East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship

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East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship
Irish Craobh Iomána Sóisear A Uí Mac Coille
Code Hurling
Founded1925;100 years ago (1925)
Region Colours of Cork.svg Imokilly (GAA)
TrophyJamesy Kelleher Cup
No. of teams8
Title holders Colours of Limerick.svg Killeagh (6th title)
Most titles Colours of Cork.svg Castlemartyr (11 titles)
SponsorsEast Cork Oil
Official website East Cork GAA

The East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the East Cork Oil Junior A Hurling Championship) is an annual club hurling competition organised by the East Cork Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking junior clubs in East Cork, Ireland, deciding the competition winners through a group stage and knockout format. It is the most prestigious competition in East Cork hurling.

Contents

Introduced in 1925 as the East Cork Junior Championship, it was initially a straight knockout tournament. The competition went through a number of format changes since then, including the introduction of a back-door or second chance for beaten teams. The competition has since added a round-robin group stage.

In its current format, the East Cork Junior A Championship begins with a group stage in late summer. The eight participating teams are divided into two groups of four and play each other in a round-robin system. The two top-ranking teams in each group proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final. The winner of the East Cork Junior A Championship, as well as receiving the Jamesy Kelleher Cup, also qualifies for the subsequent Cork Junior A Hurling Championship.

The competition has been won by 22 teams, 18 of which have won it more than once. Castlemartyr are the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it 11 times. Killeagh are the title holders, having beaten Carrignavar by 2–18 to 2–16 in the 2024 final replay. [1]

Format

Group stage

The eight teams are divided into two groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three 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 two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage. [2]

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals: Two lone quarter-finals featuring the second and third-placed teams from both groups contest this round. Two teams qualify for the next round.

Semi-finals: The two quarter-final winners and the two highest-placed qualifying teams from the group stage contest this round. The two winners from these games advance to the final.

Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

Relegation

The two bottom-placed teams from the group stage take part in a playoff, with the losing team being relegated to the East Cork Junior B Hurling Championship for the following season. [3]

Teams

2025 teams

The 8 teams competing in the 2025 East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship are: [4]

TeamLocationColoursPosition in 2024 In championship sinceChampionship TitlesLast Championship Title
Colours of Mayo.svg Fr O'Neill's Ballymacoda Green and red202552005
Colours of Offaly.svg Bride Rovers Rathcormac Green, white and yellowQuarter-finals202351998
Colours of Mayo.svg Carrignavar Carrignavar Red and greenRunners-up?3 2023
Colours of Clare.svg Carrigtwohill Carrigtwohill Blue and goldGroup stage?91994
Colours of Kerry.svg Cobh Cobh Yellow and greenSemi-finals?31985
Colours of Limerick.svg Killeagh Killeagh Green and whiteChampions?62024
Colours of Laois.svg Sarsfields Glanmire Blue, white and blackQuarter-finals?42016
Colours of Limerick.svg St. Ita's Gortroe White and greenSemi-finals200812021

Roll of honour

By club

#TeamTitlesRunners-upChampionships wonChampionships runners-up
1 Colours of Cork.svg Castlemartyr 1141935, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1963, 1964, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 [5] 1962, 1967, 1975, 2011
2 Colours of Sligo.svg Midleton 1041925, 1929, 1934, 1936, 1943, 1945, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1990 [5] 1942, 1983, 1988, 1999
3 Colours of Clare.svg Carrigtwohill 951941, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1994 [5] 1928, 1929, 1943, 1964, 1969
Colours of Down.svg Cloyne 941938, 1939, 1944, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1976, 1986, 1987 [5] 1945, 1959, 1974, 1978
5 Colours of Limerick.svg Aghada 671931, 1933, 1940, 1980, 1991, 1992 [5] 1927, 1935, 1939, 1949, 1979, 1989, 1990
Colours of Limerick.svg Killeagh 661967, 1970, 1971, 1988, 1995, 2024 [5] 1951, 1957, 1986, 1993, 1994, 2008
Flag of Liechtenstein (1852-1921).svg Erin's Own 651973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2007, 2022 [5] 2001, 2002, 2005, 2012, 2021
8 Colours of Mayo.svg Fr. O'Neill's 571996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005 [5] 1961, 1963, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2004
Colours of Offaly.svg Bride Rovers 551930, 1932, 1968, 1969, 1998 [5] 1931, 1938, 1972, 1973, 1997
10 Colours of Kerry.svg Dungourney 481972, 2006, 2011, 2015 [5] 1941, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1998, 2003, 2010
Colours of Laois.svg Sarsfields 461937, 1953, 2004, 2016 [5] 1926, 1936, 1968, 2007, 2009, 2013
Colours of Wexford.svg St. Catherine’s 461957, 1981, 1983, 2017 [5] 1955, 1956, 1960, 1977, 1980, 2016
13 Colours of Kerry.svg Cobh 341926, 1959, 1985 [5] 1952, 1958, 2014, 2022
Colours of Mayo.svg Carrignavar 342008, [5] 2012, [5] 2023 [6] 1966, 2019, 2020, 2024
Colours of Cork.svg Watergrasshill 331974, 2000, 2003 [5] 1982, 1985, 1995
Colours of Kerry.svg Castlelyons 321955, 1993, 1997 [5] 1954, 1996
Colours of Limerick.svg Ballinacurra 301927, 1928, 1942 [5]
18 Colours of Kilkenny.svg Russell Rovers 222018, 2019 [5] 2006, 2017
19 Leeside 131949 [5] 1930, 1932, 1933
Colours of Galway.svg Youghal 131952 [5] 1953, 1965, 1984
Colours of Limerick.svg St. Ita's 132021 [5] 2015, 2018, 2023
Colours of Clare.svg Lisgoold 102020 [5]

