The Kilkenny Senior Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the J. J. Kavanagh & Sons Senior Football Championship and abbreviated to the Kilkenny SFC) is an annual club Gaelic football competition organised by the Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking senior clubs in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition in Kilkenny Gaelic football.
Introduced in 1887 as the Kilkenny Football Championship, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to senior-ranking club teams. The championship has gone through a number of changes throughout the years, including the use of a round robin, before reverting to a straight knockout format.
In its current format, the Kilkenny Senior Championship begins in April with a first round series of games comprising ten teams, while the three remaining teams receive byes to the quarter-final stage. A team's finishing position in the Kilkenny Senior Football League determines at what stage they enter the championship. Four rounds of games are played, culminating with the final match at Nowlan Park. The winner of the Kilkenny Senior Championship qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Championship.
The competition has been won by 35 teams, 18 of which have won it more than once. Railyard is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it 22 times. Mullinavat are the 2026 champions, having beaten Tullogher-Rosbercon by 1–15 to 0–11
Format Overview The Kilkenny County Championship is a single elimination tournament. Each team is afforded just one defeat before being eliminated from the championship. Pairings for matches are drawn at random, however, there is a certain level of seeding based on league performance. The four top-ranking teams receive a bye into the quarter-finals.
Current format First round: 10 teams contest this round. The 5 winning teams advance directly to the quarter-final stage. The 5 losing teams are eliminated from the championship. The lower-ranked teams from the league advance to a relegation playoff.
Quarter-finals: Eight teams contest this round. The four winning teams advance directly to the semi-final stage. The four losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Semi-finals: Four teams contest this round. The two winning teams advance directly to the final. The two losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Final: The final is contested by the two semi-final winners.
Teams
Participating teams The following 13 teams will participate in the 2027 championship:
Team Location Colours Lisdowney Lisdowney Blue and white Conahy Shamrocks Jenkinstown Black and amber Dicksboro Palmerstown Maroon and white Glenmore Glenmore Green and Gold James Stephens Larchfield Red and green Kilmoganny Kilmoganny Yellow and green Mooncoin Mooncoin Green and white Mullinavat Mullinavat Black and white O'Loughlin Gaels Hebron Road Green and white Muckalee Muckalee Green and yellow Railyard Moneenroe Red and white Thomastown Thomastown Blue and white Tullogher–Rosbercon Tullogher Black and amber
Wins listed by club
# Club Wins Years won 1 Railyard 22 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1992, 1999, 2014, 2015, 2016 2 Glenmore 20 1906, 1915, 1916, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1989, 1998, 2009 3 Muckalee 12 1968, 1975, 1977, 1987, 1990, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 20134 Mullinavat 9 2007, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025, 20265 Tullogher 8 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1944, 1962 James Stephens 8 1976, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008 7 Thomastown 5 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2021 8 Commercials (City) 4 1890, 1893, 1894, 1895 Knocktopher 4 1901, 1908, 1910, 1911 Lamogue 4 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905 11 Slatequarry Miners 3 1900, 1907, 1913 Ballyhale Shamrocks 3 1979, 1980, 1982 Dicksboro 3 1994, 1997, 2024 14 Kilmacow 2 1887, 1888 Coolagh 2 1914, 1919 St John's 2 1946, 1948 Clann na Gael (City) 2 1963, 1964 Erin's Own 2 2002, 2006 18 Ballyhale 1 1889 Sevenhouses 1 1896 Green Rovers (City) 1 1897 Callan '98 Volunteers 1 1898 City Rangers 1 1899 Coolroe 1 1909 Ye Faire City 1 1925 Cotterstown 1 1926 Owen Roes (Army) 1 1928 Black & Whites 1 1932 Moneenroe 1 1933 Barrow Rovers (Glenmore-Slieverue) 1 1935 Northern Junior Selection 1 1945 Sarsfields (Conahy) 1 1947 Graiguenamanagh 1 1956 St Kieran's (Mooncoin-Kilmacow) 1 1974 Mooncoin 1 1986 Kilmoganny 1 2000
Finals listed by year
