Galway edge North East Region to claim Kennedy Cup title

Cork finished third after coming from behind to beat DDSL on penalties in the play-off while Clare were resounding 3-0 victors over Dundalk in the Shield.

2026 Kennedy Cup winners Galway

Galway lifted their second SFAI Kennedy Cup in four years, beating North East Region 1-0 at the University Limerick thanks to a solitary first half goal by Matthew Dooley.

Beaten in last season’s final of the U14 tournament by Limerick Desmond, the westerners recovered from a slow start to the week by reigning supreme.

In Tuesday night’s final group games, Galway vaulted from bottom of the table with 10 minutes left to edge through as table-toppers on goal difference.

Cork finished third at the 2026 Kennedy Cup

Marginal differences again applied in the quarter-final as they shaded Kilkenny in a penalty shootout before they saw off fancied Dublin District in Thursday’s semi, also through an early spot-kick from Jack Farrelly.

Friday’s final, the only match played on the grass pitches after Thursday’s downpours mobilised the astro surfaces, was similarly tight.

North East, composed primarily of players from Co Meath, dominated the second half without testing goalkeeper Darragh Morris.

Dooley’s 27th-minute strike was a piece of instinctive finishing, angling his low drive from the left beyond Feidhlim Nulty’s grasp and into the far corner.

Aided by the advantage of the breeze after the break, NERL took the initiative through their classy No 10 Miguel Hernandez. He saw his late free-kick repelled by the wall, coming after Caiden Shaw nodded over at the back post when left unattended. Conal Murphy and Dylan Clarke also got sights on goal during the one-way traffic but couldn’t execute the accuracy.

2026 Kennedy Cup Shield winners Clare

Elsewhere, Cork finished third after coming from behind to beat DDSL on penalties in the play-off. Richard Ungureanu’s opener on the half hour put the Dubs in front before Cian McMahon’s leveller shortly after the interval forced spot-kicks, which went the way of the Leesiders 5-4, with defender Denis McCarthy a deserved player of the match.

Waterford were denied the Bowl trophy, losing to a late Donegal goal through the standout Levi Kelly, while Clare were resounding 3-0 victors over Dundalk in the Shield. Callum Buckley’s brace and another from Brodie Linnane sealed victory.

Wicklow swept past Wicklow 4-0 in the Trophy decider and West Cork inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Kilkenny in the Plate play-off that was won by South Belfast.