# Waterford Senior Hurling Championship

The Waterford Senior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Senior Hurling Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1897 for the top hurling teams in the county of Waterford in Ireland.
The series of games are played during the spring, summer and autumn months with the county final currently being played at Walsh Park in October. Initially played as a knock-out competition, the championship currently features a group stage followed by a knock-out stage. The Waterford County Championship is an integral part of the wider Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship. The winners of the Waterford county final join the champions of the other hurling counties to contest the provincial championship. Twelve teams currently participate in the Waterford County Championship. The title has been won at least once by 23 different teams. The all-time record-holders are Mount Sion, who have won a total of 35 titles. Ballygunner are the title-holders after defeating Abbeyside by 2–28 to 2–10 in the 2024 championship final.

## Format
### Current format

Group stage: The 12 teams are divided into four groups of three. Each team plays each other once. The top team in each group advance to the quarter final stage and are seeded. The second placed teams from each group are drawn against third placed teams in each group in a preliminary quarter final. The winners advance to the quarter finals whilst the losers are summoned to relegation semi-finals and finals, with one team being relegated to the premier intermediate grade.
Preliminary quarter-finals: 8 teams contest this round. The 4 winning teams advance to the Quarter-finals. The 4 losing teams advance to the relegation play-offs.
Relegation play-off: 4 teams contest this round. The losing team are relegated to the Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Quarter-finals: 8 teams contest this round. The 4 winning teams advance to the Semi-finals. The 4 losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Semi-finals: 4 teams contest this round. The 2 winning teams advance to the Semi-finals. The 2 losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Final: The final is contested by the two semi-final winners.

## Teams
### 2025 teams

The following 12 teams will contest the 2025 Waterford Senior Hurling Championship:
| Team | Location | Colours | Division | Position in 2024 | In championship since | Championship titles | Last championship title |
| Abbeyside | Abbeyside | Blue and orange | West | Runners-up | 2004 | 0 | — |
| Ballygunner | Ballygunner | Red and black | East | Champions | ? | 23 | 2024 |
| Brickey Rangers | Dungarvan | Amber and black | West | Waterford PIHC winners | 2025 | 0 | — |
| Clonea | Rathgormack | Red and green | East | Relegation playoff winners | 2019 | 5 | 1952 |
| De La Salle | Waterford | Red and white | East | Quarter-finals | ? | 3 | 2012 |
| Dungarvan | Dungarvan | Blue and white | West | Quarter-finals | 2010 | 6 | 1941 |
| Ferrybank | Ferrybank | Green and white | East | Quarter-finals | 2024 | 3 | 1919 |
| Fourmilewater | Ballymacarbry | Blue and white | West | Preliminary quarter-finals | 2002 | 0 | — |
| Lismore | Lismore | Yellow and black | West | Preliminary quarter-finals | 2017 | 3 | 1993 |
| Mount Sion | Waterford | Blue and white | East | Semi-finals | ? | 35 | 2006 |
| Passage | Passage East | Red and white | East | Semi-finals | ? | 1 | 2013 |
| Roanmore | Waterford | Blue and white | East | Quarter-finals | 2011 | 2 | 1990 |

## Qualification for subsequent competitions

The Waterford Senior Hurling Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship.

## Managers

Managers in the Waterford Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the individual club committees. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and a backroom team consisting of various coaches.

