2025 Joe McDonagh Cup

Joe McDonagh Cup 2025

Corn Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonnacha
Tournament details
Level	2
Year	2025
Trophy	Joe McDonagh Cup
Dates	19 April - 8 June 2025
Teams	6
Winners
Champions	Kildare (1st win)
Manager	Brian Dowling
Captain	Rian Boran
Qualify for	Joe McDonagh Cup Final All-Ireland SHC
Runners-up
Runners-up	Laois
Manager	Tommy Fitzgerald
Captain	Enda Rowland
Promotion/Relegation
Promoted team(s)	Kildare
Relegated team(s)	Kerry
Other
Matches played	16
Total scored	68-691 (55.94 points per game)
Top Scorer	Martin Kavanagh (4-43)
←  2024 2026  →

The 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup was the eighth staging of the Joe McDonagh Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2018. ^[1]

Offaly, winner of the 2024 final, were promoted to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, replaced by Carlow who were relegated back to this competition. ^[2] Kildare were promoted from the Christy Ring Cup. ^[3]

The top two teams from the round robin stage played off in a final to decide the winner, both finalists also advancing to the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship knock-out stages. The bottom team was relegated to Christy Ring Cup.

Team changes

To Championship

Relegated from the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

• Carlow

Promoted from the Christy Ring Cup

• Kildare

From Championship

Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

• Offaly

Relegated to the Christy Ring Cup

• Meath

Format

Cup format

Initially each of the six teams played the other five teams in single round-robin matches. The top two teams after the round robin games competed in the Joe McDonagh Cup final. The Joe McDonagh Cup champions and runners-up also advanced to the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, with the Joe McDonagh Cup teams having home advantage.

Promotion

If the Joe McDonagh champion was a non-Munster team, they would be automatically promoted to the following year's Leinster Championship. If the champion was a Munster team, they would be automatically promoted to the following year's Munster Championship. The Joe McDonagh Cup winner would replace the bottom-placed team in the provincial championship containing six teams.^{[ clarify ]}

Relegation

The bottom-placed team in the Joe McDonagh Cup was automatically relegated to the following year's Christy Ring Cup and was replaced by the Christy Ring Cup winner.

Teams by province

The participating teams, listed by province, with numbers in parentheses indicating final positions in the 2025 National Hurling League before the championship were:

Leinster (4)

• Carlow (11)
• Kildare (16)
• Laois (13)
• Westmeath (14)

Munster (1)

• Kerry (17)

Ulster (1)

• Down (15)

Teams

General Information

Six counties will compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup:

County	Last Cup Title	Last Provincial Title	Last All-Ireland Title	Position in 2024 Championship	Appearance
Carlow	2023	—	—	6th (Leinster Senior Hurling Championship)	6th
Down	—	1997	—	5th	5th
Kerry	—	1891	1891	3rd	8th
Kildare	—	—	—	Champions (Christy Ring Cup)	3rd
Laois	2019	1949	1915	Runners-up	5th
Westmeath	2021	—	—	4th	6th

Personnel and kits

County	Manager	Captain(s)	Sponsor
Carlow	Tom Mullally	Kevin McDonald	SETU
Down	Ronan Sheehan	Caolan Taggart and Eoghan Sands	EOS IT Solutions
Kerry	John Griffin [4]	Tomás O'Connor	Kerry Group
Kildare	Brian Dowling	Rian Boran	Brady Family Ham
Laois	Tommy Fitzgerald	Enda Rowland	Laois Hire
Westmeath	Seoirse Bulfin	Aonghus Clarke and Killian Doyle	Renault

Group Stage

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	SF	SA	Diff	Pts	Qualification
1	Kildare	5	4	0	1	10-112	6-90	+34	8	Advance to Final and All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Finals (PQ)
2	Laois	5	3	1	1	16-127	9-92	+56	7
3	Carlow	5	3	1	1	19-110	7-102	+44	7
4	Westmeath	5	2	0	3	11-117	14-106	+2	4
5	Down	5	1	0	4	4-92	17-128	-75	2
6	Kerry	5	1	0	4	5-88	12-128	-61	2	Relegated to Christy Ring Cup (R)

• Laois proceed to both the Joe McDonagh Cup final on points difference over Carlow.

• Kerry are relegated on head-to-head record with Down.

