2016 Galway Senior Football Championship

The 2016 Galway Senior Football Championship is the 121st edition of the Galway GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Galway, Ireland. The tournament consists of 21 teams (N.U.I.G. only enter at the Preliminary Quarter-Final Stage), with the winner going on to represent Galway in the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship. The championship has a back-door format for the first two rounds before proceeding to a knock-out format. Generally, any team to lose two matches will be knocked out of the championship.

All-Ireland champions Corofin were the defending champions after they defeated Mountbellew/Moylough in the previous years final, and they claimed a 3-in-a-row of titles when defeating Salthill/Knocknacarra 0-16 to 0-11 in the final at Pearse Stadium on 23 October.

This was Moycullen's return the senior grade after 2 years in the Intermediate grade.

Cárna-Caiseal were relegated back to the I.F.C. for 2017 after 4 years as a senior club.

Team Changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2015 championship season.

To S.F.C.
Promoted from I.F.C.
 * Moycullen – (Intermediate Champions)

From S.F.C.
Relegated to I.F.C.
 * Kilkerrin-Clonberne

Round 1
All 20 teams enter the competition in this round. The 10 winners progress to Round 2A while the 10 losers progress to Round 2B.

Round 2A
The 10 winners from Round 1 enter this round. The 5 winners will enter the draw for the Preliminary Quarter Finals while the 5 losers will play in Round 3.

Round 2B
The 10 losers from Round 1 enter this round. The 5 winners will go into the Round 3 while the 5 losers will enter the Relegation Playoffs.

Round 3
The 5 losers from Round 2A enter this round and they play the 5 winners from Round 2B. The 5 winners will go into the draw for the Preliminary Quarter-Finals while the 5 losers will enter the Relegation Playoffs.

Preliminary Quarter-Finals
The 5 Round 2A winners, the 5 Round 3 winners and N.U.I.G. enter the competition at this stage. A draw was conducted to choose 6 of these teams to play in this round. The 3 winners (along with the 5 teams who receive byes) will proceed to the quarter-finals.


 * Cortoon Shamrocks – Bye
 * Milltown – Bye
 * Mountbellew-Moylough – Bye
 * Salthill-Knocknacarra – Bye
 * Tuam Stars – Bye

Quarter-finals
The 3 winners from the Preliminary Quarter-Finals (along with the 5 teams who received byes) enter the quarter-finals.

Relegation Playoffs
The 5 Round 2B losers and 5 Round 3 losers enter the Relegation Playoff.

Relegation preliminary round
A draw was conducted and 4 teams were chosen to play in the Relegation Preliminary Round. The 2 winners earn their place in the S.F.C. for 2017 while the losers enter the Relegation Quarter-Finals along with the 6 clubs who received byes.

Relegation Quarter-Finals
The 2 Relegation Preliminary Round losers enter the Relegation Quarter-Finals along with the 6 clubs who received byes. The 4 winners will earn their place in the 2017 S.F.C. while the 2 losers will enter the Relegation Semi-Finals.

Relegation Semi-Finals
The 4 Relegation Quarter-Final losers play against each other in this round. The 2 winners will earn their place in the 2017 S.F.C. while the 2 losers will enter the Relegation Final.

Relegation Final
The winner will earn their place in the 2017 S.F.C. while the loser will be relegated to the Intermediate grade.