2016 Carlow Senior Football Championship Explained

Competition:	Carlow S.F.C.
Season:	2016
Winners:	Palatine (6th S.F.C. Title)
Relegated:	Kildavan/Clonegal
Continentalcup1:	Leinster SCFC
Continentalcup2:	All Ireland SCFC
Continentalcup3:	Winning Captain
Continentalcup4:	Man of the Match
Continentalcup4 Qualifiers:	Shane O'Neill (Palatine)
Matches:	18
Prevseason:	2015
Nextseason:	2017

The 2016 Carlow Senior Football Championship is the 116th edition of the Carlow GAA's premier club gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Carlow, Ireland. The tournament consists of 8 teams, with the winner going on to represent Carlow in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.

Palatine were the defending champions after they defeated Old Leighlin in the previous years final, and they successfully defended their title when they defeated Rathvilly 2-13 to 0-12 at Dr Cullen Park on 9 October 2016 to claim a "2-in-a-row" of titles.^[1]

This was the O'Hanrahans' return to the senior grade after claiming the 2015 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship title, thus ending a 4-year exodus since being relegated in 2011.

Kildavan/Clonegal were relegated to the 2017 I.F.C. after spending 18 seasons in the top flight.

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2015 championship season.

To S.F.C.

Promoted from I.F.C.

• O'Hanrahans - (Intermediate Champions)

From S.F.C.

Relegated to I.F.C.

• Ballinabranna

Group stage

There are two groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group compete in the semi-finals. The bottom team in each group compete in the relegation Final.

Group A

Team
Rathvilly	3	2	0	1	54	33	+21	5
Éire Óg	3	2	0	1	69	37	+32	5
Old Leighlin	3	1	2	0	37	44	-7	2
Kildavan/Clonegal	3	0	3	0	16	62	-46	0

Round 1

• Éire Óg 2-18, 0-8 Kildavan/Clonegal, 29/7/2016,
• Rathvilly 1-11, 0-10 Old Leighlin, 30/7/2016,

Round 2

• Old Leighlin 2-11, 0-4 Kildavan/Clonegal, 19/8/2016,
• Rathvilly 0-19, 2-13 Éire Óg, 20/8/2016,

Round 3

• Rathvilly 3-12, 0-4 Kildavan/Clonegal, 9/9/2016,
• Éire Óg 4-14, 0-10 Old Leighlin, 10/9/2016,

Group B

Team
Palatine	3	3	0	0	66	44	+22	6
Tinryland GFC	3	2	1	0	49	45	+4	4
Mt. Leinster Rangers	3	1	2	0	49	50	-1	2
O'Hanrahans	3	0	3	0	41	66	-25	0

Round 1

• Tinryland 2-13, 3-8 Mt. Leinster Rangers, 31/7/2016,
• Palatine 5-13, 3-11 O'Hanrahans, 31/7/2016,

Round 2

• Mt. Leinster Rangers 2-12, 0-12 O'Hanrahans, 20/8/2016,
• Palatine 3-10, 0-10 Tinryland, 21/8/2016,

Round 3

• Tinryland 1-17, 0-9 O'Hanrahans, 11/9/2016,
• Palatine 2-13, 2-8 Mt. Leinster Rangers, 11/9/2016,

Knock-out stages

Finals

The winners and runners up of each group qualify for the quarter finals.

Quarter-Finals:

• Mt. Leinster Rangers 1-10, 1-9 Éire Óg, Dr Cullen Park, 17/9/2016, http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/2016/09/29/rangers-hold-out-for-a-famous-win/
• Old Leighlin 1-10, 1-9 Tinryland, Dr Cullen Park, 17/9/2016, http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/2016/09/29/old-leighlin-find-a-way-past-tinryland/

Semi-Finals:

• Palatine 2-10, 1-11 Mt. Leinster Rangers, Dr Cullen Park, 24/9/2016, http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/2016/10/13/rangers-ask-serious-questions-of-palatine/
• Rathvilly 0-15, 1-10 Old Leighlin, Dr Cullen Park, 25/9/2016, http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/2016/10/13/rathvilly-tough-it-out-to-advance/

Relegation play off

The bottom team in each group compete in the relegation final. The team to lose will be relegated to the 2017 Senior 'B' Championship.

Relegation Final:

• O'Hanrahans 3-11, 2-6 Kildavan/Clonegal, Dr Cullen Park, 25/9/2016,

Leinster Senior Club Football Championship

See main article: 2016–17 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Crucial goals send Palatine on their way to senior crown. Carlow Nationalist. 23 December 2016.