The 2018 Galway Senior Football Championship is the 123rd edition of Galway GAA's premier gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Galway, Ireland. The winners receive the Frank Fox Cup and represent Galway in the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship.
Twenty teams compete. This year there will be a new format. With the previous years 4 semi finalists being seeded and separated into 4 groups of 5[1]
Corofin were the defending champions after they defeated Mountbellew/Moylough in the 2017 final.[2]
This was Claregalways's return the senior grade after a 4 year exodus (they were relegated from the S.F.C. in 2013) when claiming the 2017 I.F.C. title.
Corofin retained their title with a win in a final replay over Mountbellew/Moylough. This was Corofin's sixth title in a row.
Caltra, Cortoon Shamrocks and Kilconly were relegated to the 2020 I.F.C. after 22, 15 and 7 years in the top-flight.
Relegated to 2018 Galway Intermediate Football Championship
Micheál Breathnachs
Format[]
Group Stage[]
2018 brings about a new format for the competition where there is 4 groups of 5 teams.[4]
The 2017 Semi-finalists, Corofin, Mountbellew/Moylough, Annaghdown and Monivea/Abbey will be Seeded and placed in each Group. The remaining group places made up from the remaining 16 teams in an open draw.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for the Knockout stage Quarter Finals.
The third placed team in each group retains Senior Status for 2019.
The Bottom two teams in the group enter the Relegation Playoff.
If teams are level on points, the first deciding factor will be the head-to-head result between the sides; the second will be the points difference; and the third will be the scoring average.[5]
Knockout Stage[]
Quarter Finals will be an open draw where top placed group teams will play 2nd Placed group teams. However teams cannot be paired with the other team who qualified from their group.
Extra Time will be played in these games if required.
Semi-Finals will be an open draw
Replays to be played in the Semi-Finals & Final if required.
No Extra Time will be played in these games.
[6]
Relegation Playoff[]
The four fourth placed teams are placed in an open draw, where the two winners will retain senior status for 2019.
The two losers will join the four bottom placed teams in the groups for the final series of play-off relegation games.
Two Groups of Three
Rd 1: 1 v 2
Rd 2: Loser of 1 v 2 plays 3
Rd 3: Winner of 1 v 2 plays 3
The top teams in the groups retains their Senior Status for the following year.
The two bottom teams in the groups are relegated to Intermediate for the following year.
The two second placed teams in the Relegation groups play-off with the loser being the third team to be relegated to Intermediate for 2019 and the winner retaining Senior status.
Group Stages[]
Group 1[]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
1
Corofin
4
4
0
0
97
38
+59
8
2
St. James
4
3
0
1
75
62
+13
6
3
Claregalway
4
2
0
2
66
81
−15
4
4
An Cheathru Rua
4
1
0
3
61
86
−25
2
5
Cortoon Shamrocks
4
0
0
4
43
75
−32
0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:[citation needed]
Round 1
Claregalway
0-10 - 1-17
Corofin
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Tommy Faherty
Cortoon Shamrocks
1-7 - 2-6
An Ceathru Rua
Clonbur
Referee: Richard Mc Nicholas
Round 2
Corofin
5-16 - 0-6
Cortoon Shamrocks
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Kieran Quinn
St. James
4-14 - 1-14
Claregalway
Tuam Stadium
Referee: P.J Rabbitte
Round 3
Cortoon Shamrocks
0-11 - 1-11
St. James
Kenny Park
Referee: James Molloy
An Ceathru Rua
1-8 - 5-16
Corofin
Clonbur
Referee: Ronan McNulty
Round 4
Claregalway
1-15 - 1-13
Cortoon Shamrocks
Corofin
Referee: Frank Kinneen
St. James
2-18 - 2-13
An Ceathru Rua
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Austin O Connell
Round 5
Corofin
0-15 - 1-8
St. James
