# 2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 134th 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 London and New York were withdrawn as a result of the public health restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.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 who 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 qualifiers. The introduction of the Tailteann Cup competition was postponed until 2022 (having been originally postponed from 2020).
There was no "Super 8" group stage (officially the all-Ireland quarter-final group stage). The four provincial winners advanced to the All-Ireland semi-finals which were played as single knockout games.
Dublin were the six-time defending champions, and were seeking to claim an unprecedented seventh consecutive title. Having won the Leinster championship, they were defeated by Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
The All-Ireland final was played on 11 September 2021 at Croke Park in Dublin, between Tyrone and Mayo, in what was their first ever meeting in a final. Tyrone won their 4th title after a 2–14 to 0–15 win against Mayo. Mayo lost their 11th consecutive final since 1989, losing 6 finals in 9 years, with this latest defeat on an identical scoreline to 2020, when Mayo lost to Dublin.

## Competition 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 (officially the All-Ireland quarter final group stage) 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 (and if they have previously received a yellow or black card, they will also receive a red 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 (assistant manager) 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 time

## Provincial 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.
| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | Leitrim | Leitrim | 0-11 | | | |
| | | | Mayo | Mayo | 5-20 | | | |
| Mayo | Mayo | 3-23 | Mayo | Mayo | 5-20 | | | |
| Sligo | Sligo | 0-12 | | | | | | |
| Sligo | Sligo | 0-12 | | | | Mayo | Mayo | 2-14 |
| | | | | | | Galway | Galway | 2-8 |
| | | | Galway | Galway | 2-11 | | | |
| | | | Roscommon | Roscommon | 0-12 | | | |
| 25 July 2021 13:30 Connacht Final | Mayo | 2–14 – 2–8 | Galway | Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Conor Lane (Cork) Man of the Match: Matthew Ruane (Breaffy) |
| 25 July 2021 13:30 Connacht Final | Ryan O'Donoghue 1–3 (1–0 pen, 0-2f), Matthew Ruane 1–2, Conor Loftus and Tommy Conroy 0–2 each, Rob Hennelly (1 '45), Paddy Durcan, Darren McHale, Kevin McLoughlin, James Carr 0–1 each | Report | Shane Walsh 1–1, Matthew Tierney 0–4 (0-3f), Damien Comer 1–0, Paul Conroy 0–2, Cathal Sweeney 0–1 | Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Conor Lane (Cork) Man of the Match: Matthew Ruane (Breaffy) |

### 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.
| Preliminary round 27 June | Preliminary round 27 June | Preliminary round 27 June | Quarter-finals 4 July | Quarter-finals 4 July | Quarter-finals 4 July | Semi-finals 18 July | Semi-finals 18 July | Semi-finals 18 July | Final 1 August | Final 1 August | Final 1 August |
| | | | Kildare | Kildare | 1-15 | | | | | | |
| Offaly | Offaly | 3-19 AET | Offaly | Offaly | 0-13 | | | | | | |
| Louth | Louth | 0-19 | | | | Kildare | Kildare | 2-14 | | | |
| | | | | | | Westmeath | Westmeath | 0-18 | | | |
| | | | Laois | Laois | 1-10 | | | | | | |
| | | | Westmeath | Westmeath | 3-20 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Kildare | Kildare | 1-9 |
| | | | | | | | | | Dublin | Dublin | 0-20 |
| | | | Meath | Meath | 4-22 | | | | | | |
| Longford | Longford | 0-25 | Longford | Longford | 0-12 | | | | | | |
| Carlow | Carlow | 2-13 | | | | Meath | Meath | 1-13 | | | |
| | | | | | | Dublin | Dublin | 2-16 | | | |
| | | | Dublin | Dublin | 0-15 | | | | | | |
| Wexford | Wexford | 2-11 | Wexford | Wexford | 0-7 | | | | | | |
| Wicklow | Wicklow | 0-14 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 August 2021 16:00 Leinster Final | Dublin | 0–20 – 1–9 | Kildare | Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan) |
| 1 August 2021 16:00 Leinster Final | Dean Rock 0–5 (0-3f), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-1m) and Cormac Costello 0–4 each, Niall Scully 0–2 (0-1m), James McCarthy, Brian Howard, Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Ryan Basquel 0–1 each | Report | Daniel Flynn 1–2 (0-1m), Jimmy Hyland 0–4 (0-1m, 0-1f), Neil Flynn, Alex Beirne, Brian McLoughlin 0–1 each | Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan) |

