Donegal Senior Hurling Championship
Annual hurling competition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Donegal Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition contested by top-tier Donegal GAA clubs. The County Final is usually played at O'Donnell Park in Letterkenny.
Setanta are the reigning champion by defeating St Eunan's by 2-12 to 0-13.[1]
Teams
2026 Teams
The 6 teams competing in the 2026 season are:
| Team | Location | Colours | Position in 2025 | Titles won | Most recent title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Buncrana |
Buncrana | Green, white and gold | Group stage | 0 | N/a |
 Burt |
Burt | Primrose and blue | Semi-final | 40 | 2024 |
 Carndonagh |
Carndonagh | Red and green | Group stage | 3 | 1959 |
 Seán MacCumhaills |
Ballybofey and Stranorlar | Green and white | Semi-final | 2 | 2016 |
 Setanta |
Killygordon | Green and black | Champions | 19 | 2025 |
 St Eunan's |
Letterkenny | Amber and black | Runners-up | 2 | 2021 |
2026 grades
| Championship | Team |
|---|---|
| Senior | |
| Senior | Buncrana |
| Burt | |
| Carndonagh | |
| Seán MacCumhaills | |
| Setanta | |
| St Eunan's | |
| Intermediate / Junior | |
| Intermediate |  An Clochán Liath |
| Aodh Ruadh | |
| Burt (2nd team) | |
 Four Masters | |
 Letterkenny Gaels | |
| St Eunan's (2nd team) | |
History
Burt hold the most SHC titles of any club in the country (40), having passed out Waterford Senior Hurling Championship club Mount Sion's total of 35 with the 36th title win of 2013.[citation needed]
Format
Group stage
The six teams play each team once, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least five 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.
There is currently no direct relegation to the Donegal Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Knockout stage
Semi-finals: The top four teams from the group stage contest this round. The winning teams from these two games advance to the final.
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
Trophy
The trophy presented to the winners is the Munster Cup.[2]
Qualification for subsequent competitions
The Donegal SHC winner qualifies for the Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship.
Winners and finalists
Results by team
| # | Team | Title wins | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burt | 40 | 14 | 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2024 |
1947, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1990,2007, 2008, 2016, 2022 |
| 2 | Setanta | 19 | 15 | 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2007, 2008, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 |
1979, 1982, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2024 |
| 3 | Letterkenny | 6 | 1 | 1926, 1932, 1933, 1938, 1945, 1953 | 1924 |
| 4 | Aodh Ruadh | 5 | 4 | 1924, 1925, 1929, 1975, 1977 | 1943, 1971, 1976, 1989 |
| 5 | Carrowmore | 4 | 0 | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937 | N/a |
| 6 | Carndonagh | 3 | 4 | 1944, 1954, 1959 | 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988 |
| 7 | St Eunan's | 2 | 6 | 1972, 2021 | 2002, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025 |
| Seán MacCumhaills | 5 | 2010, 2016 | 1998, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015 | ||
| Erin's Hope | 0 | 1943, 1947 | N/a | ||
| Lifford | 1958, 1960 | N/a | |||
| Erne Valley | 1964, 1966 | N/a | |||
| 12 | Finner Camp | 1 | 1927 | N/a | |
| Glenswilly | 1963 | N/a | |||
| 14 | Naomh Mura | 0 | 6 | N/a | 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Na Cealla Beaga | 1 | N/a | 1970 | ||
| Roger Casement's | N/a | 1977 | |||
| Four Masters | N/a | 2001 | |||
Notes
- Runners-up unknown: 1925–1927, 1929, 1932–1938, 1943–1945, 1947, 1952–1969
Finals listed by year
Legend
- Gold – Ulster intermediate club champions
- Silver – Ulster intermediate club runners-up
Donegal SHC finals
(r) = replay
(aet) = after extra time
| Year | Winner | Opponent | Winning captain | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Score | Team | Score | |||
| 1924[3] | Aodh Ruadh | 5-8 | Letterkenny | 0-1 | ||
| 1925 | Aodh Ruadh | |||||
| 1926 | Letterkenny | |||||
| 1927 | Finner Camp | |||||
| 1928 | ||||||
| 1929 | Aodh Ruadh | |||||
| 1930 | ||||||
| 1931 | ||||||
| 1932 | Letterkenny | |||||
| 1933 | Letterkenny | |||||
| 1934 | Carrowmore | |||||
| 1935 | Carrowmore | |||||
| 1936 | Carrowmore | |||||
| 1937 | Carrowmore | |||||
| 1938 | Letterkenny | |||||
| 1939 | ||||||
| 1940 | ||||||
| 1941 | ||||||
| 1942 | ||||||
| 1943 | Erin's Hope (Ballybofey and Stranorlar) | Aodh Ruadh | ||||
| 1944 | Carndonagh | |||||
| 1945 | Letterkenny | |||||
| 1946 | ||||||
| 1947 | Erin's Hope (Ballybofey and Stranorlar) | Burt | ||||
| 1948 | ||||||
| 1949 | ||||||
| 1950 | ||||||
| 1951 | ||||||
| 1952 | Burt | |||||
| 1953 | Letterkenny | |||||
| 1954 | Carndonagh | |||||
| 1955 | Burt | |||||
| 1956 | Burt | |||||
| 1957 | Burt | |||||
| 1958 | Lifford | |||||
| 1959 | Carndonagh | |||||
| 1960 | Lifford | |||||
| 1961 | Burt | |||||
| 1962 | Burt | |||||
| 1963 | Glenswilly | |||||
| 1964 | Erne Valley (Gleann-Eirne) | |||||
| 1965 | Burt | |||||
| 1966 | Erne Valley (Gleann-Eirne) | |||||
| 1967 | Burt | |||||
| 1968 | Burt | |||||
| 1969 | Burt | |||||
| 1970 | Burt | 3-12 | Na Cealla Beaga | 1-3 | ||
| 1971 | Burt | 9-11 | Aodh Ruadh | 3-2 | ||
| 1972 | St Eunan's | 3-3 | Burt | 2-1 | ||
| 1973 | Setanta | Burt | ||||
| 1974 | Setanta | Carndonagh | ||||
| 1975 | Aodh Ruadh | 4-3 | Burt | 2-4 | ||
| 1976 | Burt | 3-7 | Aodh Ruadh | 2-6 | ||
| 1977 | Aodh Ruadh | 6-8 | Roger Casement's | 1-1 | ||
| 1978 | Robert Emmet's & Burt |
1-8 2-5 |
The 1978 final ended in a draw. It was never replayed. | |||
| 1979 | Burt | 3-9 | Setanta | 1-5 | ||
| 1980 | Setanta | 2-8 | Burt | 0-8 | ||
| 1981 | Setanta | 2-7 | Burt | 1-3 | ||
| 1982 | Burt | 1-8 | Setanta | 1-6 | ||
| 1983 | Setanta | 2-14 | Burt | 2-8 | ||
| 1984 | Setanta | 3-14 | Carndonagh | 1-5 | ||
| 1985[4] | Setanta | 3-7 | Carndonagh | 4-3 | ||
| 1986 | Setanta | 2-2 | Burt | 1-4 | ||
| 1987 | Setanta | 5-8 | Burt | 2-9 | ||
| 1988 | Setanta | Carndonagh | ||||
| 1989 | Burt | 4-6 | Aodh Ruadh | 1-11 | ||
| 1990 | Setanta | 3-8 | Burt | 0-16 | ||
| 1991 | Burt | 2-12 | Naomh Mura | 1-9 | ||
| 1992 | Burt | 2-12 | Naomh Mura | 2-8 | Liam Burns | |
| 1993 | Burt | 2-11 | Setanta | 3-7 | Andy Wallace (C) 8 pts | |
| 1994 | Burt | 4-7 | Naomh Mura | 1-4 | ||
| 1995 | Burt | 0-16 | Naomh Mura | 2-5 | ||
| 1996[5] | Burt | 1-16 | Naomh Mura | 1-6 | Andrew Wallace (C) 11 pts | Played in Burt |
| 1997 | Burt | 3-17 | Naomh Mura | 3-9 | ||
| 1998 | Burt | 3-13 | Seán MacCumhaills | 0-3 | Ciaran Dowds | |
| 1999 | Burt | 1-12 | Setanta | 1-8 | Fergal Grant | |
| 2000[6] | Burt | 5-17 | Setanta | 0-6 | ||
| 2001 | Burt | 5-19 | Four Masters | 1-3 | ||
| 2002 | Burt | 3-21 | St Eunan's | 2-9 | ||
| 2003 | Burt | 4-11 | Setanta | 2-14 | ||
| 2004 | Burt | Burt W/O Setanta disqualified | Setanta | |||
| 2005[7] | Burt | 3-8 | Setanta | 0-11 | ||
| 2006 | Burt | 0-17 | Setanta | 0-15 | Andy Wallace (C)13 pts | 16 in a row |
| 2007 | Setanta | 3-8 | Burt | 0-7 | ||
| 2008 | Setanta | 4-7 | Burt | 1-7 | ||
| 2009 | Burt | 3-13 | Seán MacCumhaills | 2-12 | ||
| 2010 | Seán MacCumhaills | 0-15 | Setanta | 0-12 | ||
| 2011 | Burt | 3-11 | Setanta | 2-7 | ||
| 2012[8] | Burt | 3-14 | Seán MacCumhaills | 1-12 | ||
| 2013[9] | Burt | 3-13 | Setanta | 2-14 | ||
| 2014[10] | Burt | 6-9 | Seán MacCumhaills | 1-9 | Ardal McDermott was in charge of the winning team.[10] | |
| 2015[11] | Burt | 2-7 | Seán MacCumhaills | 0-12 | ||
| 2016[12] | Seán MacCumhaills | 2-13 | Burt | 2-9 | Lee Henderson[12] | This result ended Burt's attempt at a six-in-a-row.[12] |
| 2017[13] | Setanta | 1-16 | St Eunan's | 1-8 | ||
| 2018[14] | Burt | 3-14 | Setanta | 1-14 | Stephen Gillespie[14] | |
| 2019[15] | Setanta | 3-13 | St Eunan's | 0-13 | ||
| 2020[16] | Setanta | 2-19 | St Eunan's | 2-13 | ||
| 2021[17] | St Eunan's | 2-9 | Setanta | 0-14 | Conor O'Grady[18] | |
| 2022[19] | Setanta | 1-20 | Burt | 0-18 | Liam McKinney was man of the match.[19] | |
| 2023[20] | Setanta | 4-13 | St Eunan's | 0-14 | Mark Callaghan[20] | |
| 2024[21] | Burt | 3-16 | Setanta | 1-18 | Liam McKinney | |
| 2025[1] | Setanta | 2-12 | St Eunan's | 0-13 | ||
See also
- Donegal Intermediate Hurling Championship (Tier 2)
- Donegal Junior Hurling Championship (Tier 3)
- Donegal Senior Football Championship
- Ulster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship