All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship


The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship, known simply as the All-Ireland Club Championship, is an annual inter-county hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. It is the highest inter-county club hurling competition in Ireland, and has been contested every year since the 1970-71 championship.
The final, currently held on the third Sunday in January, is the culmination of a series of games played between October and February with the winners receiving the Tommy Moore Cup. The All-Ireland Championship has always been played on a straight knockout basis whereby once a team loses they are eliminated from the championship. Currently qualification is limited to teams competing in the Galway Championship, the Leinster Championship, the Munster Championship and the Ulster Championship.
Four teams currently participate in the All-Ireland semi-finals. The most successful teams are from Galway – seven different Galway clubs have won the All-Ireland title on 13 separate occasions.
The title has been won by 26 different clubs, 10 of whom have won the title more than once. The current holders and all-time record-holders are Ballyhale Shamrocks, who have won the championship on 7 occasions.

History

Beginnings

Since the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884, challenge, exhibition and tournament matches between clubs on an inter-county level were commonplace. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Glen Rovers of Cork and Ahane of Limerick regularly clashed in off-season games. In the 1950s the Cork Churches Tournament came to be recognised as the unofficial All-Ireland Club Championship. The tournament was an initiative by the then Bishop of Cork and Ross, Cornelius Lucey, to raise money to build five new churches in the fast developing suburbs of Cork. Participation was by invitation and was extended to the country’s current best hurling teams. This tournament lasted for five years, however, by the 1960s there was a growing appetite for a similar competition. In 1965 the Munster Council organised the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship. Following the success of this provincial championship, Donegal, Galway and Wexford put down a motion for the introduction of All-Ireland club championships in both codes at the GAA's Congress in 1969. The motion was successful and the competition eventually began in 1970-71.

Team dominance

The difficult nature of qualifying for the All-Ireland Championship via the individual county and provincial championships has meant that individual clubs have rarely dominated for prolonged periods of time, however, there have been exceptions.
The first decade of the All-Ireland Championship was dominated by the “big three” clubs from Cork, with Blackrock, Glen Rovers and St. Finbarr’s sharing every All-Ireland title bar one between 1972 and 1979. Blackrock became the preeminent team of the championship by winning three All-Ireland titles from four final appearances during this time. Glen Rovers and St. Finbarr’s claimed two titles apiece during the same period.
The second decade saw a greater spread of counties represented, with the club champions of Antrim, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford all claiming the All-Ireland title. Kilkenny clubs were dominant by winning five championship titles between 1981 and 1991. Ballyhale Shamrocks won three of these titles with victories in 1981, 1984 and 1990.
The resurgence of non-traditional teams at inter-county level was also prevalent in the club championship during the 1990s. Galway clubs came to the fore during this decade, with Sarsfields becoming the first team to retain the All-Ireland title with back-to-back wins in 1993-94. Their success was followed by Athenry who won a lone title in 1997 before claiming back-to-back championships in 2000-01. Clare clubs, buoyed by the inter-county success of the county team, claimed All-Ireland titles in 1996 and 1999.
Offaly club Birr became the most dominant team at the turn of the century. Between 1995 and 2003 the club became the first to win four All-Ireland titles, however, this record was bettered by Ballyhale Shamrocks who won a record-breaking fifth championship in 2010. Portumna of Galway dominated the new century by winning four All-Ireland titles between 2006 and 2014.

Format history

The All-Ireland Championship has always been played as a single elimination tournament whereby once a team loses they are eliminated from the championship. Participation is open to the four champion clubs of the four provinces of Ireland and has largely remained the same since the inaugural championship in 1971, however, there have been some minor changes throughout.
In 1976 the All-Ireland Championship was extended to five clubs as the winners of the London Senior Hurling Championship were allowed to enter. They entered the All-Ireland series at the newly-created quarter-final stage and played one of the four provincial champions in rotation. This system lasted until 2004. Since then the London champions have contested the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.
After several years of being regarded as the most uncompetitive of the four provincial championships, the Connacht Championship was discontinued in 2009. This has meant that the Galway champions represent the province unopposed and gain automatic entry to the All-Ireland semi-final stage.

Qualification

The GAA All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship features four teams in the final tournament. The champions of Leinster, Munster and Ulster and the Galway champions qualify for the All-Ireland semi-finals.
RegionChampionship
Galway GAAGalway Senior Club Hurling Championship
Leinster GAALeinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
Munster GAAMunster Senior Club Hurling Championship
Ulster GAAUlster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Structure

