# Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship

The Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the AIB Munster GAA Hurling Junior Club Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the five champion junior clubs and one champion intermediate club in the province of Munster in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition for junior clubs in Munster hurling.
The Munster Junior Club Championship was introduced in 2001. In its current format, the championship begins in late October or early November and is usually played over a four-week period. The six participating club teams compete in a straight knockout competition that culminates with the Munster final for the two remaining teams. The winner of the Munster Junior Championship, as well as being presented with the Rody Nealon Cup, qualifies for the subsequent All-Ireland Club Championship.
The competition has been won by 21 teams, however, only two teams has ever won the championship on more than one occasion. Cork clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories with 17 wins.
Russell Rovers are the title holders, defeating Kilrossanty by 3–12 to 1–07 in the 2024 final.

## Format
### Overview

The Munster Championship is a single elimination tournament. Each team is afforded only one defeat before being eliminated from the championship. Pairings for matches are drawn at random and there is no seeding.
Each match is played as a single leg. If a match is drawn there is a period of extra time, however, if both sides are still level at the end of extra time a replay takes place and so on until a winner is found.

### Competition format

Quarter-final: Four teams contest this round. The two winning teams advances directly to the semi-final stage. The two losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Semi-finals: Four teams contest this round. The two winning teams advance directly to the final. The two losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Final: The final is contested by the two semi-final winners.

## Teams
### Qualification

| County | Championship | Qualifying team |
| Clare | Clare Junior A Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Cork | Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Kerry | Kerry Intermediate Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Limerick | Limerick Junior A Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Tipperary | Tipperary Junior A Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Waterford | Waterford Junior A Hurling Championship | Champions |

### 2024 teams

TBD clubs will compete in the 2024 Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship: TBD teams from Clare, twelve teams from Cork, seven teams from Kerry, TBD teams from Limerick, twenty six teams from Tipperary and fourteen teams from Waterford.
| County | No. | Clubs competing in county championship |
| Clare | | |
| Cork | 12 | Argideen Rangers, Ballygarvan, Barryroe, Douglas, Glen Rovers, Kilbrittain, Meelin, Milford, Nemo Rangers, Russell Rovers, St Catherine's, St Finbarr's |
| Kerry | 7 | Abbeydorney, Ballyheigue, Kenmare Shamrocks, Kilgarvan, Lixnaw, Rathmore, St Brendan's |
| Limerick | | |
| Tipperary | 26 | Ballinahinch, Ballylooby–Castlegrace, Boherlahan–Dualla, Borris–Ileigh, Cahir, Carrick Swans, Cashel King Cormacs, Clonmel Óg, Drom & Inch, Galtee Rovers, Grangemockler, Holycross–Ballycahill, JK Brackens, Kildangan, Kilruane MacDonagh's, Lattin–Cullen, Loughmore–Castleiney, Moycarkey–Borris, Moyle Rovers, Mullinahone, Nenagh Éire Óg, Rockwell Rovers, Roscrea, St Patrick’s, Thurles Sarsfields, Toomevara |
| Waterford | 14 | Abbeyside–Ballinacourty, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Cappoquin, Clonea, De La Salle, Fenor, Fourmilewater, Kilrossanty, Mount Sion, Passage, Roanmore, St Marys East, Stradbally |
Note: Bold indicates county representatives.

## Trophy and medals

At the end of the Munster final, the winning team is presented with a trophy. The Rody Nealon Cup is held by the winning team until the following year's final. Traditionally, the presentation is made at a special rostrum in the stand where GAA and other dignitaries and special guests view the match.
The cup is decorated with ribbons in the colours of the winning team. During the game the cup actually has both teams' sets of ribbons attached and the runners-up ribbons are removed before the presentation. The winning captain accepts the cup on behalf of his team before giving a short speech. Individual members of the winning team then have an opportunity to come to the rostrum to lift the cup.
The cup is named after Rody Nealon. He was an All-Ireland medal winner with Tipperary in 1925 before later serving as chairman and secretary of the Burgess club at different times, while he was also a member of the Tipperary County Board and the Munster Council.
In accordance with GAA rules, the Munster Council awards a set of 24 gold medals to the winners of the Munster final.

