# Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship

The Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the AIB Munster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the champion hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland.
The series of games are played during the autumn and winter months with the Munster final currently being played in November. The prize for the winning team is the O'Neill Cup. The championship has always been played on a straight knockout basis whereby once a team loses they are eliminated from the championship.
The Munster Championship is an integral part of the wider All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship. The winners of the Munster final join the champions of Galway, Leinster and Ulster in the semi-final stages of the All-Ireland Senior Club Championship.
Five clubs currently participate in the Munster Championship, with the Kerry champions participating at intermediate level. The title has been won at least once by 27 different clubs. The all-time record-holders are Ballygunner and Blackrock who have both won five championship titles.
Sarsfields are the title-holders after defeating Ballygunner by 3-20 to 2-19 in the 2024 Munster final.

## History
### Beginnings

Since the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884, challenge, exhibition and tournament matches between clubs on an inter-county level were commonplace. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Glen Rovers of Cork and Ahane of Limerick regularly clashed in off-season games. In the 1950s the Cork Churches Tournament came to be recognised as the unofficial All-Ireland Club Championship. The tournament was an initiative by the then Bishop of Cork and Ross, Cornelius Lucey, to raise money to build five new churches in the fast developing suburbs of Cork. Participation was by invitation and was extended to the country’s current best hurling teams. This tournament lasted for five years, however, by the 1960s there was a growing appetite for a similar competition. In 1965 the Munster Council organised the inaugural inter-county club championship, with participation limited to the 1964 champion hurling clubs of each county. The inaugural championship suffered lengthy delays, with the final taking place in 1966. Since then the title has been awarded every year.

### Team changes

Due to a lack of meaningful competition in their own province, all Galway teams competed in the various Munster Championships between 1959 and 1969. The creation of the club championship saw the Galway champions participate for the Munster title for six seasons from 1964 until 1969.
The 2007 Munster Club Championship was the last time that the Kerry champions participated in the competition. Historically seen as the weakest of the team involved, the Kerry County Board decided to regrade and enter their senior champions in the Munster Intermediate Club Championship.

### Team dominance

While Cork clubs Glen Rovers and St. Finbarr's, Togher won the first two championship titles, Newmarket-on-Fergus became the first team to retain the championship in 1968. Roscrea completed their own two-in-a-row in 1970, however, the rest of that decade was the preserve of Cork clubs as Blackrock, St. Finbarr's, Togher and Glen Rovers claimed every available championship title. Mount Sion of Waterford broke the decade-long hegemony in 1981 by becoming the first Waterford team to win the championship. Tipperary clubs were dominant throughout the rest of the 1980s, with Moycarkey-Borris, Kilruane MacDonaghs and Borris-Ileigh all winning the provincial decider. As the decade drew to a close and the 1990s began, Limerick clubs made their first impression with Ballybrown, Patrickswell and Kilmallock being added to the roll of honour. Clare clubs dominated between 1995 and 2000, with Sixmilebridge, Clarecastle, Wolfe Tones and St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield reflecting the county's dominance at inter-county level by also claiming the club championship title. The new century saw Newtownshanrum and Toomevara win five titles between them between 2003 and 2009, however, Waterford clubs also enjoyed success. Since 2011 the championship has been dominated by Limerick clubs, with Na Piarsaigh winning four titles in seven years.

## 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: Two teams contest this round. The winning teams advances directly to the semi-final stage. The losing team is 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 Senior Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Cork | Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship | Champions* |
| Limerick | Limerick Senior Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Tipperary | Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship | Champions |
| Waterford | Waterford Senior Hurling Championship | Champions |
*Or if the Championship is won by a divisional side, the club progressing furthest in the competition

