The Galway Senior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Brooks Galway Senior Hurling Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Galway County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Galway in Ireland.

Quick Facts Code, Founded ...
Galway Senior Hurling Championship
Current season or competition:
2024 Galway Senior Hurling Championship
CodeHurling
Founded1887; 137 years ago (1887)
Region Galway (GAA)
TrophyTom Callinan Cup[1]
No. of teams16 (senior A)
8 (senior B)
24 (total)
Title holders St. Thomas' (8th title)
Most titles Castlegar (17 titles)
SponsorsBrooks
TV partner(s)TG4, RTÉ2
Official websiteOfficial website
Close

The series of games are played during the summer and autumn months with the county final currently being played at Pearse Stadium in November. Initially played as a knock-out competition, the championship currently consists of a group stage followed by a knock-out series of games.

The Galway County Championship is an integral part of the wider All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship. The winners of the Galway county final automatically represent Connacht and join the champions of the other three provinces to contest the All-Ireland Championship.

Twenty-four teams currently participate in the Galway County Championship. The title has been won at least once by 29 different teams. The all-time record-holders are Castlegar, who have won a total of 17 titles.

St. Thomas' are the title-holders, defeating Turloughmore by 2-12 to 1-13 in the 2023 final to win their sixth consecutive Galway County Championship, equalling the record held by Turloughmore, who won the title in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966.

History

Beginnings

Following the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884, new rules for Gaelic football and hurling were drawn up and published in the United Irishman newspaper. In 1886, county committees were established, with the Galway County Board affiliating on 26 October 1886. The inaugural championship was played during the summer of 1887. Delays and objections were commonplace in the early years, with a number of championships remaining unfinished.

Format

Senior A

Group stage

The 16 clubs are divided into four 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 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 team in each group qualify for the quarter-finals and the second and third placed teams in the group qualifying for the preliminary quarter-finals.

Knockout stage

Following the completion of the group stage, the top three teams from each group qualify to the knockout stage with the four group winners receiving byes to separate quarter-finals.

Preliminary quarter-finals: Teams that finished second and third in the group stage contest this round. Repeat pairings are avoided. The four winners from these games advance to the quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals: The four group winners and the four preliminary quarter-final winners contest this round. Repeat pairings are avoided. The two winners from these two games advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals: The four quarter-final winners contest this round. 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 four bottom-placed teams from the group stage take part in a series of play-offs, with the losing team being relegated to the Galway Senior B Hurling Championship.

Qualification

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

Teams

2024 Senior A Teams

More information Team, Location ...
Team Location Colours Championship titles Last championship title
Border Ardrahan Ardrahan Blue and white 11 1978
Border Cappataggle Cappataggle Red and black 0
Border Castlegar Castlegar Green and white 17 1984
Border Clarinbridge Clarinbridge Maroon and white 2 2010
Border Craughwell Craughwell Green and gold 4 1931
Border Gort Gort Green and gold 7 2014
Border Kilconieron Kilconieron Green and yellow 3 1919
Border Killimordaly Killimordaly Green and white 1 1986
Border Loughrea Loughrea Blue and gold 2 2006
Border Moycullen Moycullen Green and white 0
Border Mullagh Mullagh Green and white 0
Border Oranmore-Maree Oranmore Sky blue and navy 1 1933
Border Sarsfields Bullaun, New Inn and Woodlawn White and green 7 2015
St Thomas' Kilchreest and Peterswell Red and blue 7 2023
Border Tommy Larkin's Woodford Red and black 1 1971
Border Turloughmore Turloughmore Black and white 8 1985
Close

2024 Senior B Teams

More information Team, Location ...
Team Location Colours Championship titles Last championship title
Border Ahascragh-Fohenagh Fohenagh and Ahascragh Blue, white and red 0
Border Ballinderreen Ballinderreen Green and white 0
Border Athenry Athenry Maroon and white 8 2004
Border Beagh Shanaglish Black and amber 0
Border Kilnadeema-Leitrim Kilnadeema Maroon, white and blue 0
Border Liam Mellows Renmore Green and white 9 2017
Border Pádraig Pearse's Ballymacward and Gurteen Black and white 0
Border Portumna Portumna Blue and gold 6 2013
Close

Venues

Early rounds

Thumb
Pearse Stadium in Salthill

Fixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams. Some of the more common venues include Kenny Park, Duggan Park and St Brendan's Park.

