering". Irish Examiner.
  2. ^ "Éire Óg Capture Junior A Title". Clare FM.
  3. ^ "Junior A Football Final 2018". Clare GAA.
  4. ^ "Naomh Eoin Take Clare Junior Football Honours". Clare FM.
  5. ^ "Ennistymon Crowned Junior Champions". The Clare Echo.
  6. ^ "Junior Glory Springs Killimer Back To Intermediate grade". The Clare Echo.
  7. ^ "Banner's Great Day Was A Long Time Coming". The Clare Echo.
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