## Sponsorship

Since 2001, the Munster Championship has been sponsored. The sponsor has usually been able to determine the championship's sponsorship name.
| Period | Sponsor | Name |
| 2001–present | Allied Irish Bank | The AIB Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship |

## List of Finals
### List of Munster JHC finals

| Year | Winners | Winners | Winners | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Venue | |
| Year | County | Club | Score | County | Club | Score | Venue | |
| 2024 | COR | Russell Rovers | 3–12 | WAT | Kilrossanty | 1–07 | Páirc Uí Rinn | |
| 2023 | COR | St Catherine's | 2-14 | LIM | Feenagh–Kilmeedy | 1-15 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2022 | COR | Ballygiblin | 3-12 | LIM | St Kierans | 0-11 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2021 | COR | Ballygiblin | 2-14 | TIP | Skeheenarinky | 1-09 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2020 | No Championship | No Championship | No Championship | No Championship | No Championship | No Championship | No Championship | No Championship |
| 2019 | COR | Russell Rovers | 2-13 | WAT | St. Mary's | 0-11 | Fraher Field | |
| 2018 | COR | Cloughduv | 0-17 | WAT | Ballinameela | 0-12 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2017 | WAT | Ardmore | 3-11 | TIP | Ballybacon-Grange | 2-08 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2016 | COR | Mayfield | 2-18 | WAT | Ballyduff Lower | 3-10 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2015 | COR | Dungourney | 1-17 | WAT | Fenor | 0-08 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2014 | WAT | Modeligo | 5-12 | COR | Castlemartyr | 0-14 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2013 | WAT | Ballysaggart | 3-12 | LIM | Feenagh-Kilmeedy | 0-15 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2012 | COR | Kildorrery | 1-11 | LIM | | St Kierans | 0-12 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2011 | COR | Charleville | 3-15 | LIM | Cappamore | 2-08 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2010 | COR | Meelin | 5-18 | TIP | St. Patrick's | 0-09 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2009 | LIM | Blackrock | 1-12 | COR | Fermoy | 0-14 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2008 | COR | Dripsey | 2-11 | KER | Kilgarvan | 1-03 | Mallow GAA Complex | |
| 2007 | TIP | Moyle Rovers | 3-10 | COR | Barryroe | 0-09 | Páirc Mac Gearailt | |
| 2006 | COR | Kilworth | 4-16 | TIP | Knockshegowna | 1-07 | Meelick | |
| 2005 | COR | Fr. O'Neill's | 1-12 | TIP | Knockshegowna | 0-07 | Gaelic Grounds | |
| 2004 | COR | Ballygarvan | 0-16 | WAT | Tramore | 1-05 | Páirc Mac Gearailt | |
| 2003 | CLA | Newmarket-on-Fergus | 3-10 | COR | Dromina | 1-10 | | |
| 2002 | COR | Ballinhassig | 6-07 | TIP | Ballinahinch | 2-08 | | |
| 2001 | COR | Courcey Rovers | | WAT | Ardmore | | | |

## Roll of Honour
### By club

| # | Club | County | Titles | Runners-up | Championships won | Championships runner-up |
| 1 | Ballygiblin | COR | 2 | 0 | 2021, 2022 | — |
| 1 | Russell Rovers | COR | 2 | 0 | 2019, 2024 | — |
| 3 | Ardmore | WAT | 1 | 1 | 2017 | 2001 |
| 3 | Courcey Rovers | COR | 1 | 0 | 2001 | — |
| 3 | Ballinhassig | COR | 1 | 0 | 2002 | — |
| 3 | Newmarket-on-Fergus | CLA | 1 | 0 | 2003 | — |
| 3 | Ballygarvan | COR | 1 | 0 | 2004 | — |
| 3 | Fr. O'Neill's | COR | 1 | 0 | 2005 | — |
| 3 | Kilworth | COR | 1 | 0 | 2006 | — |
| 3 | Moyle Rovers | TIP | 1 | 0 | 2007 | — |
| 3 | Dripsey | COR | 1 | 0 | 2008 | — |
| 3 | Blackrock | LIM | 1 | 0 | 2009 | — |
| 3 | Meelin | COR | 1 | 0 | 2010 | — |
| 3 | Charleville | COR | 1 | 0 | 2011 | — |
| 3 | Kildorrery | COR | 1 | 0 | 2012 | — |
| 3 | Ballysaggart | WAT | 1 | 0 | 2013 | — |
| 3 | Modeligo | WAT | 1 | 0 | 2014 | — |
| 3 | Dungourney | COR | 1 | 0 | 2015 | — |
| 3 | Mayfield | COR | 1 | 0 | 2016 | — |
| 3 | Cloughduv | COR | 1 | 0 | 2018 | — |
| 3 | St Catherine's | COR | 1 | 0 | 2023 | — |
| 22 | Knockshegowna | TIP | 0 | 2 | — | 2005, 2006 |
| 22 | St Kierans | LIM | 0 | 2 | — | 2012, 2022 |
| 22 | Feenagh–Kilmeedy | LIM | 0 | 2 | — | 2013, 2023 |
| 22 | Ballinahinch | TIP | 0 | 1 | — | 2002 |
| 22 | Dromina | COR | 0 | 1 | — | 2003 |
| 22 | Tramore | WAT | 0 | 1 | — | 2004 |
| 22 | Barryroe | COR | 0 | 1 | — | 2007 |
| 22 | Kilgarvan | KER | 0 | 1 | — | 2008 |
| 22 | Fermoy | COR | 0 | 1 | — | 2009 |
| 22 | St. Patrick's | TIP | 0 | 1 | — | 2010 |
| 22 | Cappamore | LIM | 0 | 1 | — | 2011 |
| 22 | Castlemartyr | COR | 0 | 1 | — | 2014 |
| 22 | Fenor | WAT | 0 | 1 | — | 2015 |
| 22 | Ballyduff Lower | WAT | 0 | 1 | — | 2016 |
| 22 | Ballybacon-Grange | TIP | 0 | 1 | — | 2017 |
| 22 | Ballinameela | WAT | 0 | 1 | — | 2018 |
| 22 | St. Mary's | WAT | 0 | 1 | — | 2019 |
| 22 | Skeheenarinky | TIP | 0 | 1 | — | 2021 |
| 22 | Kilrossanty | WAT | 0 | 1 | — | 2024 |

### By county

| County | Titles | Runners-up | Total |
| Cork | 17 | 4 | 21 |
| Waterford | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Tipperary | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Limerick | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Clare | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kerry | 0 | 1 | 1 |

## Records and statistics
### Biggest wins

The most one sided Munster finals:
* 24 points – 2010: Meelin 5-18 (33) – (9) 0-09 St. Patrick's
* 18 points – 2006: Kilworth 4-16 (28) – (10) 1-07 Knockshegowna
* 13 points – 2014: Modeligo 5-12 (27) – (14) 0-14 Castlemartyr
* 12 points – 2017: Dungourney 1-17 (20) – (8) 0-08 Fenor
* 11 points – 2008: Dripsey 2-11 (17) – (6) 1-03 Kilgarvan

### Top scorers
#### By year

| Year | Top scorer | Team | Score | Total |
| 2002 | John Chawke | Kildimo-Pallaskenry | 0-19 | 19 |
| 2003 | Pat Lawlor | Thurles Fennellys | 3-09 | 18 |
| 2004 | Liam Dillon | Ballygarvan | 0-17 | 17 |
| 2005 | Michael Kennedy | Knockshegowna | 1-09 | 12 |
| 2006 | Paudie Lynch | Kilworth | 1-12 | 15 |
| 2007 | Kieran Griffin | Barryroe | 0-20 | 20 |
| 2008 | Diarmuid O'Riordan | Dripsey | 3-13 | 22 |
| 2009 | Cathal Dillon | Aherlow | 0-15 | 15 |
| 2010 | Éamonn Brosnan | Meelin | 3-17 | 26 |
| 2011 | James O'Brien | Charleville | 3-19 | 28 |
| 2012 | Peter O'Brien | Kildorrery | 3-15 | 24 |
| 2013 | Stephen Bennett | Ballysaggart | 3-23 | 32 |
| 2014 | Jamie Troy | Modeligo | 1-14 | 17 |
| 2015 | Liam Tierney | Ennistymon | 2-12 | 18 |
| 2016 | Nicky Kelly | Mayfield | 0-27 | 27 |
| 2017 | Séamus Prendergast | Ardmore | 5-20 | 35 |
| 2018 | Anthony Hartnett | Tournafulla | 0-24 | 24 |
| 2019 | Eoin Kearns | St. Mary's | 1-21 | 24 |
| 2020 | No championship | No championship | No championship | No championship |
| 2021 | Tomás Vaughan | Skeheenarinky | 0-25 | 25 |
| 2022 | Shane Meehan | Banner | 2-23 | 30 |