Final

The final has regularly been played at Pearse Stadium in Salthill.

Managers

Thumb
Micheál Donoghue managed Clarinbridge to the 2010 championship.

Managers in the Galway Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the individual club committees. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and a backroom team consisting of various coaches.

More information Manager, Team ...
Winning managers (1998–present)
Manager Team Wins Winning years
Pat Nally Athenry 4 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002
Kevin Lally St. Thomas' 3 2018, 2019, 2020
Kenneth Burke St. Thomas' 3 2021, 2022, 2023
Johnny Kelly Portumna 2 2008, 2009
John Burke St. Thomas' 2 2012, 2016
Billy McGrath Clarinbridge 1 2001
Mike Monaghan Portumna 1 2003
Billy Caulfield Athenry 1 2004
Pat O'Connor Loughrea 1 2006
Micheál Donoghue Clarinbridge 1 2010
Mattie Murphy Gort 1 2011
Frank Canning Portumna 1 2013
Gerry Spelman Gort 1 2014
Cathal Murray Sarsfields 1 2015
Louis Mulqueen Liam Mellows 1 2017
Close

Roll of honour

More information #, Club ...
# Club Wins Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
1 Castlegar 17 9 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1979, 1984 1912, 1933, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1987
2 Ardrahan 11 7 1894, 1895, 1896, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1910, 1949, 1974, 1975, 1978 1897, 1898, 1923, 1956, 1968, 1969
3 Liam Mellows 9 3 1935, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1954, 1955, 1968, 1970, 2017 1957, 2018, 2019
4 Turloughmore 8 6 1956, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1985 1893, 1972, 1986, 1990, 2020, 2023
Athenry 8 5 1987, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 1977, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2001
St. Thomas' 8 0 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
7 Gort 7 6 1914, 1916, 1934, 1981, 1983, 2011, 2014 1915, 1936, 1950, 2008, 2016, 2017
Sarsfields 7 3 1980, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2015 1994, 2000, 2002
Peterswell 7 2 1889, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1904, 1905, 1907 1902, 1928
10 Portumna 6 4 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 1995, 2004, 2006, 2014
11 Tynagh 5 9 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1928 1889, 1896, 1906, 1907, 1918, 1919, 1934, 1998, 1999
Kiltormer 5 1 1976, 1977, 1982, 1990, 1991 1981
13 Craughwell 4 7 1909, 1915, 1918, 1930 1892, 1899, 1900, 1905, 1925, 1932, 2015
14 Loughrea 3 10 1941, 2006, 2024 1909, 1949, 1951, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2022
Kilconieron 3 5 1908, 1912, 1919 1910, 1913, 1916, 1917, 1920
Mullagh 3 2 1906, 1929, 1932 1904, 1966
17 Clarinbridge 2 5 2001, 2010 1929, 1939, 1997, 2011, 2021
Army 2 4 1947, 1948 1941, 1945, 1946, 1955
Fohenagh 2 3 1959, 1960 1958, 1961, 1963
College Road 2 1 1892, 1893 1894
Woodford 2 1 1913, 1917 1914
22 Ballinasloe 1 5 1951 1943, 1953, 1954, 1964, 1973
Killimordaly 1 5 1986 1965, 1970, 1976, 1984, 1985
Maree 1 3 1933 1938, 1940, 1967
Killimor 1 2 1897 1937, 1944
Meelick 1 0 1887
Derrydonnell 1 0 1911
Tommy Larkins 1 0 1971
Abbeyknockmoy 1 0 1988
30 Carnmore 0 6 1947, 1971, 1975, 1992, 1993, 1996
Claregalway 0 3 1895, 1901, 1911
Ballinderreen 0 2 1935, 1978
Kinvara 0 2 1979, 2007
Galway City 98s 0 1 1903
Kileenadeema 0 1 1908
Galway City 0 1 1922
Leitrim 0 1 1930
St. Coleman's 0 1 1948
Meelick-Eyrecourt 0 1 1980
Cappataggle 0 1 2024
Close

List of finals

Thumb
Ollie Canning of Portumna accepting the 2013 Galway Senior Hurling Championship trophy at Pearse Stadium in Galway

Legend

List of Galway SHC finals

More information Year, Winners ...
Year Winners Runners-up
Club Score Club Score
2024 Loughrea 1-15 Cappataggle 0-16
2023 St. Thomas' 2-12 Turloughmore 1-13
2022 St. Thomas' 1-17, 1-15 (R) Loughrea 0-20, 0-17 (R)
2021 St. Thomas' 0-20 Clarinbridge 0-17
2020[2] St. Thomas' 1-14 Turloughmore 0-15
2019[3] St. Thomas' 1-13 Liam Mellows 0-14
2018[4] St. Thomas' 2-13 Liam Mellows 0-10
2017[5] Liam Mellows 3-12 Gort 1-15
2016[6] St. Thomas' 1-11 Gort 0-10
2015[7][8] Sarsfields 0-12, 2-10 (R) Craughwell 0-12, 0-14 (R)
2014[9] Gort 2-13 Portumna 1-10
2013[10] Portumna 3-12 Loughrea 0-14
2012[11] St. Thomas' 3-11 Loughrea 2-11
2011[12][13] Gort 0-17 Clarinbridge 1-12
2010 Clarinbridge 2-11, 0-18 (R, AET) Loughrea 1-14, 0-15 (R, AET)
2009 Portumna 5-19 Loughrea 1-13
2008 Portumna 1-18 Gort 2-07
2007 Portumna 6-12 Kinvara 0-11
2006 Loughrea 1-13 Portumna 0-15
2005 Portumna 3-21 Loughrea 3-14
2004 Athenry 0-15 Portumna 0-13
2003 Portumna 2-13 Loughrea 2-09
2002 Athenry 1-16 Sarsfields 3-07
2001 Clarinbridge 0-18 Athenry 2-11
2000 Athenry 2-14 Sarsfields 3-07
1999 Athenry 1-16 Tynagh 1-10
1998 Athenry 0-09, 1-15 (R) Tynagh 0-09, 1-12 (R)
1997 Sarsfields 1-11 Clarinbridge 1-06
1996 Athenry 2-06 Carnmore 1-06
1995 Sarsfields 0-17 Portumna 1-09
1994 Athenry 2-06 Sarsfields 0-09
1993 Sarsfields 1-10 Carnmore 0-04
1992 Sarsfields 0-14, 1-14 (R) Carnmore 1-11, 1-05 (R)
1991 Kiltormer 3-09 Athenry 0-15
1990 Kiltormer 0-18 Turloughmore 2-07
1989 Sarsfields 3-07 Athenry 1-08
1988 Abbeyknockmoy 2-08, 2-06 (R) Athenry 2-08, 0-11 (R)
1987 Athenry 1-12 Castlegar 2-06
1986 Killimordaly 0-17 Turloughmore 2-07
1985 Turloughmore 1-14 Killimordaly 1-04
1984 Castlegar 3-10 Killimordaly 0-11
1983 Gort 2-12 Castlegar 3-06
1982 Kiltormer 2-08 Castlegar 1-09
1981 Gort 2-08, 2-06 (R) Kiltormer 1-11, 0-08 (R)
1980 Sarsfields 0-11 Meelick-Eyrecourt 0-09
1979 Castlegar 2-13 Kinvara 0-06
1978 Ardrahan 2-10, 2-18 (R, AET) Ballinderreen 0-16, 2-14 (R, AET)
1977 Kiltormer 3-10 Athenry 3-08
1976 Kiltormer 1-09 Killimordaly 1-06
1975 Ardrahan 4-05 Carnmore 1-11
1974 Ardrahan 2-10 Castlegar 1-10
1973 Castlegar 3-10, 4-11 (R) Ballinasloe 2-13, 3-10 (R)
1972 Castlegar 5-05 Turloughmore 0-08
1971 Tommy Larkin's 5-02 Carnmore 1-12
1970 Liam Mellows 5-11 Killimordaly 1-11
1969 Castlegar 4-14 Ardrahan 2-06
1968 Liam Mellows 3-11 Ardrahan 2-12
1967 Castlegar 3-09 Maree 4-04
1966 Turloughmore 4-08 Mullagh 2-08
1965 Turloughmore 7-04 Killimordaly 4-11
1964 Turloughmore 5-11 Ballinasloe 5-05
1963 Turloughmore 5-13 Fohenagh 2-04
1962 Turloughmore 2-09, 7-10 (R) Castlegar 2-09, 0-09 (R)
1961 Turloughmore 3-06 Fohenagh 3-04
1960 Fohenagh 4-09 Castlegar 2-07
1959 Fohenagh 2-08, 3-09 (R) Castlegar 1-11, 4-05 (R)
1958 Castlegar 5-09 Fohenagh 2-04
