Galway Intermediate Football Championship

Galway Intermediate Football Championship
Current season or competition:
2026 Galway Intermediate Football Championship
IrishCraobh Idirmhéanach Peile na Gaillimhe
CodeGaelic football
Founded1982
RegionCounty Galway (GAA)
TrophyJohn Cotter Cup
Title holdersMoycullen (3rd title)
First winnerSt Gabriel's
Most titlesOughterard (4 titles)

The Galway Intermediate Football Championship, abbreviated as Galway IFC, is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association competition between the senior and junior Gaelic football clubs in Galway. The winners of the Galway Championship qualify to represent their county in the Connacht Intermediate Club Football Championship, the winners of which go on to the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship. The winning team is presented with the John Cotter Cup.

2024 saw the competition take on a new format, with group stages consisting of 4 groups of 4 teams. Although it is called the 'Intermediate' championship, senior teams may compete in the competition. For example, Corofin and Claregalway competed in the 2026 edition.

Qualification for subsequent competitions

Connacht Intermediate Club Football Championship

The winners of the Galway Intermediate Football Championship qualify for the Connacht Intermediate Club Football Championship, where they compete against the intermediate club champions from the other counties in Connacht. The winners of the provincial championship qualify for the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship.

A number of Galway champions have subsequently won the Connacht Intermediate Club Football Championship. Caherlistrane won the provincial title in 2005, defeating Boyle of Roscommon by 0–13 to 0–5 in the final.

Moycullen won the title in 2007, defeating Ballintubber of Mayo by 3–11 to 1–8.

St Michael's retained the title for Galway in 2008, defeating Kilbride of Roscommon by 1–9 to 1–8.

In 2009, Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir became the third successive Galway winners, defeating Westport of Mayo by 2–14 to 2–13 in the provincial final.

St James' won the championship in 2010, defeating Strokestown of Roscommon by 0–14 to 1–9.

An Spidéal became the next Galway winners in 2018, defeating Fuerty of Roscommon by 1–14 to 0–16 in the final at Tuam Stadium.

Oughterard won the 2019 championship, defeating The Neale of Mayo by 1–16 to 0–11 in the final.

Dunmore MacHales became the next Galway winners in 2022, defeating St Dominic's of Roscommon by 1–16 to 1–13.

All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship

The winners of the Connacht Intermediate Club Football Championship progress to the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship, where they compete against the champions of the other three provincial championships.

Two Galway clubs have won the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship.

Moycullen became the first Galway club to win the competition when they claimed the 2007–08 All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship. Having won the Galway and Connacht championships in 2007, Moycullen defeated Dublin champions Fingal Ravens by 2–9 to 1–6 in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park on 17 February 2008.

Oughterard became the second Galway club to win the competition when they claimed the 2019–20 All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship. Oughterard defeated Kerry champions Templenoe by 1–12 to 0–12 in the All-Ireland semi-final. They subsequently defeated Monaghan champions Magheracloone by 2–16 to 0–12 in the final at Croke Park on 25 January 2020.

Top Winners

Club Wins Years won Runner‑up finishes Years runner‑up
Oughterard 4 1984, 1996, 2001, 2019 1 2011
Cortoon Shamrocks 3 1999, 2003, 2020 3 1982, 1984, 1997
St Michael's 3 1985, 2008, 2024 2 1983, 1995
Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir 3 1995, 2009, 2021 2 1988, 2002
St Grellan's 3 1986, 1992, 2000 0 –
Moycullen 2 2007, 2015 2 1985, 2014
Claregalway 2 2002, 2017 1 2013
Killanin 2 1991, 2014 0 –
Dunmore MacHales 2 1993, 2022 2 2004, 2021
Monivea-Abbey 2 2016, 2023 0 –
Menlough 2 2006, 2013 0 –
Clonbur 2 1989, 1994 2 2003, 2005
Caltra 2 1997, 2025 2 1990, 2024
Caherlistrane 1 2005 2 2004, 2023
Annaghdown 1 1990 1 1996
St James' 1 2010 2 2006, 2009
Kilconly 1 2011 1 2022
Carna-Cashel 1 2012 0 –
Mountbellew-Moylough 1 1998 0 –
Mervue 1 1988 0 –
An Cheathrú Rua 1 1987 0 –
Salthill 1 1983 0 –
St Gabriel's 1 1982 0 –
St Brendan's 0 – 3 1989, 1991, 1994
Athenry 0 – 3 2007, 2012, 2015
Kilkerrin-Clonberne 0 – 3 1993, 2016, 2020
An Spidéal 0 – 3 1999, 2010, 2025
Bearna 0 – 2 1986, 1998
Micheál Breathnach 0 – 2 2018, 2019
Corofin 0 – 1 2000
Headford 0 – 1 1987
Oranmore-Maree 0 – 1 1992
Glenamaddy 0 – 1 2008
Williamstown 0 – 1 2017

