Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship

The Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the JJ Kavanagh Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Carlow IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Carlow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1984 for the second tier hurling teams in the county of Carlow in Ireland.

In its current format, the Carlow Intermediate Championship begins with a group stage in mid-summer. The five participating club teams play each other in a round-robin system. The four top-ranking teams proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Netwatch Cullen Park. The winner of the Carlow Intermediate Championship qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Club Championship.

The title has been won by 14 different clubs, nine of which have won the title more than once. Naomh Eoin is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it nine times. Carlow Town are the title holders after defeating Burren Rangers by 4–18 to 0–16 in the 2026 final.

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 (1-4) 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.

Promotion At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Carlow Senior Hurling Championship for the following season.

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

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

Teams

2026 Teams Seven clubs are competing in the 2026 Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship:

Team Location Colours Position in 2025 In championship since Championship titles Last championship title Bagenalstown GaelsBagenalstownGreen and blackJunior champions202612019 Burren RangersBallon, Kilbride, & RathtoeGreen and whiteSemi-finals20250N/A Carlow TownCarlowWhite and blueSemi-finals?32013 Kildavin/ClonegalClonegal & KildavinRed and blackGroup stage202442003 Mount Leinster RangersBallymurphy, Borris & RathannaBlack and redRunners-up?72016 Naomh EoinMyshallBlack and amberGroup stage?112022 St MullinsSt MullinsGreen and whiteGroup stage?82024

Qualification for subsequent competitions At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.

Roll of honour

By club # Club Titles Championships won 1 Naomh Eoin 9 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2018, 2020, 20222 Mount Leinster Rangers 7 1988, 1996, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016 St Mullin's 7 1998, 1999, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2023, 20244 Kildavin/Clonegal 4 1989, 1991, 1997, 20035 Naomh Bríd 3 2017, 2021, 2025 Carlow Town 3 2011, 2013, 20267 Parnells 2 1984, 1987 Ballinkillen 2 1990, 1994 Erin's Own 2 1993, 200510 Palatine 1 1985 Ballymurphy 1 1986 St Fintan's 1 1992 St Vincent's 1 1997 Bagenalstown Gaels 1 2019

List of finals

Legend

– Leinster junior club champions – Leinster junior club runners-up

List of Carlow IHC finals Year Winners Runners-up Venue # Club Score Club Score2026Carlow Town4-18Burren Rangers0-16Netwatch Cullen Park 2025 Naomh Bríd 2-17 Mount Leinster Rangers 1-12 Netwatch Cullen Park 2024 St Mullin's 2-15 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-10 Netwatch Cullen Park 2023 St Mullin's 0-15 Mount Leinster Rangers 1-10 Netwatch Cullen Park 2022 Naomh Eoin 0-12 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-06 Netwatch Cullen Park 2021 Naomh Bríd 0-17 Naomh Eoin 1-12 Netwatch Cullen Park 2020 Naomh Eoin 3-17 Mount Leinster Rangers 1-19 Netwatch Cullen Park 2019 Bagenalstown Gaels 0-12 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-06 Netwatch Cullen Park 2018 Naomh Eoin 1-11 Mount Leinster Rangers 1-08 Netwatch Cullen Park 2017 Naomh Bríd 3-07 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-15 Netwatch Cullen Park 2016 Mount Leinster Rangers 3-19 Carlow Town 0-18 Netwatch Cullen Park2015Mount Leinster Rangers2014Mount Leinster Rangers2013Carlow Town2012St Mullin's2011Carlow Town2010St Mullin's2009Mount Leinster Rangers2008Naomh Eoin2007Mount Leinster Rangers2006St Mullin's2005 Erin's Own2004Naomh Eoin2003Kildavin2002Naomh Eoin2001Naomh Eoin2000Naomh Eoin1999St Mullin's1998St Mullin's1997St Vincent's1996Mount Leinster Rangers1995Naomh Eoin1994Ballinkillen1993Erin's Own1992St Fintan's1991Kildavin1990Ballinkillen1989Kildavin1988Mount Leinster Rangers1987Parnells1986Ballymurphy1985Palatine1984Parnells

Notes 2018: The first match ended in a draw: Naomh Eoin 1–09 — 1–09 Mount Leinster Rangers.

2025 Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship Group stage table

TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiff Naomh Bríd6510130735711 Mount Leinster Rangers640213312948 Carlow Town420213413138 Burren Rangers63129073177 Kildavin/Clonegal6114112139−273 St Mullin's611469107−473 Naomh Eoin61055670−142 Note: The scores from the following matches are unavailable; Burren Rangers vs Naomh Eoin, Naomh Eoin vs Naomh Bríd, Naomh Eoin vs St. Mullin's, St Mullin's vs Burren Rangers

Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship

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