Wicklow Intermediate Hurling Championship
| Wicklow Intermediate Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Irish | Craobh Iomána Idirmheánach Chill Mhantáin |
| Code | Hurling |
| Region |  Wicklow (GAA) |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Title holders |  Avondale (th title) |
| Sponsors | Lightning Protection Ireland[1] |
| Official website | Wicklow GAA |
The Wicklow Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Lightning Protection Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Wicklow IHC) is an annual club hurling competition organised by the Wicklow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by intermediate-ranked clubs in the county of Wicklow in Ireland, deciding the competition winners through a group and knockout format. It is the second tier overall in the entire Wicklow hurling championship system.
In its current format, the Wicklow Intermediate Hurling Championship begins with a group stage. The nine participating teams are divided into two groups and play each other in a round-robin system. The top two teams in each group proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Echelon Park. The winner of the Wicklow Intermediate Championship, as well as gaining promotion to the Wicklow SHC, qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Junior Club Championship.
Avondale are the reigning champions, having beaten Aughrim by 2–16 to 2–03 in the 2024[2] final.
Format
[edit]Group stage
[edit]The 9 teams in the Wicklow Intermediate Championship are divided into two groups. The draw for both groups is arranged in a manner that keeps the "stronger" sides, or those who have played at senior level or won the IHC in recent years, in Group 1. The remaining five teams are placed in Group 2.[3] Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three of four games depending on the number of teams in the group. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage
Knockout stage
[edit]Semi-finals: The top two teams from each group contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
Teams
[edit]2023 teams
[edit]| Club | Location | Colours | Championship titles | Last championship title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arklow Rock Parnells | Arklow | Green and white | 0 | — |
| Aughrim | Aughrim | 0 | — | |
| Avondale | 1 | 2018 | ||
| Bray Emmets | Bray | Navy and green | 2 | 2022 |
| Carnew Emmets | Carnew | Blue and yellow | 2 | 2021 |
| Glenealy | Glenealy | Red and white | 1 | 2017 |
| Kilcoole | Kilcoole | Green and yellow | 1 | 2020 |
| St Patrick's | Wicklow | Blue and white | 1 | 2023 |
| Western Gaels | 0 | — |
Qualification for subsequent competitions
[edit]At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship.
List of finals
[edit]| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Venue | # | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Score | Club | Score | |||
| 2024 | Avondale | 2-16 | Aughrim | 2-03 | Echelon Park | |
| 2023 | St Patrick's | 3-13 | Bray Emmets | 1-09 | Echelon Park | [4] |
| 2022 | Bray Emmets | 3-15 | Kilcoole | 0-10 | Echelon Park | [5] |
| 2021 | Carnew Emmets | 2-09 | Bray Emmets | 1-10 | Aughrim County Ground | [6] |
| 2020 | Kilcoole | 2-22 | Glenealy | 1-07 | Aughrim County Ground | [7] |
| 2019 | Carnew Emmets | 0-10 | Barndarrig | 0-03 | Aughrim County Ground | [8] |
| 2018 | Avondale | 5-18 | Arklow Rock Parnells | 1-06 | Aughrim County Ground | [9] |
| 2017 | Glenealy | 2-10 | Carnew Emmets | 1-11 | Pearse Park | [10] |
| 2016 | Kiltegan | 0-12 | Bray Emmets | 1-07 | Aughrim County Ground | [11] |
| 2015 | Bray Emmets | 3-14 | Arklow Rock Parnells | 3-07 | Aughrim County Ground | [12] |
| 2014 | Glenealy | 2-11 | Carnew Emmets | 1-07 | Pearse Park | [13] |
| 2013 | Éire Óg Greystones | 0-13 | Carnew Emmets | 0-12 | Aughrim County Ground | [14] |
| 2012 | Glenealy | 1-13 | Éire Óg Greystones | 1-08 | Aughrim County Ground | |
| 2011 | St Patrick's | 1-13 | Glenealy | 2-05 | Aughrim County Ground | [15] |
| 2010 | Newcastle | 1-12 | Glenealy | 2-08 | Pearse Park | [16] |
Roll of honour
[edit]| # | Team | Titles | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bray Emmets | 2 | 3 | 2015, 2022 | 2016, 2021, 2023 |
| Carnew Emmets | 2 | 1 | 2019, 2021 | 2017 | |
| 3 | Glenealy | 1 | 1 | 2017 | 2020 |
| Kilcoole | 1 | 1 | 2020 | 2022 | |
| Kiltegan | 1 | 0 | 2016 | — | |
| Avondale | 1 | 0 | 2018 | — | |
| St Patrick's | 1 | 0 | 2023 | — | |
| 8 | Arklow Rock Parnells | 0 | 2 | — | 2015, 2018 |
| Barndarrig | 0 | 1 | — | 2019 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Lightning Protection Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship". Wicklow GAA website. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Deadly Avondale cruise past Aughrim to make impressive return to the top table". Wicklow People. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Lawrence, Brendan (25 April 2023). "Intermediate hurling championship has the potential to be a thriller". Wicklow People. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ Lawrence, Brendan (17 October 2023). "St. Pat's show class to topple Bray Emmets and make swift return to Wicklow Senior hurling". Wicklow People. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Lawrence, Brendan (28 September 2022). "Seanie McDonagh stars as Bray Emmets storm to IHC crown with victory over Kilcoole". Wicklow People. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ Lawrence, Brendan (29 December 2021). "Carnew dominates the Intermediate hurling championship team of the year". Wicklow People. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "Kilcoole Crowned Intermediate Kings". Kilcoole GAA website. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Lawrence, Brendan (28 September 2019). "Skelton shines as Carnew crowned kings". Bray People. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Five-star Avondale put ARP to the sword on way to intermediate hurling glory". Wicklow News. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ O'Loughlin, Liam (28 October 2017). "Glory for Glenealy!". Wicklow News. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Lawrence, Brendan (22 October 2016). "'Ber' drives Kiltegan to hurling glory". Wicklow People. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Lawrence, Brendan (24 October 2015). "Bray storm home as Emmets clinch Intermediate crown". Bray People. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Hurling joy for hurting community". Bray People. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "A great hurling year". Wicklow People. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Aristocrats of hurling". Irish Independent. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Newcastle win three-in-a-row". Irish Independent. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