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Anthony Coyne
An Ceathru Rua
1-16 - 3-12
Claregalway
Clonbur
Referee: Brenadan Kinneavy
Group 2[]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
1
Annaghdown
4
3
1
0
71
46
+25
7
2
Salthill/Knocknacarra
4
2
1
1
52
47
+5
5
3
Kilannin
4
1
3
0
56
53
+3
5
4
Tuam Stars
4
1
0
3
61
71
−10
2
5
Barna
4
0
1
3
48
71
−23
1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:[citation needed]
Round 1
Tuam Stars
1-6 - 2-15
Annaghdown
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Muiris Mac Gearailt
Kilannin
0-13 - 1-10
Salthill/Knocknacarra
Maigh Cuilinn
Referee: Austin O Connell
Round 2
Annaghdown
2-10 - 1-13
Kilannin
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Gearoid O Conamha
Barna
0-19 - 3-16
Tuam Stars
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Noel Dempsey
Round 3
Kilannin
0-8 - 0-8
Barna
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Gearoid O Conamha
Salthill/Knocknacarra
0-8 - 1-13
Annaghdown
Kenny Park
Referee: Muiris Mac Gearailt
Round 4
Tuam Stars
3-7 - 1-16
Kilannin
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Tommy Faherty(S)
Barna
0-8 - 2-13
Salthill/Knocknacarra
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Martin Flaherty
Round 5
Annaghdown
1-16 - 1-10
Barna
Tuam Stadium
Referee: P.J. Rabbitte
Salthill/Knocknacarra
1-9 - 1-8
Tuam Stars
Corofin
Referee: Noel Dempsey
Group 3[]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
1
Mountbellew/Moylough
4
4
0
0
92
40
+52
8
2
Caherlistrane
4
2
1
1
62
50
+12
5
3
Killererin
4
1
2
1
53
68
−15
4
4
Kilconly
4
1
0
3
53
76
−23
2
5
Naomh Anna Leitir Mor
4
0
1
3
62
88
−26
1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:[citation needed]
Round 1
Kilconly
0-7 - 1-12
Mountbellew/Moylough
Kenny Park
Referee: Brenadan Kinneavy
Killererin
2-7 - 0-13
Caherlistrane
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Frank Kinneen
Round 2
Mountbellew/Moylough
4-17 - 1-5
Killererin
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Muiris Mac Gearailt
Naomh Anna Leitir Mor
3-9 - 1-17
Kilconly
Pearse Stadium
Referee: James Molloy
Round 3
Killererin
1-11 - 1-11
Naomh Anna Leitir Mor
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Austin O Connell
Caherlistrane
0-8 - 0-10
Mountbellew/Moylough
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Shane Hehir
Round 4
Kilconly
1-9 - 2-12
Killererin
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Kieran Quinn
Naomh Anna Leitir Mor
2-7 - 1-13
Caherlistrane
Clonbur
Referee: James Molloy
Round 5
Mountbellew/Moylough
5-23 - 2-11
Naomh Anna Leitir Mor
Moycullen
Referee: Gearoid O Conamha
Caherlistrane
3-16 - 1-11
Kilconly
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Tommy Faherty
Group 4[]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
1
Milltown
4
4
0
0
85
53
+32
8
2
Moycullen
4
2
1
1
71
46
+25
5
3
Monivea/Abbey
4
2
1
1
54
46
+8
5
4
St Michaels
4
1
0
3
51
71
−20
2
5
Caltra
4
0
0
4
39
84
−45
0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:[citation needed]
Round 1
St. Michaels
1-5 - 2-10
Monivea/Abbey
Kenny Park
Referee: Anthony Coyne
Caltra
1-10 - 4-11
Milltown
Barnaderg
Referee: Shane Hehir
Round 2
Monivea/Abbey
0-15 - 0-10
Caltra
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Frank Kinneen
Moycullen
3-15 - 2-5
St. Michaels
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Martin Flaherty
Round 3
Caltra
0-5 - 4-15
Moycullen
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Kieran Quinn
Milltown
1-17 - 0-15
Monivea/Abbey
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Tommy Faherty
Round 4
St. Michaels
2-13 - 1-8
Caltra
Tuam Stadium
Referee: P.J. Rabbitte
Moycullen
1-9 - 3-13
Milltown
Kenny Park
Referee: Gearoid O Conamha
Round 5
Monivea/Abbey
0-8 - 0-8
Moycullen
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Frank Kinneen
Milltown
1-17 - 1-13
St. Michaels
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Shane Hehir
