Rivalries are the heartbeat of the GAA.
They shape eras, build legends, break hearts and create moments that live forever. Some counties collide because of geography, others because of history, and some simply because they met on the biggest stage again and again. These clashes produce noise, colour, controversy and memories that pass from one generation to the next.
Here are 10 of the greatest GAA rivalries ever, each expanded to show why they captured the imagination of fans across the country.
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Dublin v Kerry – Football
There is no rivalry in Gaelic football quite like Dublin v Kerry. When people ask, “What is it about Dublin and Kerry?”, the answer is everything. These are the two most successful counties in the sport, sharing 70 All-Ireland titles and decades of dominance. Their meetings in the Championship, 33 in total, often arrived with the Sam Maguire on the line, producing tension, brilliance and countless historic moments.
The 1970s clashes remain the gold standard. Heffo’s charismatic Dubs brought a new swagger to the game, while Mick O’Dwyer’s Kerry were a relentless machine. Those battles set the tone for everything that followed, including the modern duels of the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. Whether it was Maurice Fitz’s sideline in 2001, Cluxton’s winner in 2011, Gooch’s masterclass in 2013 from centre-forward, Kevin McManamon’s iconic goals, the Dubs finally completing the 5 in a row in 2019, Seán O’Shea’s booming winner in 2022, every chapter adds more depth.
A rivalry powered by tradition, pressure and pure footballing excellence.
Kilkenny v Tipperary – Hurling
Kilkenny and Tipperary’s rivalry is hurling’s oldest and most iconic. Their first Championship clash came in 1887, the very first year of the GAA All-Ireland series. Since then, the two neighbours have collided in some of the most unforgettable finals and semi-finals ever played.
The rivalry is special because both counties mirror each other in so many ways: hurling obsession, proud tradition, huge followings and elite talent. Tipp’s artistry meets Kilkenny’s intensity. One county’s golden era usually arrives at the expense of the other. From Nicky English to Henry Shefflin, from Lar Corbett to Eoin Larkin, careers have been defined by these meetings.
Their epic 2009–2014 battles, including the 2010 final that many call the greatest ever, produced fireworks. Tipp won 16 of their 28 Championship meetings, but Kilkenny’s 2006–2015 dominance added new tension.
This is hurling’s heavyweight rivalry, without question.
Cork v Dublin – LGFA
From 2014 to 2020, Cork and Dublin produced one of the fiercest rivalries in modern Gaelic Games. Cork, with their unparalleled dynasty of 11 All-Irelands in 12 seasons, were the queens of the sport. But Dublin were the team most determined to catch them, and for years, they just couldn’t quite get over the line.
The 2014 final remains the defining moment. Dublin built a huge lead and looked set to end Cork’s dominance, only for the Rebelettes to complete the greatest comeback the LGFA has ever seen. Cork won again in 2015 and 2016, with heartbreak etched onto Dublin faces each time.
Eventually, the breakthrough came. Dublin won the 2017 final, then cemented themselves with victories over Cork again in the 2018 and 2020 deciders. The individual talent throughout, including Carla Rowe, Bríd Stack, Lyndsey Davey, Rena Buckley, and more, added even more drama.
A rivalry defined by excellence, endurance and emotional finals.
Kilkenny v Cork v Galway – Camogie
This is not a two-way rivalry. It is a triangular era of dominance.
From 2013 to 2022, every All-Ireland Camogie Final featured two of these three counties: Cork, Kilkenny and Galway. No team outside of this three has won the All-Ireland Title. The level of consistency has been astonishing. For ten straight seasons, no other county could break through until Waterford finally reached the showpiece in 2023. However normal service has resumed since.
Cork are the most decorated during this era so far, collecting six titles with teams built on class and leadership. Galway have emerged with four All-Irelands, including the most recent title in 2025. Kilkenny, relentless as always, picked up three titles and were never far away from the summit.
A decade of Camogie shaped by three giants.
Armagh v Tyrone – Football
Few rivalries have matched the intensity of Armagh v Tyrone during the 2000s. These two counties lifted their first All-Ireland titles back-to-back. Armagh in 2002, Tyrone in 2003, and their battles in Ulster became must-watch events.
Their Ulster Finals in Croke Park were electric. Big hits, red cards, late scores and tactical mastery defined an era when Ulster football was at its absolute peak. The players involved have become legends: Seán Cavanagh, Kieran McGeeney, Peter Canavan, Ronan Clarke, Stevie McDonnell and Stephen O’Neill.
