Western Intermediate Hurling Championship

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Western Intermediate Hurling Championship
Irish Craobhchomórtas Idirmheánach Iomáint Iarthar Phort Láirge
Code Hurling
Founded1964;61 years ago (1964)
Region Colours of Waterford.svg Waterford (GAA)
No. of teams7
Title holders Colours of Cork.svg Ballyduff Upper (5th title)
First winner Colours of Cork.svg Ballyduff Upper
SponsorsComeragh Oil
Official website Waterford GAA

The Western Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Comergah Oil Western Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Western IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the western divisional section of the Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 and contested by intermediate team in the county of Waterford in Ireland.

Contents

In its current format, the Western Intermediate Championship begins with a group stage. The seven participating teams are divided into two groups 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 match at Fraher Field. The winner of the Western IHC subsequently represent the division in the Waterford IHC.

Ballyduff Upper are the title holders after defeating Colligan by 1–24 to 1–12 in the 2024 final. [1]

History

The Western Intermediate Championship was established in 1964 in an effort to bridge the standard of play between the Waterford SHC and the divisional junior championships. Ballyduff Upper were the first championship winners.

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 Waterford Premier Intermediate 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 awvwn teams are divided into two groups of four and three teams respectively. Over the course of the group stage each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed multiple 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 knock-out stage.

Knockout stage

Following the completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage.

Relegation

The two bottom-ranked teams from the group stage take part in a relegation playoff to determine who drops to the Western Junior A Hurling Championship.

Teams

2024 teams

The following 7 teams will contest the 2024 Western Intermediate Hurling Championship:

TeamLocationColoursChampionship titles (since 2022)Last championship title
Colours of Clare.svg An Rinn Ring Blue and gold0
Colours of Laois.svg Ardmore Ardmore Blue and white0
Colours of Laois.svg Ballinameela CappaghBlue and white0
Colours of Cork.svg Ballyduff Upper Ballyduff Red and white12024
Colours of Kilkenny.svg Colligan–Emmets ColliganAmber and black hoops0
Colours of Limerick.svg Modeligo Green and white0
Colours of Wexford.svg Sliabh gCua–St Mary's TouraneenaYellow and maroon0

Qualification for subsequent competitions

From its inception in 1964, the Western IHC champions automatically qualify for the Waterford IHC. Here they play the Eastern IHC winners to determine the county champions. [3] This format was abandoned for a period in the late 1970s and early 1980s when a county-wide Waterford IHC was in operation, however, it was later reinstated.

Sponsorship

Comeragh Oil have been the title sponsor of the Western IHC for over 15 years. [4]

Roll of honour

Roll of honour (2022–present)

#ClubTitlesRunners-upChampionships wonChampionships runner-up
1 Ballyduff Upper 1120242023
Ballysaggart 102022
Brickey Rangers 102023
4 Shamrocks 012022
Colligan 012024

List of finals

List of finals (2022–present)

YearWinnersRunners-up#
ClubScoreClubScore
2024 Ballyduff Upper 1-24 Colligan 1–12
2023 Brickey Rangers 0–18 Ballyduff Upper 1–12
2022 Ballysaggart 1–17 Shamrocks 1–16 [5]

See also

References

  1. "Results". Ballyduff Upper GAA website. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  2. "New structures passed and 2022 championship draws are made". Waterford News & Star. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. McCarthy, Tomás (9 September 2023). "Waterford IHC: Young stars deliver silverware for Brickey Rangers". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  4. Keane, Thomas (14 May 2009). "Huge win for Dungarvan". The Munster Express. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  5. "Western glory for Ballysaggart". WLRfm website. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.