The Munster Junior B Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by Killeedy GAA Club in Limerick since 2005 for the champion junior B hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland.
| Munster Junior B Club Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2023 Munster Junior B Club Hurling Championship | |
| Irish | Craobh Iomána Sóisear B na Mumhan |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Region | Munster (GAA) |
| Trophy | Michael Fitzmaurice Memorial Cup |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Title holders |  Bruff (1st title) |
| Sponsors | Killeedy GAA Club |
The series of games are played during the winter months with the Munster final currently being played in January. The prize for the winning team is the Michael Fitzmaurice Memorial Cup. The championship has always been played on a straight knockout basis whereby once a team loses they are eliminated from the championship.
The Munster Championship is an integral part of the wider All-Ireland Junior B Club Hurling Championship. The winners and runners-up of the Munster final join the winners and runners-up of the Leinster in the semi-final stages of the All-Ireland Championship.
Bruff are the title-holders after defeating Thurles Sarsfields by 0–10 to 1–06 in the 2022 Munster final.[1]
History edit
A Munster Club Championship for respective junior B champions was the idea of the Killeedy GAA Club who, after winning the Limerick JBHC title in 2005, realised there was no provincial competition in that grade of hurling.[2] A senior championship had been running side 1965, while intermediate and junior competitions had been recently introduced by GAA President Seán Kelly.[3][4] Members of the Killeedy club approached a supportive Kelly, however, their proposal was rejected by Central Council.[5] In spite of this setback, Killeedy organised their own unofficial provincial competition for Junior B championship winners before eventually securing the official support of the Munster Council.[6]
The championship edit
Overview edit
The Munster Championship is a single elimination tournament. Each team is afforded only one defeat before being eliminated from the championship. Pairings for matches are drawn at random and there is no seeding.
Each match is played as a single leg. If a match is drawn there is a period of extra time, however, if both sides are still level there are penalties. Only the final, if both teams are still level after a period of extra time, goes to a replay.
Competition format edit
Quarter-finals: Four teams contest this round. The two winning teams advance directly to the semi-final stage. The two losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Semi-finals: Four teams contest this round. The two winning teams advance directly to the final. The two losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Final: The final is contested by the two semi-final winners.
Qualification edit
| County | Championship | Qualifying team |
|---|---|---|
| Clare | Clare Junior B Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Cork | Cork Junior B Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Kerry | Kerry Junior Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Limerick | Limerick Junior B Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Tipperary | Tipperary Junior B Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Waterford | Waterford Junior B Hurling Championship | Champions |
Trophy edit
At the end of the Munster final, the winning team is presented with a trophy. The cup, named the Michael Fitzmaurice Memorial Cup in honour of a former Killeedy hurler, is held by the winning team until the following year's final.[7][8] Traditionally, the presentation is made by a high-ranking official from the Munster Council. The winning captain accepts the cup on behalf of his team before giving a short speech. Individual members of the winning team then have an opportunity to lift the cup.
Roll of honour edit
| # | County | Winners | Runners-up | Total | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cork
|
6 | 1 | 7 | 2005, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, | 2007 |
| 2 |  Tipperary
|
5 | 9 | 14 | 2007, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021 | 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022 |
 Limerick
|
5 | 4 | 9 | 2008, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2022 | 2005, 2011, 2014, 2019 | |
| 4 |  Clare
|
1 | 3 | 4 | 2011 | 2012, 2018, 2021 |
List of finals edit
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | St James' | 0-20 | Killeedy | 2-12 | [9] |
| 2006 | Dohenys | 1-14 | Kiladangan | 3-07 | |
| 2007 | Ballingarry | 2-12 | St. Ita's | 0-12 | [10] |
| 2008 | Bruree | 1-12 | Moyne-Templetuohy | 2-07 | |
| 2009 | St. Mary's/Seán Finns | 0-14 | Templederry Kenyons | 0-13 | |
| 2010 | Doneraile | 4-11 | Thurles Sarsfields | 1-07 | |
| 2011 | Clonlara | 1-12 | Croom | 1-08 | |
| 2012 | Roscrea | 4-05 | Tubber | 1-11 | [11] |
| 2013 | Templeglantine | 2-12 | Holycross-Ballycahill | 1-09 | [12] |
| 2014 | Killenaule | 2-11 | Doon | 1-13 | [13] |
| 2015 | Shanballymore | 0-14 | Éire Óg Annacarty | 1-09 | [14] |
| 2016 | Whitechurch | 0-17 | Upperchurch–Drombane | 1-11 | [15] |
| 2017 | Killavullen | 0-10 | Thurles Sarsfields | 0-05 | [16] |
| 2018 | Cappamore | 0-10 | Inagh-Kilnamona | 0-08 | |
| 2019 | Drom-Inch | 2-23 | Garryspillane | 2-17 | |
| 2020 | No championship | ||||
| 2021 | Clonoulty-Rossmore | 2-06 | Scariff | 0-10 | |
| 2022 | Bruff | 0-10 | Thurles Sarsfields | 1-06 | |
Notes:
- 2008 - The first match ended in a draw: Bruree 1–11, Moyne-Templetuohy 0–14.
- 2008 - The first match ended in a draw: Templeglantine 2–13, Holycross-Ballycahill, 2–13.
- 2015 - The first match ended in a draw: Shanballymore 1–12, Éire Óg Annacarty 2-09.
References edit
- ^ Keogh, John (28 January 2023). "Bruff land Munster Junior B title after epic battle with Thurles Sarsfields". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Donn (12 January 2019). "Killeedy GAA ready to host Cappamore's quest for Munster hurling glory". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ Moynihan, Michael (20 November 2016). "The day Glen Rovers buried the sliotar in Cashel". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ Fogarty, John (14 January 2023). "Sean Kelly: Playing field needs to be levelled in lower grade championships". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ McNamara, Peter (20 November 2015). "Killeedy's All-Ireland Club Junior B Hurling Championship continues to thrive". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "The All-Ireland junior B hurling championship: giving real GAA people what they deserve". Sportsjoe website. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ O'Connell, Jerome (26 February 2022). "Limerick champions Blackrock defeated in Munster junior B hurling semi final by Scariff". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "Shanballymore go in search of glory". Shanballymore GAA website. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ O'Connor, Colm (6 March 2006). "St James's come out top in thrilling final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ O'Connor, Colm (28 February 2008). "Munster Junior "B" Hurling Championship Final". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "Tubber lose Munster Junior B final". Clare fm website. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "All Ireland Club Junior B Hurling Final Replay – Holycross-Ballycahill (Tipperary) 2-12 Templeglantine (Limerick) 1-9". Tipperary Live. 23 March 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Redington, John (16 February 2015). "Killenaule hold Doon rally". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Buckley, Brendan (15 February 2016). "Jubilation for Shanballymore after thrilling replay". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Buckley, Brendan (13 February 2017). "Upperchurch lose out in Munster decider". Tipp fm website. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "Munster crown for Killavullen". The Corkman. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2023.