Fixtures

Round 1

Kildare v Kerry

19 April 2025Round 1	Kildare	0-19 (19) – (20) 1-17	Kerry	Newbridge
14:00	David Qualter 0-10 (1’65, 4fs), Cathal McCabe 0-3, Gerry Keegan 0-2, Darragh Melville 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-1, Cian Boran 0-1	Report	Padraig Boyle 1-7 (5fs), Dylan Moriarty 0-5 (3fs, 1’65), Oisín Maunsell 0-3, Kevin Goulding 0-2	Stadium: St Conleth's Park Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)

Carlow v Down

19 April 2025Round 1	Carlow	6-23 (41) - (20) 0-20	Down	Carlow
14:30	Chris Nolan (3-1), James Doyle (1-3), Marty Kavanagh (0-6fs), Paddy Boland (1-1), Jon Nolan (0-3), Ciaran Whelan (0-3), Ted Joyce (1-0), Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-2), Conor Kehoe (0-2), Donagh Murphy (0-2)	Report	Tom McGrattan (0-8 2-65s 6fs), Pearse Óg McCrickard (0-4), Paul Sheehan 0-3 (1-sl), Chris Egan (0-2), Caolan Taggart (0-1), Eoghan Sands (0-1), Tim Prenter (0-1)	Stadium: Dr Cullen Park Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)

Laois v Westmeath

19 April 2025Round 1	Laois	3-25 (34) – (25) 1-22	Westmeath	Portlaoise
15:00	Tomas Keyes 1-8 (0-3 frees, 0-1 65), Ben Conroy 1-2, Paddy Purcell and Jer Quinlan 0-4 each, Cha Dwyer 1-0, David Dooley 0-2, Martin Phelan, James Duggan, Jordan Walshe, Aidan Corby and Podge Delaney 0-1 each	Report	Killian Doyle 1-11 (1-6 frees), Peter Clarke 0-5, David O'Reilly 0-2, Robbie Greville, Niall O'Brien, Eamon Cuneen (65) and David Williams 0-1 each	Stadium: Laois Hire O'Moore Park Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)

Round 2

Down v Laois

26 April 2025Round 2	Down	1-12 (15) – (54) 6-36	Laois	Ballycran
13:30	P óg McCrickard 1-1; P Sheehan 0-4 (0-3f); E Sands & D Sands 0-2 each; M Fisher (65), C Taggart & T Prenter 0-1 each	Report	B Conroy 2-2; J Duggan 2-1; C Dwyer 1-4; T Keyes (0-6f) & J Quinlan (0-2f) 0-7 each; PJ Scully 1-2 (0-1f); A Corby 0-5; P Delaney (2f) & R Mullaney 0-2 each; FC Fennell, D Dooley, J Lennon & C Comerford 0-1	Stadium: McKenna Park

Kildare v Westmeath

26 April 2025Round 2	Kildare	3-24 (33) – (27) 2-21	Westmeath	Newbridge
16:30	J Sheridan 1-3 (3fs), J Burke 1-2, D Qualter (2fs), G Keegan 0-5, D Melville 1-0, P Dolan, C Boran 0-3, D O’Meara, C McCabe, C Dowling 0-1	Report	K Doyle 0-10 (8fs,1 65), D Williams 1-3, N O’Brien 0-5, P Clarke 1-0, D O’Reilly, Mark Cunningham, O McCabe 0-1	Stadium: St Conleth's Park Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin)

Kerry v Carlow

27 April 2025Round 2	Kerry	0-17 (17) - (36) 3-27	Carlow	Tralee
14:00	D Moriarty (0-6, fs), L Crowley and S Nolan (0-3 each), O Maunsell (0-2), P O’Connor, T Doyle, and S Brosnan (0-1 each)	Report	C Nolan (1-5), M Kavanagh (0-8.4fs), P Boland (1-2). C Kehoe (1-1), J Nolan (0-4), T Joyce (0-2), K McDonald (s/l), J Doyle, J McCullagh, J Treacy, and C Whelan (0-1 each)	Stadium: Austin Stack Park

Round 3

Carlow v Kildare

10 May 2025Round 3	Carlow	1-20 (23) - (29) 2-23	Kildare	Carlow
14:00	M Kavanagh 1-7 (1-0 pen, 5fs), James Doyle 0-4, C Nolan 0-3, C Kehoe, J Nolan 0-2 each, C Whelan, P Boland 0-1 each	Report	D Qualter 0-7 (fs), J Burke 0-5, C Dowling 1-1, G Keegan 0-4 (1f), each, J Sheridan 1-0, J Travers, D Melville 0-2 each, D Guerin, C McCabe 0-1 each	Stadium: Dr Cullen Park Referee: Éamonn Furlong (Wexford)

Westmeath v Down

10 May 2025Round 3	Westmeath	2-24 (30) - (20) 0-20	Down	Mullingar
14:30	D Williams 1-6 (1-0 pen, 6f); E Cunneen 0-4; D O'Reilly, M Cunningham, N O'Brien 0-3 each; J Boyle 1-0; K Doyle 0-2 (1f); P Clarke, N Mitchell, D Hickey 0-1 each	Report	P Sheehan 0-11 (8f, 1 '65', 1 s/l); P Óg McCrickard, T Prenter, T Murray, E Sands 0-2 each; F Turpin 0-1	Stadium: TEG Cusack Park Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)