### 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.
| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| | | Cork | 1-16 | | |
| Limerick | 4-18 | Limerick | 0-11 | | |
| Waterford | 0-12 | | | Cork | 1-9 |
| | | | | Kerry | 4-22 |
| | | Tipperary | 1-8 | | |
| Kerry | 3-22 | Kerry | 1-19 | | |
| Clare | 1-11 | | | | |
| 25 July 2021 16:00 IST (UTC+1) Munster Final | Kerry | 4–22 – 1–9 | Cork | Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Barry Cassidy (Bellaghy, Derry) |
| 25 July 2021 16:00 IST (UTC+1) Munster Final | Sean O’Shea 1–6 (0-3f), Paul Geaney 2–1, Paudie Clifford 0–3, Brian Ó Beaglaoich 1–0, Jack Barry, Killian Spillane, Tom O’Sullivan 0–2 each, Mike Breen, David Moran, David Clifford (0-1f), Stephen O’Brien, Tadhg Morley, Tommy Walsh 0–1 each. | Report | Brian Hurley 1–3 (0-1f), Michael Hurley 0–2, Brian Hartnett, Ian Maguire, Luke Connolly, Daniel Dineen (0–1 mark) 0–1 each. | Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Barry Cassidy (Bellaghy, Derry) |

### 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.
| Preliminary round | Preliminary round | Preliminary round | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | Armagh | Armagh | 4-15 | | | | | | |
| | | | Antrim | Antrim | 0-14 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Armagh | Armagh | 2-21 | | | |
| | | | | | | Monaghan | Monaghan | 4-17 | | | |
| | | | Monaghan | Monaghan | 1-21 | | | | | | |
| | | | Fermanagh | Fermanagh | 0-14 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Monaghan | Monaghan | 0-15 |
| | | | | | | | | | Tyrone | Tyrone | 0-16 |
| | | | Tyrone | Tyrone | 1-18 | | | | | | |
| | | | Cavan | Cavan | 0-13 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tyrone | Tyrone | 0-23 | | | |
| | | | | | | Donegal | Donegal | 1-14 | | | |
| | | | Derry | Derry | 0-15 | | | | | | |
| Down | Down | 1-12 | Donegal | Donegal | 0-16 | | | | | | |
| Donegal | Donegal | 2-25 | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 July 2021 16:00 Ulster Final | Monaghan | 0–15 – 0–16 | Tyrone | Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 18,000 |
| 31 July 2021 16:00 Ulster Final | Conor McManus 0–4 (0-3f), Jack McCarron (0-1m) and Rory Beggan (0-2f) 0–2 each, Conor Boyle, Kieran Duffy, Killian Lavelle, Michael Bannigan, Conor McCarthy and Colin Walshe (0-1m) 0–1 each. | Report | Darren McCurry 0–5 (0-2f, 0-1m), Mattie Donnelly 0–3 (0-1f), Mark Bradley 0–2, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKiernan, Niall Sludden, Peter Harte, Kieran McGeary and Cathal McShane 0–1 each. | Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 18,000 |

## All-Ireland Series
### Bracket

| Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Mayo (a.e.t.) | Mayo (a.e.t.) | 0–17 | | | |
| Dublin | Dublin | 0–14 | | | |
| Dublin | Dublin | 0–14 | Mayo | Mayo | 0–15 |
| | | | Tyrone | Tyrone | 2–14 |
| Kerry | Kerry | 0–22 | Tyrone | Tyrone | 2–14 |
| Tyrone | Tyrone | 3–14 | | | |

### Semi-finals

* RTÉ Sky Sports
* 14 August 2021 18:00 IST (UTC+1) Semi-final
* Report
| Mayo | 0–17 – 0–14 (a.e.t.) | Dublin |
| (HT: 0–4 – 0–10) |||
| Pts: Ryan O'Donoghue 5 (2f), Tommy Conroy and Robert Hennelly (2f, 1 '45) 0–3 each, Darren Coen, Jason Flynn, Kevin McLoughlin, Lee Keegan, Conor Loftus, Mattie Ruane 1 each | | Pts: Dean Rock 7 (5f), Ciarán Kilkenny 3 (1m), Paddy Small 2, Con O'Callaghan and Seán Bugler 1 each |
* Croke Park, Dublin Referee: Conor Lane (Cork) Attendance: 24,000
* RTÉ Sky Sports
* 28 August 2021 15:30 IST (UTC+1) Semi-final
* Report
| Kerry | 0–22 (22) – (23) 3–14 (a.e.t.) | Tyrone |
| (HT: 0-09 (9) – (10) 1-07) |||
| Pts: David Clifford 8 (3f, 1m), Seán O’Shea 8 (6f, 1 '45), Paudie Clifford 2, Paul Murphy, Diarmuid O’Connor, Paul Geaney, Tom O’Sullivan 1 each | | Gls: Cathal McShane 1, Tiarnan McCann 1, Conor McKenna 1 Pts: Cathal McShane 3 (1f), Darren McCurry 4 (2f), Niall Morgan 2 (1 ’45, 1f), Michael McKernan, Ronan McNamee, Pádraig Hampsey, Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly (1 m) 1 each |
* Croke Park, Dublin Referee: David Coldrick (Meath) Attendance: 24,000

### Final

* RTÉ Sky Sports
* 11 September 2021 17:00 IST (UTC+1) All-Ireland Final
* Report
| Tyrone | 2–14 (20) – (15) 0–15 | Mayo |
| (HT: 0–10 – 0-08) |||
| Gls: Darren McCurry 1, Cathal McShane 1 Pts: Darren McCurry 4 (2f), Niall Morgan 3 (2f, 1 '45), Niall Sludden 2, Pádraig Hampsey, Peter Harte (1 mark), Kieran McGeary, Mattie Donnelly, Darragh Canavan 1 each | | Pts: Ryan O'Donoghue 8 (7f), Tommy Conroy 2, Robbie Hennelly (1f), Lee Keegan, Patrick Durcan, Stephen Coen, Kevin McLoughlin 1 each |
* Croke Park, Dublin Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan) Attendance: 41,150

## Stadia and locations

Stadia :
| County | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Cavan | Cavan | Breffni Park | 32,000 |
| Cork | Cork | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | 45,000 |
| Derry | Derry | Celtic Park | 22,000 |
| Donegal | Ballybofey | MacCumhaill Park | 18,000 |
| Fermanagh | Enniskillen | Brewster Park | 20,000 |
| Dublin | Drumcondra | Croke Park | 82,300 |
| Galway | Galway | Pearse Stadium | 26,197 |
| Laois | Portlaoise | O'Moore Park | 27,000 |
| Leitrim | Carrick-on-Shannon | Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada | 9,331 |
| Mayo | Castlebar | McHale Park | 25,369 |
| Monaghan | Clones | St. Tiernach's Park | 36,000 |
| Offaly | Tullamore | O'Connor Park | 20,000 |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | Dr. Hyde Park | 25,000 |
| Tipperary | Thurles | Semple Stadium | 45,690 |
| Waterford | Dungarvan | Fraher Field | 15,000 |
| Westmeath | Mullingar | Cusack Park | 11,000 |
| Wexford | Wexford | Wexford Park | 20,000 |

## Championship statistics

* All scores correct as of 13 September 2021

### Top scorer: overall

| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Seán O'Shea | Kerry | 2–29 | 35 | 4 | 8.7 |
| 2 | Darren McCurry | Tyrone | 1–30 | 33 | 5 | 6.6 |
| 3 | Ryan O'Donoghue | Mayo | 2–27 | 33 | 5 | 6.6 |
| 4 | David Clifford | Kerry | 2–17 | 23 | 4 | 5.7 |
| 5 | Cormac Costello | Dublin | 1–15 | 18 | 3 | 6.0 |
| 6 | Neil Flynn | Kildare | 1–15 | 18 | 3 | 6.0 |
| 7 | Conor McManus | Monaghan | 1–15 | 18 | 3 | 6.0 |
| 8 | Darren McHale | Mayo | 3-07 | 16 | 4 | 4.0 |
| 9 | Paddy McBrearty | Donegal | 1–13 | 16 | 3 | 5.3 |
| 10 | Tommy Conroy | Mayo | 1–12 | 15 | 4 | 3.7 |
| 11 | Dean Rock | Dublin | 0–15 | 15 | 4 | 3.7 |
| 12 | Cian Farrell | Offaly | 0–15 | 15 | 2 | 7.5 |
| 13 | Cathal McShane | Tyrone | 2-08 | 14 | 5 | 2.8 |
| 14 | Rian O'Neill | Armagh | 1–11 | 14 | 2 | 7.0 |
| 15 | Hugh Bourke | Limerick | 1–11 | 14 | 2 | 7.0 |
| 16 | Ciarán Kilkenny | Dublin | 0–13 | 13 | 4 | 3.2 |
| 17 | John Heslin | Westmeath | 0–13 | 13 | 2 | 6.5 |
| 18 | Mark Rossiter | Wexford | 1-09 | 12 | 2 | 6.0 |
| 19 | Brian Hurley | Cork | 1-09 | 12 | 2 | 6.0 |
| 20 | Lorcan Dolan | Westmeath | 1-08 | 11 | 2 | 5.5 |

### Top scorer: single game

| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Darren McCurry | Tyrone | 0–10 | 10 | Cavan |
| 2 | Seán O'Shea | Kerry | 1-07 | 10 | Clare |

### Scoring events

All records exclude extra-time.
* Widest winning margin: 24 points
** Mayo 5–20 – 0–11 Leitrim (Connacht semi-final)
* Most goals in a match: 6
** Monaghan 4–17 – 2–21 Armagh (Ulster semi-final)
* Most points in a match: 38
** Longford 0–25 – 2–13 Carlow (Leinster preliminary round)
** Monaghan 4–17 – 2–21 Armagh (Ulster semi-final)
* Most goals by one team in a match: 5
** Mayo 5–20 – 0–11 Leitrim (Connacht semi-final)
* Most points by one team in a match: 25
** Down 1-12 - 2-25 Donegal (Ulster preliminary round)
** Longford 0–25 – 2–13 Carlow (Leinster preliminary round)
* Highest aggregate score: 56 points
** Monaghan 4–17 – 2–21 Armagh (Ulster semi-final)
* Lowest aggregate score: 22 points
** Dublin 0–15 – 0–07 Wexford (Leinster quarter-final)

## 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 (42 wins, 3 draws) 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 (a six-in-a-row, 2015–20), 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.
| Player | Team |
| Niall Morgan | Tyrone |
| Paddy Durcan | Mayo |
| Lee Keegan | Mayo |
| Pádraig Hampsey | Tyrone |
| Niall Sludden | Tyrone |
| Kieran McGeary$^{FOTY}$ | Tyrone |
| Peter Harte | Tyrone |
| Matthew Ruane | Mayo |
| Conn Kilpatrick | Tyrone |
| Conor Meyler | Tyrone |
| Paudie Clifford | Kerry |
| Ciarán Kilkenny | Dublin |
| Darren McCurry | Tyrone |
| David Clifford | Kerry |
| Tommy Conroy | Mayo |

### 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 McGeary$^{FOTY}$ | 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.