1957 Castlegar 6-11 Liam Mellows 2-03
1956* Turloughmore 0-09 Ardrahan 2-03
1955 Liam Mellows 3-04 Army 2-05
1954 Liam Mellows 5-04 Ballinasloe 2-03
1953 Castlegar 3-02 Ballinasloe 1-05
1952 Castlegar 2-08 Ardrahan 3-03
1951 Ballinasloe 4-07 Loughrea 2-05
1950 Castlegar 9-03 Gort 0-02
1949 Ardrahan 1-09 Loughrea 2-02
1948 Army 7-07 St. Coleman's 6-02
1947 Army 4-13 Carnmore 3-03
1946 Liam Mellows 6-06 Army 1-11
1945 Liam Mellows 7-02 Army 2-03
1944 Castlegar 8-06 Killimor 5-06
1943 Liam Mellows 3-04 Ballinasloe 2-05
1942 Declared void - Liam Mellows had defeated Ardrahan by 8-04 to 0-08 and then 5-04 to 0-07
1941 Loughrea 5-03 Army 2-01
1940 Castlegar 9-06 Maree 2-03
1939 Castlegar 9-01 Clarinbridge 8-02
1938 Castlegar 2-07 Maree 2-02
1937 Castlegar 9-13 Killimor 1-01
1936 Castlegar 6-06 Gort 2-05
1935 Liam Mellows 5-00 Ballinderreen 2-02
1934 Gort 4-04 Tynagh 3-01
1933 Maree 5-06 Castlegar 6-02
1932 Mullagh 5-03 Craughwell 3-02
1931 No final
1930 Craughwell 7-04 Leitrim 1-05
1929 Mullagh 9-03 Clarinbridge 1-02
1928 Tynagh 10-00 Peterswell 2-03
1927 No final
1926 No final
1925 Tynagh 7-03 Craughwell 3-01
1924 No game completed - Ardrahan and Tynagh in the final
1923 Tynagh 6-02 Ardrahan 2-00
1922 Tynagh Galway City
1921 No game completed - Kilconieron and Tynagh in the final
1920 Tynagh Kilconieron
1919 Kilconieron 3-14 Tynagh 0-12
1918 Craughwell 1-04 Tynagh 0-04
1917 Woodford Gort
1916 Gort 4-02 Kilconieron 2-03
1915 Craughwell 5-05 Gort 1-01
1914 Gort 0-27 Woodford 0-18
1913 Woodford 2-05 Kilconieron 3-01
1912 Kilconieron 5-03 Castlegar 0-01
1911 Derrydonnell (Athenry) 3-01 Claregalway 1-00
1910 Ardrahan 1-03 Kilconieron 0-01
1909 Craughwell Awarded Loughrea No Final
1908 Kilconieron 0-17 Kileenadeema 0-02
1907 Peterswell Tynagh
1906 Mullagh 2-05, 1-04 (R) Tynagh 2-05, 1-03 (R)
1905 Peterswell 1-08 Craughwell 0-07
1904 Peterswell 2-03 Mullagh 0-05
1903 Ardrahan 0-01 Awarded Galway City 98's 0-02
1902 Ardrahan Peterswell no. 2
1901 Ardrahan Claregalway
1900 Peterswell 4-08 Craughwell 4-03
1899 Peterswell 1899/1900 single season Craughwell 1899/1900 single season
1898 Peterswell Ardrahan
1897 Killimor 2-04 Ardrahan 0-00
1896 Ardrahan Tynagh
1895 Ardrahan 1-01, 1-02 (R) Claregalway 0-03, 0-00 (R)
1894 Ardrahan College Road
1893 College Road Turloughmore
1892 College Road Craughwell
1891 No championship
1890 No championship
1889 Peterswell Tynagh
1888 No championship
1887 Meelick
Close
  • 1956 Awarded to Turloughmore

Records and statistics

Teams

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Galway Senior Hurling Championship titles, is as follows:

Gaps

Top five longest gaps between successive championship titles:

See also

References

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