# 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 126th edition of the GAA's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament, played between 31 counties of Ireland (excluding Kilkenny who only take part in the hurling championship), London and New York.
The 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final took place at Croke Park on 23 September 2012, with Donegal emerging victorious. Having reclaimed the Ulster Senior Football Championship with wins over Cavan, Derry, Tyrone and Down, they met and bet Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final, in what was widely considered the game of the Championship. They then overcame Cork in the semi-final and Mayo in the final in Jim McGuinness's second season in charge, allowing team captain Michael Murphy to hold the Sam Maguire Cup aloft.
Colm McFadden finished as the competition's top scorer and Karl Lacey was named the competition's best player.

## Teams

A total of 33 teams contested the championship. These included 31 teams from Ireland as well as London and New York. As in previous years, Kilkenny decided not to field a team.

## Referees

Ahead of the 2012 Championship, three referees joined the panel: Conor Lane of Banteer, Martin Higgins of Fermanagh and Barry Cassidy of Derry.

### 2012 Championship referees' panel
## Stadia and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Stadium capacity |
| Antrim | Belfast | Casement Park | 32,500 |
| Armagh | Armagh | Athletic Grounds | 19,500 |
| Carlow | Carlow | Dr Cullen Park | 21,000 |
| Cavan | Cavan | Kingspan Breffni Park | 32,000 |
| Clare | Ennis | Cusack Park | 14,864 |
| Cork | Cork | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | 43,550 |
| Derry | Derry | Celtic Park | 22,000 |
| Donegal | Ballybofey | MacCumhaill Park | 12,500 |
| Down | Newry | Páirc Esler | 20,000 |
| Dublin | Dublin | Parnell Park | 13,500 |
| Fermanagh | Enniskillen | Brewster Park | 20,000 |
| Galway | Galway | Pearse Stadium | 26,197 |
| Kerry | Killarney | Fitzgerald Stadium | 43,180 |
| Kildare | Newbridge | St Conleth's Park | 6,200 |
| Laois | Portlaoise | O'Moore Park | 27,000 |
| Leitrim | Carrick-on-Shannon | Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada | 9,331 |
| Limerick | Limerick | Gaelic Grounds | 49,866 |
| London | Ruislip | Emerald GAA Grounds | 5,000 |
| Longford | Longford | Pearse Park | 10,000 |
| Louth | Drogheda | Drogheda Park | 7,000 |
| Mayo | Castlebar | McHale Park | 42,000 |
| Meath | Navan | Páirc Tailteann | 10,000 |
| Monaghan | Clones | St Tiernach's Park | 36,000 |
| New York | Kingsbridge, Bronx | Gaelic Park | 2,000 |
| Offaly | Tullamore | O'Connor Park | 20,000 |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | Dr Hyde Park | 18,500 |
| Sligo | Sligo | Markievicz Park | 18,558 |
| Tipperary | Thurles | Semple Stadium | 53,500 |
| Tyrone | Omagh | Healy Park | 26,500 |
| Waterford | Waterford | Walsh Park | 17,000 |
| Westmeath | Mullingar | Cusack Park | 11,000 |
| Wexford | Wexford | Wexford Park | 20,000 |
| Wicklow | Aughrim | Aughrim County Ground | 10,000 |