### 2024 teams

68 clubs will compete in the 2024 Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship:
| County | No. | Clubs competing in county championship |
| Clare | 16 | Ballyea, Broadford, Clonlara, Clooney-Quin, Corofin, Cratloe, Crusheen, Éire Óg, Ennis, Feakle, Inagh-Kilnamona, Kilmaley, Newmarket-on-Fergus, O'Callaghan's Mills, Scariff, Sixmilebridge, St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield |
| Cork | 12 | Bishopstown, Blackrock, Charleville, Douglas, Erin's Own, Fr O'Neill's, Kanturk, Midleton, Newcestown, Newtownshandrum, Sarsfields, St Finbarr's |
| Limerick | 12 | Adare, Ahane, Ballybrown, Doon, Dromin/Athlacca, Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Kilmallock, Monaleen, Mungret/St. Paul's, Na Piarsaigh, Patrickswell, South Liberties |
| Tipperary | 16 | Borris–Ileigh, Clonoulty–Rossmore, Drom & Inch, Holycross–Ballycahill, JK Brackens, Kiladangan, Kilruane MacDonagh's, Lorrha–Dorrha, Loughmore–Castleiney, Moycarkey–Borris, Mullinahone, Nenagh Éire Óg, Roscrea, Templederry Kenyons, Thurles Sarsfields, Toomevara |
| Waterford | 12 | Abbeyside–Ballinacourty, Ballygunner, Clonea, De La Salle, Dungarvan, Ferrybank, Fourmilewater, Lismore, Mount Sion, Passage, Roanmore, Tallow |
Note: Bold indicates title-holders.

## Trophy

At the end of the Munster final, the winning team is presented with a trophy. The cup, named the O'Neill 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 political 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 present trophy was donated by the Sarsfield's club in Cork in 1972 to commemorate Billy O'Neill who founded their club in 1903.

## Roll of honour
### Performance by club

| # | Team | County | Wins | Runners Up | Years won | Years runners up |
| 1 | Ballygunner | Waterford | 5 | 10 | 2001, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 | 1966, 1968, 1996, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2024 |
| 1 | Blackrock | Cork | 5 | 2 | 1971, 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979 | 1985, 2001 |
| 2 | Na Piarsaigh | Limerick | 4 | 1 | 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 | 2018 |
| 2 | St. Finbarr's | Cork | 4 | 0 | 1965, 1974, 1977, 1980 | - |
| 5 | Sixmilebridge | Clare | 3 | 6 | 1984, 1995, 2000 | 1977, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2013 |
| 5 | Glen Rovers | Cork | 3 | 2 | 1964, 1972, 1976 | 1969, 2016 |
| 5 | Toomevara | Tipperary | 3 | 2 | 1993, 2004, 2006 | 1994, 1998 |
| 5 | Kilmallock | Limerick | 3 | 1 | 1992, 1994, 2014 | 2021 |
| 5 | Newtownshandrum | Cork | 3 | 0 | 2003, 2005, 2009 | - |
| 10 | Mount Sion | Waterford | 2 | 6 | 1981, 2002 | 1964, 1965, 1975, 1988, 2000, 2004 |
| 10 | Patrickswell | Limerick | 2 | 4 | 1988, 1990 | 1982, 1984, 1997, 2003 |
| 10 | Newmarket-on-Fergus | Clare | 2 | 3 | 1967, 1968 | 1973, 1974, 1978 |
| 10 | Roscrea | Tipperary | 2 | 2 | 1969, 1970 | 1972, 1980 |
| 10 | Borris-Ileigh | Tipperary | 2 | 1 | 1986, 2019 | 1983 |
| 10 | De La Salle | Waterford | 2 | 1 | 2008, 2010 | 2012 |
| 10 | Midleton | Cork | 2 | 1 | 1983, 1987 | 1991 |
| 10 | St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield | Clare | 2 | 0 | 1998, 1999 | - |
| 18 | Clarecastle | Clare | 1 | 2 | 1997 | 1970, 1986 |
| 18 | Carrick Davins | Tipperary | 1 | 1 | 1966 | 1967 |
| 18 | Thurles Sarsfields | Tipperary | 1 | 1 | 2012 | 2010 |
| 18 | Ballyea | Clare | 1 | 1 | 2016 | 2022 |
| 18 | Moycarkey-Borris | Tipperary | 1 | 0 | 1982 | - |
| 18 | Kilruane MacDonaghs | Tipperary | 1 | 0 | 1985 | - |
| 18 | Ballybrown | Limerick | 1 | 0 | 1989 | - |
| 18 | Cashel King Cormacs | Tipperary | 1 | 0 | 1991 | - |
| 18 | Wolfe Tones, Shannon | Clare | 1 | 0 | 1996 | - |
| 18 | Loughmore-Castleiney | Tipperary | 1 | 0 | 2007 | - |
| 18 | Sarsfields | Cork | 1 | 0 | 2024 | - |
| 28 | South Liberties | Limerick | 0 | 2 | - | 1976, 1981 |
| 28 | Moyne-Templetuohy | Tipperary | 0 | 1 | - | 1971 |
| 28 | Dunhill | Waterford | 0 | 1 | - | 1979 |
| 28 | Cappawhite | Tipperary | 0 | 1 | - | 1987 |
| 28 | Éire Óg, Ennis | Clare | 0 | 1 | - | 1990 |
| 28 | Nenagh Eire Og | Tipperary | 0 | 1 | - | 1995 |
| 28 | Erins Own | Cork | 0 | 1 | - | 2006 |
| 28 | Tulla | Clare | 0 | 1 | - | 2007 |
| 28 | Adare | Limerick | 0 | 1 | - | 2008 |
| 28 | Crusheen | Clare | 0 | 1 | - | 2011 |
| 28 | Cratloe | Clare | 0 | 1 | - | 2014 |
| 28 | Clonlara | Clare | 0 | 1 | - | 2023 |

