Carlow Senior Hurling Championship
Annual hurling competition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Carlow Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition contested by top-tier Carlow GAA clubs.
| Carlow Senior Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2025 Carlow Senior Hurling Championship | |
 | |
| Irish | Craobh Sinsear Iomaint Cheatharlach |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Region | Carlow (GAA) |
| Trophy | Willie O'Connor Cup |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Title holders |  Mount Leinster Rangers (12th title) |
| Most titles |  St Mullin's (29 titles) |
| Sponsors | JJ Kavanagh and Sons |
| TV partner | TG4 |
| Official website | Official website |
St Mullin's won the 2024 title, having defeating Mount Leinster Rangers in the final that year.[1]
History
Since 1927, with the exception of the 'foot and mouth' year of 1941, a 'Premier' Carlow Hurling Championship has been completed. Carlow's premier hurling championship was first awarded senior status in 1960, as the county team had won promotion to Division 1 of the N.H.L. following back-to-back Division 2 title wins.
St Mullin's are the Carlow kingpins, with their 29 titles including pre-1960 titles that were won in Carlow's premier hurling competition in those days.
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
Knockout stage
Following the completion of the group stage, the teams from the group are ranked (1-4) in terms of points accumulated and scoring difference. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.
Semi-finals: The tip four teams from the group stage contest this round. First place plays fourth place and second place plays third place The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
Relegation
The bottom-placed team from the group stage is relegated to the Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Qualification
At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship.
Teams
2026 Teams
Five teams competed in the 2025 Carlow Senior Hurling Championship:
| Team | Location | Colours | Position in 2025 | In championship since | Championship titles | Last championship title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bagenalstown Gaels |
Bagenalstown | Green and black | Group stage | 2020 | 0 | — |
 Ballinkillen |
Ballinkillin | Blue and gold | Semi-finals | 1995 | 2 | 2001 |
| Mount Leinster Rangers |
Borris | Black and red | Champions | 1997 | 12 | 2025 |
 Naomh Bríd |
Leighlinbridge | Maroon and white | Intermediate champions | 2026 | 3 | 2008 |
 Naomh Eoin |
Myshall | Black and yellow | Semi-finals | 1969 | 18 | 2005 |
| St Mullin's |
St Mullin's | Green and white | Runners-up | 1931 | 29 | 2024 |
2026 Hurling Grades
| Championship | Club |
|---|---|
| Senior | |
| Senior | Bagenalstown Gaels |
| Ballinkillen | |
| Mount Leinster Rangers | |
| Naomh Bríd | |
| Naomh Eoin | |
| St Mullin's | |
| Intermediate | |
| Intermediate | Bagenalstown Gaels (2nd team) |
| Burren Rangers | |
 Carlow Town | |
| Kildavin/Clonegal | |
| Mount Leinster Rangers (2nd team) | |
| St Mullin's (2nd team) | |
| Junior | |
| Junior | |
| Ballinkillen (2nd team) | |
| Burren Rangers (2nd team) | |
| Carlow Town (2nd team) | |
| Mount Leinster Rangers (3rd team) | |
| Naomh Bríd (2nd Team) | |
| Naomh Eoin (2nd Team) | |
| Setanta Ceatharlach | |
| St Mullin's (3rd team) | |
Trophy
The trophy presented to the winners is the Willie O'Connor Cup. The winners of the Carlow Championship winners qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Club Championship, the winners of which go on to the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship.
