Clare Senior Hurling Championship
| Clare Senior Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2021 Clare Senior Hurling Championship | |
 | |
| Irish | Craobh Iomána Sinsir Co. an Chláir |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Region |  Clare (GAA) |
| Trophy | Canon Hamilton Cup |
| No. of teams | 18 |
| Title holders |  Ballyea (3rd title) |
| Most titles |  Newmarket-on-Fergus (23 titles) |
| Sponsors | Pat O'Donnell & Co. |
| TV partner(s) | TG4 |
| Official website | clare |
The Clare Senior Hurling Championship (officially known for sponsorship reasons as the Pat O'Donnell & Co. Senior Hurling Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking senior clubs in the county of Clare in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition in Clare hurling.
Introduced in 1887 as the Clare Hurling Championship, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to senior-ranking club teams. The championship has gone through a number of changes throughout the years, including the use of a round robin, before reverting to a straight knockout format.
In it's current format, the Clare Senior Hurling Championship begins once the Clare senior hurling team have concluded their All-Ireland Championship campaign, with sixteen club teams competing in the championship. Six rounds of games are played, culminating with the final match at Cusack Park in October or November that year. The winners of the Clare Senior Hurling Championship qualify for the subsequent Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship, which begins immediately.
The competition has been won by twenty-three teams, nineteen of which have won it more than once. Newmarket-on-Fergus are the most successful club in the championship's history, with twenty-three titles. Ballyea are the reigning champions (2021) and current holders of the Canon Hamilton Cup.
History[]
Beginnings[]
Following the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884, new rules for Gaelic football and hurling were drawn up and published in the United Irishman newspaper. Over the following three years, county committees were established, with the Clare County Board holding their inaugural meeting on 14 February 1887. The inaugural championship in 1887, saw twenty-two clubs competing, with Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe claiming their first and only title. Since then the championship title has been awarded every year except on nine occasions. No championship took place for a five-year period between 1891-1895 or in 1901. Civil unrest during the Irish War of Independence resulted in the championship also being suspended from 1920-1922.
Team dominance[]
The first 30 years of the championship were dominated by Tulla and O'Callaghan's Mills. They were the only two teams to win multiple titles during this period with both sides claiming eleven championships between them. Ennis Dalcassians and Newmarket-on-Fergus dominated the period between 1924-1934 winning nine titles between in that period. Feakle claimed five of the ten titles on offer between 1935-1944, including a three-in-a-row from 1938-1940. After winning their first title in 1948, the Jimmy Smyth-inspired Ruan club won a further four titles up to 1962. The next twenty years was again dominated by Newmarket-on-Fergus who returned after a period in the doldrums to claim thirteen titles between 1963-1981, including two three-in-a-rows (1963-1965 and 1967-1969), and a historic four-in-a-row from 1971-1974. No other club has won more than back-to-back titles since. The remainder of the 20th century saw Clarecastle and Sixmilebridge win eleven championship titles between them. Sixmilebridge continued their dominance by winning a further six titles in the first two decades of the 21st century, while there were also a number of first-time champions - Cratloe, Crusheen and Ballyea. In 2007 Tulla ended a seventy-four year wait winning their first title since 1933. The following year Clonlara bridged an eighty-nine year gap when then won their second county title.
Senior clubs[]
- The eighteen clubs that will participate in are:
| Club | Last Title |
|---|---|
| Ballyea
|
2021 |
 Broadford
|
- |
 Clarecastle
|
2005 |
| Clonlara (2021 Senior B Champions)
|
2008 |
 Clooney-Quin
|
1942 |
 Cratloe
|
2014 |
 Crusheen
|
2011 |
| Éire Óg, Ennis
|
1990 |
| Feakle
|
1988 |
| Kilmaley
|
2004 |
| Inagh-Kilnamona
|
1908 |
| Newmarket-on-Fergus
|
2012 |
| O'Callaghan's Mills
|
1937 |
 Scariff
|
1953 |
| Sixmilebridge
|
2020 |
 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe (2021 Intermediate Champions)[1]
|
1887 |
 Whitegate
|
1961 |
| Wolfe Tones, Shannon
|
2006 |
Venues[]
Early rounds[]
Fixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams. Some of the more common venues include O'Garney Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Shannon. Cusack Park also hosts several double-headers in the early rounds of the championship.
