All-Ireland Colleges Interprovincial Hurling Championship

The All-Ireland Colleges Interprovincial Championship, was an annual inter-provincial hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. It was the highest inter-provincial colleges hurling competition in Ireland, and was contested every year from 1927 to 1956.

All-Ireland Colleges Interprovincial Hurling Championship
IrishCraobh Iomána Coláistí na hÉireann
CodeHurling
Founded1927
Abolished1956
RegionIreland (GAA)
No. of teams3
Last Title holders Munster (24th title)
First winner Munster
Most titles Munster (24 titles)

The All-Ireland final, usually held in March or April, served as the culmination of a knockout series of games featuring Connacht, Leinster and Munster. At its peak, it was one of the most prestigious colleges competitions in Gaelic games, with players regarding it as a great honour to be included on their provincial team.

The title was won at least once by all three provinces, with only Leinster and Munster winning the competition more than one. The all-time record-holders are Munster, who appeared in every final and won the competition 24 times.

History

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Inter-colleges hurling competitions had been played since 1918, with the Leinster Championship and Dr Harty Cup both being formed that year.[1][2] Both these competitions ended with the respective provincial finals and there was no All-Ireland series. In 1927, the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition for senior inter-county players was inaugurated after the Great Southern Railways sponsored a trophy.[3][4] A similar competition was also arranged at colleges level that year. Following the completion of the respective Leinster and Munster competitions, a series of trials were held to pick a "best of" team from both provinces. The very first match took place at Croke Park on 7 May 1927, with Munster beating Leinster by 4–03 to 0–03 to claim the inaugural title.[5] Connacht made their first appearance in the competition in a semi-final on 25 March 1934 when they incurred a 6–07 to 2–00 defeat by Munster.[6]

Roll of honour

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# Team Wins Years won Losses Years lost
1   Munster 24 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956 6 1934, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1950, 1954
2   Leinster 5 1934, 1938, 1940, 1950, 1954 22 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956
3   Connacht 1 1941 2 1942, 1951

List of finals

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Year Winners Score Runners-up Score Venue
1927 Munster 4-03 Leinster 0-03 Croke Park [7]
1928 Munster 7-01 Leinster 5-03 The Mardyke [8]
1929 Munster 8-06 Leinster 5-00 Nowlan Park [9]
1930 Munster 2-03 Leinster 1-04 Waterford Sportsfield [10]
1931 Munster 6-01 Leinster 4-02 Nowlan Park [11]
1932 Munster 4-02 Leinster 4-00 Nowlan Park [12]
1933 Munster 4-04 Leinster 3-01 Nowlan Park [13]
1934 Leinster 5-06 Munster 3-01 Nowlan Park [14]
1935 Munster 5-07 Leinster 4-04 The Mardyke [15]
1936 Munster 4-03 Leinster 3-05 Nowlan Park [16]
1937 Munster 2-05 Leinster 3-00 The Mardyke [17]
1938 Leinster 3-07 Munster 2-05 Nowlan Park [18]
1939 Munster 5-06 Leinster 2-04 The Mardyke [19]
1940 Leinster 6-11 Munster 4-04 Nowlan Park [20]
1941 Connacht 2-03 Munster 0-01 Croke Park [21]
1942 Munster 7-05 Connacht 0-02 The Mardyke [22]
1943 Munster 9-08 Leinster 3-05 The Mardyke [23]
1944 Munster 7-01 Leinster 3-03 Nowlan Park [24]
1945 Munster 4-03 Leinster 0-04 Nowlan Park [25]
1946 Munster 7-04 Leinster 3-09 Croke Park [26]
1947 Munster 2-05 Leinster 2-03 Croke Park [27]
1948 Munster 2-08 Leinster 3-04 Thurles Sportsfield [28]
1949 Munster 4-01 Leinster 3-02 Nowlan Park [29]
1950 Leinster 6-04 Munster 4-06 Thurles Sportsfield [30]
1951 Munster 3-05 Connacht 0-03 Galway Sportsfield [31]
1952 Munster 0-13 Leinster 2-05 Nowlan Park [32]
1953 Munster 4-05 Leinster 1-08 Waterford Sportsfield [33]
1954 Leinster 1-08 Munster 1-05 Croke Park [34]
1955 Munster 12-03 Leinster 2-06 Thurles Sportsfield [35]
1956 Munster 7-11 Leinster 0-02 Croke Park [36]

Records and statistics

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Final

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  • Most wins: 24:
    • Munster (1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956)
  • Most consecutive wins: 8:
    • Munster 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949)
  • Most second-place finishes: 22:
    • Leinster (1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956)
  • Most consecutive second-place finishes: 7:
    • Leinster (1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933)
    • Leinster (1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949)
  • Most appearances: 30:
    • Munster (1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956)

Teams

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Gaps

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Longest gaps between successive championship titles:

References

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  1. ^ "CBC Power into first Harty Cup final in 101 years". Irish Independent. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  2. ^ "St Kieran's Or Dublin North Set For Top Oil Schools Hurling Glory". Leinster GAA website. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  3. ^ "The demise of the Railway Cup". Irish Independent. 6 March 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  4. ^ Breheny, Martin (17 February 2001). "Waiting on Death Row". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Leinster colleges fail". Evening Herald. 9 May 1927. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Connacht's plucky display". Connacht Tribune. 31 March 1934. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  7. ^ "All-Ireland College Championship". The Cork Examiner. 9 May 1927. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Leinster unlucky". Irish Independent. 7 May 1928. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Munster champions for third time". Irish Independent. 29 April 1929. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Hurling honours again won by Munster". Irish Independent. 2 May 1930. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Munster's victory over Leinster". The Cork Examiner. 27 April 1931. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  12. ^ "How Munster overhauled Leinster to gain exciting victory". The Irish Press. 18 April 1932. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Munster's seventh All-Ireland win". Evening Echo. 1 May 1933. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Munster's non-stop run of success checked at last". Irish Press. 30 April 1934. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Munster Colleges take hurling title". Irish Independent. 1 April 1935. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Munster hold on to title by bare point". The Irish Press. 30 March 1936. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Munster stabe off thrilling Leinster rally". The Irish Press. 15 March 1937. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Colleges title for Leinster". Irish Independent. 28 March 1938. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Colleges hurlers no match for Munster". Irish Press. 15 March 1939. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Title decided in extra time". Irish Independent. 4 March 1940. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Connacht boys shock Munster". Irish Independent. 18 March 1941. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Connacht Colleges defeated". Connacht Tribune. 2 May 1942. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  23. ^ "An easy task". Irish Independent. 15 March 1943. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Munster retain title in colleges classic". The Irish Press. 27 March 1944. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Munster Colleges' grip on title". Irish Independent. 12 March 1945. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Colleges title for Munster". The Cork Examiner. 25 March 1946. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Munster colleges win thriller". Irish Independent. 17 March 1947. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Title retained by one point margin". Irish Independent. 22 March 1948. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Leinster defeated in colleges thriller". Irish Independent. 11 April 1949. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Leinster boys take title". Irish Independent. 27 March 1950. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  31. ^ "Colleges' hurling title for Munster". The Cork Examiner. 9 April 1951. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Munster's changed tactics decisive". Irish Independent. 7 April 1952. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Munster Colleges win". Evening Echo. 20 April 1953. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Munster Colleges' winning sequence comes to an end". The Cork Examiner. 5 April 1954. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Leinster boys crushed by Munster "blitz"". Irish Independent. 4 April 1955. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Munster Colleges hurlers swamp Leinster to keep title". Irish Independent. 16 April 1956. Retrieved 19 August 2023.