Laois v Kerry

11 May 2025Round 3	Laois	5-28 (43) - (24) 1-21	Kerry	Portlaoise
16:00	J Duggan 5-2, T Keyes 0-7 (6fs, 1’65), A Dunphy 0-6 (3fs, 1’65), D Dooley 0-4, F C Fennell 0-3, M Dowling 0-2, P Delaney (1f), R Mullaney, P Purcell and W Dunphy 0-1 each	Report	S Nolan 0-11 (6fs), K Hayes 1-0, D Casey and O Maunsell 0-2 each, D Shanahan, K Goulding, R Walsh, T Doyle, L Crowley, and R Mahony 0-1 each	Stadium: Laois Hire O'Moore Park Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)

Round 4

Down v Kerry

17 May 2025Round 4	Down	2-26 (32) - (25) 2-19	Kerry	Ballycran
14:00	F Turpin 1-4, P Og McCrickard 0-7 (1x65, 0-2f), D Sands 0-4, C Egan 1-0, D Hughes 0-3, T Prenter 0-3, P Sheehan 0-2f, E Sands 0-1, L Savage 0-1, C Taggart 0-1	Report	P Boyle 0-9 (0-8f), N Mulcahy 1-2, R Walsh 0-4, L Rochford 1-0, K Goulding, P O’Connor, K O’Connor, K Hayes 0-1 each	Stadium: McKenna Park Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)

Westmeath v Carlow

17 May 2025Round 4	Westmeath	4-22 (34) - (44) 7-23	Carlow	Mullingar
16:00	K Doyle 0-8 (3fs, 1‘65’), M Cunningham 1-4, N O’Brien 1-3 (1-0pen), P Clarke 1-1, D Glennon 1-0, K Regan, D O’Reilly, D McCormack (1f) 0-2 each	Report	M Kavanagh 3-12 (1-0pen, 0-8fs, 0-2‘65’s), C Nolan 2-2, James Doyle 1-4, F Fitzpatrick 1-0, J McCullagh 0-2, C Whelan, John Doyle, J Nolan 0-1 each	Stadium: TEG Cusack Park Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

Laois v Kildare

18 May 2025Round 4	Laois	1-18 (21) - (32) 4-20	Kildare	Portlaoise
15:00	T Keyes 0-7 (five frees), C Dwyer 1-1, P Purcell and A Corby 0-2 each, P Delaney (free), D Dooley, J Duggan, B Conroy, L Cleere and J Lennon 0-1 each	Report	D Qualter 1-6 (0-6 frees), J Sheridan 2-0, C McCabe 1-2, G Keegan and J Burke 0-3 each, R Boran, D Guerin, S Leacy, C Boran, C Dowling and D Melville 0-1 each	Stadium: Laois Hire O'Moore Park Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)

Round 5

Carlow v Laois

24 May 2025Round 5	Carlow	2-17 (23) - (23) 1-20	Laois	Carlow
14:00	M Kavanagh 0-10 (7fs, 2-65s), C Nolan, P Boland 1-1 each, J Doyle 0-2, JM Nolan, F Fitzpatrick, Jon Nolan 0-1 each	Report	T Keyes 0-14 (9fs 2-65s), James Duggan 1-1, J Quinlan, P Delaney (f), T Cuddy, C Dwyer (f), A Dunphy 0-1 each	Stadium: Netwatch Cullen Park Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)

Kildare v Down

24 May 2025Round 5	Kildare	1-26 (29) - (17) 1-14	Down	Newbridge
14:00	D Qualter 1-13 (12fs,1 65), G Keegan, D Melville 0-3 each, P Dolan, S Leacy, J Burke, C McCabe, C Dowling, J Travers, K Harrington 0-1 each	Report	P Sheehan 0-8 (7fs, 1 65), S Pucci 1-0, D Hughes 0-3, T Prenter, D Sands, F Turpin 0-1 each	Stadium: Cedral St Conleth's Park Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)

Kerry v Westmeath

24 May 2025Round 5	Kerry	1-14 (17) - (34) 2-28	Westmeath	Tralee
14:00	P Boyle 0-6 (5fs), L Rochford 1-0, T Godley 0-2, K Goulding, K Hayes, N Mulcahy, S Nolan, S Horan, L Crowley 0-1 each	Report	K Doyle 0-15 (8fs, 1’65), D O’Reilly 1-6, N O’Brien 1-1, D Williams, P Clarke 0-2 each, K Regan, M Cunningham 0-1 each	Stadium: Austin Stack Park Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)

Final

Kildare v Laois

8 June 2025Final	Kildare	2-26 (32)–(22) 1-19	Laois	Dublin
				Venue: Croke Park
				TV: TG4

Stadia and Locations

Carlow

Kerry

Westmeath

Kildare

Down

Laois

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup teams.

See also: List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums

County	Location	Province	Stadium(s)	Capacity
Carlow	Carlow	Leinster	Dr Cullen Park	21,000
Down	Rubane	Ulster	McKenna Park	1,320
Kerry	Tralee	Munster	Austin Stack Park	12,000
Kildare	Newbridge	Leinster	St Conleth's Park	15,000
Laois	Portlaoise	Leinster	O'Moore Park	22,000
Westmeath	Mullingar	Leinster	TEG Cusack Park	11,500

Statistics

Top Scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Martin Kavanagh	Carlow	4-43	55	5	11.00
2	Killian Doyle	Westmeath	1-46	49	5	9.80
3	David Qualter	Kildare	2-41	47	5	9.40
4	Tomás Keyes	Laois	1-43	46	5	9.20
5	Chris Nolan	Carlow	7-12	33	5	6.60
6	James Duggan	Laois	8-06	30	5	6.00
7	Paul Sheehan	Down	0-28	28	5	5.60
8	Pádraig Boyle	Kerry	1-22	25	3	8.33
9	James Doyle	Carlow	2-13	19	5	3.80
10	Pearse Óg McCrickard	Down	1-14	17	5	3.60
	Gerry Keegan	Kildare	0-17	17	5	3.60
	David O'Reilly	Westmeath	1-14	17	5	3.60

In A Single Game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Martin Kavanagh	Carlow	3-12	21	Westmeath
2	James Duggan	Laois	5-02	17	Kerry
3	David Qualter	Kildare	1-13	16	Down
4	Killian Doyle	Westmeath	0-15	15	Kerry
5	Killian Doyle	Westmeath	1-11	14	Laois
	Tomás Keyes	Laois	0-14	14	Carlow
7	Tomás Keyes	Laois	1-08	11	Westmeath
	Shane Nolan	Kerry	0-11	11	Laois
	Paul Sheehan	Down	0-11	11	Westmeath
10	David Qualter	Kildare	0-10	10	Kerry
	Pádraig Boyle	Kerry	1-07	10	Kildare
	Chris Nolan	Carlow	3-01	10	Down
	Killian Doyle	Westmeath	0-10	10	Kildare
	Martin Kavanagh	Carlow	1-07	10	Kildare
	Martin Kavanagh	Carlow	0-10	10	Laois

Scoring events

• Widest winning margin: 39 points
  • Down 1-12 - 6-36 Laois (Round 2)
• Most goals in a match: 11
  • Westmeath 4-22 - 7-23 Carlow (Round 4)
• Most points in a match: 49
  • Laois 5-28 - 1-21 Kerry (Roynd 3)
• Most goals by one team in a match: 7
  • Westmeath 4-22 - 7-23 Carlow (Round 4)
• Most points by one team in a match: 36
  • Down 1-12 - 6-36 Laois (Round 2)
• Highest aggregate score: 78 points
  • Westmeath 4-22 - 7-23 Carlow (Round 4)
• Lowest aggregate score: 39 points
  • Kildare 0-19 - 1-17 Kerry (Round 1)
• Hat-trick Heros:
  • Chris Nolan (Carlow) 3-01 v Down (Round 1)
  • James Duggan (Laois) 5-02 v Kerry (Round 3)
  • Martin Kavanagh (Carlow) 3-12 v Westmeath (Round 4)

See also

• 2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (Tier 1)
• 2025 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
• 2025 Munster Senior Hurling Championship
• 2025 Christy Ring Cup (Tier 3)
• 2025 Nicky Rackard Cup (Tier 4)
• 2025 Lory Meagher Cup (Tier 5)

References

1. Moran, Seán (30 September 2017). "GAA Congress approve round-robin provincial hurling championships". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
2. Mohan, David (26 May 2024). "Leinster SHC: Antrim victory relegates Carlow". www.gaa.ie. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
3. O'Connell, Cian (5 December 2024). "GAA Master Fixtures for 2025 published". www.gaa.ie. p. 7. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
4. Brennan, Paul (24 May 2025). "Kerry suffer relegation after heavy loss to Westmeath". RTÉ. Somewhat ironically, it was John 'Tweek' Griffin who captained Kerry to Christy Ring Cup success in 2015, but a decade later he is in the ignominious position of being the team manager as the county drops down to the third tier of championship hurling for the first time.

External links

• Lawlor, Damian (20 May 2025). "Hard graft puts Kildare hurlers on cusp of Joe McDonagh final". RTÉ.