List of finals

List of East Cork JAHC finals

YearWinnersRunners-up#
ClubScoreClubScore
2025Championship in progress
2024 Killeagh 2–18 Carrignavar 2–16 [7]
2023 Carrignavar 0-18 St Ita's 1-14 [8]
2022 Erin's Own 4-12 Cobh 2-09 [9]
2021 St Ita's 1-14 Erin's Own 1-05 [10]
2020 Lisgoold 0-17 Carrignavar 0-11 [11]
2019 Russell Rovers 1-16 Carrignavar 0-16 [12]
2018 Russell Rovers 2-16 St Ita's 1-12 [13]
2017 St Catherine’s 1-12 Russell Rovers 1-10 [14]
2016 Sarsfields 1-25 St Catherine’s 1-12 [15]
2015 Dungourney 1-23 St Ita's 2-12 [16]
2014 Castlemartyr 1-16 Cobh 2-11 [17]
2013 Castlemartyr 2-16 Sarsfields 2-10 [18]
2012 Carrignavar 1-15 Erin's Own 1-10 [19]
2011 Dungourney 0-18 Carrignavar 1-14 [20]
2010 Castlemartyr 1-11 Dungourney 1-09 [21]
2009 Castlemartyr 0-23 Sarsfields 2-11 [22]
2008 Carrignavar 2-15 Killeagh 0-09 [23]
2007 Erin's Own 1-10 Sarsfields 0-11 [24]
2006 Dungourney 3-09 Russell Rovers 0-09 [25]
2005 Fr O'Neill's 1-11 Erin's Own 2-04 [26]
2004 Sarsfields 0-13 Fr O'Neill's 0-07 [27]
2003 Watergrasshill 4-12 Dungourney 2-12 [28]
2002 Fr O'Neill's 0-20 Erin's Own 3-09
2001 Fr O'Neill's 3-13 Erin's Own 2-05
2000 Watergrasshill 1-11 Fr O'Neill's 0-10
1999 Fr O'Neill's 0-09 Midleton 0-04
1998 Bride Rovers 2-13 Dungourney 2-06
1997 Castlelyons 1-16 Bride Rovers 0-09
1996 Fr O'Neill's 1-07 Castlelyons 0-09
1995 Killeagh 1-09 Watergrasshill 1-08
1994 Carrigtwohill 2-16 Killeagh 0-15
1993 Castlelyons 2-11 Killeagh 1-09
1992 Aghada 2-10 Fr O'Neill's 1-10
1991 Aghada 2-12 Fr O'Neill's 1-07
1990 Midleton 2-08 Aghada 0-09
1989 Midleton 2-09 Aghada 1-09
1988 Killeagh 1-05, 1-10 (R) Midleton 0-08, 1-08 (R)
1987 Cloyne 3-14 Fr O'Neill's 3-07
1986 Cloyne 3-09 Killeagh 2-07
1985 Cobh 2-06 Watergrasshill 1-07
1984 Midleton 1-11, 3-07 (R) Youghal 1-11, 0-05 (R)
1983 St Catherine’s 4-14 Midleton 3-07
1982 Midleton 4-12 Watergrasshill 1-08
1981 St Catherine’s 3-12 Dungourney 1-07
1980 Aghada 3-06 St Catherine’s 1-07
1979 Erin's Own 0-15 Aghada 2-01
1978 Carrigtwohill 2-17 Cloyne 0-09
1977 Erin's Own 1-10 St Catherine’s 0-12
1976 Cloyne 2-12 Dungourney 2-05
1975 Erin's Own 4-07 Castlemartyr 3-06
1974 Watergrasshill Cloyne
1973 Erin's Own Bride Rovers
1972 Dungourney Killeagh
1971 Killeagh Dungourney
1970 Killeagh Dungourney
1969 Bride Rovers Carrigtwohill
1968 Bride Rovers Sarsfields
1967 Killeagh Castlemartyr
1966 Carrigtwohill Carrignavar
1965 Carrigtwohill Youghal
1964 Castlemartyr Carrigtwohill
1963 Castlemartyr Fr O'Neill's
1962 Carrigtwohill Castlemartyr
1961 Cloyne Fr O'Neill's
1960 Cloyne St Catherine’s
1959 Cobh Cloyne
1958 Cloyne Cobh
1957 St Catherine’s Killeagh
1956 Carrigtwohill St Catherine’s
1955 Castlelyons St Catherine’s
1954 Castlemartyr Castlelyons
1953 Sarsfields Youghal
1952 Youghal Cobh
1951 Castlemartyr Killeagh
1950 Castlemartyr O'Brien's
1949Leeside Aghada
1948 Carrigtwohill O'Brien's
1947 Carrigtwohill O'Brien's
1946 Castlemartyr O'Brien's
1945 Midleton Cloyne
1944 Cloyne O'Brien's
1943 Midleton Carrigtwohill
1942 Ballinacurra Midleton
1941 Carrigtwohill Dungourney
1940 Aghada Ballymacoda
1939 Cloyne Aghada
1938 Cloyne Bride Rovers
1937 Sarsfields Ballymacoda
1936 Midleton Sarsfields
1935 Castlemartyr Aghada
1934 Midleton Sarsfields
1933 Aghada Leeside
1932 Bride Rovers Leeside
1931 Aghada Bride Rovers
1930 Bride Rovers Leeside
1929 Midleton Carrigtwohill
1928 Ballinacurra Carrigtwohill
1927 Ballinacurra Aghada
1926 Cobh Sarsfields

