The original Liam MacCarthy Cup commemorates the memory of Liam MacCarthy. Born in London to Irish parents in 1853, he was prominently involved in the establishment of a GAA county board in London in the 1890s. In 1922, a trophy in his honour was presented to the Central Council of the GAA, and replaced the Great Southern Cup as the All-Ireland trophy. The Liam MacCarthy Cup's design is based on a medieval drinking vessel called a mether. It was first presented in 1923 - to the Limerick team which defeated Dublin in the 1921 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final Cork won the old trophy on the most occasions. They also were the only team to win it on four consecutive occasions, achieving the feat during the 1940s. Jack Lynch, who went on to become his nation's Head of Government, played in all four of these finals and captained the team in the first of them. In addition, Cork twice won the old trophy on three consecutive occasions, in the 1950s and in the 1970s. They also won it on two consecutive occasions in the late-1920s. Tipperary won the old trophy on three consecutive occasions, as well as twice on two consecutive occasions in the 1960s. Kilkennythrice won the old trophy on two consecutive occasions in the early-1930s, mid-1970s and early-1980s. Wexford and Galway each claimed the old trophy on consecutive occasions. 1992 brought the retirement of the original Liam MacCarthy Cup. It is permanently on display in the GAA Museum at Croke Park.
New trophy
The GAA commissioned a replica from silversmith James M. Kelly. The silver for the new cup was donated by Johnson Matthey Ireland at the behest of Kieran D. Eustace Managing Director, a native of Newtowncashel Co. Longford. Tipperary were the last team to claim the original. In 1992, an exact replica was produced and has been awarded on an annual basis since then. Kilkenny were the first team to win the "new" MacCarthy Cup. Kilkenny are also the team to have won the new trophy on the most occasions and the only team to have won it four consecutive times. They had previously won it on consecutive occasions. Cork are the only other team to have won the new trophy on consecutive occasions. All-Ireland winners are permitted to keep the trophy for a period of one year until the following year's All-Ireland final. All-Ireland-winning captains receive a model replica of the Liam MacCarthy Cup. The trophy is currently held by Tipperary, who overcame Kilkenny in the final held on 18 August 2019, to win the Liam McCarthy Cup. In 2010, the GAA asked the same silversmith to produce another replica of the trophy, although this was to be used only for marketing purposes.
Eligible teams
The Liam MacCarthy Cup is the trophy awarded to the victors in Tier 1 of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Twelve teams are eligible for this trophy; the five from the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and the five from the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, as well as two teams invited from the Tier 2Joe McDonagh Cup. In 2019 the twelve teams to participate are as follows: "Leinster" contingent:
