Lory Meagher Cup
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| Lory Meagher Cup | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2026 Lory Meagher Cup | |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Region | Ireland United States Britain (GAA) |
| Trophy | Lory Meagher Cup |
| No. of teams | 7 |
| Title holders |  New York (1st title) |
| Most titles |  Fermanagh,  Louth (3 titles) |
| TV partner | TG4 |
| Official website | Official website |
The Lory Meagher Cup (Irish: Corn Labhraí Uí Mheachair;[1] often referred to as the Meagher Cup) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The cup forms the fifth-tier of hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by the six county teams ranked 30–36 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Each year, the champions of the Lory Meagher Cup are promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup. The competition is named in honour of former Kilkenny hurler Lory Meagher who many regard as one of the greatest hurlers of all time.
The Lory Meagher Cup, which was introduced for the 2009 season, provides a championship for fifth tier teams deemed "too weak" for the fourth tier Nicky Rackard Cup.
The title has been won by 10 different counties, 5 of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Fermanagh and Louth, who have won the cup on 3 occasions. New York are the current Lory Meagher Cup champions. They beat Cavan by 4-17 to 2-17 in their first season in the competition.
Creation
Following the success of the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup for the lower tier hurling teams, it was decided in 2008 to investigate the possibility of introducing a fourth tier. The Hurling Development Committee (HDC) proposed the new four-tier structure in place of the existing three-tier model. It, and the second and third-tier competitions, were to consist of eight teams.[2] The proposals were accepted at a special GAA Congress in October 2008.[3] Another second tier competition, the Joe McDonagh Cup, was added in 2018, moving the Lory Meagher Cup down into tier 5.[4]
Development
Team changes
12 county teams have participated in at least one edition of the Lory Meagher Cup. Fermanagh and Leitrim have participated in the most editions. South Down, although not an official county entered a team the first three seasons of the Cup but withdrew after 2011. New York became the most recent county to make their debut in the Cup in 2025.
Team dominance
Summary of champions
| Ranking | County | Titles | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louth |
3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Fermanagh |
2 | 3 | 5 |
 Longford |
2 | 2 | 4 | |
 Tyrone |
2 | 1 | 3 | |
 Warwickshire |
2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 6 |  Donegal |
1 | 2 | 3 |
 Sligo |
1 | 2 | 3 | |
 Leitrim |
1 | 1 | 2 | |
 Monaghan |
1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 10 |  Lancashire |
0 | 3 | 3 |
 Cavan |
0 | 1 | 1 |
Format history
Double elimination (2009–2011)
In 2009, a double elimination format was introduced, thus guaranteeing each team at least two games before being eliminated from the competition.
Group stage (2013–present)
Since 2013, a group stage has been included in the cup. The teams within the group stage has varied between 3 and 6 teams throughout the years.
Lory Meagher Cup moments
- Warwickshire 2-16 - 0-10 Longford (8 June 2013): Warwickshire became the first overseas team to win the Lory Meagher Cup. This match also saw history made with the first ever use of “Hawkeye” in a hurling match, Warwickshire's Sean Hennessey having a 65 yard free denied by the technology.
- Leitrim 2-23 - 2-22 Lancashire (22 June 2019): Leitrim won their first ever All-Ireland title, defeating Lancashire after extra time in Croke Park.
Format
Group stage
Group stage: Six of the seven teams start at group stage (New York only enter from the semi-finals on, due to travel costs). During the course of a season (from May to June) each team plays the others once (a single round-robin system) for a total of five games. Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. The first placed team in the group advance straight to the Lory Meagher Cup final while second place play New York (in Ireland) in the Lory Meagher Cup semi-final. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth-placed teams are eliminated from the championship.
Tie-breakers
In the event of teams finishing on equal points, the tie shall be decided by the following means (in the order specified):[5]
- Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two teams
- Score difference – subtracting the total "Scores Against" from the total "Scores For"
- Highest Total "Score For"
- Highest Total "Goals For"
- A Play-Off
Knockout stage
Final: The top two teams in the group stage contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
The Lory Meagher has no direct entry route to compete in that year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Promotion
At the end of the championship, the winning team is promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup for the following season.
