Cork Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship Explained

Cork Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship
Code:Hurling
Region: Cork
Trophy:Dick Barrett Cup
Teams:22
Firstwin:Newtownshandrum
Title Holders:Sarsfields
Currentordinal:4
Super:nd
Most Titles:Midleton
Mostordinal:6
Sponsors:Evening Echo
Website:Official website

Cork Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Evening Echo Cork County Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship, is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1973 for the top tier under-21 hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland.

The series of games are played from the summer to the winter months with the county final typically being played at Páirc Uí Rinn. The prize for the winning team is the Dick Barrett Cup. The championship uses a double elimination format whereby each team is guaranteed at least two games.

As of 2019, 22 clubs were participating in the Premier Under-21 Championship. The title has been won at least once by 16 different clubs. The all-time record-holders are Midleton, who have won six championship titles.

Fr. O'Neill's were the 2018 title-holders, having defeated Midleton GAA by 3-24 to 4-18 (AET) in the 2018 final.

History

Beginnings

The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship at inter-county level was created in 1964 and had proved successful in bridging the gap between the minor and senior grades. In 1973, the Cork County Board developed their own under-21 championship. It was the fifth county championship to be created in Cork, after the senior, intermediate, junior and minor championships.

Team dominance

Due to the limited time frame that players compete in the grade, it has been difficult for individual clubs to dominate the championship. In spite of this, several clubs have had limited dominance over the years. Between 1990 and 1994 St. Finbarr's dominated the championship with much of the same team by winning four championships in five seasons. Newtownshandrum ended the century by winning three successive championships between 1998 and 2000. The first decade of the new century saw Erin's Own win three championships between 2002 and 2005. Blackrock had a sustained period of dominance by winning three championships from five successive final appearances between 2012 and 2016.

Formats used

From 1973 until 2015, the championship used a divisional format. The seven respective champions from Avondhu, Carbery, Carrigdhoun, Duhallow, Imokilly, Muskerry and Seandún contested the county championship. That county-wide championship used a single elimination format whereby once a team lost they were eliminated. In 2016, the under-21 championship underwent a major restructuring whereby the divisional system for the top tier was abolished and the strongest 22 clubs entered a new countywide championship.

Sponsorship

Since 2005 the Premier Under-21 Championship has been sponsored by the Evening Echo. The competition was previously sponsored by TSB Bank.

Roll of honour

TeamWinsYears wonRunner-upYears runner-up
1Midleton61979, 1983, 1988, 1989, 2011, 201351978, 1980, 1987, 1990, 1991
2Glen Rovers51974, 1984, 1995, 2001, 200822000, 2004
Blackrock51976, 1977, 2012, 2014, 201522013, 2016
Newtownshandrum51973, 1998, 1999, 2000, 201012006
St. Finbarr's51985, 1990, 1991, 1992, 199411997
3Na Piarsaigh31980, 1981, 198731996, 1998, 2002
Erin's Own32002, 2004, 200511999
Sarsfield's31975, 2003, 201711974
4Duhallow21982, 200952008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
Bishopstown22006, 20070
5Milford1197831977, 1979, 1982
Newcestown1199311992
Ballincollig1199611995
Douglas1201612005
Fermoy119860
Courcey Rovers119970
Bandon021975, 1976
Cloughduv021983, 1989
Valley Rovers021985, 2003
Carrigtwohill021993, 2001
Carrigaline022007, 2014
Éire Óg011973
Ballyhea011981
Tracton011984
Blarney011986
Inniscarra011988
Mallow011994
Ballinhassig012009
Killeagh/Ita's012017