Year Winner Score Opponent Score2026 Mullinavat 1-15 Tullogher–Rosbercon 0-11 2025 Mullinavat 1-21 Mooncoin 0-14 2024 Dicksboro 1-09 Lisdowney 1-06 2023 Mullinavat 3-07 Thomastown 1-09 2022 Mullinavat 1-12 Thomastown 0-08 2021 Thomastown 2-06 Mullinavat 1-05 2020 Mullinavat 5-07 Mooncoin 1-04 2019 Mullinavat 1-13 R (1-07) Railyard 0-10 R (1-07) 2018 Mullinavat 5-11 Muckalee 2-09 2017 Mullinavat 3-12 Railyard 2-05 2016 Railyard 1-08 Kilmoganny 2-03 2015 Railyard 2-08 R (0-08) D Muckalee 1-09 R (1-05) D 2014 Railyard 1-05 Muckalee 1-04 2013 Muckalee 2-10 James Stephens 1-09 2012 Muckalee 1-10 Mullinavat 0-07 2011 Muckalee 0-06 Kilmoganny 0-04 2010 Muckalee 1-10 Glenmore 1-07 2009 Glenmore 2-07 Muckalee 0-10 2008 James Stephens 1-09 Erin's Own 1-08 2007 Mullinavat 0-09, 3-07 (R) Glenmore 1-06, 0-11 (R) 2006 Erin's Own 1-05 Mullinavat 1-03 2005 Muckalee 3-10 Railyard 0-09 2004 Muckalee 0-10, 0-09 (R) Erin's Own 1-07, 0-07 (R) 2003 James Stephens 2-07 O'Loughlin Gaels 0-06 2002 Erin's Own 1-08 James Stephens 0-08 2001 Muckalee 2-07, 1-11 (R) Erin's Own 1-10, 0-09 (R) 2000 Kilmoganny 0-07, 2-11 (R) Dicksboro 0-07, 1-09 (R) 1999 Railyard 1-05 Graigue-Ballycallan 0-07 1998* Glenmore 0-09 James Stephens 0-09 1997 Dicksboro 0-11 James Stephens 0-08 1996 James Stephens 0-12 Kilmoganny 2-04 1995 James Stephens 0-11, 2-12 (R) Dicksboro 1-08, 1-11 (R) 1994 Dicksboro 0-09 Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-06 1993 James Stephens 1-07, 4-10 (R) Railyard 0-10, 0-07 (R) 1992 Railyard 0-11 James Stephens 0-08 1991 James Stephens 1-09 Railyard 1-07 1990 Muckalee 1-11 Glenmore 0-04 1989 Glenmore 0-11 Railyard 1-05 1988 James Stephens 1-06, 0-07 (R) Railyard 1-06, 0-04 (R) 1987 Muckalee 0-06 Railyard 0-05 1986 Mooncoin 1-06, 0-09 (R) James Stephens 1-06, 0-07 (R) 1985 Thomastown 5-03 Railyard 1-05 1984 Thomastown 1-09 Railyard 0-04 1983 Thomastown 1-05 Railyard 1-02 1982 Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-06, 0-07 (R) Thomastown 0-06, 0-02 (R) 1981 Thomastown 2-06 Muckalee 0-06 1980 Ballyhale Shamrocks 4-07 Muckalee 1-01 1979 Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-12 The Gaels (City) 0-04 1978 Railyard 2-06 James Stephens 0-07 1977 Muckalee W/O James Stephens Scr. 1976 James Stephens 1-09 Railyard 0-06 1975 Muckalee 0-04, 0-09 (R) James Stephens 0-04, 0-03 (R) 1974 St Kieran's (Mooncoin-Kilmacow) 0-07 Muckalee 0-02 1973 Railyard 0-09 Glenmore 0-03 1972 Railyard 2-10 Clann na Gael 0-09 1971 Railyard 3-10 Thomastown 0-03 1970 Railyard 0-08 Muckalee 0-04 1969 Railyard 0-11 Mooncoin 0-06 1968 Muckalee 1-09 James Stephens 1-03 1967 Railyard 3-05 Clan na Gael 1-02 1966 Railyard 1-11 James Stephens 2-05 1965 Railyard W/O Tullogher Scr. 1964 Clann na Gael 2=-3, 3-03 (R) Lamogue 1-06, 0-04 (R) 1963 Clann na Gael 1-06 Lamogue 0-02 1962 Tullogher 1-07 Muckalee 0-02 1961 Railyard 1-07 Graigue 0-02 1960 Railyard 5-11 Clara 1-02 1959 Railyard 4-07 St Niochlas 2-03 1958 Railyard 3-07 St Niochlas 1-05 1957* Railyard 3-06 St Niochlas 2-04 1956 Graiguenamanagh 1-06, 1-03 (R) Glenmore 1-06, 1-01 (R) 1955 Glenmore 2-04 Railyard 0-05 1954 Glenmore 2-03 Railyard 0-04 1953 Railyard 1-04 Cotterstown 0-03 1952 Railyard 2-08 St John's 0-04 1951 Railyard 2-05 Glenmore 2-02 1950 Glenmore 0-05 St John's 1-01 1949 Glenmore 1-06 Tullogher 1-00 1948* St John's 1-07, 0-04 (1R), 2-04 (2nd R) Sarsfields (Conahy) 0-04, 1-01 (1R), 0-02 (2nd R) 1947 Sarsfields (Conahy) 0-03, 2-02 (R) Glenmore 0-03, 1-03 (R) 1946 St John's 1-07 Glenmore 1-01 1945 Northern Juniors 1-4 Glenmore 1-03 