2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

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.

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

[[2012 Munster Senior Football Championship|Munster Senior Football Championship]]

| score-width= 35 | RD1-team2=[[File:Colours of Waterford.svg|20px|border]] Waterford | RD1-score2=0–7 | RD1-team1=[[File:Colours of Limerick.svg|20px|border]] Limerick | RD1-score1=2–12 | RD1-team8=[[File:Colours of Kerry.svg|20px|border]] Kerry | RD1-score8=0–16 | RD1-team7=[[File:Colours of Tipperary.svg|20px|border]] Tipperary | RD1-score7=0–10 | RD2-team1=[[File:Colours of Limerick.svg|20px|border]] Limerick | RD2-score1=0–15 | RD2-team2=[[File:Colours of Clare.svg|20px|border]] Clare | RD2-score2=1–13 | RD2-team3=[[File:Colours of Kerry.svg|20px|border]] Kerry | RD2-score3=0–12 | RD2-team4=[[File:Colours of Cork.svg|20px|border]] Cork | RD2-score4=0–17 | RD3-team1=[[File:Colours of Clare.svg|20px|border]] Clare | RD3-score1=0–13 | RD3-team2=[[File:Colours of Cork.svg|20px|border]] Cork | RD3-score2=3–16

[[2012 Leinster Senior Football Championship|Leinster Senior Football Championship]]

| score-width= 35 | RD1-team1=Westmeath | RD1-score1=0–14 | RD1-team2=Louth | RD1-score2=2–9 | RD1-team5=Longford | RD1-score5=1–10 | RD1-team6=Laois | RD1-score6=0–12 | RD1-team09=Meath | RD1-score09=0–16 | RD1-team10=Wicklow | RD1-score10=0–11 | RD2-team1=Louth | RD2-score1=0–12 | RD2-team2=Dublin | RD2-score2=2–22 | RD2-team3=Longford | RD2-score3=0–15 | RD2-team4=Wexford | RD2-score4=1–13 | RD2-team5=Meath | RD2-score5=2–21 | RD2-team6=Carlow | RD2-score6=1–9 | RD2-team7=Offaly | RD2-score7=0–6 | RD2-team8=Kildare | RD2-score8=0–19 | RD3-team1=Dublin | RD3-score1=2–11 | RD3-team2=Wexford | RD3-score2=1–10 | RD3-team3=Meath | RD3-score3=1–17 | RD3-team4=Kildare | RD3-score4=1–11 | RD4-team1=Dublin | RD4-score1= 2–13 | RD4-team2=Meath | RD4-score2= 1–13 Main article: 2012 Leinster Senior Football Championship final

[[2012 Connacht Senior Football Championship|Connacht Senior Football Championship]]

| score-width= 35 | RD1-team1=New York | RD1-score1= 0–6 | RD1-team2=Sligo | RD1-score2= 3–21 | RD1-team3=Galway | RD1-score3=3–15 | RD1-team4=Roscommon | RD1-score4=0–10 | RD1-team7=London | RD1-score7=1–8 | RD1-team8=Leitrim | RD1-score8=0–12 | RD2-team1=Sligo | RD2-score1=2–14 | RD2-team2=Galway | RD2-score2=0–15 | RD2-team3=Mayo | RD2-score3=4–20 | RD2-team4=Leitrim | RD2-score4=0–10 | RD3-team1=Sligo | RD3-score1=0–10 | RD3-team2=Mayo | RD3-score2=0–12

[[2012 Ulster Senior Football Championship|Ulster Senior Football Championship]]

| score-width= 35 | RD1-team1=Cavan | RD1-score1= 1–10 | RD1-team2=Donegal | RD1-score2= 1–16 | RD2-team1=Donegal | RD2-score1=2–13 | RD2-team2=Derry | RD2-score2=0–9 | RD2-team3=Tyrone | RD2-score3=0–19 | RD2-team4=Armagh | RD2-score4=1–13 | RD2-team5=Monaghan | RD2-score5=1–12 | RD2-team6=Antrim | RD2-score6=1–9 | RD2-team7=Down | RD2-score7=2–10 | RD2-team8=Fermanagh | RD2-score8=1–8 | RD3-team1=Donegal | RD3-score1=0–12 | RD3-team2=Tyrone | RD3-score2=0–10 | RD3-team3=Monaghan | RD3-score3=1–13 | RD3-team4=Down | RD3-score4=1–14 | RD4-team1=Donegal | RD4-score1= 2–18 | RD4-team2=Down | RD4-score2= 0–13

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.

(AET)

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. (AET)

Round 3

(AET)

Round 4

All-Ireland series

| score-width= 35 | RD1-team1= Cork | RD1-score1= 2–19 | RD1-team2= Kildare | RD1-score2= 0–12 | RD1-team3= Donegal | RD1-score3= 1–12 | RD1-team4= Kerry | RD1-score4= 1–10 | RD1-team5= Mayo | RD1-score5= 3–18 | RD1-team6= Down | RD1-score6= 2–09 | RD1-team7= Dublin | RD1-score7= 1–12 | RD1-team8= Laois | RD1-score8= 0–12 | RD2-team1= Cork | RD2-score1= 1–11 | RD2-team2= Donegal | RD2-score2= 0–16 | RD2-team3= Mayo | RD2-score3= 0–19 | RD2-team4= Dublin | RD2-score4= 0–16 | RD3-team1= Donegal | RD3-score1= 2–11 | RD3-team2= Mayo | RD3-score2= 0–13

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Main article: 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

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

• Barry Cassidy (Derry)
• David Coldrick (Meath)
• Michael Collins (Cork)
• Maurice Deegan (Laois)
• Syl Doyle (Wexford)
• Marty Duffy (Sligo)
• Michael Duffy (Sligo)
• Derek Fahy (Longford)
• Rory Hickey (Clare)
• Martin Higgins (Fermanagh)
• Pádraig Hughes (Armagh)
• Eddie Kinsella (Laois)
• Conor Lane (Cork)
• Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
• Pádraig O'Sullivan (Kerry)
• Cormac Reilly (Meath)

Stadia and locations

Personnel and kits

Statistics

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

;Single game

Miscellaneous

• Sligo record an easiest ever championship win over New York.
• Clare beat Limerick for the first time since 1984.
• Cork played Clare in the Munster final for the first time since 1949.
• Donegal won a first All-Ireland title since 1992.

Awards

;Monthly

;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

Player has previously been selected.

;County breakdown

• Donegal = 8
• Mayo = 4
• Cork = 2
• Dublin = 1

List of nominees

References

References

1. "All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2012 (Inter County)".
2. Clerkin, Malachy. (27 December 2012). "Donegal take a listing vessel and refloat it on a wave of thrilling proportions". The Irish Times.
3. (2012-06-18). "Draw takes place for the first round of SFC qualifiers". [[Irish Independent]].
4. (2012-06-18). "The draw for the first round of the senior football qualifiers took place this morning". [[RTÉ Sport]].
5. Nolan, Sean. "Dates for Qualifier draws confirmed". JOE.
6. (2012-07-02). "The draw for the second round of the SFC qualifiers see Kildare paired with Cavan while Roscommon take on Tyroneg". [[RTÉ Sport]].
7. Fogarty, John. (8 May 2013). "Collins gets marching orders from football championship panel". Irish Examiner.
8. (11 June 2012). "Barden and Hyland win Player of the Month Awards". GAA website.
9. (10 July 2012). "Marren and Maher claim player awards". The Journal.ie website.
10. (8 August 2012). "Moran and Bradley win July GAA/GPA Awards". GAA website.
11. (13 September 2012). "Canning and Lacey win GAA/GPA Player of the Month Awards". GAA website.
12. (9 October 2012). "Sefflin and Murphy win September Awards". GAA website.