Knockout Stage[]
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
QF 1
Mountbellew/Moylough
1-13
SF 1
Moycullen
1-12
Mountbellew/Moylough
1-13
QF 2
Salthill-Knocknacarra
1-10
Milltown
1-16
Final
Salthill-Knocknacarra
3-13
Mountbellew/Moylough
0-05
QF 3
Corofin
1-08
Annaghdown
2-15
SF 2
St. James
2-9
Annaghdown
0-08
QF 4
Corofin
0-12
Corofin
2-10
Caherlistrane
1-06
Quarter Finals[]
QF 1
Annaghdown
2-15 - 2-9
St. James
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Muiris Mac Gearailt
QF 2
Mountbellew/Moylough
1-13 - 1-12 (AET)
Moycullen
FT Score: 1-11 - 1-11
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Tommy Faherty
QF 3
Milltown
0-12 - 1-09 (AET)
Salthill-Knocknacarra
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Martin Flaherty
QF 3 - Replay
Milltown
1-16 - 3-13 (AET)
Salthill-Knocknacarra
FT Score: 1-12 - 2-09
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Muiris Mac Gearailt
QF 4
Corofin
2-10 - 1-06
Caherlistrane
Tuam Stadium
Referee: James Molloy
Semi Finals[]
Semi Final 1
Mountbellew/Moylough
1-13 - 1-10
Salthill-Knocknacarra
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Gearoid O Conamha
Semi Final 2
Annaghdown
0-08 - 0-12
Corofin
Tuam Stadium
Referee: Frank Kinneen
Final[]
Corofin
0-07 - 0-07
Mountbellew/Moylough
Pearse Stadium
Referee: James Molloy
Final - Replay[]
Corofin
1-08 - 0-05
Mountbellew/Moylough
Pearse Stadium
Referee: Tommy Faherty
Relegation Playoffs[]
4th Placed Group Teams Playoff[]
Open Draw to take place between the 4 groups 4th placed teams. The two winners retaining Senior status for next years competition, and the losers then competing in the Relegation Group Stage.
Group 1 4th Placed Team - An Cheathrú Rua
Group 2 4th Placed Team - Tuam Stars
Group 3 4th Placed Team - Kilconly
Group 4 4th Placed Team - St Michaels
Game 1
St Michaels
0-15 - 0-12
Kilconly
Tuam Stadium
Referee: P.J. Rabbitte
Game 2
Tuam Stars
0-12 - 1-11(AET)
An Cheathrú Rua
Clonbur
Referee: Anthony Coyne
Victories for both St Michaels and An Cheathrú Rua means that they retain their Senior status. Tuam Stars and Kilconly enter the relegation group stage
Relegation Group Stage[]
Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir and Tuam Stars top their groups and retain their Senior status.
Kilconly and Caltra finished bottom of their groups and will be relegated to compete in next years Intermediate competition.
The two groups second placed teams, Cortoon Shamrocks and Barna, go into a relegation playoff game.
Group A[]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Leitir Móir
2
1
1
0
25
19
+6
3
Retains Senior status
2
Cortoon Shamrocks
2
1
1
0
24
20
+4
3
Relegation play-off
3
Kilconly
2
0
0
2
21
31
−10
0
Relegated
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:[citation needed]
Game 1
Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir
1-06 - 0-09
Cortoon Shamrocks
Oughterard
Referee: Austin O Connell
Game 2
Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir
2-10 - 0-10
Kilconly
Clonbur
Referee: Noel Dempsey
Game 3
Cortoon Shamrocks
2-09 - 0-11
Kilconly
Caherlistrane
Referee: James Molloy
Group B[]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Tuam Stars
2
2
0
0
33
17
+16
4
Retains Senior status
2
Barna
2
1
0
1
34
17
+17
2
Relegation play-off
3
Caltra
2
0
0
2
13
46
−33
0
Relegated
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:[citation needed]
Game 1
Barna
2-19 - 0-05
Caltra
Annaghdown
Referee: Richard Mc Nicholas
Game 2
Caltra
0-08 - 2-15
Tuam Stars
Corofin
Referee: Gerry Daly
Game 3
Barna
0-9 1-09
Tuam Stars
Annaghdown
Referee: Shane Hehir
2nd Place Relegation Group Playoff[]
Relegation Playoff game played between the two 2nd placed Relegation group teams. Winner to retain Senior status for next years competition, and the loser relegated to next years Intermediate competition
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