Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship

The Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the AIB Munster GAA Hurling Junior Club Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the five champion junior clubs and one champion intermediate club in the province of Munster in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition for junior clubs in Munster hurling.

Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship
Current season or competition:
2024 Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship
IrishCraobh Iomána Clubanna Sóisearach na Mumhan
CodeHurling
Founded2001; 24 years ago (2001)
RegionMunster (GAA)
TrophyRody Nealon Cup
No. of teams6
Title holders Russell Rovers (2nd title)
Most titles Ballygiblin
Russell Rovers (2 titles)
SponsorsAllied Irish Bank
MottoThe toughest of them all
Official websiteOfficial website

The Munster Junior Club Championship was introduced in 2001. In its current format, the championship begins in late October or early November and is usually played over a four-week period. The six participating club teams compete in a straight knockout competition that culminates with the Munster final for the two remaining teams. The winner of the Munster Junior Championship, as well as being presented with the Rody Nealon Cup, qualifies for the subsequent All-Ireland Club Championship.

The competition has been won by 21 teams, however, only two teams has ever won the championship on more than one occasion. Cork clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories with 17 wins.[1]

Russell Rovers are the title holders, defeating Kilrossanty by 3–12 to 1–07 in the 2024 final.

Format

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Overview

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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 at the end of extra time a replay takes place and so on until a winner is found.

Competition format

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Quarter-final: Four teams contest this round. The two winning teams advances 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.

Teams

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Qualification

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County Championship Qualifying team
  Clare Clare Junior A Hurling Championship Champions
  Cork Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship Champions
  Kerry Kerry Intermediate Hurling Championship Champions
  Limerick Limerick Junior A Hurling Championship Champions
  Tipperary Tipperary Junior A Hurling Championship Champions
  Waterford Waterford Junior A Hurling Championship Champions

2024 teams

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TBD clubs will compete in the 2024 Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship: TBD teams from Clare, twelve teams from Cork, seven teams from Kerry, TBD teams from Limerick, twenty six teams from Tipperary and fourteen teams from Waterford.

County No. Clubs competing in county championship
  Clare
  Cork 12 Argideen Rangers, Ballygarvan, Barryroe, Douglas, Glen Rovers, Kilbrittain, Meelin, Milford, Nemo Rangers, Russell Rovers, St Catherine's, St Finbarr's
  Kerry 7 Abbeydorney, Ballyheigue, Kenmare Shamrocks, Kilgarvan, Lixnaw, Rathmore, St Brendan's
  Limerick
  Tipperary 26 Ballinahinch, Ballylooby–Castlegrace, Boherlahan–Dualla, Borris–Ileigh, Cahir, Carrick Swans, Cashel King Cormacs, Clonmel Óg, Drom & Inch, Galtee Rovers, Grangemockler, Holycross–Ballycahill, JK Brackens, Kildangan, Kilruane MacDonagh's, Lattin–Cullen, Loughmore–Castleiney, Moycarkey–Borris, Moyle Rovers, Mullinahone, Nenagh Éire Óg, Rockwell Rovers, Roscrea, St Patrick’s, Thurles Sarsfields, Toomevara
  Waterford 14 Abbeyside–Ballinacourty, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Cappoquin, Clonea, De La Salle, Fenor, Fourmilewater, Kilrossanty, Mount Sion, Passage, Roanmore, St Marys East, Stradbally

Note: Bold indicates county representatives.

Trophy and medals

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At the end of the Munster final, the winning team is presented with a trophy. The Rody Nealon Cup is held by the winning team until the following year's final. Traditionally, the presentation is made at a special rostrum in the stand where GAA and other dignitaries and special guests view the match.

The cup is decorated with ribbons in the colours of the winning team. During the game the cup actually has both teams' sets of ribbons attached and the runners-up ribbons are removed before the presentation. 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 come to the rostrum to lift the cup.

The cup is named after Rody Nealon. He was an All-Ireland medal winner with Tipperary in 1925 before later serving as chairman and secretary of the Burgess club at different times, while he was also a member of the Tipperary County Board and the Munster Council.

In accordance with GAA rules, the Munster Council awards a set of 24 gold medals to the winners of the Munster final.

Sponsorship

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Since 2001, the Munster Championship has been sponsored. The sponsor has usually been able to determine the championship's sponsorship name.

