The All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship was a second tier Hurling championship competition held annually between 1974 and 2004 for the so-called 'weaker' hurling teams in Ireland and organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is contested by those county teams knocked out in the first round of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the winner is awarded the championship.
The series of games began every year immediately after the completion of the National Hurling League with the All-Ireland final being played in June or July, initially in Croke Park, Dublin but later in provincial venues around the country and in Britain. The championship was abolished in 2004 and these teams now play in the Joe McDonagh Cup which is the successor competition to the championship.
The title was won by 11 different teams, 6 of which won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are London, who won the competition 5 times. The history of the championship was bookended by victories for Kildare, winners of the first title in 1974 and the last in 2004.
Following ongoing one-sided matches in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship between counties of differing standards, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) began considering the addition of a tournament for so-called weaker senior counties who were usually eliminated in the early stages of their respective provincial championship. The GAA found broad support for the introduction of a second-tier championship and canvassed options for its potential structure and future inclusion within the annual calendar.[1] The championship was branded the Senior B championship and its inaugural season was 1974.
Second and third-tier competitions have already been incorporated in hurling for several years, such as the Intermediate and Junior championships.
Development
The championship remained knockout but the number of participating teams increased.
Team changes
12 county teams have participated in at least one edition of the championship.
Championship moments
New York 4-16 - 0-13 Derry (1996): New York became the first American side to win the championship.
Format
The championship was open to all hurling teams who did not take part in the proper All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. It was a knock-out competition whereby once a team lost they were eliminated from the championship.
The Senior B winners qualified back into the subsequent All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship at the quarter-final stage. The Senior B champions played a provincial winner (or Galway) at this stage.
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Kildare 
Mayo 
Wicklow 
Antrim 
Carlow 
Down 
Hertfordshire 
Laois 
London 
Westmeath 
