2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The 2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 135th edition of the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament since its establishment in 1887.
Thirty one of the thirty two Irish counties took part – Kilkenny did not compete. London and New York were withdrawn as a result of the public health restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most division three and four teams which did not reach their provincial final were scheduled to compete in the 2021 Tailteann Cup. In previous years, they would have competed in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers. However, the introduction of the Tailteann Cup was postponed until 2022.
There was no "Super 8" group stage. The four provincial winners advanced to the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals which were played as single knockout games.
Dublin were six-time defending champion, and were seeking to claim an unprecedented seventh consecutive title. Having won the Leinster SFC, they were defeated by Mayo in the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
The final was played on 11 September 2021 at Croke Park in Dublin, between Tyrone and Mayo, in what was a first meeting between the teams in the decider. Tyrone won a fourth title after a 2–14 to 0–15 win against Mayo. Mayo lost an 11th consecutive final since 1989, and a sixth final loss in nine years, with this latest defeat on an identical scoreline to 2020, when Mayo lost to Dublin.
Format
Provincial Championships format
Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster each organise a provincial championship. These tournaments are all straight knockout.The draws took place on 19 April 2021 for the Connacht and Munster championships, and on 20 April 2021 for the Leinster and Ulster championships.
Qualifiers (cancelled)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the qualifiers and Super 8s were cancelled. Teams were eliminated following their first defeat.It was planned to limit the qualifiers to mainly teams in the top two divisions of the National Football League but, due to the restricted season as a result of the COVID-19 health measures, the qualifiers and Super 8s were cancelled in their entirety.
All-Ireland format
The four provincial champions play in two semi-finals. All matches are knock-out. Any game that ends in a draw will go straight to extra-time. If the sides are level after extra-time the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.Rule changes since 2020 championship
- A penalty will be awarded for a 'cynical' foul that prevents a goal-scoring opportunity and occurs inside the twenty metre line or inside the semi-circular arc that extends from the centre of the twenty metre line. The player who committed the foul will receive a black card.
- The existing advantage rule was modified and implemented in the 2021 National Football League. Advantage is now only allowed to a player who has been fouled in two circumstances – 1) he has a goal-scoring opportunity 2) he has an opportunity to "create or avail of time and space" on the ball. Following its introduction, referees awarded fouls earlier where previously they would have allowed play to continue and this led to complaints that the flow of the game was being disrupted.
- The maor foirne is not allowed to enter the field of play.
- Only one person is allowed to receive the trophy during the presentation to the winners.
Symbols
f = free, m = mark, '45 = score direct from a '45, HT = Half time, AET = After extra timeProvincial championships
Connacht Senior Football Championship
London and New York were withdrawn from the 2020 and 2021 Connacht championships due to international travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But both are back in the 2022 season. Sligo withdrew from 2020 season due to COVID-19 too back in 2021.There was a full open draw for first time in over 40 years. It took place on 19 April 2021.
Meaning 1st Championship meetings of Mayo hosting London also Roscommon and New York since 2016 will take place in the 2026 season instead according to Rotation.
Leinster Senior Football Championship
Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Meath received byes to the quarter-final stage because they reached the semi-final stage in 2020. There was a separate draw after the quarter-finals to determine the semi-final pairings.The draw for round 1 and the quarter-finals took place on 20 April 2021. The semi-final draw took place on 4 July after the quarter-finals.
Munster Senior Football Championship
There was a return of a straight forward open draw for the first time since 2013. Tipperary won the title in 2020. Cork and Kerry met in the Semi Final last year, meaning Cork, Kerry or Tipperary were not permitted to be drawn together in the quarter-finals. The draw was held on 19 April 2021.Ulster Senior Football Championship
An open draw was held on 20 April 2021 with the provision that Cavan, Derry, Monaghan and Tyrone cannot be placed in the preliminary round.Stadia and locations
Statistics
- All scores correct as of 13 September 2021.
Scoring events
All records exclude extra-time.- Widest winning margin: 24 points
- * Mayo 5–20 – 0–11 Leitrim
- Most goals in a match: 6
- * Monaghan 4–17 – 2–21 Armagh
- Most points in a match: 38
- * Longford 0–25 – 2–13 Carlow
- *Monaghan 4–17 – 2–21 Armagh
- Most goals by one team in a match: 5
- * Mayo 5–20 – 0–11 Leitrim
- Most points by one team in a match: 25
- * Down 1–12 – 2–25 Donegal
- * Longford 0–25 – 2–13 Carlow
- Highest aggregate score: 56 points
- *Monaghan 4–17 – 2–21 Armagh
- Lowest aggregate score: 22 points
- *Dublin 0–15 – 0–07 Wexford
Miscellaneous
- Leitrim's 24-point loss to Mayo was their joint-biggest championship defeat, equalling a 1973 match, also against Mayo, that ended 7–6 to 0–3.
- COVID-19 caused the Connacht final and Ulster Final to move from MacHale Park, Castlebar or St Tiernach's Park, Clones to Croke Park, Dublin for first time since 1922 for Connacht and 2006 for Ulster. Sligo do return to Connacht championship. The return of London and New York to the Connacht championship was postponed until 2022.
- Dublin's extended winning record gives them 11 Leinster titles in a row.
- Dublin's record-breaking unbeaten streak of 45 consecutive championship games was ended by Mayo in the All Ireland semi-final. Their previous championship defeat was back in 2014, against Donegal. Dublin's unprecedented title streak, came to an end also.
Awards
''The Sunday Game'' Team of the Year
The Sunday Game team of the year was picked on 11 September, the night of the final. Kieran McGeary was chosen as the Footballer of the Year by the RTÉ panel.All Star Team of the Year">GAA GPA All Stars Awards">All Star Team of the Year
The All Star Team of the Year team of the year was picked on 10 December.Kieran McGeary was named as the All Stars Footballer of the Year with Mayo's Oisín Mullin picked as the All Stars Young Footballer of the Year.
| Pos. | Player | Team | Appearances |
| GK | Niall Morgan | Tyrone | 1 |
| RCB | Pádraig Hampsey | Tyrone | 2 |
| FB | Lee Keegan | Mayo | 5 |
| LCB | Tom O'Sullivan | Kerry | 2 |
| RWB | Conor Meyler | Tyrone | 1 |
| CB | Kieran McGearyFOTY | Tyrone | 1 |
| LWB | Peter Harte | Tyrone | 2 |
| MD | Brian Kennedy | Tyrone | 1 |
| MD | Matthew Ruane | Mayo | 1 |
| RWF | Niall Sludden | Tyrone | 1 |
| CF | Paudie Clifford | Kerry | 1 |
| LWF | Ciarán Kilkenny | Dublin | 5 |
| RCF | Darren McCurry | Tyrone | 1 |
| FF | David Clifford | Kerry | 3 |
| LCF | Ryan O'Donoghue | Mayo | 1 |
Player has previously been selected.