Final[]
The final is regularly played at Cusack Park in Ennis. Named after the founder of the GAA, Michael Cusack, the ground had an original capacity of about 28,000 (mostly terraced), but following a 2011 safety review, the certified capacity was reduced to 14,864. In 2015 a major renovation started, this included the demolition and re-erection of the main stand and construction of a new entrance/exit at the north side of the stadium. Once completed in late 2017 the official capacity was increased to 19,000
Winning managers[]
| Manager | Club | Titles | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| John O'Meara | Sixmilebridge
|
3 | 2013, 2015, 2017 |
| Michael Browne | Crusheen
|
2 | 2010, 2011 |
| Tim Crowe | Sixmilebridge
|
2 | 2019, 2020 |
| Robbie Hogan | Ballyea
|
2 | 2016, 2021 |
| John Carmody | Kilmaley
|
1 | 2004 |
| Ger Ward | Clarecastle
|
1 | 2005 |
| Pat O'Rourke | Wolfe Tones, Shannon
|
1 | 2006 |
| Jim McInerney |  Tulla
|
1 | 2007 |
| Jim Gully | Clonlara
|
1 | 2008 |
| Mike Deegan | Cratloe
|
1 | 2009 |
| Bob Enright | Newmarket-on-Fergus
|
1 | 2012 |
| Joe McGrath | Cratloe
|
1 | 2014 |
| Kevin Sheehan | Ballyea
|
1 | 2018 |
Trophy[]
The winning team is presented with the Canon Hamilton Cup. A native of Clonlara, Michael Hamilton (1894-1969) was educated at Clonlara National School and St. Flannan's College, Ennis. He was ordained to the priesthood in Maynooth University in 1919 and later became a professor at St. Flannan's College. In 1922 he became one of the first chaplains in the Irish Army. Hamilton was a noted hurler in his youth and was chairman of the Clare County Board for over 25 years. He died while attending the Newmarket-on-Fergus and Clarecastle county final replay on 31 August 1969.
Roll of honour[]
| Rank | Club | Titles | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Newmarket-on-Fergus
|
23 | 1912, 1916, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1955, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1981, 2012 |
| 2. | Éire Óg, Ennis
|
15 | 1956, 1957, 1966, 1980, 1982, 1990
|
| Sixmilebridge
|
1977, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 | ||
| 4. | Clarecastle
|
12 | 1928 (with Ennis Dalcassians), 1943, 1945, 1949, 1970, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2003, 2005 |
| 5. | Tulla
|
11 | 1889, 1896, 1897, 1898 (as Carrahan), 1899, 1900 (as Carrahan), 1905, 1913, 1933, 1975 (as Brian Boru's), 2007 |
| 6. | O'Callaghan's Mills
|
8 | 1904, 1906, 1909, 1910, 1918, 1923 (as Kilkishen), 1932 (as Kilkishen), 1937 |
| 7. | Feakle
|
6 | 1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1988 |
| 8. | Ruan
|
5 | 1948, 1951, 1959, 1960, 1962 |
| Scariff
|
1907, 1917, 1946, 1952, 1953 | ||
 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield
|
1954, 1958, 1998, 1999, 2001 | ||
| 11. | Ballyea
|
3 | 2016, 2018, 2021 |
| Inagh-Kilnamona
|
1902 (as Kilnamona), 1903 (as Kilnamona), 1908 (as Kilnamona) | ||
| 13. | Bodyke
|
2 | 1947, 1975 (as Brian Boru's) |
| Clonlara
|
1919, 2008 | ||
| Cratloe
|
2009, 2014 | ||
| Crusheen
|
2010, 2011 | ||
| Kilmaley
|
1985, 2004 | ||
| Whitegate
|
1950, 1961 | ||
| Wolfe Tones, Shannon
|
1996, 2006 | ||
| 20. | Clooney-Quin
|
1 | 1942 (as Clooney) |
| Killanena
|
1975 (as Brian Boru's) | ||
| Ogonnelloe
|
1888 | ||
| Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe
|
1887 |
List of finals[]
| All-Ireland Champions | |
| Munster Champions | |
| Munster Finalists |
- St. Brendan's were an temporary amalgamation of the Kilmaley and Doora-Barefield clubs in 1979. St. Brendan's contested the 1979 county final, losing out to Sixmilebridge.
- Brian Boru's were another temporary amalgamation that was composed of the Bodyke, Killanena and Tulla clubs in 1975. They competed together at senior level when they were all competing at either intermediate or junior level individually. Brian Boru's won the 1975 senior county title defeating Éire Óg, Ennis in the final.
