More championship goals in 2025

By Michael McMullan

THERE were 10 more goals in the senior football championship this season than 2024.

Across the provincial championships, the All-Ireland group stages – 64 games both years – Joe O’Connor’s clinching goal on Sunday was the 123rd this season.

It’s an interesting statistic in a week then the FRC are trialling the “four-point goal” in a sandbox game as part of their delve into their work with the rule enhancements.

On Wednesday night in Dublin, it was trialled in a club game along with a rule where the ball can’t be played back into a team’s own half once they’ve crossed the hallway line.

There was an initial part of the FRC proposal that weighted a goal as worth four points. Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea scored the first on in the Interprovincial games in Croke Park but it wasn’t carried into the regular GAA season.

Debate during the season suggested a lack of focus on going for goals with the two points on offer for a ‘point’ from outside the 40-metre arc.

The big difference in goals game in Ulster where there were seven goals less than in 2025 but had two periods of time less.

In the knock-out stages of the All-Ireland series, there were 15 more goals than in 2024.

2024 scoring
(64 games, including five that went to extra time)
Ulster Championship (8 games – three extra-time): 17-226
Munster Championship (5 games): 11-131
Leinster Championship (10 games): 14-178
Connacht Championship (6 games): 11-164
All-Ireland Group stages (24 games): 50-682
All-Ireland knock-out stages (11 games – two extra-time): 10-305
Total: 113-1686

2025 scoring
(64 games, including three that went to extra time)
Ulster Championship (8 games – one extra-time): 10-358
Munster Championship (5 games – one extra-time): 13-198
Leinster Championship (10 games – one extra-time): 11-225
Connacht Championship (6 games): 12-231
All-Ireland Group stages (24 games): 52-924
All-Ireland knock-out stages (11 games): 25-445
Total: 123-2381

Top scorers in 2025
(Sam Maguire counties, league and championship)
David Clifford 11-92
Pat Havern 0-101
Sam Mulroy 5-89
Ryan O’Donoghue 2-76
Eoghan Frayne 1-78
Mark Cronin 1-73
Seán O’Shea 1-67
Rob Finnerty 4-57
Diarmuid Murtagh 3-58
Shane Walsh 3-53

From play – league and championship
David Clifford 11-63
Jordan Morris 4-37
Chris Óg Jones 7-28
Sean Bugler 2-41
Sam Mulroy 2-40
Conor O’Donnell 3-36
Rob Finnerty 4-33
Pat Havern 0-44
Mícheál Banningan 4-31
Diarmuid Murtagh 3-33

Watch our review of last Sunday’s All-Ireland final