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The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the ESB Minor Football Championship) is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland Minor Football Final being played on the first or second Sunday in September in Croke Park, Dublin. The minor final provides the curtain-raiser to the senior final.

[edit] Overview

The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship features the youngest competitive players of the game of Gaelic football - players must be under eighteen years of age on 1 January of the year of the competition. The first minor championship was played in 1929 when Clare were crowned the champions. The championship has been held every year since then, however, it was suspended for a period during 'The Emergency'.

Predictably Kerry are the most successful team in minor football, however, they are closely followed by Cork and Dublin. All three teams have achieved famous three-in-a-rows: Kerry from 1931 to 1933; Cork from 1967 to 1969; and Dublin from 1954 to 1956. The coveted treble of winning senior, under-21 and minor titles in the same year has been achieved on just one occasion, by Kerry in 1975. The current champions are Roscommon who defeated Kerry after a replay in Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday, September 23rd 2006. This was Roscommons first win in this grade for 51 years.

[edit] Top Winners

	Team	Winner	Winning Years
1	Kerry	11	1931, 1932, 1933, 1946, 1950, 1962, 1963, 1975, 1980, 1988, 1994.
2	Dublin	10	1930, 1945, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1979, 1982, 1984.
	Cork	10	1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1981, 1991, 1993, 2000
4	Tyrone	6	1947, 1948, 1973, 1998, 2001, 2004.
	Mayo	6	1935, 1953, 1966, 1971, 1978, 1985.
5	Galway	6	1952, 1960, 1970, 1976, 1986.
7	Down	4	1977, 1987, 1999, 2005.
	Roscommon	4	1939, 1941, 1951, 2006.
	Derry	4	1965, 1983, 1989, 2002.
10	Laois	3	1996, 1997, 2003.
	Meath	3	1957, 1990, 1992.
12	Louth	2	1936, 1940.
	Cavan	2	1937, 1938.
14	Offaly	1	1964.
	Westmeath	1	1995.
	Clare	1	1929.
	Tipperary	1	1934.
	Armagh	1	1949.

[edit] By Province

	Province	Wins	Last Win	Biggest Contributor	Wins
1	Munster	23	2000	Kerry	11
2	Leinster	20	2003	Image:Dublinnewcrest.pngDublin	10
3	Ulster	17	2005	Image:Tyronenewcrest.jpg Tyrone	6
4	Connaught	16	2006	Galway	4

The following counties have never won an All Ireland:

Province	County(Last final)
Leinster	Kildare, Kilkenny.
Connaught	Sligo, Leitrim.
Ulster	Fermanagh, Donegal
Munster	Clare

Gaelic Athletic Association
Football	History	Hurling
Senior Championship (2006)		Senior Championship (2006)
Under-21 Championship	The Sunday Game	Under-21 Championship
Minor Championship		Minor Championship
Junior Championship	Handball	Junior Championship
National Football League	Senior Hardball Singles	National Hurling League
Tommy Murphy Cup (2006)	Senior Hardball Singles	Christy Ring Cup (2006)
International Rules		Nicky Rackard Cup (2006)
Club Football Championship	Rounders	Club Hurling Championship
Sam Maguire Cup	Croke Park	Liam McCarthy Cup
Ladies' Gaelic football		Camogie
Ladies' Football All-Ireland	Interprovincial Championships	Camogie All-Ireland
Cic Fada		Poc Fada