The games had everything: needle, respect, and a sense that whoever survived Ulster would challenge for Sam Maguire. Of all Tyrone’s great opponents, Armagh pushed them the hardest. And of all Armagh’s great battles, none were as fierce as those against Mickey Harte’s Tyrone teams.
A rivalry built on proximity, pride and two counties rising at the same time.
Dublin v Meath – Football
For raw intensity, few rivalries can touch Dublin v Meath. The 1991 saga, with four matches needed to decide a winner, remains one of the most dramatic series in GAA history. Every game had physical battles, tactical duels and a crowd atmosphere that felt like the stadium might burst.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, these counties embodied two very different football cultures. Dublin’s swagger versus Meath’s steel under Seán Boylan. Names like Mick Lyons, Colm O’Rourke, Vinnie Murphy and Paul Curran made their reputations in these clashes.
The rivalry simmered in the 2000s, with Meath’s Leinster win in 2001 and the famous shock victory over Dublin in 2010. But Dublin’s dominance from 2011 onward cooled the fires.
That’s why Meath’s resurgence in 2025, including a landmark win over Dublin, has supporters whispering:
“Is the rivalry back?”
The GAA would love nothing more.
Waterford v Monaghan – LGFA
In the 1990s, when Kerry’s great dynasty finally faded, two counties stepped forward in Waterford and Monaghan. They met in four finals between 1994 and 1998, with Waterford winning three of those showdowns. It became the defining rivalry of its era in ladies football.
The games were physical, tactical and played at a ferocious pace. Waterford’s great stars, led by the incredible Áine Wall, inspired a revolution. Monaghan, meanwhile, were driven by the likes of Brenda McAnespie and emerged as one of the toughest sides in Ireland.
Monaghan added an extra title in 1996, giving them three All-Ireland crowns, while Waterford won theirs with a mix of grit and flair. Every time they met, it felt like the All-Ireland ran through one of them.
A rivalry built from a changing era, with two counties seizing their moment.
Clare v Limerick – Hurling
Clare and Limerick share a border, and a history of extraordinary hurling clashes. Their rivalry truly exploded in the 1990s with Clare’s famous Munster breakthrough in 1995 under Ger Loughnane. The following year, Ciarán Carey scored one of the greatest winners ever recorded to give Limerick revenge.
Fast forward to the 2020s, and both counties assembled generational teams at the same time. Limerick’s historic run with five All-Irelands in six years pushed standards to unprecedented heights. Clare, driven by talents like Tony Kelly, hit similar levels and met Limerick in three epic Munster Finals from 2022–2024. All three were instant classics. All three went to Limerick.
Yet Clare still delivered their own moments, including the 2013 semi-final win over Limerick and their unforgettable All-Ireland triumphs.
This rivalry is technical, athletic and fiercely passionate. Everything modern hurling hopes to be.
Cork v Kerry – Football
No rivalry is more central to a province than Cork v Kerry in Munster. They have crossed paths for over a century, shaping entire eras of southern football. Kerry’s success has been consistent, but Cork’s challenge has always been fierce, emotional and often unpredictable.
Cork’s great teams of the late 1980s and 1990s constantly pushed the Kingdom, culminating in their famous All-Ireland win in 2010. Yet Kerry’s dominance means every Cork victory feels seismic, for a recent example look no further than Mark Keane’s 2020 extra-time goal, echoing the famous Cork winner in 1983, which stunned Kerry and sent shockwaves through the country.
What gives this rivalry its power is geography, tradition and the sheer volume of meetings. Families are split. Borders are blurred. Every clash has weight.
It is Munster football’s beating heart.
Dublin v Mayo – Football
This is the rivalry that defined a decade of Gaelic football. Starting with echoes of Ciarán McDonald’s magic in 2006, the rivalry exploded in 2012 when Mayo shocked the reigning champions. From there, it became box office.
The 2013 final, the 2015 semi-final replay, and the 2016 and 2017 finals delivered some of the greatest games ever played. Small margins decided everything. One Dean Rock free. One Lee Keegan block. One Hennelly mis-kick. One moment either way could have rewritten history.
Dublin eventually became the greatest team ever, completing the unprecedented five in a row and later a six-in-a-row. Yet Mayo were the team who pushed them hardest, and in 2021, they finally ended Dublin’s long unbeaten run in an iconic extra-time win.
Even as Dublin reclaimed the upper hand in 2023, and the sides played out a thriller in 2024, the respect remains enormous.
When Dublin play Mayo, Ireland watches.
