Carlow Senior Hurling Championship


The Carlow Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition contested by top-tier Carlow GAA clubs.
St Mullin's are the title holders, having defeating Mount Leinster Rangers in the 2024 Final.

History

Since 1927, with the exception of the 'foot and mouth' year of 1941, a 'Premier' Carlow Hurling Championship has been completed. Carlow's premier hurling championship was first awarded senior status in 1960, as the county team had won promotion to Division 1 of the N.H.L. following back-to-back Division 2 title wins.
St Mullin's are the Carlow kingpins, with their 29 titles including pre-1960 titles that were won in Carlow's premier hurling competition in those days.

Format

Group stage

Six clubs start in the group stage. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed five group 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 four teams qualify for the knockout stage

Knockout stage

Following the completion of the group stage, the teams from the group are ranked in terms of points accumulated and scoring difference. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.
Semi-finals: The tip four teams from the group stage contest this round. First place plays fourth place and second place plays third place The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

Relegation

The bottom-placed team from the group stage is relegated to the Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship.

Qualification

At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship.

Teams

2026 Teams

Five teams competed in the 2025 Carlow Senior Hurling Championship:
TeamLocationColoursPosition in 2025In championship sinceChampionship titlesLast championship title
Bagenalstown GaelsBagenalstownGreen and blackGroup stage20200—
BallinkillenBallinkillinBlue and goldSemi-finals199522001
Mount Leinster RangersBorrisBlack and redChampions1997122025
Naomh BrídLeighlinbridgeMaroon and whiteIntermediate champions202632008
Naomh EoinMyshallBlack and yellowSemi-finals1969182005
St Mullin'sSt Mullin'sGreen and whiteRunners-up1931292024

Trophy

The trophy presented to the winners is the Willie O'Connor Cup. The winners of the Carlow Championship winners qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Club Championship, the winners of which go on to the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship.

List of finals

Legend