Roll of honour

Year Winner Score Opponent Score
1982 St Gabriel's 2–15 Cortoon Shamrocks 0–10
1983 Salthill 3–07 St Michael's 1–04
1984 Oughterard 2–15 Cortoon Shamrocks 1–04
1985 St Michael's 2–08 Moycullen 2–05
1986 St Grellan's 0–13 Barna 0–03
1987 An Cheathrú Rua 0–12 Headford 2–05
1988 Mervue 1–08 Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir 1–05
1989 Clonbur 1–08 St Brendan's 0–09
1990 Annaghdown 2–13 Caltra 0–05
1991 Killanin 1–08 St Brendan's 1–05
1992 St Grellan's 3–11 Oranmore-Maree 1–09
1993 Dunmore MacHales 1–07 Kilkerrin/Clonberne 0–06
1994 Clonbur 0–11 St Brendan's 1–05
1995 Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir 0–11 St Michael's 1–05
1996 Oughterard 1–10 (Replay 0–07) Annaghdown 2–07 (Replay 0–05)
1997 Caltra 2–04 Cortoon Shamrocks 0–09
1998 Mountbellew/Moylough 1–09 Barna 0–07
1999 Cortoon Shamrocks 0–13 An Spidéal 0–10
2000 St Grellan's 1–06 (Replay 1–06) Corofin 1–06 (Replay 0–08)
2001 Oughterard 1–13 Clifden 0–06
2002 Claregalway 0–08 Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir 0–07
2003 Cortoon Shamrocks 1–11 Clonbur 0–13
2004 Dunmore MacHales 1–9 Caherlistrane 0–11
2005 Caherlistrane 0–12 Clonbur 0–08
2006 Menlough 0–12 St James' 0–11
2007 Moycullen 1–10 Athenry 0–09
2008 St Michael's 0–11 Glenamaddy 0–10
2009 Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir 0–09 St James' 0–07
2010 St James' 0–09 An Spidéal 0–07
2011 Kilconly 2–05 Oughterard 0–07
2012 Carna-Cashel 2–13 Athenry 0–09
2013 Menlough 1–12 Claregalway 2–8
2014 Killanin 0–13 Moycullen 0–10
2015 Moycullen 1–10 Athenry 0–09
2016 Monivea-Abbey 0–09 Kilkerrin/Clonberne 0–08
2017 Claregalway 1–12 Williamstown 0–12
2018 An Spidéal 0–11 (Replay 1–13) Micheál Breathnach 0–11 (Replay 1–11)
2019 Oughterard 0–14 (Replay 0–19, Pens 5–4) Micheál Breathnach 0–14 (Replay 1–16, Pens 4–5)
2020 Cortoon Shamrocks 1–10 Kilkerrin-Clonberne 1–08
2021 Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir 2–07 Dunmore MacHales 1–09
2022

Dunmore MacHales 0–08 Kilconly 1–03
2023 Monivea-Abbey 4–18 Caherlistrane 0–08
2024 St Michael's 1–15 Caltra 0–15
2025 Caltra 1–18 An Spidéal 1–16

References

  1. ↑ "Galway IFC round-up: Menlough come up trumps in surprise win over An Spidéal". Connacht Tribune. 20 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Groups drawn in Galway Senior, Intermediate and Primary Junior Football Championships". Tuam Herald. 17 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Connacht GAA Club Intermediate Football Championship Finals". Connacht GAA. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Foireann Leitir Móir, curaidh Chonnacht". Irish Independent. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "An Spidéal win Connacht Intermediate Final Cracker". Connacht GAA. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Bohan holds key". The Irish Times. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Oughterard and Magheracloone to contest All-Ireland IFC Final". Gaelic Athletic Association. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Oughterard crowned AIB All-Ireland Club Intermediate football champions". Gaelic Athletic Association. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2026.