## Personnel and kits

| Team | Colours | Sponsor | Captain | Manager(s) | Most recent success | Most recent success | Most recent success |
| Team | Colours | Sponsor | Captain | Manager(s) | All-Ireland | Provincial | League |
| Antrim | Saffron and white | Creagh Concrete | Aodhán Gallagher | Liam Bradley | | 1951 | |
| Armagh | Orange and white | Morgan Fuels | Ciarán McKeever | Paddy O'Rourke | 2002 | 2008 | 2005 |
| Carlow | Red, green and yellow | Dan Morrissey | Shane Redmond | Luke Dempsey | | 1944 | |
| Cavan | Blue and white | Kingspan | Pádraic O'Reilly | Val Andrews | 1952 | 1997 | 1950 |
| Clare | Saffron and blue | Pat O'Donnell | Alan Clohessy | Michael McDermott | | 1992 | |
| Cork | Red and white | O2 | Graham Canty | Conor Counihan | 2010 | 2012 | 2012 |
| Derry | Red and white | Specialist Joinery Group | Paddy Bradley | John Brennan | 1993 | 1998 | 2008 |
| Donegal | Green and yellow | Donegal Creameries | Michael Murphy | Jim McGuinness | 2012 | 2012 | 2007 |
| Down | Red and black | Canal Court Hotel | Ambrose Rogers | James McCartan Jr. | 1994 | 1994 | 1983 |
| Dublin | Blue and navy | Vodafone | Bryan Cullen | Pat Gilroy | 2011 | 2012 | 1993 |
| Fermanagh | Green and white | Tracey Concrete | Ryan McCluskey | Peter Canavan | | | |
| Galway | Maroon and white | Health Care West | Finian Hanley | Alan Mulholland | 2001 | 2008 | 1981 |
| Kerry | Green and gold | Kerry Group | Colm Cooper | Jack O'Connor | 2009 | 2011 | 2009 |
| Kildare | White | Tegal | Johnny Doyle | Kieran McGeeney | 1928 | 2000 | |
| Laois | Blue and white | MW Hire Group | Kevin Meaney | Justin McNulty | | 2003 | 1986 |
| Leitrim | Green and gold | Bush Hotel | Oaddy Maguire | Mickey Moran | | 1994 | |
| Limerick | Green and white | Sporting Limerick | Ger Collins | Maurice Horan | 1896 | 1996 | |
| London | Green and white | | Seán McVeigh | Paul Coggins | | | |
| Longford | Blue and gold | Glennon | Paul Barden | Glenn Ryan | | 1968 | |
| Louth | Red and white | McCabe | Mark Brennan | Peter Fitzpatrick | 1957 | 1957 | |
| Mayo | Green and red | Elverys Sports | Andy Moran | James Horan | 1951 | 2012 | 2001 |
| Meath | Green and gold | Comer Group | Shane McAnarney | Séamus McEnaney | 1999 | 2010 | 1994 |
| Monaghan | Blue and white | Investec | Darren Hughes | Eamonn McEneaney | | 1988 | 1985 |
| New York | Red, white and blue | Premium Sports | | Connie Molloy | | | |
| Offaly | Green, white and gold | Carrol Cuisine | Brian Darby | Gerry Cooney | 1982 | 1997 | 1998 |
| Roscommon | Blue and primrose | Mayo Roscommon Hospice | Geoffrey Claffey | Des Newton | 1944 | 2010 | 1979 |
| Sligo | Black and white | Radisson Hotel and Spa | Ross Donovan | Kevin Walsh | | 2007 | |
| Tipperary | Blue and gold | Škoda | Philip Austin | Peter Creedon | 1920 | 1935 | |
| Tyrone | White and Red | Target Express | Stephen O'Neill | Mickey Harte | 2008 | 2010 | 2008 |
| Waterford | Blue and white | 3 | John A. Murphy | John Owens | | 1898 | |
| Westmeath | Maroon and white | Annebrook House Hotel | Gary Connaughton | Pat Flanagan | | 2004 | |
| Wexford | Purple and gold | Sports Savers | David Murphy | Jason Ryan | 1952 | 1997 | 1950 |
| Wicklow | Blue and gold | Brennan Hotels | Leighton Glynn | Harry Murphy | | | |

## Team summaries

Sligo record their easiest ever championship win over New York.

## Format

The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship of 2012 was run on a provincial basis as usual. It was a knockout tournament with pairings drawn at random in the respective provinces – there was no seeds.
Each match was played as a single leg. If a match was drawn there was a replay. If that match ended in a draw a period of extra time was played; however, if both sides were still level at the end of extra time another replay would have taken place.

### Connacht Championship

Quarter-finals: (3 matches) These were three matches between six of the Connacht teams drawn first. The three winning teams advanced to the semi-finals, while the three losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Semi-finals: (4 matches) The winners of the three quarter-final games joined the other two Connacht teams to make up the semi-final pairings. The two winning teams advanced to the final, while the two losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contested this game. The winning team advanced to the All-Ireland quarter-final, while the losing team entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.

