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Down Senior Hurling Championship

Annual hurling competition

Down Senior Hurling Championship

Summary

Annual hurling competition

FieldValue
nameDown Senior Hurling Championship
currentlyrunning2024 Down Senior Hurling Championship
imageColours of Down.svg
irishCraobh Iomána Sinsearach an Dún
codeHurling
founded
region[[File:Colours of Down.svg20pxborder]] Down
trophyJeremiah McVeagh Cup
teams6
title holders[[File: Colours of Tipperary.svg20pxborder]] Portaferry
currentordinal24
most titles[[File:Colours of Kilkenny.svg20pxborder]] Ballycran
mostordinal27
sponsorsMorgan Fuels
websiteDown GAA

|}}

James McVeagh (right), pictured in 1898

The Down Senior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Morgan Fuels Down GAA Senior Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Down SHC) is an annual hurling competition contested by top-tier Down GAA clubs. The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association has organised it since 1903. Ballycran won the 2021 championship defeating Portaferry in the Final after extra time.

Portaferry are the title holders, defeating Ballycran by 0-20 to 0-16 in the 2023 final.

History

Faugh-a-Ballagh won the inaugural Down SHC in 1903.

The competition has been won by 10 teams, 9 of which have won it more than once. Ballycran is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it 27 times. No team outside Ballycran, Portaferry and Ballygalget have won the title since Kilclief's 23rd victory in 1956.

Format

Introduced in 1903 as the Down Senior Hurling Championship, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to senior-ranking club teams, with its winner reckoned as the Down county champion. In its present format, four clubs play each other in a double round-robin system. The competition winner is determined through a group and knockout format. The top two teams proceed to the final match.

Teams

2025 teams

The 6 teams competing in the 2025 Down Senior Hurling Championship are:

ClubLocationColoursPosition in 2023In championship sinceChampionship titlesLast championship title
[[File:Colours_of_Kilkenny.svgborder20x20px]] BallycranRubaneBlack and amberRunners-up?272021
[[File:Limerick_colours.PNG25x25px]] BallygalgetArds PeninsulaGreen and whiteSemi-finals?212017
[[File:Colours_of_Galway.svgborder20x20px]] BredaghBallynafeighMaroon and whiteDown IHC champions?0
[[File:Colours_of_Wexford.svgborder20x20px]] CarryduffCarryduffPurple and goldDown IHC runners-up20240
[[File:Colours_of_Offaly.svgborder20x20px]] Liatroim FontenoysLeitrimGreen, white and yellowSemi-finals202321928
[[File:Colours_of_Tipperary.pngborder20x20px]] PortaferryPortaferryBlue and yellowChampions?252025

Honours

The Jeremiah McVeagh Cup is the current prize for winning the championship. It was presented by nationalist Member of Parliament Jeremiah McVeagh to the Down County Board in 1913 and has been presented to the championship winners ever since..

Traditionally, depending on the venue, the victory presentation takes place at a special rostrum in the main grandstand or on a podium on the pitch. 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, which is held by the winning team until the following year's final.

In accordance with GAA rules, the County Board awards a set of gold medals to the championship winners.

The winners of the Down Senior Championship, as well as being presented with the Jeremiah McVeagh Cup, qualify to represent their county in the subsequent Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship.

List of finals

(r) = replay (aet) = after extra time

YearWinnersRunners-upClubScoreClubScoreNo competitionNo competitionNo competitionNo competition
1903[[File:Down colours.PNG25px]] Faugh-a-Ballagh
1904[[File:Down colours.PNG25px]] Faugh-a-Ballagh
1905[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Clann na Boirce
1906[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Clann na Boirce
1907[[File:Down colours.PNG25px]] Faugh-a-Ballagh
1908[[File:Down colours.PNG25px]] Faugh-a-Ballagh
1909[[File:Down colours.PNG25px]] Faugh-a-Ballagh
1910[[File:Cork colours.PNG25px]] Ballyvarley
1911
1912[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1913[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1914[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1915[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1916[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1917[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1918[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1919[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1920[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1921
1922
1923
1924[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1925[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1926[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1927[[File:Offaly colours.PNG25px]] Liatroim Fontenoys
1928[[File:Offaly colours.PNG25px]] Liatroim Fontenoys
1929[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1930[[File:Down colours.PNG25px]] Faugh-a-Ballagh
1931[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1932[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1933[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1934Clann Uladh
1935[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1936[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Ballela
1937[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Ballela
1938[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1939[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1940[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Ballela
1941[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Ballela
1942[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1943[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1944[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1945[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1946Clann Uladh
1947[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1948[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Ballela
1949[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1950
1951[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Ballela
1952[[File:Gort GAA colours.png25px]] Ballela
1953[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1954[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1955[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1956[[File:Mayo colours.PNG25px]] Kilclief
1957[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1958[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1959[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget
1960[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1961[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1962†
1963[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1964[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget
1965[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1966[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget
1967[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1968[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1969[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1970[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget
1971[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1972[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1973[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget
1974[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1975[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget
1976[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1977[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget
1978[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget
1979[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1980[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1981[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1982[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1983[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget4–08[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran2–08
1984[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran2–10[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget1–11
1985[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry
1986[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran3–06[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–11
1987[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0–17[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget1–08
1988[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran
1989[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–14[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–08
1990[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget3–13[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran2–12
1991[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–10[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–05
1992[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0–11[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0–10
1993[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–09, 2–17 (r, aet)[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget1–09, 2–15 (r, aet)
1994[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–10[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0–12
1995[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0–16[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget1–07
1996[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–14[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget2–05
1997[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget2–11[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–09
1998[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0–16[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–10
1999[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0–10, 1–11 (r)[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–10, 0–08 (r)
2000[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–18[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget1–08
2001[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–13[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–05
2002[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–14[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget3-04
2003[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0–17[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–10
2004[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget1–12[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1-06
2005[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget3–14[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0–15
2006[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–15[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0–14
2007[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–13[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0-09
2008[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget2–13[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0-08
2009[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–14[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0–12
2010[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget3–19[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–13
2011[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–11[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–13
2012[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry3-08[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0–11
2013[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget1–18[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–11
2014[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–12[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–11
2015[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–15[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0–16
2016[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget0-06[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0-02
2017[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget2–13[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry2–12
2018[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran2–13[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–14
2019[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran1–20[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–13
2020[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry2–18, 0–15 (r)[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran2–18, 0–13 (r)
2021[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran2–25 (aet)[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry3–20 (aet)
2022[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry1–12[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0–13
2023[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry0–20[[File:Kilkenny colours.PNG25px]] Ballycran0–16
2024[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry3–21[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget2–15
2025[[File:Tipperary colours.PNG25px]] Portaferry2–24[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget2–13

Notes

The 1962 final was abandoned.

Roll of honour

ablack1px}}"#ablack1px}}"Clubablack1px}}"Titlesablack1px}}"Years won
1[[File:Colours of Kilkenny.svgborder20x20px]] Ballycran271949, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021
2[[File:Colours of Tipperary.pngborder20x20px]] Portaferry251926, 1929, 1938, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1978, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
3[[File:Colours of Mayo.svgborder20x20px]] Kilclief231912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1954, 1955, 1956
4[[File:Limerick colours.PNG25px]] Ballygalget211959, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017
5[[File:Colours of Kerry GAA.svgborder20x20px]] Ballela71936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1951, 1952
6Faugh-a-Ballagh61903, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1930
7[[File:Colours of Kerry GAA.svgborder20x20px]] Clann na Boirce21905, 1906
[[File:Colours of Offaly.svgborder20x20px]] Liatroim Fontenoys21927, 1928
Clann Uladh21934, 1946
10[[File:Colours of Cork.svgborder20x20px]] Ballyvarley11910

Records and statistics

Final

Team

  • Most wins: 27:
    • Ballycran: (1949, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021.
  • Most consecutive wins: 9:
    • Kilclief: (1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920)

Teams

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Down Senior Hurling Championship titles, is as follows:

  • 1900s: 5 for Faugh-a-Ballagh (1903-04-07-08-09)
  • 1910s: 8 for Kilclief (1912-13-14-15-16-17-18-19)
  • 1920s: 2 each for Kilclief (1920-25), Portaferry (1926-29) and Liatroim Fontenoys (1927–28)
  • 1930s: 5 for Kilclief (1931-32-33-35-39)
  • 1940s: 5 for Kilclief (1942-43-44-45-47)
  • 1950s: 3 for Ballycran (1953-57-58) and Kilclief (1954-55-56)
  • 1960s: 4 for Portaferry (1963-65-68-69)
  • 1970s: 5 for Ballycran (1972-74-76-77-79)
  • 1980s: 5 for Ballycran (1980-84-85-86-87)
  • 1990s: 5 for Ballygalget (1990-92-97-98-99)
  • 2000s: 4 each for Portaferry (2000-01-02-06) and Ballygalget (2003-04-05-08)
  • 2010s: 4 each for Ballygalget (2010-13-16-17) and Ballycran (2011-15-18-19)
  • 2020s: 5 for Portaferry (2020-22-23-24-25)

Gaps

Longest gaps between successive championship titles:

  • 25 years: Portaferry (1938–1963)
  • 21 years: Faugh-a-Ballagh (1909–1930)
  • 12 years: Clann Uladh (1934–1946)

References

References

  1. Crossan, Brendan. (28 September 2020). "Portaferry end their six-year wait for Down SHC title against gutsy Ballycran". The Irish News.
  2. (14 December 2018). "Who was your Irish MP in 1918? Here's a list of everyone elected in that historic election". The Journal.
  3. (1 October 2012). "Down SHC: 'Ferry goals see them to title success". Lynn Group Media.
  4. (30 September 2013). "Down SHC final: Johnson 'magic' downs Portaferry". Lynn Group Media.
  5. (29 September 2014). "Down SHC final: 14-man Portaferry hold on". [[Hogan Stand]].
  6. (28 September 2015). "Ballycran seal title with late flurry". [[Irish Independent]].
  7. (26 September 2016). "McManus weathers the storm". [[Irish Independent]].
  8. (25 September 2017). "Down SHC final: Coulter inspires 'Galget". [[Hogan Stand]].
  9. (1 October 2018). "Woods brace earns crown". [[Irish Independent]].
  10. (29 September 2019). "Down SHC final: Ballycran retain title with seven-point win". [[Hogan Stand]].
  11. Gaa.ie. (2024-10-20). "Down SHC: Portaferry defeat Ballygalget".
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