The Clare Junior A Football Championship (abbreviated to Clare JAFC) is an annual GAA club competition organised by the Clare County Board for gaelic football clubs below intermediate and senior level. It is contested by the top-ranking junior gaelic football clubs in County Clare, Ireland. It is the third-tier adult competition of the Clare football pyramid.
The Clare JAFC was introduced in 1922 as a county-wide competition for gaelic football clubs deemed not strong enough for senior level. Intermediate level was introduced in 1927 for the same reason and placed above the Clare JAFC in the Clare football pyramid. In later years the Clare JAFC was opened to the second-, third-, and/or fourth-string teams from higher-ranked clubs.
The winners of the Clare JAFC are presented with the Michael Toner Cup, and are promoted to the Clare Intermediate Football Championship.
As of 2025, the holders were Killimer who defeated Lissycasey by 0-17 to 1-13, to win their first title since 2023, and second overall at this grade.
Munster club qualification The winners of the Clare JAFC also qualify to represent Clare in the Munster Junior Club Football Championship. However, if a second-, third-, or fourth-string team wins the Clare JAFC, the highest finishing first-string team qualifies instead.
Three Clare clubs have reached the Munster junior club final: Éire Óg lost the 2001 final to St. Michael's (Kerry). O'Callaghan's Mills lost the 2007 final to Canovee (Cork). Coolmeen lost the 2015 Munster final to Templenoe (Kerry).
No Clare club has progressed to the All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship.
2026 Junior A clubs The sixteen teams competing in the 2026 Clare Junior A Football Championship are: Club Location Colours Titles Last title Ballyvaughan-Fanore Ballyvaughan / Fanore Orange & Black12003 Clarecastle Clarecastle Black & White32012 Clondegad Ballynacally Red & Black42000 Clooney-Quin Clooney / Quin Green & Red22009 Corofin Corofin Red & White11978 Cooraclare Cooraclare Sky Blue & Navy31998 Cratloe Cratloe Blue & White12002 Éire Óg, Ennis Ennis Red & White72018 Kilfenora Kilfenora Green & Yellow52010 Kilmurry Ibrickane Quilty Green & Red72012 Lissycasey| Lissycasey Maroon & White41992 O'Curry's, Doonaha Doonaha Yellow & Green31995 Parteen-Meelick Parteen / Meelick Blue & Red22016 St. Breckan's, Lisdoonvarna Lisdoonvarna Maroon & White21979 St. Senan's, Kilkee Kilkee Blue & White51996 Wolfe Tones, Shannon Shannon Green & White21972
Roll of honour # Club Wins Years won1. Éire Óg, Ennis7 1927 (as Ennis Dals), 1943 (as Ennis Dals), 1968 (as Ennis Faughs), 1975, 2001, 2013, 2018 Kilmurry Ibrickane 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933 (as Quilty), 1950 (as Mullagh), 1994, 20063. Coolmeen6 1922, 1958, 1964, 1983, 1999, 20154. Kildysart5 1945, 1953, 1966, 1984, 2008 Kilfenora 1931, 1934, 1947, 1977, 2010 Naomh Eoin, Cross 1991, 1997, 2005, 2014, 2017 O'Curry's, Doonaha 1940 (as Doonaha), 1948 (as Carrigaholt), 1961, 1976 (as St. Cronan’s with Shannon Rangers), 1995 St. Senan's, Kilkee 1926, 1970, 1974, 1990, 19969. Clondegad4 1942 (as Ballycorick), 1963 (as Moohane), 1969, 2000 Kilmihil 1925, 1937, 1955, 1956 (as Cahermurphy) Lissycasey 1938 (as Caherea), 1971, 1981, 1992 Michael Cusack's, Carron 1946 (as Belharbour), 1962, 1980, 2019, 202413. Clarecastle3 1936, 1982, 2012 Cooraclare 1965, 1988, 1998 Ennistymon 1973, 1987, 2021 Kilrush Shamrocks 1944, 1951 (as Ballykett), 1954 (as Ballykett) St. Joseph's, Miltown Malbay 1923, 1924, 194918. Clooney-Quin2 2004, 2009 Doonbeg 1928, 1939 Killimer 2023, 2025 Liscannor 1985, 2022 Parteen-Meelick 2011 (as Meelick), 2016 (as Meelick) Scariff 1952, 1960 Shannon Gaels, Labasheeda 1941, 1959 Shannon Rangers 1957, 1976 (as St. Cronan’s with O’Curry’s), St. Breckan's, Lisdoonvarna 1935 (as Doolin), 1979 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 1989, 1993 Wolfe Tones, Shannon 1967, 197229. Ballyvaughan-Fanore1 2003 (as Ballyvaughan) Corofin 1978 Cratloe 2002 Moy 1986 O'Callaghan's Mills 2007 The Banner 2020
In late 1943, Ennis Dalcassians offered an opportunity to any players from their neighbours and fellow junior club, Doora-Barefield, to join with them and compete for titles at a higher level in both codes. Ennis Faughs won the 1968 junior A football final. St. Cronan's were an amalgamation of the O'Curry's and the now defunct Shannon Rangers club from West Clare. St. Cronan's won the 1976 junior A football final.
See also All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship Munster Junior Club Football Championship Clare Senior Football Championship Clare Intermediate Football Championship Clare Under-21 A Football Championship Cusack Cup (Clare Football League Division 1)
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