Top 10 most successful GAA club football teams in Irish History

Gaelic football is the most popular sport in Ireland, and with 2,126 club teams in Ireland and 2,158 globally, they are the heartbeat of the sport.

Your club is your first loyalty and All-Ireland success is the pinnacle of which all clubs aspire to.

Club seasons are long and gruelling, often starting in April with the All-Ireland series concluding in March of the following year, with clubs required to navigate their county championship, provincial championship and then the All-Ireland championship.

We have gathered the top 10 most successful Gaelic football club teams who have tasted success in all 3 championships. Here are the 10 most successful ever.

10. St Gall’s (Antrim) – 23 Championship titles

Antrim club outfit St Gall’s earned their spot on the top 10 Most Successful club teams as a result of their dominance through the 2000’s.

During this time the club won 13 out of 14 Antrim titles (between 2001 and 2014) with 19 in total, 2 Ulster championships and won the All Ireland in 2010, the clubs foremost achievement.

9. Dr Croke’s (Kerry) – 23 Championship titles

Croke’s have been one of the strongest club teams of recent years, winning the All-Ireland in 2017 and finishing as runners up this year to Corofin.

In total, they have won a record 13 Kerry titles, 8 Munster championships and have climbed the steps of Croke Park as All-Ireland champions on two occasions.

8. Baltinglass (Wicklow) – 24 Championship titles

While Baltinglass have not won a provincial championship since 1989 and an All Ireland club title since 1990, the Leinster club are deserved of their spot in the top 10.

With 22 Wicklow championship titles to their name, most recently in 2016, the club are regular contenders and can add to their number in years to come.

7. Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC (Derry) – 26 Championship titles

Bellaghy are the most successful club team in Derry with 21 championship titles, but have not won one since 2005 in the face of Ballinderry and Slaughtneill dominance.

However, with a distinguished four Ulster championships they are joint-third on the list. Being crowned All-Ireland champions in 1972 cements their spot on this list.

6. Corofin (Galway) – 33 Championship titles

Corofin have truly established themselves as the best club team in Ireland at the minute, winning the last two All-Ireland titles, and another in 2015, with four in total. They are one of four teams to win the trophy in two consecutive seasons.

With 20 Galway titles and a record 9 Connacht championship wins, the men from Galway are sure to add more to their haul as the years go on.

5. St. Vincent’s (Dublin) – 39 Championship titles

With a record total of 29 Dublin championship titles and joint record of 7 Leinster championships, St Vincent’s kick off the top 5 most successful club teams strongly.

They have 3 All-Ireland titles, last claiming the crown in 2014, and won three Leinster titles between 2013 and 2017.

4. Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) – 40 Championship titles

Ballina of Mayo sit comfortably high in this list as a result of their stunning haul of 36 Mayo senior championship titles. The majority of these titles came in the early 1900s and the last in 2007.

However, with 3 Connacht club titles and an All Ireland victory to their name, they have earned their position as the fourth most successful club team.

3. Portlaoise (Laois) – 42 Championship titles

Portlaoise are the most successful team in Laois with a resounding 34 titles, double the amount of second placed Stradbally and are tied with St Vincent’s of Dublin with 7 Leinster titles.

Their sole All-Ireland victory came in 1983, and boast an impressive record of 9 in a row Laois titles from 2007-2015, while they have won the last two.

2. Nemo Rangers (Cork) – 43 Championship titles

Nemo hold the record for the number of All-Ireland club titles with an exceptional 7. They are also Munster’s most successful team with 16, a record which shows three in a row between 2000-2002 and as recent as 2017.

Nemo are also the most successful club team in Cork with 20 titles, where they won 8 between 2000-2010 and had dominant periods in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

1. Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) – 61 Championship titles

Crossmaglen are the undisputed number one side of club football. They have the second most All-Ireland titles with 6. They have won it consecutively on two occasions, the only team to do so.

They have a record 44 Armagh titles, the most club title victories for any team in Ireland, 30 more than the next in Armagh and have regained their status as Armagh champions in 2018 after a barren period of 3 years.

The clubs are the heart and soul of the GAA, and thousands of players across the country compete voluntarily with the people they grew up with the pursuit of success.

With ten different counties and all four provinces represented, the top 10 list of successful club teams shows how special and competitive the championship is.