### Performance by county

| County | Titles | Runners-up | Total |
| Cork | 18 | 6 | 24 |
| Tipperary | 13 | 10 | 23 |
| Clare | 10 | 17 | 27 |
| Limerick | 10 | 9 | 19 |
| Waterford | 9 | 18 | 27 |

### Winning clubs by county

| # | County | Winners | Runners-Up | Winning Clubs | Runner-Up Clubs |
| 1 | Cork | 18 | 6 | Blackrock (5), St. Finbarr's, Togher (4), Glen Rovers (3), Newtownshandrum (3), Midleton (2), Sarsfields (1) | Blackrock (2), Glen Rovers (2), Midleton (1), Erin's Own (1) |
| 2 | Tipperary | 13 | 10 | Toomevara (3), Roscrea (2), Borris-Ileigh (2), Carrick Davins (1), Moycarkey-Borris (1), Kilruane McDonaghs (1), Cashel King Cormacs (1), Loughmore-Castleiney (1), Thurles Sarsfields (1) | Toomevara (2), Roscrea (2), Carrick Davins (1), Borris-Ileigh (1), Thurles Sarsfields (1), Moyne-Templetuohy (1), Cappawhite (1), Nenagh Éire Óg (1) |
| 3 | Clare | 10 | 17 | Sixmilebridge (3), Newmarket-on-Fergus (2), St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield (2), Wolfe Tones, Shannon (1), Clarecastle (1), Ballyea (1) | Sixmilebridge (6), Newmarket-on-Fergus (3), Clarecastle (2), Éire Óg, Ennis (1), Tulla (1), Crusheen (1), Cratloe (1), Ballyea (1), Clonlara (1) |
| 3 | Limerick | 10 | 9 | Na Piarsaigh (4), Kilmallock (3), Patrickswell (2), Ballybrown (1) | Patrickswell (4), South Liberties (2), Adare (1), Na Piarsaigh (1), Kilmallock (1) |
| 5 | Waterford | 9 | 18 | Ballygunner (5), Mount Sion (2), De La Salle (2) | Ballygunner (10), Mount Sion (6), De La Salle (1), Dunhill (1) |

## List of finals
### Legend

* All-Ireland champions
* All-Ireland runners-up

### List of Munster finals

| Year | Winners | Winners | Winners | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Stadium | Captain | # |
| Year | County | Club | Score | County | Club | Score | Stadium | Captain | # |
| 2024 | COR | Sarsfields | 3-20 | WAT | Ballygunner | 2-19 | Semple Stadium | | |
| 2023 | WAT | Ballygunner | 2-24 | CLA | Clonlara | 0-17 | Semple Stadium | Pauric O'Mahony | |
| 2022 | WAT | Ballygunner | 1-23 | CLA | Ballyea | 0-17 | Semple Stadium | Pauric O'Mahony | |
| 2021 | WAT | Ballygunner | 3-20 | LIM | Kilmallock | 1-12 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | Pauric O'Mahony | |
| 2020 | | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games |
| 2019 | TIP | Borris-Ileigh | 1-12 | WAT | Ballygunner | 1-11 | Pairc Ui Rinn | Conor Kenny Seán McCormack | |
| 2018 | WAT | Ballygunner | 2-14 | LIM | Na Piarsaigh | 2-08 | Semple Stadium | Stephen O'Keeffe Shane O'Sullivan | |
| 2017 | LIM | Na Piarsaigh | 3-15 | WAT | Ballygunner | 2-10 | Semple Stadium | Cathal King | |
| 2016 | CLA | Ballyea | 1-21 | COR | Glen Rovers | 2-10 | Semple Stadium | Stan Lineen | |
| 2015 | LIM | Na Piarsaigh | 2-18 | WAT | Ballygunner | 2-11 | Semple Stadium | Cathal King | |
| 2014 | LIM | Kilmallock | 1-32 | CLA | Cratloe | 3-18 | Gaelic Grounds | Graeme Mulcahy | |
| 2013 | LIM | Na Piarsaigh | 4-14 | CLA | Sixmilebridge | 0-08 | Cusack Park | James O'Brien | |
| 2012 | TIP | Thurles Sarsfields | 1-21 | WAT | De La Salle | 1-16 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | Pádraic Maher | |
| 2011 | LIM | Na Piarsaigh | 1-13 | CLA | Crusheen | 0-09 | Semple Stadium | Kieran Bermingham | |
| 2010 | WAT | De La Salle | 0-09 | TIP | Thurles Sarsfields | 0-08 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | Ian O'Flynn | |
| 2009 | | Newtownshandrum | 2-11 | WAT | Ballygunner | 2-09 | Semple Stadium | Dermot Gleeson | |
| 2008 | WAT | De La Salle | 1-09 | | Adare | 0-10 | Semple Stadium | John Mullane | |
| 2007 | | Loughmore-Castleiney | 1-06 | | Tulla | 0-07 | Gaelic Grounds | Johnny Gleeson | |
| 2006 | | Toomevara | 2-09 | COR | Erin's Own | 2-08 | Gaelic Grounds | Tommy Dunne | |
| 2005 | COR | Newtownshandrum | 0-16 | WAT | Ballygunner | 1-12 | Semple Stadium | Brendan Mulcahy | |
| 2004 | | Toomevara | 1-14 | WAT | Mount Sion | 1-13 | Semple Stadium | Paddy O'Brien | |
| 2003 | COR | Newtownshandrum | 2-18 | | Patrickswell | 2-09 | Semple Stadium | John McCarthy | |
| 2002 | WAT | Mount Sion | 0-12 | | Sixmilebridge | 0-10 | Semple Stadium | John Cleere | |
| 2001 | WAT | Ballygunner | 2-14 | COR | Blackrock | 0-12 | Semple Stadium | Billy O'Sullivan | |
| 2000 | | Sixmilebridge | 2-17 | WAT | Mount Sion | 3-08 | Semple Stadium | Christy Chaplin | |
| 1999 | | St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield | 4-09 | WAT | Ballygunner | 3-08 | Semple Stadium | Ciarán O'Neill | |
| 1998 | | St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield | 0-12 | TIP | Toomevara | 0-08 | Gaelic Grounds | Lorcan Hassett | |
| 1997 | | Clarecastle | 2-11 | | Patrickswell | 0-15 | Semple Stadium | Martin Sheedy | |
| 1996 | | Wolfe Tones, Shannon | 4-09 | WAT | Ballygunner | 4-08 | Semple Stadium | Brian Lohan | |
| 1995 | | Sixmilebridge | 2-18 | | Nenagh Éire Óg | 1-07 | Gaelic Grounds | Ian Mulready | |
| 1994 | | Kilmallock | 2-11 | TIP | Toomevara | 1-11 | Semple Stadium | Mike Houlihan | |
| 1993 | | Toomevara | 0-15 | | Sixmilebridge | 0-07 | Gaelic Grounds | Jody Grace | |
| 1992 | | Kilmallock | 3-11 | | Sixmilebridge | 2-11 | Gaelic Grounds | Paddy Kelly | |
| 1991 | | Cashel King Cormac's | 0-09 | COR | Midleton | 0-06 | Mitchelstown | Colm Bonnar | |
| 1990 | | Patrickswell | 0-08 | | Éire Óg, Ennis | 0-06 | Cusack Park | David Punch | |
| 1989 | | Ballybrown | 2-12 | | Sixmilebridge | 1-08 | Gaelic Grounds | Terence Kenny | |
| 1988 | | Patrickswell | 3-13 | WAT | Mount Sion | 2-13 | Semple Stadium | David Punch | |
| 1987 | COR | Midleton | 1-12 | TIP | Cappawhite | 1-11 | FitzGerald Stadium | Ger Power | |
| 1986 | TIP | Borris-Ileigh | 1-13 | | Clarecastle | 1-09 | Gaelic Grounds | Michael Ryan | |
| 1985 | TIP | Kilruane MacDonaghs | 0-12 | COR | Blackrock | 0-06 | Gaelic Grounds | Tony Sheppard | |
| 1984 | | Sixmilebridge | 4-10 | | Patrickswell | 2-06 | Semple Stadium | Seán Stack | |
| 1983 | COR | Midleton | 1-14 | TIP | Borris-Ileigh | 1-11 | FitzGerald Stadium | John Fenton | |
| 1982 | TIP | Moycarkey-Borris | 1-09 | | Patrickswell | 0-11 | MacDonagh Park | Jack Bergin | |
| 1981 | WAT | Mount Sion | 3-09 | | South Liberties | 1-04 | Walsh Park | Éamonn Kehoe | |
| 1980 | COR | St. Finbarr's | 2-12 | TIP | Roscrea | 1-14 | Páirc Mac Gearailt | | |
| 1979 | COR | Blackrock | 0-13 | WAT | Dunhill | 1-08 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | | |
| 1978 | COR | Blackrock | 3-08 | | Newmarket-on-Fergus | 1-08 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | John Horgan | |
| 1977 | COR | St. Finbarr's | 2-08 | | Sixmilebridge | 0-06 | Seán Treacy Park | Denis Burns | |
| 1976 | COR | Glen Rovers | 2-08 | | South Liberties | 2-04 | Gaelic Grounds | Martin O'Doherty | |
| 1975 | COR | Blackrock | 8-12 | WAT | Mount Sion | 3-08 | Emly | John Horgan | |
| 1974 | COR | St. Finbarr's | 0-07 | | Newmarket-on-Fergus | 0-03 | Gaelic Grounds | Jim Power | |
| 1973 | COR | Blackrock | 1-13 | | Newmarket-on-Fergus | 0-14 | Bruff | John Horgan | |
| 1972 | COR | Glen Rovers | 2-09 | TIP | Roscrea | 1-10 | Gaelic Grounds | Denis Coughlan | |
| 1971 | COR | Blackrock | 4-10 | TIP | Moyne-Templetuohy | 3-01 | FitzGerald Stadium | John Horgan | |
| 1970 | TIP | Roscrea | 4-11 | | Clarecastle | 1-06 | Gaelic Grounds | Donie Moloney | |
| 1969 | TIP | Roscrea | 3-06 | COR | Glen Rovers | 1-09 | | Patsy Rowland | |
| 1968 | | Newmarket-on-Fergus | 5-08 | WAT | Ballygunner | 4-03 | | | |
| 1967 | | Newmarket-on-Fergus | 3-09 | TIP | Carrick Davins | 2-07 | Gaelic Grounds | Jim Cullinan | |
| 1966 | TIP | Carrick Davins | 2-17 | WAT | Ballygunner | 1-11 | Cusack Park | | |
| 1965 | COR | St. Finbarr's | 3-12 | WAT | Mount Sion | 2-03 | Gaelic Grounds | | |
| 1964 | COR | Glen Rovers | 3-07 | WAT | Mount Sion | 1-07 | Gaelic Grounds | Christy Ring | |