2021 Carlow Senior Football Championship


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 -

From S.F.C.

Relegated to 2022 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship

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 Leighlin41304760-132
Ballinabranna40405675-190

Round 1Bagenalstown Gaels 0-5, 0-4 Mount Leinster Rangers, 3/10/2021.Rathvilly 1-17, 1-5 Old Leighlin, 3/10/2021.
Round 2Rathvilly 2-10, 0-7 Ballinabranna, 10/10/2021.Bagenalstown Gaels 1-8, 0-9 Old Leighlin, 10/10/2021.
Round 3Rathvilly 1-8, 1-6 Mount Leinster Rangers, 30/09/2021.Bagenalstown Gaels 3-14, 2-11 Ballinabranna, 16/10/2021.
Round 4Rathvilly 0-13, 1-8 Bagenalstown Gaels, 23/10/2021.Old Leighlin 2-12, 1-13 Ballinabranna, 29/09/2021.
Round 5Mount 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
Tinryland31203144-132
O'Hanrahans30302468-440

Round 1Eire Og 3-14, 1-08 Palatine, 3/10/2021. Tinryland 1-12, 1-4 O'Hanrahan's, 3/10/2021.
Round 2Eire Og 6-13, 0-8 O'Hanrahan's, 10/10/2021.Palatine 1-11, 0-9 Tinryland, 10/10/2021.
Round 3Eire 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.

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.