The Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Gerry Kennedy Crash Repairs Eastern Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Eastern IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the eastern divisional section of the Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 and contested by intermediate team in the county of Waterford in Ireland.
| Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Irish | Craobhchomórtas Idirmheánach Iomáint Oirthear Phort Láirge |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Region |  Waterford (GAA) |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Title holders |  Portlaw (5th title) |
| First winner |  Ballyduff Lower |
| Sponsors | Gerry Kennedy Crash Repairs |
| Official website | Waterford GAA |
In its current format, the Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship begins with a group stage. The six participating teams play each other in a round-robin system. The two top-ranking teams proceed to the final match at Walsh Park. The winner of the Eastern IHC subsequently represent the division in the Waterford IHC.
Portlaw are the title holders after defeating St Molleran's by 3–21 to 0–13 in the 2024 final.[1]
History
editThe Eastern Intermediate Championship was established in 1964 in an effort to bridge the standard of play between the Waterford SHC and the divisional junior championships. Ballyduff Lower were the first championship winners.
On 31 January 2022, Waterford County Board delegates voted on the restructuring of the entire intermediate hurling championship system following a review process. It was decided to establish an all-county eight-team Waterford Premier Intermediate Championship for 2023. These eight teams were made up of the four semi-finalists from the 2022 Eastern and Western intermediate championships.[2]
Format
editGroup stage
editSix clubs start in the group stage. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed five group games. 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 four teams qualify for the knockout stage
Final
editThe top two teams from the group stage contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
Relegation
editThe fifth and sixth-placed teams from the group stage take part in a relegation playoff to determine who drops to the Eastern Junior A Hurling Championship.
Teams
edit2024 teams
editThe following 6 teams will contest the 2024 Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship:
| Team | Location | Colours | Championship titles (since 1995) | Last championship title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballyduff Lower
|
Ballyduff Lower | Red and white | 3 | 2020 |
 Butlerstown
|
0 | — | ||
| Cumannan an tSlánaitheora | 0 | — | ||
| Erins Own
|
Waterford | Yellow and blue | 2 | 2003 |
| Portlaw
|
Portlaw | Blue and yellow | 5 | 2024 |
 St Molleran's
|
Carrick-Beg | Maroon and white | 2 | 2008 |
Qualification for subsequent competitions
editFrom its inception in 1964, the Eastern IHC champions automatically qualify for the Waterford IHC. Here they play the Western IHC winners to determine the county champions.[3] This format was abandoned for a period in the late 1970s and early 1980s when a county-wide Waterford IHC was in operation, however, it was later reinstated.
Roll of honour
editRoll of honour (1995–present)
edit| # | Club | Titles | Championships won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dunhill | 6 | 1999, 2001, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2021 |
| 2 | Clonea | 5 | 2002, 2006, 2009, 2017, 2018 |
| Portlaw | 5 | 2004, 2012, 2015, 2023, 2024 | |
| 4 | Ballyduff Lower | 3 | 1998, 2000, 2020 |
| 5 | Erin's Own | 2 | 1997, 2003 |
| Passage | 2 | 2005, 2007 | |
| St Molleran's | 2 | 1995, 2008 | |
| Ballygunner | 2 | 2019, 2022 | |
| 9 | Ferrybank | 1 | 1996 |
| Roanmore | 1 | 2010 | |
| St Saviour's | 1 | 2014 |
List of finals
editList of finals (1995–present)
edit| Year | Winners | Runners-up | # | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Score | Club | Score | ||
| 2024 | Portlaw | 3-21 | St Molleran's | 0-13 | |
| 2023 | Portlaw | 3-22 | Erin's Own | 3–11 | [4] |
| 2022 | Ballygunner | 1–18 | Ballyduff Lower | 1–12 | [5] |
| 2021 | Dunhill | 0–17 | Ferrybank | 1-08 | [6] |
| 2020 | Ballyduff Lower | 2–18 | Dunhill | 1-20 | [7] |
| 2019 | Ballygunner | 3-21 | Dunhill | 1-09 | [8] |
| 2018 | Clonea | 0-22 | Dunhill | 0–19 | [9] |
| 2017 | Clonea | 3–15 | Erin's Own | 0–11 | [10] |
| 2016 | Dunhill | 2–15 | Erin's Own | 0–13 | [11] |
| 2015 | Portlaw | 3–15 | Clonea | 2–15 | [12] |
| 2014 | St Saviour's | 1–19 | Ballygunner | 2–12 | [13] |
| 2013 | Dunhill | 1–12 | Portlaw | 0-07 | [14] |
| 2012 | Portlaw | 1–19 | Clonea | 3-09 | [15] |
| 2011 | Dunhill | 2–12 | Portlaw | 0–17 | |
| 2010 | Roanmore | 1–14 | Clonea | 0–13 | |
| 2009 | Clonea | 2–12 | Mount Sion | 2-07 | |
| 2008 | St Molleran's | 0–13 | St Saviour's | 1-08 | |
| 2007 | Passage | 0-09 | Portlaw | 0-08 | |
| 2006 | Clonea | 1–11 | Portlaw | 0–12 | |
| 2005 | Passage | 3–15 | Clonea | 1-08 | |
| 2004 | Portlaw | 3-08 | Clonea | 2-09 | |
| 2003 | Erin's Own | 3–14 | Dunhill | 3-06 | |
| 2002 | Clonea | 1–10 | Dunhill | 0–11 | |
| 2001 | Dunhill | 1-09 | Ballydurn | 1-03 | |
| 2000 | Ballyduff Lower | 5-06 | Ballydurn | 1-08 | |
| 1999 | Dunhill | 0–10 | Ferrybank | 1-04 | |
| 1998 | Ballyduff Lower | 4–16 | St Saviour's | 1–11 | |
| 1997 | Erin's Own | 2–12 | Ferrybank | 1–12 | |
| 1996 | Ferrybank | 2–11 | Mount Sion | 1-07 | |
| 1995 | St Molleran's | 1–10 | Kill | 1-09 | |
Notes
edit- 1995 - The first match ended in a draw: St Molleran's 2–12, Kill 3-09.
- 1997 - The first match ended in a draw: Erin's Own 1–12, Ferrybank 1–12.
- 2008 - The first match ended in a draw: St Molleran's 0–13, St Saviour's 1–10.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Fanning, Phil (16 August 2024). "Portlaw and Mollerans final clash stirs great memories". Waterford News & Star. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "New structures passed and 2022 championship draws are made". Waterford News & Star. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ McCarthy, Tomás (9 September 2023). "Waterford IHC: Young stars deliver silverware for Brickey Rangers". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "New Result for Intermediate Hurling Gerry Kennedy Crash Repairs Eastern Intermediate Final". Erin's Own GAA website. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Western glory for Ballysaggart". WLRfm website. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Dunhill convincing winners rainswept final". Waterford News & Star. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Flannery, Brian (23 August 2020). "Lyons the hero as Ballyduff Lower down Dunhill". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "First Western intermediate hurling title for Ballysaggart". WLRfm website. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Clonea hoping to make it back to back titles when they take on Erin's Own this afternoon". WLRfm website. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Clonea power to Eastern title win". The Munster Express. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Murphy's goals drive Dunhill to Eastern glory". Waterford News & Star. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Tannery town an hour from senior ranks". The Munster Express. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Saints go marching on". The Munster Express. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Dunhill dispatch neighbours to claim Eastern spoils again". The Munster Express. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Tannery town edge closer to top grade". The Munster Express. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2024.