Founded 1929 Title holders Kerry (14th title) TV partner(s) RTÉ/TG4 | Region Ireland (GAA) Most titles Kerry (14 titles) | |
The Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland Minor Football Final being played on the third Sunday in September in Croke Park, Dublin. The minor final provides the curtain-raiser to the senior final. The prize for the winning team is the Tom Markham Cup, which is named in honour of former Clare figure Tom Markham.
Contents
Overview
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship features players at under eighteen level (players must be under 18 on 1 January of the year of the competition. The first minor championship was played in 1929 when Clare were crowned the champions. The championship has been held every year since then, however, it was suspended for a period during 'The Emergency'.
Kerry are the most successful team in minor football with 13 titles, closely followed by Dublin on 11 and Cork on 10. All three teams have achieved famous three-in-a-rows: Kerry twice from 1931 to 1933 & from 2014 to 2016; Cork from 1967 to 1969; and Dublin from 1954 to 1956. The coveted treble of winning senior, under-21 and minor titles in the same year has been achieved on just one occasion, by Kerry in 1975. Because teams will only play together for at most, about two or three years, unlike the senior competition, it is unusual that one county will dominate for periods any longer than this. The current champions are Kerry who defeated Tipperary at Croke Park on Sunday 20 September 2015. The final score was 4-14 to 0-06
By Province
The following counties have never won an All Ireland minor football title: