The Down Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Morgan Fuels Down Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Down IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association for the second tier hurling teams in County Down in Northern Ireland.
| Down Intermediate Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2023 Down Intermediate Hurling Championship | |
| Irish | Craobhchomórtas Idirmhéanach Iomána an Dún |
| Code | Hurling |
| Region |  Down (GAA) |
| Trophy | Charlie Keown Memorial Cup |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Title holders |  Bredagh (th title) |
| Sponsors | Morgan Fuels |
| Official website | Down GAA |
In its current format, the Down Intermediate Championship begins with a group stage. The four group stage teams play each other in a round-robin system. The top two teams in the group proceed to the knockout stage, where they are joined by the bottom two teams from the Down SHC. The final is usually played at Páirc Esler in Newry. The winner of the Down Intermediate Hurling Championship qualifies for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Championship.
Bredagh are the title holders after defeating Carryduff by 2-19 to 0-09 in the 2023 final.[1]
Format edit
Group stage edit
Over the course of the four-team group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games.[2] 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 from the group stage proceed to the knockout stage.
Knockout stage edit
Semi-finals: The top teams from the group stage and the bottom two teams from the Down SHC group stage contest the semi-finals.[3]
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final.
Teams edit
2023 teams edit
The following teams will potentially compete in the 2023 Down Intermediate Hurling Championship:
| Club | Location | Colours | Championship titles | Last championship title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate clubs | ||||
| Ballela | Ballela | 0 | — | |
| Carryduff | Carryduff | 1 | 2020 | |
 Clonduff
|
Hilltown | Yellow and white | 0 | — |
 St. Peter's
|
Warrenpoint | Blue and white | 0 | — |
| Senior clubs | ||||
 Ballycran
|
Rubane | Black and amber | 0 | — |
 Ballygalget
|
Ards Peninsula | Green and white | 0 | — |
| Bredagh | Ballynafeigh | Maroon and white | 1 | 2023 |
 Liatroim Fontenoys
|
Leitrim | Green, white and yellow | 1 | 2022 |
| Newry Shamrocks | Newry | 1 | 2021 | |
 Portaferry
|
Portaferry | Blue and yellow | 0 | — |
Qualification for subsequent competitions edit
The Down Intermediate Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.
Trophy and medals edit
The Charlie Keown Memorial Cup is the current prize for winning the championship. It was commissioned to honour Liatroim Fontenoys clubman Charlie Keown who served in a number of administrative roles with the Down County Board, including a three-year term as chairman from 1985.[4] Pearse Óg McCrickard was the first recipient of the cup in 2022.
List of finals edit
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Venue | # | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Score | Club | Score | |||
| 2023 | Bredagh | 2-16 | Carryduff | 0-09 | Páirc Esler | |
| 2022 | Liatroim Fontenoys | 0-24 | Carryduff | 2-15 | Páirc Esler | [5] |
| 2021 | Newry Shamrocks | 2-12 | Carryduff | 1-13 | Páirc Esler | [6] |
| 2020 | Carryduff | 2-15 | Liatroim Fontenoys | 1-12 | Páirc Esler | [7] |
Roll of honour edit
| # | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carryduff | 1 | 3 | 2020 | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Liatroim Fontenoys | 1 | 1 | 2022 | 2020 | |
| Bredagh | 1 | 0 | 2023 | — | |
| Newry Shamrocks | 1 | 0 | 2021 | — |
See also edit
- Down Senior Hurling Championship (Tier 1)
- Down Junior Hurling Championship (Tier 3)
References edit
- ^ "Gaelic Games: Bredagh defeat Carryduff to claim the Down IHC title". Belfast Media. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Championship Draws 2023: JHC, IHC and SHC". Down GAA website. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "2023 Down GAA Intermediate Hurling Championship". Down GAA website. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Former county chairman Keown sought to improve Down GAA on and off the field". The Irish News. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ "Laitroim Win Intermediate Hurling Championship". Down GAA website. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Newry Shamrocks thrilled to become senior hurlers in 2022: Paul Sheehan". The Irish News. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Down 2020 Junior and Intermediate Hurling Finals". Down GAA website. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.