2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship final

2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship final
Event2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship
Dublin Westmeath
0–26 (26) 2–28 (34)
A.E.T.
Date17 May 2026
VenueCroke Park, Dublin
RefereeDavid Coldrick (Meath)
Attendance36,536

The 2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship final was the culmination of the 2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship; one of four provincial championships and part of the 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

The game was won by Westmeath who defeated Dublin in extra-time by 8 points, with a score of 2-28 (34) to 0-26 (26).[1] The win meant manager Mark McHugh joined his father Martin in winning the Ulster Senior Football Championship for Donegal as a player and an unexpected provincial title as manager of a different team.[2] David Coldrick of Meath was the referee.[3] The game was played at Croke Park, Dublin on Sunday 17 May 2026 and was preceded by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Leinster Senior Championship final between Dublin and Kildare.[4]

Dublin appeared in their 20th Leinster final in 22 years, after losing a 14-year winning streak after a loss to Meath the year previous.[5] Westmeath played in their first Leinster final since 2016,[6] and were looking to win their first Leinster Championship since 2004.[7]

Paths to the final

Dublin

Dublin vs Wicklow

Dublin entered the championship at the quarter-final stage, where they faced Wicklow at Echelon Park, Aughrim, County Wicklow. Despite being strong favourites for this game along with the championship, Dublin managed to escape with a narrow 2 point win[8] in a game where Wicklow goalkeeper Mark Jackson hit 6 frees wide, 5 of them being for 2-pointers.[9]

19 April 2026 Quarter-Final Dublin 2-16 (22) – (20) 2-14 Wicklow Aughrim  
15:00 IST (UTC+1) (HT: 1-11 - 1-7) Venue: Echelon Park

Pts: Paddy Small 1-6 (2tp), Seán Bugler 0-5, Charlie McMorrow 1-0, Killian McGinnis 0-2 (tp), Con O'Callaghan 0-1 (f), Colm Basquel 0-1, Niall Scully 0-1		 Report
Pts: Eoin Darcy 2-2 (1pen), Dean Healy 0-5 (2tp), Oisín McGraynor 0-4 (1tpf, 1f), Pádraig O'Toole 0-1, Cian Deering 0-1, Christopher O'Brien 0-1		 Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)


Dublin vs Louth

In the semi-final they faced Leinster holders Louth in Portlaoise, who came into the game as favourites against Dublin. Despite this, Dublin came away as 10 point winners and headed into the Leinster final as favourites themselves.[10]

2 May 2026 Semi-Final Louth 0-10 (10) – (20) 0-20 Dublin Portlaoise  
19:00 IST (UTC+1) (HT: 0-6 - 0-8) Venue: Laois Hire O'Moore Park

Pts: Sam Mulroy 0-3 (2'45), Ryan Burns 0-2 (tp), Dara McDonnell 0-2, Conor Grimes 0-1, Emmet Carolan 0-1, Kieran McArdle 0-1		 Report
Pts: Cormac Costello 0-10 (1tp, 3f), Paddy Small 0-4 (1s/l) Charlie McMorrow 0-2, Nathan Doran 0-1, Niall Scully 0-1, Brian Howard 0-1, Luke Breathnach 0-1		 Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)
TV: GAA+


Westmeath

Westmeath vs Longford

Westmeath began their championship campaign in the preliminary quarter-final against Longford, coming out as 21 point winners scoring 40 points in total.[11]

12 April 2026 Preliminary Round Longford 1-16 (19) – (40) 5-25 Westmeath Longford  
15:00 IST (UTC+1) (HT: 1-8 - 5-9) Venue: Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Pts: Dylan Farrell 0-10 (4tpf, 1f), Dessie Reynolds 0-4 (2tp), James Moran 1-0, Daniel Reynolds 0-1, Paddy Moran 0-1		 Report
Pts: Luke Loughlin 2-2, Brandon Kelly 2-1, Shane Corcoran 1-4, Ray Connellan 0-5 (2tp), Matthew Whittaker 0-3, Conor Dillon 0-3, Sam McCartan 0-2 (tpf), Tom Molloy 0-2, Ronan Wallace 0-1, Kevin O'Sullivan 0-1, Brían Cooney 0-1		 Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
Attendance: 1,500[12]


Westmeath vs Meath

Westmeath then went on to play Meath in the quarter-final in Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore, County Offaly. Defying the odds against what were many people's Leinster favourites, Westmeath defeated Meath with a last-minute goal sealing a 5 point win.[13]

19 April 2026 Quarter-Final Meath 0-25 (25) – (30) 4-18 Westmeath Tullamore  
14:00 IST (UTC+1) (HT: 0-9 - 2-9) Venue: Glenisk O'Connor Park

Pts: Ruairí Kinsella 0-6 (2tp), Eoghan Frayne 0-4 (1tpf), James Conlon 0-4, Jack Flynn 0-3 (1tp), Jordan Morris 0-3 (2f), Jack O'Connor 0-2, Aaron Lynch 0-2, Bryan Menton 0-1		 Report
Pts: Luke Loughlin 0-6 (1tp), Shane Corcoran 1-2, Sam McCartan 0-4 (3f), Matthew Whittaker 1-0, Robbie Forde 1-0, Danny McCartan 1-0, Ray Connellan 0-2, Brandon Kelly 0-2 (1m), Brian Cooney 0-1, Kevin O'Sullivan 0-1		 Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
Attendance: 9,184[14]