#### Single game

| Year | Top scorer | Team | Opposition | Score | Total |
| 2002 | John Chawke | Kildimo-Pallaskenry | Éire Óg, Inis | 0-12 | 12 |
| 2003 | Pat Lawlor | Thurles Fennellys | Laune Rangers | 3-09 | 18 |
| 2004 | Tommy Hogan | Ennistymon | Ballyneale | 2-02 | 8 |
| 2005 | Ronan Conlon | Meelick | Hospital-Herbertstown | 0-07 | 7 |
| 2006 | Paudie Lynch | Kilworth | Knockshegowna | 1-08 | 11 |
| 2007 | Mickey Foley | Kilgarvan | Caherline | 1-09 | 12 |
| 2008 | Pat Buckley | Emly | Kilgarvan | 3-06 | 15 |
| 2009 | Cathal Dillon | Aherlow | Tourin | 0-10 | 10 |
| 2009 | Darragh Fives | Tourin | Aherlow | 0-10 | 10 |
| 2010 | Éamonn Brosnan | Meelin | Effin | 2-10 | 16 |
| 2011 | James O'Brien | Charleville | Rockwell Rovers | 1-08 | 11 |
| 2012 | Peter O'Brien | Kildorrery | Butlerstown | 2-09 | 15 |
| 2013 | Stephen Bennett | Ballysaggart | Grenagh | 1-11 | 14 |
| 2014 | Barry Lawton | Castlemartyr | Modeligo | 0-10 | 10 |
| 2015 | Liam Tierney | Ennistymon | Ballylooby-Castlegrace | 2-07 | 13 |
| 2016 | Shane Duggan | Mayfield | St. Patrick's | 2-06 | 12 |
| 2017 | Séamus Prendergast | Ardmore | Bodyke | 2-06 | 12 |
| 2017 | Séamus Prendergast | Ardmore | St. Patrick's | 1-09 | 12 |
| 2018 | Anthony Hartnett | Tournafulla | Kilgarvan | 0-14 | 14 |
| 2019 | Josh Beausang | Russell Rovers | St. Mary's | 1-08 | 11 |
| 2019 | Josh Beausang | Russell Rovers | Kilgarvan | 0-11 | 11 |
| 2020 | No championship | No championship | No championship | No championship | No championship |
| 2021 | Tomás Vaughan | Skeheenarinky | Ogonnelloe | 0-11 | 11 |
| 2022 | Shane Meehan | Banner | Kilgarvan | 2-11 | 17 |

#### Finals

| Final | Top scorer | Team | Score | Total |
| 2002 | Declan O'Sullivan | Ballinhassig | 0-06 | 6 |
| 2003 | Robert Shanahan | Newmarket | 3-01 | 10 |
| 2004 | Liam Dillon | Ballygarvan | 0-07 | 7 |
| 2005 | Ger O'Leary | Fr. O'Neill's | 0-06 | 6 |
| 2006 | Paudie Lynch | Kilworth | 1-08 | 11 |
| 2007 | Barry Whelan | Moyle Rovers | 2-01 | 7 |
| 2008 | Mark O'Sullivan | Dripsey | 2-00 | 6 |
| 2009 | Brian O'Sullivan | Fermoy | 0-09 | 9 |
| 2010 | Éamonn Brosnan | Meelin | 1-07 | 10 |
| 2011 | James O'Brien | Charleville | 1-05 | 8 |
| 2012 | Peter O'Brien | Kildorrery | 1-06 | 9 |
| 2013 | Stephen Bennett | Ballysaggart | 1-07 | 10 |
| 2014 | Barry Lawton | Castlemartyr | 0-10 | 10 |
| 2015 | Ryan Denny | Dungourney | 0-11 | 11 |
| 2016 | Nicky Kelly | Mayfield | 0-10 | 10 |
| 2017 | Séamus Prendergast | Ardmore | 2-05 | 11 |
| 2018 | Brian Verling | Cloughduv | 0-09 | 9 |
| 2019 | Josh Beausang | Russell Rovers | 1-08 | 11 |
| 2020 | No championship | No championship | No championship | No championship |
| 2021 | Joseph O'Sullivan | Ballygiblin | 0-09 | 9 |
| 2022 | Shane Beston | Ballygiblin | 3-03 | 12 |