List of finals

YearWinnerOpponent
1973NewtownshandrumÉire Óg
1974Glen Rovers 3-10Sarsfields 4-6
1975Sarsfields 6-3Bandon 1-7
1976Blackrock 4-8Bandon 0-10
1977BlackrockMilford
1978Milford 3-12Midleton 1-9
1979Midleton 3-11Milford 2-4
1980Na Piarsaigh 5-13Midleton 1-6
1981Na Piarsaigh 2-12Ballyhea 3-3
1982Duhallow 3-5Milford 2-6
1983Midleton 0-16Cloughduv 0-6
1984Glen Rovers 1-14Tracton 2-9
1985St. Finbarr's 1-10Valley Rovers 0-10
1986Fermoy 1-10Blarney 0-9
1987Na Piarsaigh 2-10Midleton 1-5
1988Midleton 4-9Inniscarra 1-15
1989Midleton 5-9Cloughduv 2-5
1990St. Finbarr's 1-10Midleton 2-2
1991St. Finbarr's 3-11Midleton 1-8
1992St. Finbarr's 0-9 1-9Newcestown 1-6 1-5
1993Newcestown 1-8Carrigtwohill 0-7
1994Mallow
1995Glen Rovers 2-14Ballincollig 1-14
1996Ballincollig 2-8Na Piarsaigh 1-8
1997Courcey Rovers 3-10St. Finbarr's 1-7
1998Newtownshandrum 1-12Na Piarsaigh 0-7
1999Newtownshandrum 1-13Erin's Own 1-7
2000Newtownshandrum 1-17Glen Rovers 1-7
2001Glen Rovers 2-9Carrigtwohill 2-6
2002Erin's Own 1-14Na Piarsaigh 1-7
2003SarsfieldsValley Rovers
2004Erin's Own 2-8Glen Rovers 0-8
2005Erin's Own 0-13Douglas 0-10
2006Bishopstown 1-09Newtownshandrum 1-08
2007Bishopstown 2-13Carrigaline 0-11
2008Glen RoversDuhallow
2009Duhallow 0-18Ballinhassig 1-05
2010Newtownshandrum 1-19Duhallow 1-16
2011Midleton 1-11Duhallow 2-08
2012[1] Blackrock 4-16Duhallow 2-10
2013Midleton 4-13Blackrock 3-12
2014Blackrock 5-13Carrigaline 4-10
2015[2] Blackrock 1-21Duhallow 0-08
2016Douglas 1-18Blackrock 1-15
2017Sarsfields 0-20Killeagh/Ita's 1-09
2018Fr. O'Neill's 3-24Midleton 4-18
2019Sarsfields 2-17Midleton 0-22

Premier 2 Under-21 Hurling Championship

YearWinnerScoreOpponentScore
2018Ballincollig0-19Courcey Rovers0-17
2019St. Finbarr's2-11Bride Rovers2-10

Under-21 A Hurling Championship

YearWinnerScoreOpponentScore
20163-24Ballincollig1-16
2017Inniscarra1-18Fermoy1-11
2018Bride Rovers1-14Cloughduv1-10
2019Fermoy1-171-15

Under-21 B Hurling Championship

This competition is confined to clubs who compete at the B level in each of the regional divisions in County Cork. The winners are presented with the Gene Fitzgerald Cup. This cup commemorates Gene Fitzgerald, the former politician who also had administrative positions with Cork GAA County Board.

YearWinnerScoreOpponentScore
2010CastlelyonsBallinascarthy
2011St. Catherine'sBallygarvan
2012Dungourney2-081-06
2013[3] Ballinascarthy2-07Watergrasshill0-09
2014[4] Killeagh/St. Ita's6-14Clonakilty0-08
2015[5] Watergrasshill0-14Kilworth1-08
2016
2017Kilshannig2-182-11
2018Sarsfields3-14Kildorrery0-20
2019Castlemartyr0-15Killavullen1-07

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ryan goals keep resurgent Rockies on roll. 22 October 2012. Irish Examiner. 3 October 2012. Denis. Hurley.
  2. Web site: Brilliant Blackrock sweep aside anxious Duhallow. 14 November 2015. Irish Examiner. 17 November 2015. Theresa. O'Callaghan.
  3. Web site: Tenacious Bal deserved their victory in U21 final . 26 October 2013 . . 29 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131102180837/http://www.southernstar.ie/Sport/GAA/Tenacious-Bal-deserved-their-victory-in-U21-final-24102013.htm . 2 November 2013 .
  4. Web site: Killeagh v Clon, U21 . 5 November 2014 . . 24 October 2014.
  5. Web site: Glory for Watergrasshill after hard-earned win. 27 October 2015 . . 24 October 2015.