The 2018 McGrath Cup was a Gaelic football competition in the province of Munster, played by county teams.

2018 McGrath Cup
Tournament details
ProvinceMunster
Year2018
Winners
ChampionsCork (9th win)
ManagerRonan McCarthy
CaptainJamie O'Sullivan
Runners-up
Runners-upClare
ManagerColm Collins
CaptainCathal O'Connor
Other
Matches played3
← 2017
2019 →

Just three county teams completed in 2018 after the withdrawals of Tipperary, Limerick, and Kerry.[1] Cork were the winners.[2]

The cup was won by Cork after a 3–13 to 3–12 win in the final.[3]

Format

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Three teams compete. Each team plays the other teams once, earning 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw. The top two teams play in the final.

Group stage

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30 December 2017
2 p.m.
Clare 2-18 – 1-9 Waterford Meelick
Referee: Pat O’Driscoll (Cork)
Conor Finnucane (0-8, 4f), Eimhin Courtney (0-5), Gearóid O’Brien (1-1), Cathal O’Connor (1-0), Seán Collins (0-2), Kieran Malone (0-1), David Egan (0-1) Report Jason Curry (0-7, 3f), Conor Murray (1-0), Gavin Crotty (0-1), Mikey Kiely (0-1)

7 January 2018
2 p.m.
Waterford 0-7 – 2-18 Cork Gold Coast Resort, Ballinacourty
Referee: S. Lonergan (Tipperary)
J. Curry (0-3, 2f); M. Curry (0-2); G. Crotty, JJ Hutchinson (0-1 each) Report S. Sherlock (0-7, 2f); S. Powter (1-2); J. O’Rourke (0-4); P. Clancy (1-0); C. Vaughan, C. Dorgan (0-2 each); M. Collins (0-1)

The final group game was cancelled, as Cork and Clare had already reached the final.[4]

Team Pld W D L Pts Diff
  Cork 1 1 0 0 2 +17
  Clare 1 1 0 0 2 +12
  Waterford 2 0 0 2 0 –29

Final

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13 January 2018
4 p.m.
Final
Cork 3-13 – 3-12 Clare Mallow GAA Sports Complex, Mallow
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry)
Stephen Sherlock 2-3 (0-3f), Michael Hurley 0-4, Mark Collins 1-1, Cathal Vaughan 0-3 (0-1f), Daniel O’Callaghan, Cian Kiely 0-1 each Report Conor Finucane 0-5 (0-2f), Keelan Sexton, Gearóid O’Brien 1-1 each, Alan Sweeney 1-0, Eimhin Courtney 0-3, Cathal O’Connor (0-1 ’45), Darragh Bohannon 0-1 each

References

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  1. ^ "Just 3 teams left in McGrath Cup as Limerick join Kerry and Tipperary in withdrawing". The 42. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Cork strike late to claim McGrath Cup honours". 13 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Sherlock homes in on silverware with late strike". Irish Independent. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. ^ O'Toole, Fintan. "Munster GAA chiefs bring pre-season finals forward a week to avoid dead rubbers".
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