## List of finals
### Legend

* Gold – Munster senior club champions
* Silver – Munster senior club runners-up

### List of Waterford SHC finals

| Year | Winners | Winners | Runners-up | Runners-up |
| Year | Club | Score | Club | Score |
| 2024 | Ballygunner | 2-28 | Abbeyside | 2-10 |
| 2023 | Ballygunner | 2-26 | De La Salle | 0-21 |
| 2022 | Ballygunner | 2-11 | Mount Sion | 0-08 |
| 2021 | Ballygunner | 2-27 | Roanmore | 0-13 |
| 2020 | Ballygunner | 1-23 | Passage | 0-09 |
| 2019 | Ballygunner | 1-24 | De La Salle | 1-15 |
| 2018 | Ballygunner | 2-19 | Abbeyside | 0-13 |
| 2017 | Ballygunner | 2-18 | De La Salle | 0-16 |
| 2016 | Ballygunner | 4-20 | Passage | 1-12 |
| 2015 | Ballygunner | 0-16 | Tallow | 0-12 |
| 2014 | Ballygunner | 2-16 | Mount Sion | 0-09 |
| 2013 | Passage | 3-16 | Ballygunner | 3-13 |
| 2012 | De La Salle | 1-21 | Dungarvan | 0-12 |
| 2011 | Ballygunner | 1-19 | Tallow | 0-06 |
| 2010 | De La Salle | 3-13 | Ballygunner | 1-11 |
| 2009 | Ballygunner | (4-12) 1-17 | Lismore | (2-18) 0-19 |
| 2008 | De La Salle | 0-11 | Abbeyside | 0-09 |
| 2007 | Ballyduff Upper | 1-18 | Ballygunner | 1-14 |
| 2006 | Mount Sion | 2-13 | Ballygunner | 0-12 |
| 2005 | Ballygunner | 2-10 | De La Salle | 1-12 |
| 2004 | Mount Sion | 4-14 | Ballygunner | 4-07 |
| 2003 | Mount Sion | 1-14 | Ballygunner | 1-10 |
| 2002 | Mount Sion | 1-19 | Ballygunner | 2-14 |
| 2001 | Ballygunner | 4-12 | Lismore | 1-16 |
| 2000 | Mount Sion | 1-20 | Ballygunner | 0-09 |
| 1999 | Ballygunner | 1-18 | Mount Sion | 2-10 |
| 1998 | Mount Sion | 3-19 | Ballyduff Upper | 0-10 |
| 1997 | Ballygunner | 2-17 | Passage | 1-14 |
| 1996 | Ballygunner | 3-13 | Lismore | 1-12 |
| 1995 | Ballygunner | (1-08) 3-13 (R) | Mount Sion | (1-08) 1-17 (R) |
| 1994 | Mount Sion | 2-13 | Passage | 1-11 |
| 1993 | Lismore | 0-08 | Passage | 0-07 |
| 1992 | Ballygunner | 1-12 | Mount Sion | 2-07 |
| 1991 | Lismore | 5-07 | Mount Sion | 1-05 |
| 1990 | Roanmore | 3-13 | Ballyduff Upper | 2-06 |
| 1989 | Roanmore | 3-08 | Ballyduff Upper | 2-07 |
| 1988 | Mount Sion | 2-15 | Ballygunner | 3-08 |
| 1987 | Ballyduff Upper | 4-07 | Roanmore | 2-11 |
| 1986 | Mount Sion | 0-16 | Lismore | 0-10 |
| 1985 | Tallow | 3-08 | Ballyduff Upper | 2-08 |
| 1984 | Tallow | 2-12 | Portlaw | 2-01 |
| 1983 | Mount Sion | 5-11 | Ballyduff Upper | 2-06 |
| 1982 | Ballyduff Upper | 0-20 | Dunhill | 1-11 |
| 1981 | Mount Sion | 4-13 | Dunhill | 1-14 |
| 1980 | Tallow | 1-07 | Dunhill | 1-06 |
| 1979 | Dunhill | 2-17 | Ballyduff Upper | 2-08 |
| 1978 | Dunhill | 2-16 | Mount Sion | 4-08 |
| 1977 | Portlaw | 4-10 | Ballyduff Upper | 2-10 |
| 1976 | Portlaw | 7-12 | Tallow | 1-05 |
| 1975 | Mount Sion | 6-04 | Portlaw | 2-07 |
| 1974 | Mount Sion | 3-08 | Portlaw | 2-10 |
| 1973 | Portlaw | 2-11 | Mount Sion | 2-07 |
| 1972 | Mount Sion | 2-10 | Dunhill | 2-08 |
| 1971 | Portlaw | 1-13 | St. Mollerans | 2-08 |
| 1970 | Ballyduff Lower/Portlaw (awarded title) | | | |
| 1969 | Mount Sion | 7-11 | Abbeyside | 2-13 |
| 1968 | Ballygunner | 2-10 | Mount Sion | 3-02 |
| 1967 | Ballygunner | 2-10 | Ballyduff Lower/Portlaw | 3-05 |