### Leinster Championship

Preliminary round: (3 matches) These were three matches between six of the Leinster teams drawn first. The three winning teams advanced to the quarter-finals, while the three losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Quarter-finals: (4 matches) The winners of the three preliminary round games joined the other five Leinster teams to make up four quarter-final pairings. The four winning teams advanced to the semi-finals, while the four losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The four winners of the quarter-finals made up the semi-final pairings. The two winning teams advanced to the final, while the two losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contested this game. The winning team advanced to the All-Ireland quarter-final, while the losing team entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.

### Munster Championship

Quarter-finals: (2 matches) These were to be two matches between four of the Munster teams drawn first. The two winning teams advanced to the semi-finals, while the two losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Semi-finals: (4 matches) The winners of the two quarter-final games joined the other two Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. The two winning teams advanced to the final, while the two losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contested this game. The winning team advanced to the All-Ireland quarter-final, while the losing team entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.

### Ulster Championship

Preliminary round: (1 match) This was a lone match between two of the Ulster teams drawn first. The winning team advanced to the quarter-finals, while the losing team entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Quarter-finals: (4 matches) The winners of the lone preliminary round game joined the other seven Ulster teams to make up four quarter-final pairings. The four winning teams advanced to the semi-finals, while the four losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The four winners of the quarter-finals made up the semi-final pairings. The two winning teams advanced to the final, while the two losing teams entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contested this game. The winning team advanced to the All-Ireland quarter-final, while the losing team entered the All-Ireland qualifiers.

### Qualifiers

The qualifiers gave teams defeated in the provincial championships another chance at winning the All-Ireland title.
Round 1 (8 matches): the sixteen teams who failed to reach a provincial semi-final entered the qualifiers at this stage (New York do not compete). An open draw was made to determine the eight match pairings.
Round 2 (8 matches): the eight teams who failed to progress from their provincial semi-finals entered the qualifiers at this stage. They were paired with the eight winners from round 1 of the qualifiers. An open draw was made to determine the eight match pairings.
Round 3 (4 matches): the eight teams from round 2 of the qualifiers were paired against each other. An open draw was made to determine the four match pairings.
Round 4 (4 matches): the four teams who lost their provincial finals entered the qualifiers at this stage. They were paired with the four winners from round 3 of the qualifiers. An open draw was made to determine the four match pairings. The four winners advanced to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

### All-Ireland Series

Quarter-finals: (4 matches) the four teams from round 4 of the qualifiers were paired against the four provincial winners. An open draw was made to determine the four match pairings. The four winning teams advanced to the semi-finals, while the two losing teams were eliminated from the championship.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The four winners of the quarter-finals make up the semi-final pairings. The two winning teams advanced to the final, while the two losing teams were eliminated from the championship.
Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contested this game.

## Fixtures and results
### Munster Senior Football Championship

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Munster final | Munster final | Munster final |
| Limerick | Limerick | 2-12 | | | | | | |
| Waterford | Waterford | 0-7 | Limerick | Limerick | 0-15 | | | |
| | | | Clare | Clare | 1-13 | | | |
| | | | | | | Clare | Clare | 0-13 |
| | | | | | | Cork | Cork | 3-16 |
| | | | Kerry | Kerry | 0-12 | | | |
| Tipperary | Tipperary | 0-10 | Cork | Cork | 0-17 | | | |
| Kerry | Kerry | 0-16 | | | | | | |

### Leinster Senior Football Championship

| Preliminary round | Preliminary round | Preliminary round | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Leinster final | Leinster final | Leinster final |
| Westmeath | Westmeath | 0-14 | | | | | | | | | |
| Louth | Louth | 2-9 | Louth | Louth | 0-12 | | | | | | |
| | | | Dublin | Dublin | 2-22 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dublin | Dublin | 2-11 | | | |
| Longford | Longford | 1-10 | | | | Wexford | Wexford | 1-10 | | | |
| Laois | Laois | 0-12 | Longford | Longford | 0-15 | | | | | | |
| | | | Wexford | Wexford | 1-13 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Dublin | Dublin | 2-13 |
| Meath | Meath | 0-16 | | | | | | | Meath | Meath | 1-13 |
| Wicklow | Wicklow | 0-11 | Meath | Meath | 2-21 | | | | | | |
| | | | Carlow | Carlow | 1-9 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Meath | Meath | 1-17 | | | |
| | | | | | | Kildare | Kildare | 1-11 | | | |
| | | | Offaly | Offaly | 0-6 | | | | | | |
| | | | Kildare | Kildare | 0-19 | | | | | | |