Period Sponsor Name
2001–present   Allied Irish Bank The AIB Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship

List of Finals

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List of Munster JHC finals

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Year Winners Runners-up Venue
County Club Score County Club Score
2024   COR   Russell Rovers 3–12   WAT   Kilrossanty 1–07 Páirc Uí Rinn
2023   COR   St Catherine's 2-14   LIM   Feenagh–Kilmeedy 1-15 Mallow GAA Complex
2022   COR  Ballygiblin 3-12   LIM St Kierans 0-11 Mallow GAA Complex
2021   COR  Ballygiblin 2-14   TIP Skeheenarinky 1-09 Mallow GAA Complex
2020 No Championship
2019   COR   Russell Rovers 2-13   WAT   St. Mary's 0-11 Fraher Field [2]
2018   COR   Cloughduv 0-17   WAT   Ballinameela 0-12 Mallow GAA Complex [3]
2017   WAT   Ardmore 3-11   TIP   Ballybacon-Grange 2-08 Mallow GAA Complex [4]
2016   COR   Mayfield 2-18   WAT   Ballyduff Lower 3-10 Mallow GAA Complex [5]
2015   COR   Dungourney 1-17   WAT   Fenor 0-08 Mallow GAA Complex [6]
2014   WAT   Modeligo 5-12   COR   Castlemartyr 0-14 Mallow GAA Complex [7]
2013   WAT   Ballysaggart 3-12   LIM   Feenagh-Kilmeedy 0-15 Mallow GAA Complex [8]
2012   COR   Kildorrery 1-11   LIM   | St Kierans 0-12 Mallow GAA Complex [9]
2011   COR   Charleville 3-15   LIM   Cappamore 2-08 Mallow GAA Complex [10]
2010   COR   Meelin 5-18   TIP   St. Patrick's 0-09 Mallow GAA Complex [11]
2009   LIM   Blackrock 1-12   COR   Fermoy 0-14 Mallow GAA Complex [12]
2008   COR   Dripsey 2-11   KER   Kilgarvan 1-03 Mallow GAA Complex [13]
2007   TIP   Moyle Rovers 3-10   COR   Barryroe 0-09 Páirc Mac Gearailt [14]
2006   COR   Kilworth 4-16   TIP   Knockshegowna 1-07 Meelick [15]
2005   COR   Fr. O'Neill's 1-12   TIP   Knockshegowna 0-07 Gaelic Grounds [16]
2004   COR   Ballygarvan 0-16   WAT   Tramore 1-05 Páirc Mac Gearailt [17]
2003   CLA   Newmarket-on-Fergus 3-10   COR   Dromina 1-10
2002   COR   Ballinhassig 6-07   TIP   Ballinahinch 2-08
2001   COR   Courcey Rovers   WAT   Ardmore

Roll of Honour

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By club

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# Club County Titles Runners-up Championships won Championships runner-up
1  Ballygiblin   COR 2 0 2021, 2022
  Russell Rovers   COR 2 0 2019, 2024
3   Ardmore   WAT 1 1 2017 2001
  Courcey Rovers   COR 1 0 2001
  Ballinhassig   COR 1 0 2002
  Newmarket-on-Fergus   CLA 1 0 2003
  Ballygarvan   COR 1 0 2004
  Fr. O'Neill's   COR 1 0 2005
  Kilworth   COR 1 0 2006
  Moyle Rovers   TIP 1 0 2007
  Dripsey   COR 1 0 2008
  Blackrock   LIM 1 0 2009
  Meelin   COR 1 0 2010
  Charleville   COR 1 0 2011
  Kildorrery   COR 1 0 2012
  Ballysaggart   WAT 1 0 2013
  Modeligo   WAT 1 0 2014
  Dungourney   COR 1 0 2015
  Mayfield   COR 1 0 2016
  Cloughduv   COR 1 0 2018
  St Catherine's   COR 1 0 2023
22   Knockshegowna   TIP 0 2 2005, 2006
  St Kierans   LIM 0 2 2012, 2022
  Feenagh–Kilmeedy   LIM 0 2 2013, 2023
  Ballinahinch   TIP 0 1 2002
  Dromina   COR 0 1 2003
  Tramore   WAT 0 1 2004
  Barryroe   COR 0 1 2007
  Kilgarvan   KER 0 1 2008
  Fermoy   COR 0 1 2009
  St. Patrick's   TIP 0 1 2010
  Cappamore   LIM 0 1 2011
  Castlemartyr   COR 0 1 2014
  Fenor   WAT 0 1 2015
  Ballyduff Lower   WAT 0 1 2016
  Ballybacon-Grange   TIP 0 1 2017
  Ballinameela   WAT 0 1 2018
  St. Mary's   WAT 0 1 2019
Skeheenarinky   TIP 0 1 2021
  Kilrossanty   WAT 0 1 2024

By county

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County Titles Runners-up Total
  Cork 17 4 21
  Waterford 3 7 10
  Tipperary 1 6 7
  Limerick 1 5 6
  Clare 1 0 1
  Kerry 0 1 1

Records and statistics

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County representatives

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Year Clare Cork Kerry Limerick Tipperary Waterford
2002 Éire Óg Ballinhassig N/A Kildimo-Pallaskenry Ballinahinch Geraldines
2003 Newmarket-on-Feregus Dromina Laune Rangers Feenagh-Kilmeedy Thurles Fennellys Kilgobnet
2004 Ennistymon Ballygarvan Kenmare Shamrocks Knockaderry Ballyneale Tramore
2005 Meelick Fr. O'Neill's Kenmare Shamrocks Hospital-Herbertstown Knockshegowna Brickey Rangers
2006 Meelick Kilworth Kilgarvan Mungret/St. Paul's Knockshegowna Fenor
2007 Meelick Barryroe Kilgarvan Caherline Moyle Rovers Ballysaggart
2008 N/A Dripsey Kilgarvan Monages Emly Modeligo
2009 N/A Fermoy Kilgarvan Blackrock Aherlow Tourin
2010 N/A Meelin Kilgarvan Effin St Patrick's Ballydurn
2011 N/A Charleville Kenmare Shamrocks Cappamore Rockwell Rovers Ballinameela
2012 N/A Kildorrery Kenmare Shamrocks St Kieran's Kilsheelan–Kilcash Butlerstown
2013 Bodyke Grenagh Kenmare Shamrocks Feenagh-Kilmeedy Knockshegowna Ballysaggart
2014 N/A Castlemartry Kenmare Shamrocks Feohanagh-Castlemahon Skeheenarinky Modeligo
2015 Ennistymon Dungourney Dr Crokes Dromcollogher-Broadford Ballylooby-Castlegrace Fenor
2016 Bodyke Mayfield Kilgarvan St Patrick's Ballybacon-Grange Ballyduff Lower
2017 Bodyke St Catherine's Kenmare Shamrocks St Patrick's Ballybacon-Grange Ardmore
2018 N/A Cloughduv Kilgarvan Tournafulla Boherlahan-Dualla Ballinameela
2019 N/A Russell Rovers Kilgarvan Castletown-Ballyagran Carrick Davins St Mary's
2021 Ogonnelloe Ballygiblin Tralee Parnells Caherline Skeheenarinky Brickey Rangers
2022 Banner Ballygiblin Kilgarvan St Kieran's Ballyneale Colligan

Biggest wins

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The most one sided Munster finals:

Top scorers

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All time

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As of 2022
Pos. Name Team Goals Points Total
1 Mickey Foley Kilgarvan 3 38 47
2 Séamus Prendergast Ardmore 5 20 35
3 Joseph O'Sullivan Ballygiblin 0 34 34
4 Stephen Bennett Ballysaggart 3 23 32
5 Shane Meehan Banner 2 23 29
6 James O'Brien Charleville 3 19 28
7 Josh Beausang Russell Rovers 1 24 27
8 Nicky Kelly Mayfield 0 27 27
9 Éamonn Brosnan Meelin 3 17 26
10 Shane Duggan Mayfield 4 13 25
Tomás Vaughan Skeheenarinky 0 25 25

By year

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Year Top scorer Team Score Total
2002 John Chawke Kildimo-Pallaskenry 0-19 19
2003 Pat Lawlor Thurles Fennellys 3-09 18
2004 Liam Dillon Ballygarvan 0-17 17
2005 Michael Kennedy Knockshegowna 1-09 12
2006 Paudie Lynch Kilworth 1-12 15
2007 Kieran Griffin Barryroe 0-20 20
2008 Diarmuid O'Riordan Dripsey 3-13 22
2009 Cathal Dillon Aherlow 0-15 15
2010 Éamonn Brosnan Meelin 3-17 26
2011 James O'Brien Charleville 3-19 28
2012 Peter O'Brien Kildorrery 3-15 24
2013 Stephen Bennett Ballysaggart 3-23 32
2014 Jamie Troy Modeligo 1-14 17
2015 Liam Tierney Ennistymon 2-12 18
2016 Nicky Kelly Mayfield 0-27 27
2017 Séamus Prendergast Ardmore 5-20 35
2018 Anthony Hartnett Tournafulla 0-24 24
2019 Eoin Kearns St. Mary's 1-21 24
2020 No championship
2021 Tomás Vaughan Skeheenarinky 0-25 25
2022 Shane Meehan Banner 2-23 30

Single game

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Year Top scorer Team Opposition Score Total
2002 John Chawke Kildimo-Pallaskenry Éire Óg, Inis 0-12 12
2003 Pat Lawlor Thurles Fennellys Laune Rangers 3-09 18
2004 Tommy Hogan Ennistymon Ballyneale 2-02 8
2005 Ronan Conlon Meelick Hospital-Herbertstown 0-07 7
2006 Paudie Lynch Kilworth Knockshegowna 1-08 11
2007 Mickey Foley Kilgarvan Caherline 1-09 12
2008 Pat Buckley Emly Kilgarvan 3-06 15
2009 Cathal Dillon Aherlow Tourin 0-10 10
Darragh Fives Tourin Aherlow 0-10 10
2010 Éamonn Brosnan Meelin Effin 2-10 16
2011 James O'Brien Charleville Rockwell Rovers 1-08 11
2012 Peter O'Brien Kildorrery Butlerstown 2-09 15
2013 Stephen Bennett Ballysaggart Grenagh 1-11 14
2014 Barry Lawton Castlemartyr Modeligo 0-10 10
2015 Liam Tierney Ennistymon Ballylooby-Castlegrace 2-07 13
2016 Shane Duggan Mayfield St. Patrick's 2-06 12
2017 Séamus Prendergast Ardmore Bodyke 2-06 12
Séamus Prendergast Ardmore St. Patrick's 1-09
2018 Anthony Hartnett Tournafulla Kilgarvan 0-14 14
2019 Josh Beausang Russell Rovers St. Mary's 1-08 11
Josh Beausang Russell Rovers Kilgarvan 0-11
2020 No championship
2021 Tomás Vaughan Skeheenarinky Ogonnelloe 0-11 11
2022 Shane Meehan Banner Kilgarvan 2-11 17

Finals

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Final Top scorer Team Score Total
2002 Declan O'Sullivan Ballinhassig 0-06 6
2003 Robert Shanahan Newmarket 3-01 10
2004 Liam Dillon Ballygarvan 0-07 7
2005 Ger O'Leary Fr. O'Neill's 0-06 6
2006 Paudie Lynch Kilworth 1-08 11
2007 Barry Whelan Moyle Rovers 2-01 7
2008 Mark O'Sullivan Dripsey 2-00 6
2009 Brian O'Sullivan Fermoy 0-09 9
2010 Éamonn Brosnan Meelin 1-07 10
2011 James O'Brien Charleville 1-05 8
2012 Peter O'Brien Kildorrery 1-06 9
2013 Stephen Bennett Ballysaggart 1-07 10
2014 Barry Lawton Castlemartyr 0-10 10
2015 Ryan Denny Dungourney 0-11 11
2016 Nicky Kelly Mayfield 0-10 10
2017 Séamus Prendergast Ardmore 2-05 11
2018 Brian Verling Cloughduv 0-09 9
2019 Josh Beausang Russell Rovers 1-08 11
2020 No championship
2021 Joseph O'Sullivan Ballygiblin 0-09 9
2022 Shane Beston Ballygiblin 3-03 12

See also

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References

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  1. ^ O'Callaghan, Therese (8 December 2019). "Cork champions Russell Rovers overcome St Mary's to collect Munster Junior title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  2. ^ "'Four years ago the club was nearly going to fold': Perfect end to Russell Rovers' remarkable 2019". Irish Examiner. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  3. ^ O'Callaghan, Therese (2 December 2018). "Cloughduv come out on top in Munster junior hurling decider". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  4. ^ Moynihan, Michael (3 December 2017). "Ardmore overcome Ballybacon-Grange in Munster club JHC final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Kelly on song for Mayfield". Irish Independent. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  6. ^ Moynihan, Michael (7 December 2015). "Jack Griffin goal proves spark as Dungourney catch fire". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Devine intervenes for Modeligo". Irish Examiner. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  8. ^ Fogarty, John (9 December 2013). "Meagher shares out Ballysaggart plaudits". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  9. ^ Hurley, Denis (10 December 2012). "Awesome O'Brien the hero again for Kildorrery". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Classy Charleville secure title". Hogan Stand. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Meelin power to title". Hogan Stand. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Moloney nicks it for Blackrock". Irish Independent. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  13. ^ "O'Sullivan double inspires Dripsey". Hogan Stand. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  14. ^ Ellard, Michael (17 December 2007). "Moyle Rovers cruise to historic title victory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  15. ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (18 December 2006). "Kilworth cut loose in final quarter". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  16. ^ "Fr O'Neill capture first Munster crown". Hogan Stand. 5 December 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Ballygarvan take Munster title". Hogan Stand. 13 December 2004. Retrieved 1 March 2018.