Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling Championship

History

The Leinster Championship, like its counterpart in Munster, was organised for the first time in 1918. Participation was limited to voluntary secondary schools. Castleknock College, a school which later prohibited the playing of Gaelic games, claimed the title for the only time in their history with a 5–01 to no score defeat of O'Connell School in the final at Croke Park on 4 May 1918. No competition took place in 1919, however, following its resumption Offaly-based Cistercian College, Roscrea won four titles in five years from 1920 to 1924.

This period of dominance was short-lived, as St Kieran's College, after winning their inaugural title in 1922, went on to win 24 titles up to 1959. In spite of this dominance, a number of Dublin schools won their first of only titles during this period, including Colasite Caoimhin (1930), Blackrock College (1935), St Joseph's CBS, Fairview (1945) and O'Connell School (1946). Patrician College, Ballyfin became the first County Laois school to win the title in 1942, while Knockbeg College claimed County Carlow's only success in 1955.

St Peter's College, Wexford broke the St Kieran's College hegemony by winning five titles from seven finals appearances between 1960 and 1968. St Peter's College won further titles in 1973 and 1978, however, St Kieran's College and their Kilkenny rivals Kilkenny CBS claimed seven titles between them over the course of the rest of the decade. Offaly school St Brendan's Community School won four titles between 1979 and 1986, however, St Kieran's subsequently set the all-time record by winning eight Leinster titles in-a-row between 1987 and 1994. Their great run of success was brought to an end by Good Counsel College, Wexford, who won two titles in 1995 and 1997.

The turn of the century saw St Kieran's College continue to dominate by winning 12 titles between 2000 and 2019. By that stage, vocational schools were permitted to field teams in the competition after the merging of the vocational schools' and colleges' championships in 2013. A number of amalgamated teams also enjoyed success, with Dublin Colleges claiming titles in 2001 and 2008. The success of this team in promoting hurling in Dublin resulted in the eventual creation of a Dublin South and a Dublin North team, with the latter winning the Leinster title in 2018. Offaly Schools, a team made up of players from six different schools, won their first title in 2023.

Current format

Participating teams

The following nine teams participated in the 2023 championship:

Championship

The championship begins with a group stage. The six individual colleges and schools are divided into two groups of three teams. Each team meets the others in the group once in a round-robin format. The two group winners and one of the group runners-up automatically qualify for the semi-final stages. The other group runners-up play the winners of the amalgamated group teams section, who play a knockout series of games to determine a winner.

Qualification for the All-Ireland Championship

As of 2005, the winners and runners up of the Leinster Championship qualify for the All-Ireland Colleges Championship. The runners-up qualify for the quarter-finals, while on some occasions the champions receive a bye to the semi-final stage, however, this is done in rotation with the Connacht and Munster champions.

Sponsorship

Top Oil became the title sponsor of the championship in November 2016.

Trophy and medals

The Corn Uí Dhúill is the current prize for winning the championship. The cup is held by the winning team until the following year's final. In accordance with GAA rules, the Connacht Council awards a set of gold medals to the championship winners.

Roll of honour

List of finals

• Teams in bold went on to win the Dr Croke Cup in the same year.

Records and statistics

Final

• Most wins: 58:
  • St Kieran's College (1922, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024)
• Most consecutive wins: 8:
  • St Kieran's College (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994)

Teams

By decade

The most successful college of each decade, judged by number of championship titles, is as follows:

• 1920s: 6 for St Kieran's College (1922-25-26-27-28-29)
• 1930s: 6 for St Kieran's College (1931-32-33-37-38-39)
• 1940s: 6 for St Kieran's College (1940-41-43-44-48-49)
• 1950s: 6 for St Kieran's College (1950-51-53-57-58-59)
• 1960s: 5 for St Peter's College (1960-62-64-67-68)
• 1970s: 5 for St Kieran's College (1971-72-74-75-77)
• 1980s: 4 for St Kieran's College (1984-87-88-89)
• 1990s: 7 for St Kieran's College (1990-91-92-93-94-96-99)
• 2000s: 5 for St Kieran's College (2000-02-03-04-05)
• 2010s: 7 for St Kieran's College (2010-11-12-15-16-17-19)

Gaps

Longest gaps between successive championship titles:

• 34 years: Kilkenny CBS (1936-1970)
• 23 years: Cistercian College (1924-1947)
• 23 years: Kilkenny CBS (1983-2006)
• 13 years: Good Counsel College (2009-2022)
• 12 years: Good Counsel College (1997-2009)
• 10 years: Patrician College (1942-1952)

Sources

• Complete Roll of Honour on Kilkenny GAA bible

References

References

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