Cork Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship

Cork Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Evening Echo Cork County Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship, is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1973 for the top tier under-21 hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland.

Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship
CodeHurling
Founded1973; 51 years ago (1973)
Region Cork (GAA)
TrophyDick Barrett Cup
No. of teams6 (county championship)
29 (total)
Title holders Sarsfields (4th title)
First winner Newtownshandrum
Most titles Midleton (6 titles)
SponsorsEvening Echo
Official websiteOfficial website

In its current format, the Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship begins in November following the completion of the Divisional Under-21 Championships, which are played from the summer to the winter months. The divisional champions compete in a single-elimination tournament which culminates with the county final played at Páirc Uí Rinn in December. The prize for the winning team is the Dick Barrett Cup.

As of 2024, 29 clubs were participating in the Under-21 A Championship. The title has been won at least once by 16 different clubs. The all-time record-holders are Midleton, who have won six championship titles.

Sarsfields are the Under-21 A title holders, defeating the 2018 title-holders, defeating Midleton by 2–17 to 0–22 in the 2019 final.

History

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Beginnings

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The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship at inter-county level was created in 1964 and had proved successful in bridging the gap between the minor and senior grades. In 1973, the Cork County Board developed their own under-21 championship. It was the fifth county championship to be created in Cork, after the senior, intermediate, junior and minor championships.[citation needed]

Team dominance

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Due to the limited time frame that players compete in the grade, it has been difficult for individual clubs to dominate the championship.[original research?] In spite of this, several clubs have had limited dominance over the years. Between 1990 and 1994 St. Finbarr's dominated the championship with much of the same team by winning four championships in five seasons. Newtownshandrum ended the century by winning three successive championships between 1998 and 2000. The first decade of the new century saw Erin's Own win three championships between 2002 and 2005. Blackrock had a sustained period of dominance by winning three championships from five successive final appearances between 2012 and 2016.[citation needed]

Formats used

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From 1973 until 2015, the championship used a divisional format. The seven respective champions from Avondhu, Carbery, Carrigdhoun, Duhallow, Imokilly, Muskerry and Seandún contested the county championship. That county-wide championship used a single elimination format whereby once a team lost they were eliminated. In 2016, the under-21 championship underwent a major restructuring whereby the divisional system for the top tier was abolished and the strongest 22 clubs entered a new countywide championship.[citation needed]

Teams

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Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship

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Division Championship Qualifying teams
Avondhu North Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship Champions
Carbery Carbery Under-21 A Hurling Championship Champions
Carrigdhoun South East Under-21 A Hurling Championship Champions
Imokilly East Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship Champions
Muskerry Mid Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship Champions
Seandún Cork City Under-21 A Hurling Championship Champions

Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship

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Division Championship Qualifying teams
Avondhu North Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship Champions
Carbery Carbery Under-21 B Hurling Championship Champions
Carrigdhoun South East Under-21 B Hurling Championship Champions
Duhallow Duhallow Under-21 A Hurling Championship Champions
Imokilly East Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship Champions
Muskerry Mid Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship Champions
Seandún Cork City Under-21 B Hurling Championship Champions

Cork Under-21 C Hurling Championship

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Division Championship Qualifying teams
Avondhu North Cork Under-21 C Hurling Championship Champions
Carbery Carbery Under-21 C Hurling Championship Champions
Duhallow Duhallow Under-21 B Hurling Championship Champions
Imokilly East Cork Under-21 C Hurling Championship Champions
Muskerry Mid Cork Under-21 C Hurling Championship Champions

Sponsorship

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Since 2005 the Premier Under-21 Championship has been sponsored by the Evening Echo. The competition was previously sponsored by TSB Bank.

Under-21 A Hurling Championship

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2024 teams

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29 clubs will compete in the 2024 Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship:

Division No. Clubs competing in divisional championship
Avondhu 5 Charleville, Fermoy, Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels, Mallow, Shandrum
Carbery 3 Bandon, Ibane Gaels, Newcestown
Carrigdhoun 6 Ballinhassig, Ballymartle, Carrigaline, Courcey Rovers, Kinsale, Valley Rovers
Imokilly 5 Bride Rovers, Carrigtwohill, Erin's Own, Midleton, Sarsfields
Muskerry 4 Ballincollig, Blarney, Éire Óg, Inniscarra
Seandún 6 Bishopstown, Blackrock, Douglas, Glen Rovers, Na Piarsaigh, St Finbarr's

Note: Bold indicates title-holders.