Each of Ireland's 32 counties play their own championship between all the hurling clubs in the county – depending on the county, it can be league, knockout, or a mixture of both. The 32 county champions play in the 4 provincial championships, with the four winners of these advancing to the All-Ireland Semi-Finals. Until the introduction of the Intermediate and Junior Championships one team usually played the London champions in a quarter-final. The London champions now play in the Intermediate Championship. The All-Ireland Final is played in Croke Park on St. Patrick's Day.
Schedule:
in the All-Ireland Club Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the individual club committees. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and a backroom team consisting of various coaches.
ManagerTeamWinsWinning years
Pad Joe WhelehanBirr31998, 2002, 2003
Michael ConneelySarsfields21993, 1994
Pat NallyAthenry22000, 2001
Jimmy HeverinPortumna22006, 2008
Mattie KennyCuala22017, 2018
Henry ShefflinBallyhale Shamrocks22019, 2020
Tom NevilleSt Martin's11985
Jim ButlerBuffers Alley11989
Tommy HearneBallyhale Shamrocks11990
Georgie LeahyGlenmore11991
John GoodeKiltormer11992
Pádraig HoranBirr11995
Jim FaulSixmilebridge11996
P. J. MolloyAthenry11997
Michael ClohessySt. Joseph's Doora-Barefield11999
Ger CunninghamNewtownshandrum12004
Adrian FinanJames Stephens12005
Maurice AylwardBallyhale Shamrocks12007
Johnny KellyPortumna12009
Mick Fennelly
James McGarry		Ballyhale Shamrocks12010
Micheál DonoghueClarinbridge12011
P. J. MullanLoughgiel Shamrocks12012
John BurkeSt. Thomas's12013
Frank CanningPortumna12014
Andy MoloneyBallyhale Shamrocks12015
Shane O'NeillNa Piarsaigh12016

Provincial champions listed by year

All-Ireland winners are shaded gold, and counties are given in brackets.
YearMunster championsLeinster championsConnacht champions
Ulster champions
1970–71 Roscrea St. Rynagh's Liam Mellows Loughgiel Shamrocks
1971–72 Blackrock Rathnure Tommy Larkin's Loughgiel Shamrocks
1972–73 Glen Rovers St. Rynagh's Castlegar O'Donovan Rossa
1973–74 Blackrock Rathnure Castlegar St. John's
1974–75 St. Finbarr's The Fenians Ardrahan Ballycran
1975–76 Blackrock James Stephens Ardrahan Ballygalget
1976–77 Glen Rovers Camross Tremane Ballycran
1977–78 St. Finbarr's Rathnure Four Roads O'Donovan Rossa
1978–79 Blackrock Ballyhale Shamrocks Ardrahan McQuillan Ballycastle
1979–80 Blackrock Crumlin Castlegar McQuillan Ballycastle
1980–81 St. Finbarr's Ballyhale Shamrocks Sarsfields McQuillan Ballycastle
1981–82 Mount Sion James Stephens Gort Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
1982–83 Moycarkey-Borris St. Rynagh's Kiltormer Loughgiel Shamrocks
1983–84 Midleton Ballyhale Shamrocks Gort McQuillan Ballycastle
1984–85 Sixmilebridge St Martin's Castlegar McQuillan Ballycastle
1985–86 Kilruane MacDonagh's Buffers Alley Turloughmore Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
1986–87 Borris-Ileigh Rathnure Killimordaly McQuillan Ballycastle
1987–88 Midleton Rathnure Athenry Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
1988–89 Patrickswell Buffers Alley Four Roads O'Donovan Rossa
1989–90 Ballybrown Ballyhale Shamrocks Sarsfields Loughgiel Shamrocks
1990–91 Patrickswell Glenmore Kiltormer Dunloy
1991–92 Cashel King Cormacs Birr Kiltormer Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
1992–93 Kilmallock Buffers Alley Sarsfields Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
1993–94 Toomevara St. Rynagh's Sarsfields Ballycran
1994–95 Kilmallock Birr Athenry Dunloy
1995–96 Sixmilebridge Glenmore Sarsfields Dunloy
1996–97 Wolfe Tones Camross Athenry Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
1997–98 Clarecastle GAA Birr Sarsfields Dunloy
1998–99 St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield Rathnure Athenry Ballygalget
1999–00 St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield Birr Athenry Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
2000–01 Sixmilebridge Graigue-Ballycallan Athenry Dunloy
2001–02 Ballygunner Birr Clarinbridge Dunloy
2002–03 Mount Sion Birr Athenry Dunloy
2003–04 Newtownshandrum O'Loughlin Gaels Portumna Dunloy
2004–05 Toomevara James Stephens Athenry O'Donovan Rossa
2005–06 Newtownshandrum James Stephens Portumna Ballygalget
2006–07 Toomevara Ballyhale Shamrocks Loughrea Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
2007–08 Loughmore-Castleiney Birr Portumna Dunloy
2008–09 De La Salle Ballyhale Shamrocks Portumna Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
2009–10 Newtownshandrum Ballyhale Shamrocks Portumna Dunloy
2010–11 De La Salle O'Loughlin Gaels Clarinbridge Loughgiel Shamrocks
2011–12 Na Piarsaigh Coolderry Gort Loughgiel Shamrocks
2012–13 Thurles Sarsfields Kilcormac-Killoughey St. Thomas's Loughgiel Shamrocks
2013–14 Na Piarsaigh Mount Leinster Rangers Portumna Loughgiel Shamrocks
2014–15 Kilmallock Ballyhale Shamrocks Gort Portaferry
2015–16 Na Piarsaigh Oulart the Ballagh Sarsfields Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
2016–17 Ballyea Cuala St. Thomas's Slaughtneil
2017–18 Na Piarsaigh Cuala Liam Mellows Slaughtneil
2018–19 Ballygunner Ballyhale Shamrocks St. Thomas's Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
2019–20 Borris-Ileigh Ballyhale Shamrocks St. Thomas's Slaughtneil