### Connacht Senior Football Championship

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Connacht final | Connacht final | Connacht final |
| New York | New York | 0-6 | | | | | | |
| Sligo | Sligo | 3-21 | Sligo | Sligo | 2-14 | | | |
| Galway | Galway | 3-15 | Galway | Galway | 0-15 | | | |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | 0-10 | | | | Sligo | Sligo | 0-10 |
| | | | | | | Mayo | Mayo | 0-12 |
| | | | Mayo | Mayo | 4-20 | | | |
| London | London | 1-8 | Leitrim | Leitrim | 0-10 | | | |
| Leitrim | Leitrim | 0-12 | | | | | | |

### Ulster Senior Football Championship

| Preliminary round | Preliminary round | Preliminary round | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Ulster final | Ulster final | Ulster final |
| Cavan | Cavan | 1-10 | | | | | | | | | |
| Donegal | Donegal | 1-16 | Donegal | Donegal | 2-13 | | | | | | |
| | | | Derry | Derry | 0-9 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Donegal | Donegal | 0-12 | | | |
| | | | | | | Tyrone | Tyrone | 0-10 | | | |
| | | | Tyrone | Tyrone | 0-19 | | | | | | |
| | | | Armagh | Armagh | 1-13 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Donegal | Donegal | 2-18 |
| | | | | | | | | | Down | Down | 0-13 |
| | | | Monaghan | Monaghan | 1-12 | | | | | | |
| | | | Antrim | Antrim | 1-9 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Monaghan | Monaghan | 1-13 | | | |
| | | | | | | Down | Down | 1-14 | | | |
| | | | Down | Down | 2-10 | | | | | | |
| | | | Fermanagh | Fermanagh | 1-8 | | | | | | |

### All-Ireland qualifiers
#### Round 1

On 18 June 2012, the draw was made for the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers. This draw contained all the teams who had been knocked out of their provincial competitions prior to the semi-final stage, apart from New York. It was broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland for the first time.

#### Round 2

On 2 July 2012, the draw was made for the second round of the All-Ireland qualifiers. This draw contained all the teams who had been knocked out of their provincial competitions at the semi-final stage in one pot and the winners of the first round of the qualifiers in the second pot.

#### Round 4
### All-Ireland series

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Cork | Cork | 2-19 | | | | | | |
| Kildare | Kildare | 0-12 | | | | | | |
| Kildare | Kildare | 0-12 | Cork | Cork | 1-11 | | | |
| | | | Donegal | Donegal | 0-16 | | | |
| Donegal | Donegal | 1-12 | Donegal | Donegal | 0-16 | | | |
| Kerry | Kerry | 1-10 | | | | | | |
| Kerry | Kerry | 1-10 | | | | Donegal | Donegal | 2-11 |
| | | | | | | Mayo | Mayo | 0-13 |
| Mayo | Mayo | 3-18 | | | | | | | Mayo | Mayo | 0-13 |
| Down | Down | 2-09 | | | | | | |
| Down | Down | 2-09 | Mayo | Mayo | 0-19 | | | |
| | | | Dublin | Dublin | 0-16 | | | |
| Dublin | Dublin | 1-12 | Dublin | Dublin | 0-16 | | | |
| Laois | Laois | 0-12 | | | | | | |

#### Final
## Championship statistics
### Miscellaneous

* Clare beat Limerick for the first time since 1984.
* Cork played Clare in the Munster final for the first time since 1949.
* Donegal won their first All Ireland since 1992.

### Scoring

* First goal of the championship: Stephen Coen for Sligo against New York (Connacht quarter-final)
* Widest winning margin: 24 points
** Sligo 3-21 – 0-06 New York (Connacht quarter-final)
* Most goals in a match: 5
** Mayo 3-18 – 2-09 Down (All Ireland quarter-final)
* Most points in a match: 35
** Mayo 0-19 – 0-16 Dublin (All Ireland Semi-final)
* Most goals by one team in a match: 4
** Mayo 4-20 – 0-10 Leitrim (Connacht Semi-final)
* Highest aggregate score: 42 points
** Mayo 4-20 – 0-10 Leitrim (Connacht Semi-final)
* Lowest aggregate score: 17 points
** Sligo 0-04 – 0-13 Kildare (fourth round)
* Most goals scored by a losing team: 2
** London 2-09 – 2-11 Antrim (first round)
** Longford 0-17 – 2-8 Derry (first round)
** Mayo 3-18 – 2-9 Down (All Ireland quarter-final)

### Top scorers
#### Season

| | Name | Team | Tally | Total | Games | Average |
| 1 | Colm McFadden | Donegal | 4-32 | 44 | 7 | 6.3 |
| 1 | Brian Farrell | Meath | 0-37 | 37 | 6 | 6.2 |
| 3 | Sean McCormack | Longford | 0-33 | 33 | 5 | 6.6 |
| 4 | Bernard Brogan | Dublin | 3-23 | 32 | 5 | 6.4 |
| 5 | Ian Ryan | Limerick | 1-28 | 31 | 4 | 7.8 |
| 6 | Colm Cooper | Kerry | 1-25 | 28 | 4 | 7.0 |
| 7 | Cillian O'Connor | Mayo | 0-28 | 28 | 5 | 5.6 |
| 8 | Emlyn Mulligan | Leitrim | 0-24 | 24 | 4 | 8.0 |
| 9 | Adrian Marren | Sligo | 2-17 | 24 | 4 | 6.0 |
| 10 | Mikey Conway | Kildare | 2-16 | 22 | 6 | 3.7 |

#### Single game

| | Name | Tally | Total | County | | Opposition |
| 1 | Adrian Marren | 2-06 | 12 | Sligo | v | Galway |
| 2 | Sean McCormack | 0-11 | 11 | Longford | v | Derry |
| 2 | Bernard Brogan | 2-05 | 11 | Dublin | v | Louth |
| 4 | Ian Ryan | 0-10 | 10 | Limerick | v | Clare |
| 4 | Ian Ryan | 1-07 | 10 | Limerick | v | Waterford |
| 4 | Stephen Coen | 2-04 | 10 | Sligo | v | New York |
| 7 | Daniel Kille | 0-09 | 9 | Fermanagh | v | Cavan |
| 7 | Colm McFadden | 1-06 | 9 | Donegal | v | Cavan |
| 9 | Martin Penrose | 0-08 | 8 | Tyrone | v | Armagh |
| 9 | Darren Clarke | 0-08 | 8 | Louth | v | Dublin |
| 9 | Brian Farrell | 0-08 | 8 | Meath | v | Carlow |
| 9 | J. J. Smith | 1-05 | 8 | Carlow | v | Meath |

## Awards
### Monthly

| Month | Opel GAA/GPA Player of the Month | Opel GAA/GPA Player of the Month |
| Month | Player | County |
| May | Paul Barden | Longford |
| June | Adrian Marren | Sligo |
| July | Ryan Bradley | Donegal |
| August | Karl Lacey | Donegal |
| September | Michael Murphy | Donegal |

### Sunday Game Team of the Year

The Sunday Game team of the year was picked on 23 September, the night of the final and included 8 of Donegal's winning team.

### GAA/GPA All Stars

| Pos. | Player | Team | Appearances |
| GK | Paul Durcan | Donegal | 1 |
| RCB | Neil McGee | Donegal | 2 |
| FB | Ger Cafferkey | Mayo | 1 |
| LCB | Keith Higgins | Mayo | 1 |
| RWB | Lee Keegan | Mayo | 1 |
| CB | Karl Lacey$^{FOTY}$ | Donegal | 4 |
| LWB | Frank McGlynn | Donegal | 1 |
| MD | Neil Gallagher | Donegal | 1 |
| MD | Aidan Walsh | Cork | 2 |
| RWF | Paul Flynn | Dublin | 2 |
| CF | Alan Dillon | Mayo | 2 |
| LWF | Mark McHugh | Donegal | 1 |
| RCF | Colm O'Neill | Cork | 1 |
| FF | Michael Murphy | Donegal | 1 |
| LCF | Colm McFadden | Donegal | 1 |
Player has previously been selected.

### County breakdown

* Donegal = 8
* Mayo = 4
* Cork = 2
* Dublin = 1
List of nominees