Galway entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final.[1]
On 22 September 2002, Armagh won the championship following a 1-12 to 0-14 defeat of Kerry in the All-Ireland final.[2] This was their first of two All-Ireland titles.
Armagh's Oisín McConville was the championship's top scorer with 1-40. His teammate Kieran McGeeney was the choice for the three Footballer of the Year awards.
Format
The Qualifier Rounds system, first used in 2001 was again used in this year.
B McGuigan 1-2, S O'Neill 0-5, B McGuckian 0-4, Peter Canavan 0-3, C McAnallen 0-2, G Cavlan 0-2, R McMenamin 0-1, C McGlinchey 0-1, O Mulligan 0-1, S Cavanagh 0-1.
O Maguire 0-3, D Brennan 0-1, S Quinn 0-1, J Guckian 0-1, J Holohan 0-1.
This year New York in their fourth season in the Connacht championship are give home ground.
Sligo play Leitrim in the Connacht championship for the first time since 1991.
There was a triple of draws & replays in the Munster football championship in the 2 semi-finals between Clare vs Tipperary and Cork vs Kerry also final between Cork vs Tipperary making the largest of modern times.
Galway and Sligo meet in the Connacht final for the first time since 1971.
During the course of the championship there were a number of first-time championship meetings.
Waterford V Roscommon
Wicklow V London
Wexford V Tyrone
Monaghan V Louth
Longford V Down
Antrim V Westmeath
Cavan V Limerick
Westmeath V Fermanagh
Longford V Derry
Tyrone V Leitrim
Kerry V Wicklow
Limerick V Offaly
Kerry V Fermanagh
Mayo V Limerick
Sligo V Tyrone
Armagh V Sligo
The All-Ireland qualifiers saw Tipperary face Mayo in the championship for the first time since 1920.
Armagh qualified for the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1977. They became the 18th team to win the All-Ireland title.