Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

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Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Current season or competition:
Current event clock.svg 2025 Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Irish Craobh Príomh-Idirmheánach Iomaint Phort Láirge
Code Hurling
Founded2023;2 years ago (2023)
Region Colours of Waterford.svg Waterford (GAA)
TrophyPat Hunt Cup
No. of teams8
Title holders Colours of Kilkenny.svg Brickey Rangers (1st title)
SponsorsCappoquin Logistics
Official website Waterford GAA

The Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship (abbreviated to the Waterford PIHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking intermediate clubs in the county of Waterford in Ireland. It is the second tier overall in the entire Waterford hurling championship system.

Contents

The Waterford Premier Intermediate Championship was introduced in 2023 following a restructuring of the intermediate championship.

In its current format, the championship begins in mid summer. The eight participating teams are drawn into two groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system. All eight teams proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Walsh Park. The winner of the Waterford Premier Intermediate Championship qualifies for the subsequent Munster Club Championship.

Brickey Rangers are the title holders after defeating Clashmore–Kinsalebeg by 1–23 to 0–22 in the 2024 final. [1]

History

On 31 January 2022, Waterford County Board delegates voted on the restructuring of the entire intermediate hurling championship system following a review process. It was decided to establish an all-county eight-team premier intermediate hurling championship for 2023. These eight teams were made up of the four semi-finalists from the 2022 Eastern and Western intermediate championships. [2]

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 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. All four teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage but are seeded.

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals: This round features four matches. The four winning teams advance to the semi-finals. The four losing teams advance to the relegation playoffs.

Semi-finals: The four quarter-final winners 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.

Promotion and relegation

At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Waterford Senior Championship for the following season. The four defeated teams from the quarter-final stage participate in a series of playoffs, with the losing team being relegated to the Waterford Intermediate Championship.

Teams

2025 teams

The following 8 teams will contest the 2025 Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship:

TeamLocationColoursDivisionPosition in 2024 In championship sinceChampionship titlesLast championship title
Colours of Down.svg Ballygunner Ballygunner Red and blackEastSemi-finals 2023 1 2025
Colours of Dublin.svg Ballysaggart Ballysaggart Blue and nevy hoopsWestSemi-finals 2023 0
Colours of Down.svg Cappoquin Cappoquin Red and blackWestQuarter-finals 2023 0
Colours of Mayo.svg Clashmore–Kinsalebeg Clashmore Red and greenWestRunners-up 2023 0
Colours of Tipperary.svg Portlaw Portlaw Blue and yellowEastWaterford IHC winners 2025 0
Colours of Limerick.svg Shamrocks Knockanore Green and whiteWestQuarter-finals 2023 0
Colours of Clare.svg Tallow Tallow Blue and goldWestWaterford SHC relegated 2025 0
Colours of Laois.svg Tramore Tramore White and blueEastQuarter-finals 2023 0

Qualification for subsequent competitions

The Waterford Premier Intermediate Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.

Trophy and medals

The Pat Hunt Cup is the current prize for winning the championship. It was commissioned to honour Pat Hunt, who died in 2021, and served as chairman of the Clonea club and served as county board children's officer. [3] Robbie Carew of Ferrybank was the first recipient of the cup when it was presented to him after the 2023 final. [4]

In accordance with GAA rules, the County Board awards a set of gold medals to the championship winners. The medals depict a stylised version of the Waterford GAA crest.

List of Finals

Legend

List of Waterford PIHC finals

YearWinnersRunners-upCaptainVenue#
ClubScoreClubScore
2025 Ballygunner 1–21 Tallow 2–11 Walsh Park
2024 Brickey Rangers 1–23 Clashmore–Kinsalebeg 0–22Oran Keevers Fraher Field
2023 Ferrybank 2–22 Cappoquin 1–14Robbie Carew Walsh Park [5]

Roll of honour

By club

#ClubTitlesRunners-upChampionships wonChampionships runner-up
1 Ferrybank 10 2023
Brickey Rangers 10 2024
3 Affane Cappoquin 01 2023
Clashmore–Kinsalebeg 01 2024

See also

References

  1. "Brickeys prevail in premier intermediate decider". WLRfm. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  2. "New structures passed and 2022 championship draws are made". Waterford News & Star. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. "He was well entitled to be at the Aviva". Waterford News & Star. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. "O'Brien fires Ferrybank to senior hurling for 2024". Waterford News & Star. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  5. Mulcahy, Tomás (9 September 2023). "Waterford PIHC: O'Brien leads Ferrybank into senior hurling ranks". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 September 2023.