List of finals
Legend
- Gold – Leinster senior club champions
- Silver – Leinster senior club runners-up
List of Carlow SHC finals
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Score | Club | Score | |
| 1927 | Carlow Town | 2-03 | Bagnelstown | 1-04 |
| 1928 | Bagnelstown | 4-03 | Ballymurphy | 0-01 |
| 1929 | Bagnelstown | w/o | Ballymurphy | |
| 1930 | Bagnelstown | 3-01 | Paulstown | 0-01 |
| 1931 | Bagnelstown | 2-07 | St Mullin's | 2-01 |
| 1932 | St Mullin's | 3-03 | Carlow Town | 0-00 |
| 1933 | Cooleyhune | 4-02 | Bagnelstown | 1-02 |
| 1934 | Erin's Own | |||
| 1935 | Erin's Own | Drumphea | ||
| 1936 | Erin's Own | |||
| 1937 | Carlow Town | Erin's Own | ||
| 1938 | Carlow Town | Drummond | ||
| 1939 | Erin's Own | |||
| 1940 | Erin's Own | |||
| 1941 | No competition | |||
| 1942 | Carlow Town | |||
| 1943 | Erin's Own | |||
| 1944 | Erin's Own | |||
| 1945 | Erin's Own | |||
| 1946 | Borris | 2-01 | Leighlinbridge | 1-00 |
| 1947 | Hacketstown | 2-04 | St Mullin's | 2-02 |
| 1948 | Cournellan | 3-03 | St Mullin's | 2-02 |
| 1949 | St Mullin's | 8-01 | Leighlinbridge | 1-00 |
| 1950 | St Mullin's | 2-07 | Erin's Own | 2-05 |
| 1951 | St Mullin's | 5-11 | Leighlinbridge | 3-03 |
| 1952 | St Mullin's | 2-05 | Borris | 2-02 |
| 1953 | St Mullin's | 3-01 | Tinnehinch | 1-00 |
| 1954 | St Mullin's | 5-06 | Hacketstown | 1-02 |
| 1955 | Cournellan | 5-04 | Hacketstown | 3-02 |
| 1956 | Leighlinbridge | 1-08 | Tullow | 0-02 |
| 1957 | St Mullin's | 1-08 | Tullow | 0-03 |
| 1958 | St Mullin's | 6-04 | Tullow | 0-05 |
| 1959 | St Mullin's | 4-01 | Carlow Town | 2-01 |
| 1960 | St Mullin's | 3-08 | Leighlinbridge | 2-01 |
| 1961 | Carlow Town | 5-15 | St Mullin's | 4-01 |
| 1962 | St Mullin's | 7-13 | Erin's Own | 4-09 |
| 1963 | Carlow Town | 9-09 | St Mullin's | 4-10 |
| 1964 | Erin's Own | 3-11 | Cournellan | 0-03 |
| 1965 | St Mullin's | 2-13 | Carlow Town | 2-04 |
| 1966 | St Mullin's | 4-15 | Tullow | 0-08 |
| 1967 | Erin's Own | 5-04 | St Mullin's | 2-08 |
| 1968 | St Mullin's | 3-09 | Erin's Own | 3-06 |
| 1969 | St Fintan's | 5-06 | Erin's Own | 2-04 |
| 1970 | Erin's Own | w/o | St Mullin's | scr |
| 1971 | St Fintan's | 1-12 | Borris | 2-03 |
| 1972 | Palatine | 4-09 | Ballinkillen | 0-14 |
| 1973 | Ballinkillen | 5-05 | Naomh Eoin | 2-09 |
| 1974 | Naomh Eoin | 2-16 | Ballinkillen | 3-05 |
| 1975 | Naomh Eoin | 3-12 | St Fintan's | 2-12 |
| 1976 | Naomh Eoin | 1-16 | Ballinkillen | 0-10 |
| 1977 | Carlow Town | 2-07 | St Fintan's | 1-07 |
| 1978 | Naomh Eoin | 1-08* | St Mullin's | 1-06 |
| 1979 | Carlow Town | 0-13 | Ballinkillen | 0-11 |
| 1980 | Carlow Town | 2-10 | Ballymurphy | 1-08 |
| 1981 | Naomh Eoin | 2-13 | Ballymurphy | 2-08 |
| 1982 | Naomh Eoin | 0-15 | St Mullin's | 1-05 |
| 1983 | St Mullin's | 2-08 | Ballymurphy | 0-06 |
| 1984 | St Mullin's | 5-09 | Ballymurphy | 3-09 |
| 1985 | Naomh Eoin | 3-18 | St Mullin's | 3-06 |
| 1986 | Naomh Eoin | 5-12 | St Mullin's | 2-07 |
| 1987 | Naomh Eoin | 2-17 | St Mullin's | 2-10 |
| 1988 | Carlow Town | 3-10 | Naomh Eoin | 1-09 |
| 1989 | St Mullin's | 4-09 | Naomh Eoin | 2-10 |
| 1990 | Naomh Eoin | 2-10 | St Mullin's | 0-11 |
| 1991 | Naomh Eoin | 2-07* | St Mullin's | 3-04 |
| 1992 | Naomh Eoin | 1-09 | St Mullin's | 1-08 |
| 1993 | Naomh Eoin | 3-09* | St Mullin's | 1-15 |
| 1994 | Naomh Eoin | 3-06 | Parnells | 0-11 |
| 1995 | Naomh Eoin | 1-15 | Carlow Town | 1-10 |
| 1996 | Naomh Bríd | 1-16 | St Mullin's | 2-06 |
| 1997 | St Mullin's | 2-15 | Naomh Eoin | 1-09 |
| 1998 | Naomh Eoin | 1-14 | Carlow Town | 0-10 |
| 1999 | St Mullin's | 3-11* | Naomh Eoin | 4-08 |
| 2000 | St Mullin's | 2-10 | Naomh Eoin | 2-02 |
| 2001 | Ballinkillen | 2-10 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 0-04 |
| 2002 | St Mullin's | 4-10 | Naomh Eoin | 4-08 |
| 2003 | Naomh Eoin | Mount Leinster Rangers | ||
| 2004 | Naomh Bríd | 2-13 | Ballinkillen | 1-07 |
| 2005 | Naomh Eoin | 0-11 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 0-08 |