| 1966 | Ballygunner | 2-06 | Mount Sion | 2-03 |
| 1965 | Mount Sion | 3-02 | Ballygunner | 2-04 |
| 1964 | Mount Sion | 3-06 | Abbeyside | 1-06 |
| 1963 | Mount Sion | 4-06 | Ballygunner | 3-04 |
| 1962 | Erin's Own | 5-07 | Mount Sion | 1-04 |
| 1961 | Mount Sion | 2-14 | Erin's Own | 2-04 |
| 1960 | Mount Sion | 5-09 | Erin's Own | 2-05 |
| 1959 | Mount Sion | 5-05 | Erin's Own | 5-04 |
| 1958 | Mount Sion | 6-10 | Faughs | 1-08 |
| 1957 | Mount Sion | 2-10 | Abbeyside | 1-02 |
| 1956 | Mount Sion | 7-07 | Cappoquin | 2-06 |
| 1955 | Mount Sion | 2-10 | Abbeyside | 3-04 |
| 1954 | Mount Sion | 3-14 | Erin's Own | 5-02 |
| 1953 | Mount Sion | 7-11 | Tourin | 1-01 |
| 1952 | Clonea | 1-10 | T. F. Meaghers | 2-01 |
| 1951 | Mount Sion | 7-08 | Dungarvan | 0-09 |
| 1950 | Tourin | 3-07 | Mount Sion | 2-05 |
| 1949 | Mount Sion | 4-08 | Clonea | 0-06 |
| 1948 | Mount Sion | 4-08 | Avonmore | 0-08 |
| 1947 | Erin's Own | 3-04 | Clonea | 3-01 |
| 1946 | Erin's Own | 5-07 | Brickey Rangers | 2-04 |
| 1945 | Mount Sion | 3-08 | Dungarvan | 2-05 |
| 1944 | 3rd Battalion | 4-03 | Portlaw | 2-07 |
| 1943 | Mount Sion | 3-08 | Tallow | 1-05 |
| 1942 | Erin's Own | 2-05 | Lismore | 2-03 |
| 1941 | Dungarvan | 2-06 | Mount Sion | 1-05 |
| 1940 | Mount Sion | 6-05 | Dungarvan | 3-02 |
| 1939 | Mount Sion | 2-04 | Erin's Own | 2-02 |
| 1938 | Mount Sion | 4-03 | Erin's Own | 3-04 |
| 1937 | Portlaw | 3-01 | Dungarvan | 0-03 |
| 1936 | Mount Sion | 2-06 | Tallow | 1-05 (Tallow won on objection) |
| 1935 | Erin's Own | 4-07 | Tallow | 2-04 |
| 1934 | Erin's Own | 6-04 | Tallow | 0-02 |
| 1933 | Erin's Own | 7-06 | Dunhill | 1-03 |
| 1932 | Erin's Own | 2-02 | Tallow | 0-02 |
| 1931 | Erin's Own | 4-07 | Tallow | 0-03 |
| 1930 | Erin's Own | 6-04 | Dungarvan | 0-01 |
| 1929 | Erin's Own | 10-04 | Lismore | 1-01 |
| 1928 | Erin's Own | 5-06 | Tallow | 2-00 |
| 1927 | Erin's Own | 8-02 | Dungarvan | 0-05 |
| 1926 | Dungarvan | 5-02 | Lismore | 2-03 |
| 1925 | Lismore | 4-02 | Erin's Own | 2-03 |
| 1924 | T. F. Meaghers | 11-05 | Dungarvan | 1-02 |
| 1923 | Dungarvan | | | |
| 1922 | T. F. Meaghers | | | |
| 1921 | No Championship | | | |
| 1920 | Dungarvan | 9-02 | Ferrybank | 1-00 |
| 1919 | Ferrybank | | | |
| 1918 | Clonea | 4-03 | Ferrybank | 2-01 |
| 1917 | Dungarvan | | | |
| 1916 | Young Irelands | 6-02 | Ferrybank | 2-00 |
| 1915 | Ferrybank | | | |
| 1914 | St Stephens De La Salle | | | |
| 1913 | St Stephens De La Salle | 5-04 | Ballyduff Upper | 0-02 |
| 1912 | T. F. Meagher's | 4-02 | Clonea | 1-00 |
| 1911 | T. F. Meaghers | | | |
| 1910 | T. F. Meaghers | 4-04 | Dungarvan | 1-02 |
| 1909 | T. F. Meaghers | | | |
| 1908 | Dungarvan | 14 Points | Dunhill | 1 Goal |
| 1907 | Clonea | | | |
| 1906 | De La Salle | 5-05 | Ballyduff Lower | 0-05 |
| 1905 | Clonea | 6-10 | Ballyduff Upper | 3-05 |
| 1904 | Gracedieu | | Clonea | |
| 1903 | Clonea | | De La Salle | |
| 1902 | Clonea | | Shanacool Durrow | |
| 1901 | | | | |
| 1900 | | | | |
| 1899 | Ballydurn | | Blackwater Ramblers | |
| 1898 | | | | |
| 1897 | Ballytruckle | | | |