Notes

See also

References

  1. Mackay, Jack (2 November 2024). "Killeagh end 29-year wait for east Cork glory in stunning fashion". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  2. "2024 East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship". East Cork GAA website. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  3. "Midleton Hurling and Football, Ladies Football and Camogie Club Notes - October 10". Midleton GAA website. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. "2024 teams". 7 March 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Roll Of Honour - Junior A Hurling Winners". eastcorkgaa.com. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  6. "Carraig na bhFear win East Cork Junior A final for third time". irishexaminer.com. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  7. "Killeagh end 29-year wait for East Cork JAHC crown after thrilling replay win over Carraig na bhFear". Echo Live. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  8. "Carraig na bhFear win East Cork Junior A final for third time". Irish Examiner. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  9. "Mark Collins on song as Erin's Own stun Cobh in East Cork JAHC final". Echo Live. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  10. Cashman, John (31 October 2021). "Junior hurling glory at last for St Ita's and Seamus Harnedy". Echo Live. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  11. Horgan, John (31 October 2021). "Lisgoold hurlers set sights on county glory after East Cork breakthrough". Echo Live. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  12. "Russell Rovers retain the Jamesy Kelleher after sizzling hurling decider". Echo Live. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  13. "Russell Rovers build on Cork's eastern promise". Irish Examiner. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  14. "Russell Rovers hurlers head into St Catherine's clash with a score to settle". Echo Live. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  15. "Sars capture the Jamesey Kelleher Cup for 2016". Sarsfields GAA website. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  16. "Dungourney's Ryan Denny happy as 'Jamesey' home for fourth time". Irish Examiner. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  17. "Cobh unlucky as Castlemartyr retain title". Cobh GAA website. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  18. "Roll of honour". Sarsfields GAA website. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  19. "Forward power decisive for Carrig". Irish Examiner. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  20. "Cork and Kerry previews". Irish Examiner. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  21. "John Horgan on Castlemartyr's run of 15 wins out of 16 and three county finals in a row". Echo Live. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  22. "Castlemartyr v Sars: Intermediate A Hurling final preview". Echo Live. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  23. "Two goal blast books final spot for Kildorrery". Irish Examiner. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  24. "East Cork Junior A Hurling final preview: Erin's Own bid to stop Cobh's double drive". Echo Live. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  25. "Imokilly never tested by CIT". Irish Examiner. 11 September 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  26. "Fr O'Neills beat Erin's Own to reclaim title". Irish Examiner. 5 September 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  27. "The Year 2005/2006: "What a Year!"". Fr O'Neill's GAA website. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  28. "Gaelic games scoreboard". Irish Independent. 8 September 2003. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  29. "Killeagh and Carraig na bhFear must go again after torrential thriller". Irish Examiner. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2025.