Roll of honour

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# Club Titles Runners-up Championships won Championships runners-up
1 Midleton 6 5 1979, 1983, 1988, 1989, 2011, 2013 1978, 1980, 1987, 1990, 1991
2 Glen Rovers 5 2 1974, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2008 2000, 2004
Blackrock 5 2 1976, 1977, 2012, 2014, 2015 2013, 2016
St. Finbarr's 5 1 1985, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 1997
Newtownshandrum 5 1 1973, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2010 2006
3 Na Piarsaigh 3 3 1980, 1981, 1987 1996, 1998, 2002
Erin's Own 3 1 2002, 2004, 2005 1999
Sarsfields 3 1 1975, 2003, 2017 1974
4 Duhallow 2 5 1982, 2009 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
Bishopstown 2 0 2006, 2007
5 Milford 1 3 1978 1977, 1979, 1982
Newcestown 1 1 1993 1992
Ballincollig 1 1 1996 1995
Douglas 1 1 2016 2005
Fermoy 1 0 1986
Courcey Rovers 1 0 1997
Bandon 0 2 1975, 1976
Cloughduv 0 2 1983, 1989
Carrigtwohill 0 2 1993, 2001
Valley Rovers 0 2 1985, 2003
Carrigaline 0 2 2007, 2014
Éire Óg 0 1 1973
Ballyhea 0 1 1981
Tracton 0 1 1984
Blarney 0 1 1986
Inniscarra 0 1 1988
Mallow 0 1 1994
Ballinhassig 0 1 2009
Killeagh/St Ita's 0 1 2017

List of finals

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Year Winners Runners-up
Club Score Club Score
2024
2020–2023 No championship
2019 Sarsfields 2–17 Midleton 0–22
2018 Fr. O'Neill's 3–24 Midleton 4–18
2017 Sarsfields 0–20 Killeagh/St Ita's 1–09
2016 Douglas 1–18 Blackrock 1–15
2015[1] Blackrock 1–21 Duhallow 0–08
2014 Blackrock 5–13 Carrigaline 4–10
2013 Midleton 4–13 Blackrock 3–12
2012[2] Blackrock 4–16 Duhallow 2–10
2011 Midleton 1–11 Duhallow 2–08
2010 Newtownshandrum 1–19 Duhallow 1–16
2009 Duhallow 0–18 Ballinhassig 1–05
2008 Glen Rovers Duhallow
2007 Bishopstown 2–13 Carrigaline 0–11
2006 Bishopstown 1–09 Newtownshandrum 1–08
2005 Erin's Own 0–13 Douglas 0–10
2004 Erin's Own 2–08 Glen Rovers 0–08
2003 Sarsfields Valley Rovers
2002 Erin's Own 1–14 Na Piarsaigh 1–07
2001 Glen Rovers 2–09 Carrigtwohill 2–06
2000 Newtownshandrum 1–17 Glen Rovers 1–07
1999 Newtownshandrum 1–13 Erin's Own 1–07
1998 Newtownshandrum 1–12 Na Piarsaigh 0–07
1997 Courcey Rovers 3–10 St. Finbarr's 1–07
1996 Ballincollig 2–08 Na Piarsaigh 1–08
1995 Glen Rovers 2–14 Ballincollig 1–14
1994 St. Finbarr's Mallow
1993 Newcestown 1–08 Carrigtwohill 0–07
1992 St. Finbarr's 0–09, 1–09 Newcestown 1–06, 1–05
1991 St. Finbarr's 3-11 Midleton 1–08
1990 St. Finbarr's 1–10 Midleton 2–02
1989 Midleton 5–09 Cloughduv 2–05
1988 Midleton 4–09 Inniscarra 1–15
1987 Na Piarsaigh 2–10 Midleton 1–05
1986 Fermoy 1–10 Blarney 0–09
1985 St. Finbarr's 1–10 Valley Rovers 0–10
1984 Glen Rovers 1–14 Tracton 2–09
1983 Midleton 0–16 Cloughduv 0–06
1982 Duhallow 3–05 Milford 2–06
1981 Na Piarsaigh 2–12 Ballyhea 3–03
1980 Na Piarsaigh 5–13 Midleton 1–06
1979 Midleton 3–11 Milford 2–04
1978 Milford 3–12 Midleton 1–09
1977 Blackrock Milford
1976 Blackrock 4–08 Bandon 0–10
1975 Sarsfields 6–03 Bandon 1–07
1974 Glen Rovers 3–10 Sarsfields 4–06
1973 Newtownshandrum Éire Óg

