Clare Senior Hurling Championship

For the football equivalent, see Clare Senior Football Championship.

Clare Senior Hurling Championship
Current season or competition: 2025 Clare Senior Hurling Championship
Irish	Craobh Sinsearach Iomána an Chláir
Code	Hurling
Founded	1887
Region	Clare (GAA)
Trophy	Canon Hamilton Cup
No. of teams	16
Title holders	Éire Óg, Ennis (16th title)
Most titles	Newmarket-on-Fergus (23 titles)
Sponsors	TUS
Motto	There is no hero like a local hero
Official website	clare.gaa.ie

The Clare Senior Hurling Championship (abbreviated to Clare SHC) is an annual GAA club competition organised by the Clare County Board for the top sixteen hurling clubs in County Clare, Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition in Clare hurling. The Clare SHC final is usually held in the month of October at Cusack Park in Ennis.

The Clare SHC and Clare SFC begin once both the Clare hurling team and Clare football team have concluded their respective inter-county campaigns. Both championships run concurrently on opposite weekends to cater for dual clubs competing in both codes.

In 2012 the Clare County Board decided that from 2014 onwards the Clare SHC would become a sixteen-team competition. This meant that five clubs would lose their senior status and be relegated down to intermediate. However, due to the overwhelming success of both the Clare Senior and Under-21 inter-county squads 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 2014 Cratloe completed a historic first Clare Senior Championship "Double" for their club, and the first in Clare for eighty-five years since the famous Ennis Dalcassians in 1929.

In 2025 Éire Óg, Ennis completed a historic first Clare Senior Championship "Double" for the town of Ennis in ninety-six years and emulate their predecessors Ennis Dalcassians from 1890, 1911, 1914, and 1929.

The winners of the Clare SHC each year are presented with the Canon Hamilton Cup, and represent Clare in the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship and possibly the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship as the Clare champions.

The current (2025) champions and holders of the Canon Hamilton Cup are Éire Óg, Ennis who defeated their neighbours Clooney-Quin by 0-17 to 0-12 at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis, to win their first title in thirty-five years, and sixteenth overall.

History

Early beginnings (1887 to 1919)

Following the foundation of the GAA in 1884, new rules for gaelic football and hurling were drawn up and published in the United Irishman newspaper. Over the next three years, county committees were established, with the Clare County Board holding their inaugural meeting on 14 February 1887. The inaugural Clare SHC in 1887, saw twenty-two clubs competing, with Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe claiming their first and only title. Since then the title has been awarded every year except on nine occasions. No championship took place for a five-year period from 1891 to 1895, or in 1901. The early years of the championship were dominated by Tulla winning eight titles, two of which were won by Carahan, who later became the one club. O'Callaghan's Mills (5), Ennis Dalcassians (4), Kilnamona (3), Newmarket-on-Fergus (2), and Scariff (2) were the only other teams to win multiple titles before the championship was suspended from 1920 to 1922 due to civil unrest during the Irish War of Independence.

Post war of independence (1923 to 2000)

Newmarket-on-Fergus (5) and Ennis Dalcassians (4) dominated the period from 1924 to 1934, winning nine titles between them. Feakle claimed five of the ten titles on offer from 1935 to 1944, including a three-in-a-row (1938–1940). The Jimmy Smyth-inspired Ruan won five titles between 1948 and 1962. The next twenty years was again dominated by Newmarket-on-Fergus who won thirteen titles between 1963 and 1981, including two three-in-a-rows (1963–1965 & 1967–1969), and a historic four-in-a-row (1971–1974). No other club has won more than back-to-back titles since. The remainder of the 20th century saw Sixmilebridge (6) and Clarecastle (5) win eleven titles between them. From 1995 to 2000 the Clare champions went on to win six consecutive Munster Senior Club Hurling Championships (Clarecastle, Sixmilebridge (2), Doora-Barefield (2) and Wolfe Tones, Shannon), and two All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championships (Sixmilebridge in 1996 and Doora-Barefield in 1999).

21st century (2001 to Present

In 2007 Tulla ended a seventy-four year wait to win their first title since 1933. In 2008 Clonlara bridged an eighty-nine year gap from 1919 when they won their second county title. Since 2009 there has been three first-time champions (Ballyea, Cratloe and Crusheen) who have all gone on to win multiple titles since their maiden titles. In 2012 Newmarket-on-Fergus won their first title in thirty-one years to cement their place at the top of the Clare SHC Roll of Honour with twenty-three titles. In 2014 Cratloe completed a historic first Clare Senior Championship "Double" for their club, and the first in Clare for eighty-five years. Ballyea (4) and Sixmilebridge (4) shared every title from 2015 to 2022, but never met in the county final in that time. Ballyea also won the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship after their maiden county title in 2016. In 2023 Feakle ended a thirty-six year wait to win their first title since 1944. In 2025 Éire Óg, Ennis bridged an thirty-five year gap from 1990 to win their sixteenth title, and helped the club to complete a historic first Clare Senior Championship "Double" for the town of Ennis since 1929.

2026 senior clubs

• The sixteen clubs that will participate in the 2026 Clare Senior Hurling Championship are:

Club	Location	Colours	Titles	Last title
Ballyea	Ballyea	Black & Amber	4	2022
Broadford	Broadford	Green & Yellow	0	-
Clonlara	Clonlara	Amber & Black	3	2023
Clooney-Quin	Clooney / Quin	Green & Red	1	1942
Cratloe	Cratloe	Blue & White	2	2014
Crusheen	Crusheen	Red & White	2	2011
Éire Óg, Ennis	Ennis	Red & White	16	2025
Feakle	Feakle	Yellow & Green	7	2024
Inagh-Kilnamona	Inagh / Kilnamona	Yellow & Green	3	1908
Kilmaley	Kilmaley	Blue & White	2	2004
Newmarket-on-Fergus	Newmarket-on-Fergus	Blue & Gold	23	2012
Scariff	Scariff	Green & White	5	1953
Sixmilebridge	Sixmilebridge	Saffron & Blue	15	2020
St. Josephs Doora-Barefield	Doora / Barefield	Maroon & White	5	2001
Wolfe Tones Na Sionna	Shannon	Green & White	2	2006
2025 Clare PIHC champions

Venues

Early rounds

Cusack Park, Ennis

Fixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams. Some of the more common venues include Broadford GAA Grounds, Clarecastle GAA Grounds, Fr. Murphy Memorial Park, Gurteen, O'Garney Park, Páirc an Dálaigh and Wolfe Tones GAA Grounds. Cusack Park in Ennis also hosts several double-headers in the early rounds of the championship.

Later stages

The semi-finals and final are usually played at Cusack Park in Ennis. Named after the founder of the GAA, Michael Cusack, the ground has a capacity of just over 20,000. In 2017 a major renovation of the stadium was completed which included the demolition and re-erection of the main stand and construction of a new entrance at the north side of the stadium.

Winning managers

Manager	Club	Wins	Years won
Robbie Hogan	Ballyea	3	2016, 2021, 2022
John O'Meara	Sixmilebridge		2013, 2015, 2017
Michael Browne	Crusheen	2	2010, 2011
Tim Crowe	Sixmilebridge		2019, 2020
John Carmody	Kilmaley	1	2004
Ger Ward	Clarecastle		2005
Pat O'Rourke	Wolfe Tones, Shannon		2006
Jim McInerney	Tulla		2007
Jim Gully	Clonlara		2008
Mike Deegan	Cratloe		2009
Bob Enright	Newmarket-on-Fergus		2012
Joe McGrath	Cratloe		2014
Kevin Sheehan	Ballyea		2018
Donal Madden	Clonlara		2023
Ger Conway	Feakle		2024
Gerry O'Connor	Éire Óg, Ennis		2025

Trophy

The winning team is presented with the Canon Hamilton Cup. A native of Clonlara, Michael Hamilton (1894-1969) was educated at Clonlara National School and St. Flannan's College in Ennis. He was ordained to the priesthood at Maynooth University in 1919 and later became a professor at St. Flannan's College. In 1922 he became one of the first chaplains in the Irish Army. He was a noted hurler in his youth and was chairman of the Clare County Board for over twenty-five years. He died while attending the Newmarket-on-Fergus and Clarecastle county final replay on 31 August 1969.

Roll of honour

#	Club	Wins	Years won
1.	Newmarket-on-Fergus	23	1912, 1916, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1955, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1981, 2012
2.	Éire Óg, Ennis	16	1956, 1957, 1966, 1980, 1982, 1990, 2025 As Ennis Dalcassians : 1890, 1911, 1914, 1915, 1924, 1928 (with Clarecastle), 1929, 1934, 1941
3.	Sixmilebridge	15	1977, 1979, 1983, 1984, 989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020
4.	Clarecastle	12	1928 (with Ennis Dalcassians), 1943, 1945, 1949, 1970, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2003, 2005
5.	Tulla	11	1889, 1896, 1897, 1898 (as Carrahan), 1899, 1900 (as Carrahan), 1905, 1913, 1933, 1975 (as Brian Boru's), 2007
6.	O'Callaghan's Mills	8	1904, 1906, 1909, 1910, 1918, 1923 (as Kilkishen), 1932 (as Kilkishen), 1937
7.	Feakle	7	1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1988, 2024
8.	Ruan	5	1948, 1951, 1959, 1960, 1962
	Scariff		1907, 1917, 1946, 1952, 1953
	St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield		1954, 1958, 1998, 1999, 2001
11.	Ballyea	4	2016, 2018, 2021, 2022
12.	Clonlara	3	1919, 2008, 2023
	Inagh-Kilnamona		1902 (as Kilnamona), 1903 (as Kilnamona), 1908 (as Kilnamona)
14.	Bodyke	2	1947, 1975 (as Brian Boru's)
	Cratloe		2009, 2014
	Crusheen		2010, 2011
	Kilmaley		1985, 2004
	Whitegate		1950, 1961
	Wolfe Tones, Shannon		1996, 2006
20.	Clooney-Quin	1	1942 (as Clooney)
	Killanena		1975 (as Brian Boru's)
	Ogonnelloe		1888
	Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe		1887

List of Clare SHC finals

  All-Ireland Club Champions  Munster Club Champions  Munster Club Finalists

Year	Winners	Score	Runners-up	Score
2025 [1]	Eire Óg, Ennis	0-17	Clooney-Quin	0-12
2024 [2]	Feakle	1-17	Sixmilebridge	0-13
2023 [3]	Clonlara	3-18	Crusheen	2-16
2022 [4]	Ballyea	2-14	Éire Óg, Ennis	1-16
2021 [5]	Ballyea	1-17	Inagh-Kilnamona	1-16
2020 [6]	Sixmilebridge	0-20	O'Callaghan's Mills	0-12
2019 [7]	Sixmilebridge	0-21	Cratloe	0-15
2018 [8]	Ballyea	1-20	Cratloe	1-14
2017 (R) [9]	Sixmilebridge	1-20 (0-19)	Clooney-Quin	1-14 (1-16)
2016 (R) [10]	Ballyea	2-14 (1-11)	Clonlara	2-11 (1-11)
2015 [11]	Sixmilebridge	1-21	Clonlara	0-15
2014 [12]	Cratloe	0-14	Crusheen	0-06
2013 [13]	Sixmilebridge	1-10	Newmarket-on-Fergus	0-11
2012 [14]	Newmarket-on-Fergus	3-10	Cratloe	0-09
2011 [15]	Crusheen	0-10	Sixmilebridge	0-04
2010 [16]	Crusheen	2-13	Cratloe	1-11
2009	Cratloe	3-05	Clonlara	1-09
2008	Clonlara	1-12	Newmarket-on-Fergus	1-09
2007	Tulla	1-07	Crusheen	0-09
2006	Wolfe Tones, Shannon	2-11	Newmarket-on-Fergus	0-13
2005	Clarecastle	0-09	Wolfe Tones, Shannon	0-07
2004	Kilmaley	1-10	St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield	1-09
2003	Clarecastle	3-14	Ballyea	1-11
2002	Sixmilebridge	3-10	Clarecastle	2-08
2001	St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield	1-15	Sixmilebridge	1-12
2000	Sixmilebridge	4-09	Éire Óg, Ennis	1-08
1999	St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield	3-12	Sixmilebridge	1-12
1998	St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield		Kilmaley
1997	Clarecastle	2-11	St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield	0-11
1996	Wolfe Tones, Shannon	1-11	Clarecastle	1-08
1995	Sixmilebridge	2-10	Scariff	0-15
1994	Clarecastle		St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield
1993	Sixmilebridge	3-08	O'Callaghan's Mills	2-06
1992	Sixmilebridge	1-11	Éire Óg, Ennis	1-10
1991	Clarecastle		Scariff
1990	Éire Óg, Ennis	1-05	O'Callaghan's Mills	1-03
1989	Sixmilebridge	3-14	Clarecastle	1-11
1988	Feakle		Ruan
1987	Clarecastle		Feakle
1986	Clarecastle		O'Callaghan's Mills
1985	Kilmaley		Éire Óg, Ennis
1984	Sixmilebridge	3-07	Clarecastle	1-12
1983 (R)	Sixmilebridge		Éire Óg, Ennis
1982	Éire Óg, Ennis	3-08	Sixmilebridge	2-09
1981	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Tubber
1980	Éire Óg, Ennis		Newmarket-on-Fergus
1979	Sixmilebridge		St Brendan's (Kilmaley / Barefield)
1978	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Clarecastle
1977	Sixmilebridge		Kilkishen
1976	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Sixmilebridge
1975	Brian Boru's (Bodyke / Killanena / Tulla)		Éire Óg, Ennis
1974	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Crusheen
1973	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Clarecastle
1972	Newmarket-on-Fergus		St. Senan's, Kilkee
1971	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Clarecastle
1970	Clarecastle		Crusheen
1969 (R)	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Clarecastle
1968	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Clarecastle
1967	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Clarecastle
1966	Éire Óg, Ennis	2-08	Whitegate	1-04
1965	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Éire Óg, Ennis
1964	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Clarecastle
1963	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Whitegate
1962	Ruan		Sixmilebridge
1961	Whitegate		Newmarket-on-Fergus
1960	Ruan		Scariff
1959	Ruan		Éire Óg, Ennis
1958	St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield		Feakle
1957	Éire Óg, Ennis	5-09	Whitegate	2-03
1956	Éire Óg, Ennis	4-05	Clarecastle	2-08
1955	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Éire Óg, Ennis
1954	St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield		O'Callaghan's Mills
1953	Scariff		Newmarket-on-Fergus
1952	Scariff		Sixmilebridge
1951	Ruan
1950	Whitegate		Ruan
1949	Clarecastle
1948	Ruan		Clarecastle
1947	Bodyke
1946	Scariff
1945	Clarecastle
1944	Feakle		Clooney
1943	Clarecastle		Scariff
1942	Clooney		Scariff
1941	Ennis Dalcassians
1940	Feakle		Clooney
1939	Feakle		Clarecastle
1938	Feakle		Kilkishen
1937	O'Callaghan's Mills		Clarecastle
1936	Newmarket-on-Fergus		Clarecastle
1935	Feakle		Newmarket-on-Fergus
1934	Ennis Dalcassians
1933	Tulla
1932	Kilkishen
1931	Newmarket-on-Fergus
1930	Newmarket-on-Fergus
1929	Ennis Dalcassians
1928	Ennis Dalcassians / Clarecastle		Newmarket-on-Fergus
1927	Newmarket-on-Fergus
1926	Newmarket-on-Fergus
1925	Newmarket-on-Fergus
1924	Ennis Dalcassians
1923	Kilkishen		Feakle
1922	No Championship
1921	No Championship
1920	No Championship
1919	Clonlara		Scariff
1918	O'Callaghan's Mills		Scariff
1917	Scariff		Feakle
1916	Newmarket-on-Fergus
1915	Ennis Dalcassians
1914	Ennis Dalcassians
1913	Tulla
1912	Newmarket-on-Fergus
1911	Ennis Dalcassians
1910	O'Callaghan's Mills
1909	O'Callaghan's Mills
1908	Kilnamona	0-11	O'Callaghan's Mills	0-10
1907	Scariff		O'Callaghan's Mills
1906	O'Callaghan's Mills
1905	Tulla
1904	O'Callaghan's Mills
1903	Kilnamona		Thomonds
1902	Kilnamona		Barefield
1901	No Championship
1900	Carrahan
1899	Tulla
1898	Carrahan
1897	Tulla
1896	Tulla
1895	No Championship
1894	No Championship
1893	No Championship
1892	No Championship
1891	No Championship
1890	Ennis Dalcassians		Feakle
1889	Tulla		Feakle
1888	Ogonnelloe
1887	Smith O'Brien's		Ogonnelloe

• Brian Boru's were a temporary amalgamation that was composed of the Bodyke, Killanena and Tulla clubs in 1975. They competed together at senior level when they were all competing at either intermediate or junior level individually. Brian Boru's won the 1975 senior county title defeating Éire Óg, Ennis in the final.

• St Brendan's were another temporary amalgamation of the Kilmaley and Doora-Barefield clubs in 1979. St Brendan's contested the 1979 county final, losing out to Sixmilebridge.

Records and statistics

Consecutive championships

• 4-in-a-row:
  • Once by Newmarket-on-Fergus (1971–1974)
• 3-in-a-row:
  • Three times by Newmarket-on-Fergus (1925–1927), (1963–1965), and (1967–1969)
  • Once by Feakle (1938–1940)

"The Double"

The following clubs have won both the Clare Senior Hurling Championship and Clare Senior Football Championship in the same year:

• Four times by Ennis Dalcassians (1890, 1911, 1914, 1929)
• Once by Cratloe (2014)
• Once by Éire Óg, Ennis (2025)

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Clare Senior Hurling Championship titles they won, is as follows:

• 1880s: One title each for Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe (1887), Ogonnelloe (1888) & Tulla (1889)
• 1890s: Three titles for Tulla (1896, 1897, 1899)
• 1900s: Three titles each for Kilnamona (1902, 1903, 1908) & O'Callaghan's Mills (1904, 1906, 1909)
• 1910s: Three titles for Ennis Dalcassians (1911, 1914, 1915)
• 1920s: Three titles each for Newmarket-on-Fergus (1925, 1926, 1927) & Ennis Dalcassians (1924, 1928 (with Clarecastle), 1929)
• 1930s: Three titles each for Newmarket-on-Fergus (1930, 1931, 1936) & Feakle (1935, 1938, 1939)
• 1940s: Three titles for Clarecastle (1943, 1945, 1949)
• 1950s: Two titles each for Scariff (1952, 1953), Éire Óg (1956, 1957), St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield (1954, 1958) & Ruan (1951, 1959)
• 1960s: Six titles for Newmarket-on-Fergus (1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969)
• 1970s: Six titles for Newmarket-on-Fergus (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978)
• 1980s: Three titles for Sixmilebridge (1983, 1984, 1989)
• 1990s: Three titles each for Sixmilebridge (1992, 1993, 1995) & Clarecastle (1991, 1994, 1997)
• 2000s: Two titles each for Sixmilebridge (2000, 2002) & Clarecastle (2003, 2005)
• 2010s: Four titles for Sixmilebridge (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
• 2020s: Two titles for Ballyea (2021, 2022)

Barren spells

The longest gaps between successive Clare Senior Hurling Championship titles are:

• 89 years: Clonlara (1919–2008)
• 74 years: Tulla (1933–2007)
• 44 years: Feakle (1944–1988)
• 40 years: St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield (1958–1998)
• 36 years: Feakle (1988–2024)
• 35 years: Éire Óg, Ennis (1990–2025)
• 31 years: Newmarket-on-Fergus (1981–2012)
• 29 years: Scariff (1917–1946)
• 21 years: Ennis Dalcassians (1890–1911) & Clarecastle (1949–1970)
• 20 years: Tulla (1913–1933)
• 19 years: O'Callaghan's Mills (1918–1937), Newmarket-on-Fergus (1936–1955) & Kilmaley (1985–2004)
• 16 years: Clarecastle (1970–1986)
• 15 years: Clonlara (2008–2023)
• 14 years: Éire Óg, Ennis (1966–1980)
• 11 years: Whitegate (1950–1961) & Sixmilebridge (2002–2013)
• 10 years: Scariff (1907–1917) & Wolfe Tones, Shannon (1996–2006)

See also

• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
• Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
• Clare Hurling League Div. 1 (Clare Cup)
• Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
• Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship
• Clare Junior A Hurling Championship
• Clare Premier Junior B Hurling Championship
• Clare Junior B Hurling Championship
• Clare Premier Junior C Hurling Championship
• Clare Junior C Hurling Championship
• Clare Under-21 A Hurling Championship
• Clare Minor A Hurling Championship

References

1. "Éire Óg End 35 Years Of Hurt In Clare". RTÉ Sport .
2. "Feakle Win first Clare SHC Title Since 1988". GAA .
3. "Conlon Leads Clonlara To Fairytale Clare Final Win". RTE Sport .
4. "Hooks, Blocks, And Tackles Was Winning Formula". Irish Examiner .
5. "Ballyea Deny Final Debutants Inagh-Kilnamona To Secure Clare Hurling Crown". The Irish Times .
6. "Sixmilebridge Make Some History And Look To The Future After Retaining Clare SHC Title". Irish Examiner .
7. "Clare SHC Final: Joy For Davy Fitz' As 'Bridge See Off Neighbours". Hogan Stand .
8. "Strong Finish Sees Ballyea Secure Second Title". Irish Examiner .
9. "Sixmilebridge The Team Of Decade As Fairytale Ends For Clooney-Quin". Irish Examiner .
10. "Ballyea Show Courage In Abundance To Land First Title". Irish Examiner .
11. "Gilly Glory As Bridge Too Strong". Irish Examiner .
12. "Clare SHC Final: Cratloe Complete First Leg Of Double". Hogan Stand .
13. "Battling Bridge Reign Supreme After Final Epic". Irish Examiner .
14. "Newmarket End 31 Years Of Hurt". Irish Examiner .
15. "Dillon To Fore As Crusheen Become Goliaths". Irish Independent .
16. "Long Wait Over For Crusheen As Meaney's Cameo Seals Historic First". Irish Independent .