Boston Northeast GAA

History of Gaelic Football

Gaelic Football has been played in Ireland since the 17th and 18th centuries but it wasn’t until the GAA was formed in 1884 that it was played between county teams with proper rules.

• The first All-Ireland football final took place in 1887 in Clonskeagh, Dublin between Limerick and Louth. Limerick won the game by 1-4 to 0-3, they were low scoring matches in those days.


• Kerry are the most successful football county winning 32 All-Ireland titles, that’s a lot of San Maguires to fit in the trophy cabinet. Dublin are next up with 22 titles followed by Galway with 9 and Meath with 7.


• The Dubs were the first three-in-a-row winners becoming All-Ireland champions in 1897, ’98 and ’99 and believe it or not Wexford won the first four-in-a-row taking the title in 1915, ’16, ’17 and ’18.


• In the sixties Galway won a three-in-a-row between 1964 and 1966. They were the greatest side to come out of Connacht. Seán Purcell was playing for them and he is regarded as one of footballs all-time greats.


• In the 60’s, Kerry were a very strong side with one of the greatest Mick O’Connell in a starring role, many people say that Micko was the finest to ever grace the football stage.


• Kerry would go on to dominate football in the 70’s along with Dublin. Dublin at this time were nicknamed “Heffo’s Army” after their coach Kevin Heffernan and they brought great glamour to the game becoming Kerry’s deadliest rivals. The All-Ireland finals between them were epic battles and classic football matches.


• In the 80's other teams emerged such as Offaly, Cork and Meath. Offaly won the All-Ireland in 1982 stopping Kerry from winning an historic five-in-a-row. Meath went on to win two titles in the 80’s in ’87 and ’89.


• In the early 90’s it was Ulster turn to take the limelight with the 3d’s, Down, Derry and Donegal winning the title.


• Another Ulster team won the All-Ireland in 2002, that was Armagh of course beating Kerry in a pulsating final that will be remembered for a long time as it was the Orchard county’s first title.