Premier 2 Under-21 Hurling Championship (2018–2019)

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Year Winners Runners-up
Club Score Club Score
2019 St. Finbarr's 2-11 Bride Rovers 2-10
2018 Ballincollig 0-19 Courcey Rovers 0-17

Under-21 A Hurling Championship (2016–2019)

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Year Winners Runners-up
Club Score Club Score
2019 Fermoy 1-17 Newcestown 1-15
2018 Bride Rovers 1-14 Cloughduv 1-10
2017 Inniscarra 1-18 Fermoy 1-11
2016 Erin's Own 3-24 Ballincollig 1-16

Under-21 B Hurling Championship

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This competition is confined to clubs who compete at the B level in each of the regional divisions in County Cork. The winners are presented with the Gene Fitzgerald Cup. This cup commemorates Gene Fitzgerald, the former politician who also had administrative positions with Cork GAA County Board.

2024 teams

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37 clubs will compete in the 2024 Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship:

Division No. Clubs competing in divisional championship
Avondhu 6 Ballygiblin, Ballyhea, Clyda Rovers, Killavullen, Kilworth, St Dominic’s
Carbery 6 Ahan Gaels, Cill Macchamog, Clonakilty, Kilbrittain, Owen Gaels, Randal Óg
Carrigdhoun 2 Ballygarvan, Tracton
Duhallow 1 Dromtarriffe-Kanturk
Imokilly 11 Aghada, Castlelyons, Dungourney, Fr O’Neill’s, Lisgoold, Midleton, St Catherine’s, St Colman’s, St. Colmcilles, Watergrasshill, Youghal
Muskerry 5 Aghabullogue, Ballinora, Cloughduv, Donoughmore, Grenagh
Seandún 6 Glen Rovers, Mayfield, Nemo Rangers, Passage West, St Vincent’s, Whitechurch

Note: Bold indicates title-holders.

Roll of honour

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# Club Titles Championships won
1 Castlelyons 1 2010
St. Catherine's 1 2011
Dungourney 1 2012
Ballinascarthy 1 2013
Killeagh/St. Ita's 1 2014
Watergrasshill 1 2015
Kilshannig 1 2017
Sarsfields 1 2018
Castlemartyr 1 2019

List of finals

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Year Winners Runners-up
Club Score Club Score
2024
2020–2023 No championship
2019 Castlemartyr 0–15 Killavullen 1–07
2018 Sarsfields 3–14 Kildorrery 0–20
2017 Kilshannig 2–18 Sarsfields 2–11
2016
2015[3] Watergrasshill 0–14 Kilworth 1–08
2014[4] Killeagh/St. Ita's 6–14 Clonakilty 0–08
2013[5] Ballinascarthy 2–07 Watergrasshill 0–09
2012 Dungourney 2–08 Nemo Rangers 1–06
2011 St. Catherine's Ballygarvan
2010 Castlelyons Ballinascarthy

Under-21 C Hurling Championship

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2024 teams

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23 clubs will compete in the 2024 Cork Under-21 C Hurling Championship:

Division No. Clubs competing in divisional championship
Avondhu 5 Ballycastle Gaels, Buttevant, Doneraile, Kildorrery, St Kevin’s
Carbery 5 Dohenys, Kilbree, O'Donovan Rossa, St James’s
Duhallow 5 Banteer, Croke Rovers, Millstreet, Newmarket, St Mark’s
Imokilly 3 Castlemartyr, Cobh, Sarsfields
Muskerry 5 Ballincollig, Donoughmore, Inniscarra, Lee Gaels, Western Gaels

Note: Bold indicates title-holders.

List of finals

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Year Winners Runners-up
Club Score Club Score
2024 TBD TBD

See also

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References

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  1. ^ O'Callaghan, Theresa (14 November 2015). "Brilliant Blackrock sweep aside anxious Duhallow". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  2. ^ Hurley, Denis (22 October 2012). "Ryan goals keep resurgent Rockies on roll". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Glory for Watergrasshill after hard-earned win". Irish Examiner. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Killeagh v Clon, U21". The Southern Star. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Tenacious Bal deserved their victory in U21 final". The Southern Star. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.

Sources

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