Records and statistics[]
Consecutive championships[]
- 4-in-a-row:
- Once by
Newmarket-on-Fergus (1971-1974)
- Once by
- 3-in-a-row:
- Once by
Feakle (1938-1940) - Three times by Newmarket-on-Fergus (1925-1927), (1963-1965), and (1967-1969)
- Once by
"The Double"[]
The following clubs have won both the Clare Senior Hurling Championship and Clare Senior Football Championship in the same year:
- Four times by
Ennis Dalcassians (1890, 1911, 1914, 1929) - Once by
Cratloe (2014)
By decade[]
The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Clare Senior Hurling Championship titles they won, is as follows:
- 1880s: One title each for
Ogonnelloe (1888), 
Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe (1887), and 
Tulla (1889) - 1890s: Three titles for Tulla (1896, 1897, 1899)
- 1900s: Three titles each for
Kilnamona (1902, 1903, 1908), and O'Callaghan's Mills (1904, 1906, 1909) - 1910s: Three titles for Ennis Dalcassians (1911, 1914, 1915)
- 1920s: Three titles each for Ennis Dalcassians (1924, 1928 (with Clarecastle), 1929), and Newmarket-on-Fergus (1925, 1926, 1927)
- 1930s: Three titles each for Feakle (1935, 1938, 1939), and Newmarket-on-Fergus (1930, 1931, 1936)
- 1940s: Three titles for
Clarecastle (1943, 1945, 1949) - 1950s: Two titles each for Éire Óg (1956, 1957),
Ruan (1951, 1959), Scariff (1952, 1953), and 
St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield (1954, 1958) - 1960s: Six titles for Newmarket-on-Fergus (1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969)
- 1970s: Six titles for Newmarket-on-Fergus (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978)
- 1980s: Three titles for Sixmilebridge (1983, 1984, 1989)
- 1990s: Three titles each for Clarecastle (1991, 1994, 1997), and Sixmilebridge (1992, 1993, 1995)
- 2000s: Two titles each for Clarecastle (2003, 2005), and Sixmilebridge (2000, 2002)
- 2010s: Four titles for Sixmilebridge (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Barren spells[]
The longest gaps between successive Clare Senior Hurling Championship titles are:
- 89 years: Clonlara (1919-2008)
- 74 years: Tulla (1933-2007)
- 44 years: Feakle (1944-1988)
- 40 years: St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield (1958-1998)
- 31 years: Newmarket-on-Fergus (1981-2012)
- 29 years: Scariff (1917-1946)
- 21 years: Clarecastle (1949-1970), and Ennis Dalcassians (1890-1911)
- 20 years: Tulla (1913-1933)
- 19 years:
Kilmaley (1985-2004), O'Callaghan's Mills (1918-1937), and Newmarket-on-Fergus (1936-1955) - 16 years: Clarecastle (1970-1986)
- 14 years: Éire Óg, Ennis (1966-1980)
- 11 years: Sixmilebridge (2002-2013),
Whitegate (1950-1961) - 10 years: Scariff (1907-1917), Wolfe Tones, Shannon (1996-2006)
See also[]
- Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship
- Clare Junior A Hurling Championship
- Clare Under-21 A Hurling Championship
References[]
- ^ "Smith O'Brien's Climb Back To Clare Senior Ranks". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "Sixmilebridge make some history and look to the future after retaining Clare SHC title". Irish Examiner. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "Clare SHC final: joy for Davy Fitz' as 'Bridge see off neighbours". Hogan Stand. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ "Strong finish sees Ballyea secure second title". Irish Examiner. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "Clare SHC final: Duggan to the rescue for Clooney-Quin". Hogan Stand. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "Sixmilebridge the team of decade as fairytale ends for Clooney-Quin". Irish Examiner. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ^ "O'Connell late show saves day for Clonlara". Irish Independent. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ "Ballyea show courage in abundance to land first title". Irish Examiner. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ "Gilly glory as Bridge too strong". Irish Examiner. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ "Clare SHC final: Cratloe complete first leg of double". Hogan Stand. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "Battling Bridge reign supreme after final epic". Irish Examiner. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Newmarket end 31 years of hurt". Irish Examiner. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ "Dillon to fore as Crusheen become Goliaths". Irish Independent. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "Long wait over for Crusheen as Meaney's cameo seals historic first". Irish Independent. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
- ^ "Crusheen celebrate". Irish Times. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
External links[]
- Clare Senior Hurling Championship
- Hurling competitions in County Clare
- Senior hurling county championships