Relegation
There is no relegation from the Lory Meagher Cup as it is the bottom of five tiers in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Group stage qualifications
| Team | Qualification |
|---|---|
| 1st in Group | Advance to Lory Meagher Cup Final |
| 2nd in Group | |
| 3rd in Group | |
| 4th in Group | |
| 5th in Group | |
| 6th in Group |
Teams
2026 Cup
Six counties will compete in the 2026 Lory Meagher Cup, with no team relegated last year from the Nicky Rackard Cup:
| County | Location | Stadium | Province | Position in 2024 Championship | First year in Championship | In Championship since | Championship Titles | Last Championship Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavan |
Cavan | Breffni Park | Ulster | 3rd | 2009 | 2017 | 0 | — |
 Lancashire |
East Didsbury | Old Bedians | Britain | 6th | 2015 | 2022 | 0 | — |
| Leitrim |
Carrick-on-Shannon | Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada | Connacht | 4th | 2009 | 2022 | 1 | 2019 |
| Longford |
Longford | Pearse Park | Leinster | Runners-up | 2009 | 2021 | 2 | 2014 |
| Monaghan |
Clones | St Tiernach's Park | Ulster | 6th (Nicky Rackard Cup) | 2009 | 2025 | 2 | 2023 |
| Warwickshire |
Solihull | Páirc na hÉireann | Britain | 5th | 2009 | 2023 | 2 | 2017 |
List of finals
List of Lory Meagher Cup finals
| Year | Date | Winners | Runners-up | Venue | Winning captain | Winning margin | Referee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Score | County | Score | ||||||
| 2025 | 31 May | New York | 4-17 (29) | Cavan | 2-17 (23) | Croke Park, Dublin | Jonathan Glynn | 6 | Kevin Parke (Antrim) |
| 2024 | 2 June | Fermanagh | 3-22 (31) | Longford | 2-20 (26) | Croke Park, Dublin | Ryan Bogue | 5 | James Judge (Mayo) |
| 2023 | 3 June | Monaghan | 3-22 (31) | Lancashire | 3-20 (29) | Croke Park, Dublin | Niall Garland & Kevin Crawley | 2 | Tarlach Conway (Derry) |
| 2022 | 21 May | Louth | 3-27 (36) | Longford | 3-14 (23) | Croke Park, Dublin | Feidhleim Joyce | 13 | Caymon Flynn (Westmeath) |
| 2021 | 31 July | Fermanagh | 3-26 (35) | Cavan | 1-17 (20) | Croke Park, Dublin | John Duffy | 15 | Michael Kennedy (Tipperary) |
| 2020 | 28 Nov | Louth | 2-19 (25) | Fermanagh | 2-08 (14) | Croke Park, Dublin | Liam Molloy | 11 | Gearoid McGrath (Wexford) |
| 2019 | 22 June | Leitrim[6] | 2-23 (29) AET | Lancashire | 2-22 (28) AET | Croke Park, Dublin | Declan Molloy | 1 | Kevin Brady (Louth) |
| 2018 | 23 June | Sligo | 4-15 (27) | Lancashire | 2-20 (26) | Croke Park, Dublin | Keith Raymond | 1 | Kevin McGenney (Roscommon) |
| 2017 | 10 June | Warwickshire[7] | 0-17 (17) | Leitrim | 0-11 (11) | Croke Park, Dublin | Donncha Kennedy | 6 | James Connors (Donegal) |
| 2016 | 4 June | Louth[8] | 4-15 (27) | Sligo | 4-11 (23) | Croke Park, Dublin | Shane Callan | 4 | Mick Murtagh (Westmeath) |
| 2015 | 6 June | Fermanagh[9] | 3-16 (25) | Sligo | 1-17 (20) | Croke Park, Dublin | John Paul McGarry | 5 | Colum Cunning (Antrim) |
| 2014 | 7 June | Longford[10] | 3-18 (27) | Fermanagh | 3-16 (25) | Croke Park, Dublin | Martin Coyle | 2 | James Clarke (Cavan) |
| 2013 | 8 June | Warwickshire[11] | 2-16 (22) | Longford | 0-10 (10) | Croke Park, Dublin | Conal Maskey | 12 | Liam McAuley (Antrim) |
| 2012 | 9 June | Tyrone[12] | 2-24 (30) | Fermanagh | 3-20 (29) | Croke Park, Dublin | Damian Maguire | 1 | Sean Cleere (Kilkenny) |
| 2011 | 4 June | Donegal | 2-12 (18) | Tyrone | 0-17 (17) | Croke Park, Dublin | Colm Breathnach | 1 | Fergus Smith (Meath) |
| 2010 | 3 July | Longford | 1-20 (23) | Donegal | 1-12 (15) | Croke Park, Dublin | Brendan Stakem | 8 | Ray Matthews (Antrim) |
| 2009 | 11 July | Tyrone | 5-11 (26) | Donegal | 3-16 (25) | Croke Park, Dublin | Stephen Donnelly | 1 | Tony Carroll (Offaly) |
Roll of honour
Performances by county
| County | Titles(s) | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fermanagh |
3 | 3 | 2015, 2021, 2024 | 2012, 2014, 2020, |
| Louth |
3 | 0 | 2016, 2020, 2022 | — |
| Longford |
2 | 3 | 2010, 2014 | 2013, 2022, 2024 |
| Tyrone |
2 | 1 | 2009, 2012 | 2011 |
| Warwickshire |
2 | 0 | 2013, 2017 | — |
| Donegal |
1 | 2 | 2011 | 2009, 2010 |
| Sligo |
1 | 2 | 2018 | 2015, 2016 |
| Leitrim |
1 | 1 | 2019 | 2017 |
| Monaghan |
1 | 0 | 2023 | — |
| New York |
1 | 0 | 2025 | — |
| Cavan |
0 | 2 | — | 2021, 2025 |
| Lancashire |
0 | 3 | — | 2018, 2019, 2023 |
Performances by province
| Division | Titles | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
 Ulster |
7 | 7 | 14 |
 Leinster |
5 | 3 | 8 |
 Connacht |
2 | 3 | 5 |
 Britain |
2 | 3 | 5 |
 United States |
1 | 0 | 1 |
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