Westmeath vs Kildare

In the semi-final Westmeath confronted Kildare for a place in the Leinster final. They once again played in Tullamore. Despite a last second equaliser from Kildare's Alex Beirne to send the game to extra-time, Westmeath came out as 4 point winners to send them to their first Leinster final in 10 years.[15]

3 May 2026 Semi-Final Kildare 0-23 (23) – (27) 2-21
(a.e.t.)		 Westmeath Tullamore  
14:00 IST (UTC+1) (HT: 0-10 - 1-8)
(FT: 0-19 - 1-16)		 Venue: Glenisk O'Connor Park

Pts: Eoin Cully 0-4, Darragh Kirwan 0-4, Ben Loakman 0-3, Alex Beirne 0-3 (1tpf), Darragh Swords 0-2 (tp), Tommy Gill 0-1, Kevin Feely 0-1, Callum Bolton 0-1, Brian McLoughlin 0-1 (f), Colm Moran 0-1		 Report
Pts: Brandon Kelly 1-4, Sam McCartan 0-5 (2tpf), Brían Cooney 1-0, Ray Connellan 0-2 (1f), Senan Baker 0-2, Shane Corcoran 0-1, Kevin O'Sullivan 0-1, Tadhg Baker 0-1, Shane Allen 0-1, Ronan Wallace 0-1, Charlie Drumm 0-1, Robbie Forde 0-1, Eoghan McCabe 0-1		 Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
TV: GAA+


Match

Summary

The hotter failed to honk at half-time.[16]

Details

10 May 2025 (2025-05-10)
14:00 IST (UTC+1)
Final
Dublin 0–26 (26) – (34) 2–28
(a.e.t.) 		Westmeath
(HT: 0–11 – 0–9)
(FT: 0–22 – 0–22)

Pts: Cormac Costello 0-8 (4f, 1tpf), Ciarán Kilkenny 0-3, Niall Scully 0-2, Paddy Small 0-2, David Byrne 0-2, Seán Bugler 0-2, Seán Guiden 0-2 (tp), Greg McEneaney 0-2, Eoin Kennedy 0-1, Luke Breathnach 0-1, Brian Howard 0-1
Pts: Jack Duncan 1-1, Brandon Kelly 0-4, Matthew Whittaker 0-4 (1tp), Senan Baker 0-4, Brían Cooney 1-0, Ronan Wallace 0-3, John Heslin 0-3 (1tp, 1f), Kevin O'Sullivan 0-2, Shane Allen 0-2 (tp), Sam McCartan 0-2, Shane Corcoran 0-1, Conor Dillon 0-1, Robbie Forde 0-1
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
Attendance: 36,536
Dublin
Westmeath
Man of the Match:

Ray Connellan (Westmeath)

Aftermath

Ray Connellan gave a calm post-match interview.[17] He was later named as GAA.ie Footballer of the Week.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Gaa.ie (2026-05-17). "Leinster SFC Final: Wonderful Westmeath triumph". www.gaa.ie. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  2. ↑ "'We're here to compete with anybody': McHugh hails Westmeath win". Irish Examiner. 18 May 2026.
  3. ↑ Gaa.ie (2026-05-11). "Referees named for Leinster and Ulster SFC Finals". www.gaa.ie. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  4. ↑ "Leinster final heartbreak for Kildare ladies - News - Kildare Nationalist". kildare-nationalist.ie. 2026-05-17. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  5. ↑ Gaa.ie (2025-04-27). "Leinster SFC: Meath stun Dublin". www.gaa.ie. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  6. ↑ "Flashback: Dublin v Westmeath - Leinster Championship 2016 | Dublin GAA | Latest News, Fixtures & Results". Dublin GAA Board. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  7. ↑ Park, Ian O'Riordan at Croke. "Westmeath finally over the line". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  8. ↑ O'Riordan, Ian. "Wicklow's missed chances afford Dublin a lucky escape from Aughrim". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  9. ↑ Keane, Paul (2026-04-19). "Dublin survive scare against defiant Wicklow to reach Leinster semi-final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  10. ↑ Doherty, Oisin (2026-05-02). "Louth crash out of Leinster as dominant Dubs lay down a marker". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  11. ↑ "Impressive Lake County victory sets up clash with Meath". Westmeath Independent. 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  12. ↑ "'There should be a two-week break' – Westmeath's Mark McHugh calls turnaround 'unfair' after blitzing Longford". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Gaa.ie (2026-04-19). "Leinster SFC: Dynamic Westmeath advance". www.gaa.ie. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  14. ↑ "Westmeath hold on to secure famous championship victory over neighbours Meath". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Heartbreak for Kildare as they lose out to Westmeath in extra time". Kildare Now. 2026-05-03. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  16. ↑ McGooey, Sean (17 May 2026). "Leinster Final Hooter Failure Leaves Players And Supporters Bemused".
  17. ↑ McGooey, Sean (17 May 2026). "Ray Connellan's Ice-Cool Interview Showed Exactly Why Westmeath Beat Dublin". balls.ie.
  18. ↑ Galvin, Kieran (20 May 2026). "Footballer of the Week honour for Westmeath ace". Westmeath Independent.
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