Finals Listed By Year

Summary Of All-Ireland Champions

By Club

TeamCountyWinnersYears wonRunners-upYears runners-up
Ballyhale Shamrocks Kilkenny81981, 1984, 1990, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019, 202011979
Birr Offaly41995, 1998, 2002, 200321992, 2008
Portumna Galway42006, 2008, 2009, 201412010
Athenry Galway31997, 2000, 200121988, 2005
Blackrock Cork31972, 1974, 197911976
James Stephens Kilkenny31976, 1982, 20050
St. Finbarr's Cork21975, 197811981
Sarsfields Galway21993, 199411998
Glen Rovers Cork21973, 19770
Loughgiel Shamrocks Antrim21983, 20120
Cuala Dublin22017, 20180
Castlegar Galway1198011985
Borris-Ileigh Tipperary1198712020
Buffers Alley Wexford1198911986
St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield Clare1199912000
Clarinbridge Galway1201112002
Newtownshandrum Cork1200412006
Na Piarsaigh Limerick1201612018
St. Thomas' Galway1201312019
Roscrea Tipperary119710
St. Martin's Kilkenny119850
Kilruane MacDonagh's Tipperary119860
Midleton Cork119880
Glenmore Kilkenny119910
Kiltormer Galway119920
Sixmilebridge Clare119960
Rathnure Wexford051972, 1974, 1978, 1987, 1999
Dunloy Antrim041995, 1996, 2003, 2004
St. Rynagh's Offaly031971, 1973, 1983
Kilmallock Limerick021993, 2015
Fenians Kilkenny011975
Camross Laois011977
McQuillan Ballycastle Antrim011980
Mount Sion Waterford011982
Gort Galway011984
O'Donovan Rossa Antrim011989
Ballybrown Limerick011990
Patrickswell Limerick011991
Toomevara Tipperary011994
Wolfe Tones Clare011997
Graigue-Ballycallan Kilkenny012001
Loughrea Galway012007
De La Salle Waterford012009
O'Loughlin Gaels Kilkenny012011
Coolderry Offaly012012
Kilcormac/Killoughey Offaly012013
Mount Leinster Rangers Carlow012014
Ruairí Óg, Cushendall Antrim012016
Ballyea Clare012017

By County

By Province

Top scorers

;All time
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalGamesAverage
1T. J. ReidBallyhale Shamrocks8-148172266.62
2Stephen ClancySt.Rynaghs13-111150207.50
3Eugene CloonanAthenry10-104134168.37
4Henry ShefflinBallyhale Shamrocks4-110122186.77
5Aaron WhelahanBirr7-100121304.03
6Joe CanningPortumna7-991201210.00
7Liam WatsonLoughgiel Shamrocks8-91115157.66
7Ben O'ConnorNewtownshandrum1-112115157.66

;Other high scorers
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalGamesAverage
1Eoin LarkinJames Stephens5-7186108.60
2Eoin ReidBallyhale Shamrocks6-4670282.50

;Cumulative finals
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalFinalsAverage
1Joe CanningPortumna1-4750510.00
2Eugene CloonanAthenry1-353849.50
3T. J. ReidBallyhale Shamrocks2-283456.80
4David TreacyCuala0-3030310.00
5Pat MoylanBlackrock2-222847.00
6Dan QuigleyRathnure5-122739.00
7Simon WhelehanBirr1-192245.50
8Aidan DonohueSarsfields0-212137.00
9Ger FennellyBallyhale Shamrocks2-131944.75
10Shane DowlingNa Piarsaigh0-181836.00

;Single final
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalOppositionYear
1Liam WatsonLoughgiel Shamrocks3-716Coolderry2012
2Dan QuigleyRathnure3-615Blackrock1974
3Eugene CloonanAthenry1-1114 Graigue-Ballycallan2001
4Adrian Ronan Graigue-Ballycallan1-912Athenry2001
4Tom Buckley Glen Rovers1-912St. Rynagh's1973
4Joe CanningPortumna0-1212Ballyhale Shamrocks2010
5Brendan FennellyBallyhale Shamrocks0-1111St. Finbarr's1981
6John RothwellBlackrock3-110Rathnure1972
6Dan QuigleyRathnure2-410Blackrock1972
6Mark KerinsClarinbridge1-710O'Loughlin Gaels2011
6Simon WhelehanBirr1-710Portumna2008
6Joe CanningPortumna0-1010Mount Leinster Rangers2014
6Billy WaltonJames Stephens0-1010Mount Sion1982
6Ben O'ConnorNewtownshandrum0-1010Dunloy2004
6Joe CanningPortumna0-1010Birr2008

Records and statistics

Final

Team

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship titles, is as follows:
Top three longest gaps between successive championship titles: