Lory Meagher Cup

History

Creation

Following the success of the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup for the lower tier hurling teams, it was decided in 2008 to investigate the possibility of introducing a fourth tier. The Hurling Development Committee (HDC) proposed the new four-tier structure in place of the existing three-tier model. It, and the second and third-tier competitions, were to consist of eight teams. The proposals were accepted at a special GAA Congress in October 2008. Another second tier competition, the Joe McDonagh Cup, was added in 2018, moving the Lory Meagher Cup down into tier 5.

Development

Team changes

12 county teams have participated in at least one edition of the Lory Meagher Cup. Fermanagh and Leitrim have participated in the most editions. South Down, although not an official county entered a team the first three seasons of the Cup but withdrew after 2011. New York became the most recent county to make their debut in the Cup in 2025.

Team dominance

Summary of champions

Format history

Double elimination (2009–2011)

In 2009, a double elimination format was introduced, thus guaranteeing each team at least two games before being eliminated from the competition.

Group stage (2013–present)

Since 2013, a group stage has been included in the cup. The teams within the group stage has varied between 3 and 6 teams throughout the years.

Lory Meagher Cup moments

• Warwickshire 2-16 - 0-10 Longford (8 June 2013): Warwickshire became the first and only overseas team to win the Lory Meagher Cup. This match also saw history made with the first ever use of “Hawkeye” in a hurling match, Warwickshire's Sean Hennessey having a 65 yard free denied by the technology.

• Leitrim 2-23 - 2-22 Lancashire (22 June 2019): Leitrim won their first ever All-Ireland title, defeating Lancashire after extra time in Croke Park.

Format

Group stage

Group stage: Six of the seven teams start at group stage (New York only enter from the semi-finals on, due to travel costs). During the course of a season (from May to June) each team plays the others once (a single round-robin system) for a total of five games. Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. The first placed team in the group advance straight to the Lory Meagher Cup final while second place play New York (in Ireland) in the Lory Meagher Cup semi-final. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth-placed teams are eliminated from the championship.

Tie-breakers

In the event of teams finishing on equal points, the tie shall be decided by the following means (in the order specified):

• Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two teams
• Score difference – subtracting the total "Scores Against" from the total "Scores For"
• Highest Total "Score For"
• Highest Total "Goals For"
• A Play-Off

Knockout stage

Final: The top two teams in the group stage contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

The Lory Meagher has no direct entry route to compete in that year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Promotion

At the end of the championship, the winning team is promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup for the following season.

Relegation

There is no relegation from the Lory Meagher Cup as it is the bottom of five tiers in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Group stage qualifications

Teams

2026 Cup

Six counties will compete in the 2026 Lory Meagher Cup, with no team relegated last year from the Nicky Rackard Cup:

List of finals

List of Lory Meagher Cup finals

Roll of honour

Performances by county

Performances by province

Team records and statistics

Legend

• – Champions
• – Runners-up
• – Semi-finals/Quarter-finals/Round 2
• – Group Stage
• CR – Christy Ring Cup
• NR – Nicky Rackard Cup
• — – Inactive

For each championship, the number of teams (in brackets) are shown

Debut of teams

Seasons in Lory Meagher Cup

The number of years that each county has played in the Lory Meagher Cup between 2009 and 2025. A total of 13 counties have competed in at least one season of the Lory Meagher Cup. Leitrim have participated in the most championships. The counties in bold participate in the 2025 Lory Meagher Cup.

List of Lory Meagher Cup counties

The following teams have competed in the Lory Meagher Cup for at least one season.

All-time table

Legend

As of 20 May 2025 (After 2025 group stage).

By Semi-Final/Top 4 Appearances

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Lory Meagher Cup titles, is as follows:

• 2000s: 1 for [[File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg|border|20x20px]] Tyrone (2009)
• 2010s: 2 each for [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2010, 2014) and [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire (2013, 2017)
• 2020s: 2 each for [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth (2020, 2022) and [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh (2021, 2024)

Match records

• Most matches played

  • 56, [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim

• Most wins

  • 23, Longford

• Most losses

  • 32, [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim

• Most draws

  • 6, [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh
  • 6, Longford

Other records

Finishing positions

• Most championships

  • 3, [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth (2016, 2020, 2022)
  • 3, [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh (2015, 2021, 2024)

• Most second-place finishes

  • 3, [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh (2012, 2014, 2020)
  • 3, [[File:Colours_of_Tipperary.svg|border|20x20px]] Lancashire (2018, 2019, 2023)
  • 3, [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2013, 2022, 2024)

• Most third-place finishes

  • 4, [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan (2018, 2020, 2023, 2024)

• Most fourth-place finishes

  • 5, [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024, 2025)

• Most fifth-place finishes

  • 4, [[File:Colours_of_Tipperary.svg|border|20x20px]] Lancashire (2015, 2016, 2022, 2025)

• Most sixth-place finishes

  • 2, [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire (2023, 2025)

• Most semi-final finishes

  • 2, [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim (2010, 2012)
  • 2, [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2009, 2021)
  • 2, [[File:Colours_of_Down.svg|border|20x20px]] South Down (2009, 2011)
  • 2, [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire (2011, 2012)

• Most quarter-final finishes

  • 2, [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh (2009, 2011)

• Most round 2 or round 3 finishes

  • 1, [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan (2009)
  • 1, [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim (2011)
  • 1, [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2012)
  • 1, [[File:Colours_of_Down.svg|border|20x20px]] South Down (2010)
  • 1, [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire (2009)

Unbeaten sides

• 6 teams have won the Lory Meagher Cup unbeaten:
  • [[File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg|border|20x20px]] Donegal had 4 wins in 2011
  • [[File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg|border|20x20px]] Tyrone had 3 wins in 2012
  • [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire had 3 wins and 1 draw in 2013
  • [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford had 3 wins and 1 draw in 2014
  • [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth had 5 wins in 2016
  • [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire had 6 wins in 2017
  • [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh had 4 wins and 2 draws in 2024

Beaten sides

The group stage of the cup has resulted in 9 'back-door' Lory Meagher Cup champions:

• [[File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg|border|20x20px]] Tyrone (2009) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Down.svg|border|20x20px]] South Down in round 1.
• [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2010) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg|border|20x20px]] Donegal in round 1.
• [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh (2015) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Sligo.svg|border|20x20px]] Sligo in round 5.
• [[File:Colours_of_Sligo.svg|border|20x20px]] Sligo (2018) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan in round 3.
• [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim (2019) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Tipperary.svg|border|20x20px]] Lancashire in round 1.
• [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth (2020) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh in round 1.
• [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh (2021) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan in round 1.
• [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth (2022) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg|border|20x20px]] Monaghan in round 2 and [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford in round 3.
• [[File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg|border|20x20px]] Monaghan (2023) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan in round 2.

On 2 occasions a team was defeated twice but have remained in the championship:

• [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth (2022) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg|border|20x20px]] Monaghan and [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford but still qualified for the final.
• [[File:Colours_of_Tipperary.svg|border|20x20px]] Lancashire (2023) were beaten by [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan and by [[File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg|border|20x20px]] Monaghan but still qualified for the final.

Final success rate

Only two counties have appeared in the final more than once, being victorious on all occasions:

• [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth
• [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire

On the opposite end of the scale, only one county has appeared in the final more than once, losing on each occasion:

• [[File:Colours_of_Tipperary.svg|border|20x20px]] Lancashire

Consecutive participations

• 9, [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim (2009–2017)
• 9, [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire (2009–2017)

Leitrim and Warwickshire have the record number of consecutive participations in the Lory Meagher Cup, taking part in 9 seasons.

Winning other trophies

Although not an officially recognised achievement, no team have ever achieved the distinction of winning the Lory Meagher Cup and their respective Division in the National Hurling League.

Biggest wins

• The most one sided finals:
  • 15 points – 2021: Fermanagh 3-26 - 1-17 Cavan
  • 13 points – 2022: Louth 3-27 - 3-14 Longford
  • 12 points – 2013: Warwickshire 2-16 - 0-10 Longford
  • 11 points – 2020: Louth 2-19 - 2-08 Fermanagh
  • 8 points – 2010: Longford 1-20 - 1-12 Donegal
• The most one sided other matches:
  • 29 points – 2011: South Down 4-25 - 0-08 Leitrim

Scoring Events

• Most goals in a match:
  • 11 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
• Most points in a match:
  • 46 – 2024: Lancashire 0-21 - 2-25 Cavan
  • 46 – 2024: Lancashire 2-24 - 6-22 Warwickshire
  • 46 – 2025: Longford 3-17 - 3-29 Cavan
• Most goals by one team in a match:
  • 8 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
• Most points by one team in a match:
  • 32 – 2025: Warwickshire 1-11 - 4-32 Cavan
• Highest aggregate score:
  • 77 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
• Lowest aggregate score:
  • 20 – 2023: Leitrim 0-08 - 0-12 Longford

Successful defending

Only three teams were able to defend their title the following year. None of these teams were able to do so. These are:

• [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford on 0 attempts out of 1 (2011)

• [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire on 0 attempts out of 1 (2014)

• [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth on 0 attempts out of 1 (2021) Usually defending champions are promoted and a number of teams survived the first year of the Nicky Rackard Cup. These are:

• 00 on 00 attempts out of 00 (0000)

Gaps

• Longest gaps between successive cup titles:
  • 6 years: [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh (2015–2021)
• Longest gaps between successive Lory Meagher Cup final appearances:
  • 8 years: [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2014–2022)
• Longest gap between successive championship appearances
  • 7 years: [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan (2010–2017)
  • 7 years: [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2014–2021)

Active gaps

• Longest active gaps between since last title:
  • 14 years: [[File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg|border|20x20px]] Donegal (2011–)
  • 13 years: [[File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg|border|20x20px]] Tyrone (2012–)
  • 11 years: [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2014–)
  • 8 years: [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire (2017–)
  • 7 years: [[File:Colours_of_Sligo.svg|border|20x20px]] Sligo (2018–)
  • 6 years: [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim (2019–)
  • 3 years: [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth (2022–)
  • 2 years: [[File:Colours_of_ Monaghan.svg|border|20x20px]] Monaghan (2023–)
  • 1 year: Fermanagh (2024–)
• Longest active gaps since last cup final appearance:
  • 14 years: [[File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg|border|20x20px]] Donegal (2011–)
  • 13 years: [[File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg|border|20x20px]] Tyrone (2012–)
  • 8 years: [[File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg|border|20x20px]] Warwickshire (2017–)
  • 7 years: [[File:Colours_of_Sligo.svg|border|20x20px]] Sligo (2018–)
  • 6 years: [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim (2019–)
  • 3 years: [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth (2022–)
  • 2 years: [[File:Colours_of_Tipperary.svg|border|20x20px]] Lancashire (2023–)
  • 2 years: [[File:Colours_of_ Monaghan.svg|border|20x20px]] Monaghan (2023–)
  • 1 year: Fermanagh (2024–)
  • 1 year: [[File:Colours_of_Longford.svg|border|20x20px]] Longford (2024–)
  • 0 years: [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan (2025–)
• Longest active gap since last cup appearance
  • 14 years: [[File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg|border|20x20px]] Donegal (2011–)
  • 14 years: [[File:Colours_of_Down.svg|border|20x20px]] South Down (2011–)

Provinces

• Only on 5 occasions has the Lory Meagher Cup final involved two teams from the same province:
  • Tyrone vs Donegal (2009)
  • Donegal vs Tyrone (2011)
  • Tyrone vs Fermanagh (2012)
  • Fermanagh vs Cavan (2021)
  • Louth vs Longford (2022)
• The province providing the highest number of different winning teams is Ulster, with four:
  • [[File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg|border|20x20px]] Donegal
  • [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh
  • [[File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg|border|20x20px]] Monaghan
  • [[File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg|border|20x20px]] Tyrone
• Province success rates
  • [[File:Flag_of_Ulster.svg|border|20x20px]] Ulster 44% (4 out of 9 counties)
  • [[File:Flag_of_Connacht.svg|border|20x20px]] Connacht 40% (2 out of 5 counties)
  • [[File:Flag_of_Britain.svg|border|20x20px]] Britain 33% (1 out of 3 counties)
  • [[File:Flag_of_Leinster.svg|border|20x20px]] Leinster 17% (2 out of 12 counties)
  • [[File:Flag_of_Munster.svg|border|20x20px]] Munster 0% (0 out of 6 counties)

Lory Meagher Cup final pairings

Longest undefeated run

The record for the longest unbeaten run stands at 7 games held by Tyrone (2009–2011).

Miscellaneous

• Best finish by a debuting team
  • Champions, [[File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg|border|20x20px]] Tyrone (2009)
• Best finish by a debuting team (after 2009)
  • Champions, [[File:Colours_of_Louth.svg|border|20x20px]] Louth (2016)
• Highest winning record
  • 83%, [[File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg|border|20x20px]] Tyrone (10 wins in 12 matches)
• Lowest winning record
  • 26%, [[File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg|border|20x20px]] Cavan (9 wins in 35 matches)
• Most played match
  • [[File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg|border|20x20px]] Fermanagh vs [[File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg|border|20x20px]] Leitrim

References

References

1. (22 January 2015). "CLG ULADH – AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚÍL 2015".
2. (2 September 2008). "New hurling format proposed". Irish Times.
3. (4 October 2008). "Galway and Antrim voted into Leinster". Irish Times.
4. (5 May 2018). "New hurling championship structure may pose awkward questions". The Irish Times.
5. (23 March 2019). "Official Guide - Part 1". Gaelic Athletic Association.
6. Walsh, Daire. (22 June 2019). "Extra-time glory for Leitrim in Lory Meagher decider". RTÉ Sport.
7. (10 June 2017). "Watson the star as Warwickshire win Lory Meagher". RTÉ Sport.
8. Mooney, Francis. (4 June 2016). "Late goal blitz secures Lory Meagher Cup for Louth". RTÉ Sport.
9. (7 June 2015). "Fermanagh hold fast despite flurry of red cards". Irish Times.
10. (9 June 2014). "Longford bounce back to regain title". Irish Examiner.
11. (8 June 2013). "Warwickshire land Lory Meagher spoils". RTÉ Sport.
12. (9 June 2012). "Lory Meagher final: Tyrone win thriller in extra time". Hogan Stand.