## Roll of honour

| # | Club | Titles | Championships won |
| 1 | Mount Sion | 35 | 1938, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 |
| 2 | Ballygunner | 23 | 1966, 1967, 1968, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 3 | Erin's Own | 13 | 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1942, 1946, 1947,1962 |
| 4 | T.F. Meaghers | 6 | 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1922, 1924 |
| 4 | Dungarvan | 6 | 1908, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1926, 1941 |
| 4 | Portlaw | 5 | 1937, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977 |
| 7 | Clonea | 5 | 1902, 1903, 1905, 1907, 1952 |
| 8 | Tallow | 4 | 1936, 1980, 1984, 1985 |
| 9 | Ferrybank | 3 | 1915, 1916, 1919 |
| 9 | Lismore | 3 | 1925, 1991, 1993 |
| 9 | Ballyduff Upper | 3 | 1983, 1987, 2007 |
| 9 | De La Salle | 3 | 2008, 2010, 2012 |
| 13 | St Stephens De La Salle | 2 | 1913, 1914 |
| 13 | Ballyduff Lower | 2 | 1906, 1970 (awarded title) |
| 13 | Dunhill | 2 | 1978, 1979 |
| 13 | Roanmore | 2 | 1989, 1990 |
| 17 | Ballytruckle | 1 | 1897 |
| 17 | Ballydurn | 1 | 1899 |
| 17 | Gracedieu | 1 | 1904 |
| 17 | Young Irelands | 1 | 1918 |
| 17 | 3rd Battalion | 1 | 1944 |
| 17 | Tourin | 1 | 1950 |
| 17 | Passage | 1 | 2013 |

## Records and statistics
### Teams
#### By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Waterford Senior Hurling Championship titles, is as follows:
* 1890s: 1 each for Ballytruckle (1897) and Ballydurn (1899)
* 1900s: 4 for Clonea (1902-03-05-07)
* 1910s: 3 each for T. F. Meaghers (1910-11-12) and Ferrybank (1915-16-19)
* 1920s: 3 each for Dungarvan (1920-23-26) and Erin's Own (1927-28-29)
* 1930s: 6 for Erin's Own (1930-31-32-33-34-35)
* 1940s: 5 for Mount Sion (1940-43-45-48-49)
* 1950s: 8 for Mount Sion (1951-53-54-55-56-57-58-59)
* 1960s: 6 for Mount Sion (1960-61-63-64-65-69)
* 1970s: 5 for Portlaw (1970-71-73-76-77)
* 1980s: 4 for Mount Sion (1981-83-86-88)
* 1990s: 5 for Ballygunner (1992-95-96-97-99)
* 2000s: 5 for Mount Sion (2000-02-03-04-06)
* 2010s: 7 for Ballygunner (2011-14-15-16-17-18-19)
* 2020s: 5 for Ballygunner (2020-21-22-23-24)

#### Gaps

Top five longest gaps between successive championship titles:
* 66 years: Lismore (1925-1991)
* 45 years: Clonea (1907-1952)
* 44 years: Tallow (1936-1980)
* 33 years: Portlaw (1937-1970)
* 20 years: Ballyduff Upper (1987-2007)