Clare Junior Football Championship Explained

Clare Junior Football Championship
First:1922
Irish:Craobh Soisear Péil an Chláir
Current: Killimer
Currentordinal:1
Most:Éire Óg & Kilmurry-Ibrickane
Mostordinal:7

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

The 2023 Clare Junior Champions are Killimer who defeated Éire Óg, Ennis to be crowned champions after extra time for their first at this grade.

History

The Clare JAFC was introduced in the early 1920s as a countywide competition for Gaelic football clubs deemed not eligible for the Senior or Intermediate grades, and also for the second- and third-string teams from higher-ranked clubs.

The winners of the Clare JAFC are promoted to the Clare Intermediate Football Championship for the following year.

Qualification for subsequent competitions

Munster Club Football Championship

The winning club also qualifies to represent Clare in the Munster Junior Club Football Championship (the winners of which go on to compete in the All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship). However, if a second- or third-string team wins the Clare JAFC they are replaced by the highest finishing first-string team. No Clare club has ever won the Munster title. 2001 champions Éire Óg, Ennis qualified for the Munster final but lost to St. Michael's-Foilmore of Kerry. 2007 champions O'Callaghan's Mills qualified for the Munster final but lost to Canovee of Cork. 2015 champions Coolmeen progressed to the Munster final but lost to Templenoe of Kerry.[1]

Roll of honour

ClubWinsYears won
1. Éire Óg, Ennis71927 (as Ennis Dalcassians), 1943 (as Ennis Dalcassians), 1968, 1975, 2001, 2013, 2018[2]
Kilmurry-Ibrickane1929, 1930, 1932, 1933 (as Quilty), 1950 (as Mullagh), 1994, 2006,2012
3. Coolmeen61922, 1958, 1964, 1983, 1999, 2015
Naomh Eoin, Cross1948 (as Carrigaholt), 1991, 1997, 2005, 2014, 2017
5. Kildysart51945, 1953, 1966, 1984, 2008
Kilfenora1931, 1934, 1947, 1977, 2010
St. Senan's, Kilkee1926, 1970, 1974, 1990, 1996
8. Clondegad41942 (as Ballycorick), 1963 (as Moohane), 1969, 2000
Lissycasey1938 (as Caherea), 1971, 1981, 1992
Michael Cusack's, Carron1946 (as Belharbour), 1962, 1980, 2019
11. Clarecastle31936, 1982, 2012
Cooraclare1965, 1988, 1998
Ennistymon1973, 1987, 2021[3]
Kilmihil1937, 1955, 1956 (as Cahermurphy)
Kilrush Shamrocks1944, 1951 (as Ballykett), 1954 (as Ballykett)
O'Curry's, Doonaha1940, 1961, 1995
St. Joseph's, Miltown Malbay1923, 1924, 1949
18. Clooney-Quin22004, 2009
Doonbeg1928, 1939
Liscannor1985, 2022
Parteen-Meelick2011 (as Meelick), 2016 (as Meelick)
Scariff1952, 1960
Shannon Gaels, Labasheeda1941, 1959
St. Breckan's, Lisdoonvarna1935 (as Doolin), 1979
St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield1989, 1993
Wolfe Tones, Shannon1967, 1972
27. Ballyvaughan-Fanore12003 (as Ballyvaughan)
Corofin1978
Cratloe2002
Moy1986
O'Callaghan's Mills2007
Shannon Rangers1957
St Cronan's, Ennis1976
The Banner, Ennis2020[4] [5]
?To Be Confirmed?1925

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Temple of doom for Coolmeen as Templenoe inflict hammering . 7 December 2015 . . 7 December 2015.
  2. Web site: Junior A Football Final 2018. Clare GAA.
  3. Web site: Ennistymon Crowned Junior Champions. The Clare Echo. 23 October 2021 .
  4. Web site: Banner Overcome Ballyvaughan To Secure Junior Double. The Clare Echo. 24 July 2021 .
  5. Web site: Banner's Great Day Was A Long Time Coming. The Clare Echo. 29 July 2021 .