Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship

Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship
IrishCraobhchomórtas Idirmheánach Iomáint Oirthear Phort Láirge
CodeHurling
Founded1964; 60 years ago (1964)
Region Waterford (GAA)
No. of teams6
Title holders Portlaw (5th title)
First winner Ballyduff Lower
SponsorsGerry Kennedy Crash Repairs
Official websiteWaterford GAA

The Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Gerry Kennedy Crash Repairs Eastern Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Eastern IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the eastern divisional section of the Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 and contested by intermediate team in the county of Waterford in Ireland.

In its current format, the Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship begins with a group stage. The six participating teams play each other in a round-robin system. The two top-ranking teams proceed to the final match at Walsh Park. The winner of the Eastern IHC subsequently represent the division in the Waterford IHC.

Portlaw are the title holders after defeating St Molleran's by 3–21 to 0–13 in the 2024 final.[1]

History

The Eastern Intermediate Championship was established in 1964 in an effort to bridge the standard of play between the Waterford SHC and the divisional junior championships. Ballyduff Lower were the first championship winners.

On 31 January 2022, Waterford County Board delegates voted on the restructuring of the entire intermediate hurling championship system following a review process. It was decided to establish an all-county eight-team Waterford Premier Intermediate Championship for 2023. These eight teams were made up of the four semi-finalists from the 2022 Eastern and Western intermediate championships.[2]

Format

Group stage

Six clubs start in the group stage. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed five group games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top four teams qualify for the knockout stage

Final

The top two teams from the group stage contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

Relegation

The fifth and sixth-placed teams from the group stage take part in a relegation playoff to determine who drops to the Eastern Junior A Hurling Championship.

Teams

2024 teams

The following 6 teams will contest the 2024 Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship:

Team Location Colours Championship titles (since 1995) Last championship title
Ballyduff Lower Ballyduff Lower Red and white 3 2020
Butlerstown 0 —
Cumannan an tSlánaitheora 0 —
Erins Own Waterford Yellow and blue 2 2003
Portlaw Portlaw Blue and yellow 5 2024
St Molleran's Carrick-Beg Maroon and white 2 2008

Qualification for subsequent competitions

From its inception in 1964, the Eastern IHC champions automatically qualify for the Waterford IHC. Here they play the Western IHC winners to determine the county champions.[3] This format was abandoned for a period in the late 1970s and early 1980s when a county-wide Waterford IHC was in operation, however, it was later reinstated.

Roll of honour

Roll of honour (1995–present)

# Club Titles Championships won
1 Dunhill 6 1999, 2001, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2021
2 Clonea 5 2002, 2006, 2009, 2017, 2018
Portlaw 5 2004, 2012, 2015, 2023, 2024
4 Ballyduff Lower 3 1998, 2000, 2020
5 Erin's Own 2 1997, 2003
Passage 2 2005, 2007
St Molleran's 2 1995, 2008
Ballygunner 2 2019, 2022
9 Ferrybank 1 1996
Roanmore 1 2010
St Saviour's 1 2014

List of finals

List of finals (1995–present)

Year Winners Runners-up #
Club Score Club Score
2024 Portlaw 3-21 St Molleran's 0-13
2023 Portlaw 3-22 Erin's Own 3–11 [4]
2022 Ballygunner 1–18 Ballyduff Lower 1–12 [5]
2021 Dunhill 0–17 Ferrybank 1-08 [6]
2020 Ballyduff Lower 2–18 Dunhill 1-20 [7]
2019 Ballygunner 3-21 Dunhill 1-09 [8]
2018 Clonea 0-22 Dunhill 0–19 [9]
2017 Clonea 3–15 Erin's Own 0–11 [10]
2016 Dunhill 2–15 Erin's Own 0–13 [11]
2015 Portlaw 3–15 Clonea 2–15 [12]
2014 St Saviour's 1–19 Ballygunner 2–12 [13]
2013 Dunhill 1–12 Portlaw 0-07 [14]
2012 Portlaw 1–19 Clonea 3-09 [15]
2011 Dunhill 2–12 Portlaw 0–17
2010 Roanmore 1–14 Clonea 0–13
2009 Clonea 2–12 Mount Sion 2-07
2008 St Molleran's 0–13 St Saviour's 1-08
2007 Passage 0-09 Portlaw 0-08
2006 Clonea 1–11 Portlaw 0–12
2005 Passage 3–15 Clonea 1-08
2004 Portlaw 3-08 Clonea 2-09
2003 Erin's Own 3–14 Dunhill 3-06
2002 Clonea 1–10 Dunhill 0–11
2001 Dunhill 1-09 Ballydurn 1-03
2000 Ballyduff Lower 5-06 Ballydurn 1-08
1999 Dunhill 0–10 Ferrybank 1-04
1998 Ballyduff Lower 4–16 St Saviour's 1–11
1997 Erin's Own 2–12 Ferrybank 1–12
1996 Ferrybank 2–11 Mount Sion 1-07
1995 St Molleran's 1–10 Kill 1-09

Notes

  • 1995 - The first match ended in a draw: St Molleran's 2–12, Kill 3-09.
  • 1997 - The first match ended in a draw: Erin's Own 1–12, Ferrybank 1–12.
  • 2008 - The first match ended in a draw: St Molleran's 0–13, St Saviour's 1–10.

See also

References

  1. ^ Fanning, Phil (16 August 2024). "Portlaw and Mollerans final clash stirs great memories". Waterford News & Star. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  2. ^ "New structures passed and 2022 championship draws are made". Waterford News & Star. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. ^ McCarthy, Tomás (9 September 2023). "Waterford IHC: Young stars deliver silverware for Brickey Rangers". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  4. ^ "New Result for Intermediate Hurling Gerry Kennedy Crash Repairs Eastern Intermediate Final". Erin's Own GAA website. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Western glory for Ballysaggart". WLRfm website. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Dunhill convincing winners rainswept final". Waterford News & Star. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  7. ^ Flannery, Brian (23 August 2020). "Lyons the hero as Ballyduff Lower down Dunhill". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  8. ^ "First Western intermediate hurling title for Ballysaggart". WLRfm website. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Clonea hoping to make it back to back titles when they take on Erin's Own this afternoon". WLRfm website. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Clonea power to Eastern title win". The Munster Express. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Murphy's goals drive Dunhill to Eastern glory". Waterford News & Star. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Tannery town an hour from senior ranks". The Munster Express. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Saints go marching on". The Munster Express. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Dunhill dispatch neighbours to claim Eastern spoils again". The Munster Express. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Tannery town edge closer to top grade". The Munster Express. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2024.