| 2006 | Mount Leinster Rangers | St Mullin's | ||
| 2007 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 1-10 | St Mullin's | 1-08 |
| 2008 | Naomh Bríd | 3-09 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 2-11 |
| 2009 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 1-13 | Erin's Own | 1-11 |
| 2010 | St Mullin's | 1-12 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 0-12 |
| 2011 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 2-12 | Naomh Eoin | 3-05 |
| 2012[2] | Mount Leinster Rangers | 3-13 | Erin's Own | 0-06 |
| 2013[3] | Mount Leinster Rangers | 1-20 | St Mullin's | 0-11 |
| 2014[4][5] | St Mullin's | 0-09 | Naomh Eoin | 0-07 |
| 2015[6] | St Mullin's | 1-14 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 0-10 |
| 2016[7] | St Mullin's | 2-16 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 0-13 |
| 2017[8] | Mount Leinster Rangers | 3-17 | Naomh Eoin | 0-17 |
| 2018 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 3-10 | St Mullin's | 1-13 |
| 2019 | St Mullin's | 2-17 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 1-19 |
| 2020[9] | Mount Leinster Rangers | 3-21 | Ballinkillen | 0-12 |
| 2021 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 0-24 | St Mullin's | 0-16 |
| 2022[10] | St Mullin's | 2-22 | Bagenalstown Gaels | 0-11 |
| 2023[11] | Mount Leinster Rangers | 3-19 | St Mullin's | 1-17 |
| 2024[12] | St Mullin's | 2-25 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 3-16 |
| 2025 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 1-19 | St Mullin's | 0-16 |
Roll of honour
By club
| # | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Championships won | Championships runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mullin's |
29 | 24 | 1932, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2024 | 1931, 1947, 1948, 1961, 1963, 1967, 1970, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2025 |
| 2 | Naomh Eoin |
18 | 10 | 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2005 | 1973, 1988, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2011, 2014, 2017 |
| 3 | Mount Leinster Rangers |
12 | 9 | 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025 | 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2024 |
 Erin's Own |
11 | 7 | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1964, 1967, 1970 | 1937, 1950, 1962, 1968, 1969, 2009, 2012 | |
| 5 | Carlow Town |
10 | 5 | 1927, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1961, 1963, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1988 | 1932, 1959, 1965, 1995, 1998 |
| 6 | Bagenalstown |
4 | 2 | 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931 | 1927, 1933 |
| 7 | Naomh Bríd |
3 | 0 | 1996, 2004, 2008 | — |
| 8 | Ballinkillen |
2 | 6 | 1973, 2001 | 1972, 1974, 1976, 1979, 2004, 2020 |
| St Fintan's | 2 | 2 | 1969, 1971 | 1975, 1977 | |
| Cournellan | 2 | 1 | 1948, 1955 | 1964 | |
| 11 | Leighlinbridge | 1 | 4 | 1956 | 1946, 1949, 1951, 1960 |
| Borris | 1 | 2 | 1946 | 1952, 1971 | |
| Hacketstown | 1 | 2 | 1947 | 1954, 1955 | |
| Cooleyhune | 1 | 0 | 1933 | — | |
 Palatine |
1 | 0 | 1972 | — | |
| 16 | Ballymurphy | 0 | 6 | — | 1928, 1929, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984 |
| Tullow | 0 | 4 | — | 1956, 1957, 1958, 1966 | |
| Paulstown | 0 | 1 | — | 1930 | |
| Drumphea | 0 | 1 | — | 1935 | |
| Drummond | 0 | 1 | — | 1938 | |
| Tinnehinch | 0 | 1 | — | 1953 | |
| Parnells | 0 | 1 | — | 1994 | |
| Bagenalstown Gaels |
0 | 1 | — | 2022 |
Notes
- The club of Naomh Bríd / St Fintan's / Parnells have a total of 5 titles
- The club of Bagenalstown / Erin's Own / Bagenalstown Gaels have a total of 15 titles
See also
- Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship (Tier 2)
- Carlow Junior Hurling Championship (Tier 3)
- Carlow Junior Hurling Shield (Tier 4)
- Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
- Carlow Senior Football Championship