| Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Irish | Craobh Idirmhéanach Iomána an Chláir |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Trophy | Pappy O'Callaghan Cup |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Title holders |  Smith O'Brien's (1st title) |
| Most titles | Smith O'Brien's (1 titles) |
| Sponsors | TUS Midlands Midwest |
The Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship (abbreviated to Clare IHC) is an annual GAA club competition organised by the Clare County Board for hurling clubs below premier intermediate and senior level. It is contested by intermediate hurling clubs in County Clare, Ireland. It is the third-tier adult competition of the Clare hurling pyramid.
Contents
- 2026 Intermediate clubs
- Roll of honour
- List of Clare IHC finals
- List of previous Clare IHC finals (1927–2024)
- See also
- References
The Clare IHC was introduced in 1927 as a county-wide competition for hurling clubs deemed not strong enough for senior level, and too strong for junior level. In later years the Clare IHC was opened to the second-, third-, and/or fourth-string teams from higher-ranked clubs.
In 2012 the Clare County Board decided that from 2014 onwards the Clare Senior Hurling Championship would become a sixteen-team competition. This meant that five clubs would lose their senior status and be relegated down to the second-tier intermediate level. However, due to the overwhelming success of both the Clare Senior and Under-21 inter-county hurling teams in 2013, this decision was postponed for twelve months. 2014 saw the relegation of Broadford, Doora-Barefield, Ruan, Scariff and Wolfe Tones down to intermediate for 2015.
In 2025 the Clare County Board introduced three new levels to the Clare hurling pyramid – Premier Intermediate , Premier Junior B and Premier Junior C . Every level below the sixteen-team senior level was now a new or updated ten-team level, with the respective champions promoted up one level, and the losers of a relegation play-off dropping down a level for the following year.
From 1927 to 2024 the Clare IHC was the second-tier of the Clare hurling pyramid. However, since the introduction of premier intermediate in 2025, it is effectively a new competition with a new trophy on offer for the winners. The Pappy O'Callaghan Cup was commissioned for the intermediate champions from 2025 onwards [1] , and the previous intermediate trophy, the Paddy Browne Cup, is now awarded to the premier intermediate champions.
The winners of the Clare IHC are now presented with the Pappy O'Callaghan Cup as the original trophy is now presented to the premier intermediate champions, and are promoted to the Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.
The current (2025) champions and inaugural winners of the Pappy O'Callaghan Cup are Smith O'Brien's who defeated Inagh-Kilnamona by 2-18 to 1-20, to win their first title at this level.
