The 2021 Carlow Senior Football Championship was the 121st edition of the Carlow GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Carlow, Ireland. The tournament consisted of eight teams, with the winner going on to represent Carlow in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship began with a group stage and then progressed to a knock-out stage.
Éire Óg were the defending champions after they defeated Rathvilly in the previous year's final.
This was Ballinabranna's return to the senior grade after claiming the 2020 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship title, thus ending a two-year exodus since being relegated in 2018. O'Hanrahans were relegated to the 2022 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship.
Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2020 championship season.
To S.F.C. Promoted from 2020 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship Ballinabranna - (Intermediate Champions)
From S.F.C. Relegated to 2022 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship
O'Hanrahans There was 9 senior teams in 2021 because no team was relegated in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.
Group stage There was one group of four teams and one group of five teams in 2021. The top two teams in each group competed in the semi-finals. The bottom team in each group competed in the relegation Final.
Group A
Team Rathvilly44006035+258 Bagenalstown Gaels43106043+176 Mt. Leinster Rangers4220444404 Old Leighlin 41304760-132 Ballinabranna40405675-190
Round 1 Bagenalstown Gaels 0-5, 0-4 Mount Leinster Rangers, 3/10/2021. Rathvilly 1-17, 1-5 Old Leighlin, 3/10/2021.
Round 2 Rathvilly 2-10, 0-7 Ballinabranna, 10/10/2021. Bagenalstown Gaels 1-8, 0-9 Old Leighlin, 10/10/2021.
Round 3 Rathvilly 1-8, 1-6 Mount Leinster Rangers, 30/09/2021. Bagenalstown Gaels 3-14, 2-11 Ballinabranna, 16/10/2021.
Round 4 Rathvilly 0-13, 1-8 Bagenalstown Gaels, 23/10/2021. Old Leighlin 2-12, 1-13 Ballinabranna, 29/09/2021.
Round 5 Mount Leinster Rangers 2-12, 2-10 Ballinabranna, 24/10/2021. Mount Leinster Rangers 1-10, 1-9 Old Leighlin, 3/10/2021.
Group B
Team Éire Óg33007626+506 Palatine32104741+64 Tinryland 31203144-132O'Hanrahans30302468-440
Round 1 Eire Og 3-14, 1-08 Palatine, 3/10/2021. Tinryland 1-12, 1-4 O'Hanrahan's, 3/10/2021.
Round 2 Eire Og 6-13, 0-8 O'Hanrahan's, 10/10/2021. Palatine 1-11, 0-9 Tinryland, 10/10/2021.
Round 3 Eire Og 2-17, 0-7 Tinryland, 17/10/2021. Palatine 2-16, 0-9 O'Hanrahan's, 17/10/2021.
Knock-out stages Finals The winners and runners up of each group qualify for the quarter finals.
Quarter-finals Bagenalstown Gaels and Mt. Leinster Rangers advanced to the 2021 semi finals.
Semi-finals Rathvilly and Eire Og advanced to the 2021 final.
Final Rathvilly won a first title since 2014 and prevented finalist Éire Óg from winning five consecutive titles.
Relegation play-off
Leinster Senior Club Football Championship There was no Leinster Club Championship in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.
References