1944 Tullogher 2-07 Coolagh 1-02 1943 Glenmore 2-06 Carrickshock 0-01 1942 Glenmore 3-04 Tullogher 0-00 1941 Tullogher 2-08 The Rower 0-01 1940* Glenmore 2-00Sarsfields (Conahy) 2-03 1939 Glenmore 1-03 Tullogher 1-02 1938 Glenmore 1-02 Tullogher 0-02 1937 Tullogher 2-05 Glenmore 2-00 1936 Tullogher 1-05 Black & Whites 1-03 1935 Barrow Rovers (Glenmore/Slieverue) 0-05 Mullinavat 0-03 1934 Tullogher 1-04 Mullinavat 0-01 1933 Moneenroe 0-05 Glenmore 0-02 1932 Black & Whites 0-04 O'Loughlin Gaels 1-01 1931* Tullogher 1930 Tullogher 0-06 Glenmore 0-02 1929 Glenmore 0-03 Cotterstown 0-01 1928 Owen Roes (Army) 2-05 Glenmore 1-02 1927* No Championship 1926 Cotterstown 1-06 Barrow Rovers (Tullogher) 0-02 1925 Ye Faire Citie 0-02, 3-03 (R) Cotterstown 0-02, 0-03 (R) 1924 Glenmore 3-01 Barrow Rovers (Tullogher) 0-00 1923 Glenmore 2-07 Cloneen 0-02 1922 Glenmore W/O Cotterstown Scr. 1921 No Championship 1920* Glenmore 1-05, 2-06 (R) Cloneen 1-03, 0-03 (R) 1919 Coolagh W/O Glenmore Scr. 1918 No Championship 1917 No Championship 1916 Glenmore 1-00 Coolroe 0-00 1915 Glenmore 1-01, 1-00 (R) 1-03 (2R), 1-00 (3R) Coolagh 1-01, 1-00 (R), 2-00 (2R), 0-02 (3R) 1914 Coolagh 0-03 Knocktopher 0-02 1913 Slatequarry Miners 1-00 Clogh 0-00 1912 No Championship 1911 Knocktopher 0-04 Clogh 0-01 1910* Knocktopher 0-02 Slatequarry Miners 0-03 1909 Coolroe 0-06 Clodiagh 0-02 1908 Knocktopher 0-03 Slatequarry Miners 0-02 1907 Slatequarry Miners 0-07 Knocktopher 0-04 1906 Glenmore 2-02 Kells 1-02 1905 Lamogue Harristown 1904 Lamogue Mullinavat 1903 Lamogue 3-08 Tullogher 0-00 1902 Lamogue 0-08 Tullogher 0-07 1901* Knocktopher 0-06, 0-05 (R) Green & Whites (The Rower) 0-06, 0-02 (R) 1900 Slatequarry Miners 0-12 City Rangers 1-02 1899 City Rangers 2-08 Knocktopher 2-07 1898 Callan '98 Volunteers Slatequarry Miners 1897 Green Rovers (City) 1-09 City Rangers 0-02 1896 Seven Houses 1-07 Callan 0-05 1895 Commercials (City) W/O Callan Scr. 1894 Commercials (City) 2-02 Callan 0-01 1893 Commercials (City) 1-01 Callan 0-00 1892 No Championship 1891 No Championship 1890 Commercials (City) 1-00 Ballyhale 0-01 1889* Ballyhale Kells 1888 Kilmacow 0-03 Thomas Larkins (City) 0-00 1887 Munster Express 1860-current, Saturday, 21 May 1887; Page: 8 Kilmacow 0-02, 1-03 (R) Kilkenny 0-02, 0-00 (R)
1998 No replay - Glenmore won in a replay 1957 - Unfinished - Railyard awarded tit;e 1948 - Reply ordered after objection 1940 Glenmore awarded title on objection 1931 Played on a league basis 1927 Glenmore 1-02, Cotterstown 0-02 Declared null & void 1911 Knocktopher awarded title after an objection 1920 Reply ordered following an objection 1901 Unfinished. Rower claimed they scored a goal. Knocktopher awarded match. 1889 Kells 3-05, Thomas Larkins 0-02; This was declared not the final and Ballyhale was allowed back in championship. Kells refused to play them, and Ballyhale awarded title
Records Teams By decade The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Kilkenny Senior Football Championship titles, is as follows:
1880s: 2 for Kilmacow (1887–88) 1890s: 4 for Commercials (1890-93-94-95) 1900s: 4 for Lamogue (1902-03-04-05) 1910s: 2 each for Knocktopher (1910-11), Coolagh (1914-19) and Glenmore (1915-16) 1920s: 5 for Glenmore (1920-22-23-24-29) 1930s: 5 for Tullogher (1930-31-34-36-37) 1940s: 4 for Glenmore (1940-42-43-49) 1950s: 6 for Railyard (1951-52-53-57-58-59) 1960s: 6 for Railyard (1960-61-65-66-67-69) 1970s: 5 for Railyard (1970-71-72-73-78) 1980s: 4 for Thomastown (1981-83-84-85) 1990s: 4 for James Stephens (1991-93-95-96) 2000s: 3 for Muckalee (2001-04-05) 2010s: 4 for Muckalee (2010-11-12-13) 2020s: 5 for Mullinavat (2020-22-23-25-26)
Most consecutive wins
# Wins Club Years won1st 5 Railyard 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 Railyard 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 19732nd 4 Lamogue 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905 Muckalee 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Mullinavat 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Gaps/wins