The Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship (abbreviated to Clare IHC) is an annual GAA club competition organised by the Clare County Board for hurling clubs below premier intermediate and senior level. It is contested by intermediate hurling clubs in County Clare, Ireland. It is the third-tier adult competition of the Clare hurling pyramid.
The Clare IHC was introduced in 1927 as a county-wide competition for hurling clubs deemed not strong enough for senior level, and too strong for junior level. In later years the Clare IHC was opened to the second-, third-, and/or fourth-string teams from higher-ranked clubs.
In 2012 the Clare County Board decided that from 2014 onwards the Clare Senior Hurling Championship would become a sixteen-team competition. This meant that five clubs would lose their senior status and be relegated down to the second-tier intermediate level. However, due to the overwhelming success of both the Clare Senior and Under-21 inter-county hurling teams in 2013, this decision was postponed for twelve months. 2014 saw the relegation of Broadford, Doora-Barefield, Ruan, Scariff and Wolfe Tones down to intermediate for 2015.
In 2025 the Clare County Board introduced three new levels to the Clare hurling pyramid – Premier Intermediate, Premier Junior B and Premier Junior C. Every level below the sixteen-team senior level was now a new or updated ten-team level, with the respective champions promoted up one level, and the losers of a relegation play-off dropping down a level for the following year.
From 1927 to 2024 the Clare IHC was the second-tier of the Clare hurling pyramid. However, since the introduction of premier intermediate in 2025, it is effectively a new competition with a new trophy on offer for the winners. The Pappy O'Callaghan Cup was commissioned for the intermediate champions from 2025 onwards, and the previous intermediate trophy, the Paddy Browne Cup, is now awarded to the premier intermediate champions.
The winners of the Clare IHC are now presented with the Pappy O'Callaghan Cup as the original trophy is now presented to the premier intermediate champions, and are promoted to the Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.
The current (2025) champions and inaugural winners of the Pappy O'Callaghan Cup are Smith O'Brien's who defeated Inagh-Kilnamona by 2–18 to 1-20, to win their first title at this level.
2026 Intermediate clubs The ten teams competing in the 2026 Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship are: Club Location Colours Titles Last title Broadford Broadford Green & Yellow02019 Éire Óg, Ennis Ennis Red & White02011 Inagh-Kilnamona Inagh / Kilnamona Yellow & Green02005 Killanena Killanena Blue & Yellow02010 Kilmaley Kilmaley Blue & White02017 O'Callaghan's Mills O'Callaghan's Mills Green & Yellow01977 Ogonnelloe Ogonnelloe Black & Amber01995 Scariff Scariff Green & White02020 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Doora / Barefield Maroon & White02022 The Banner, Ennis Ennis Saffron & Blue0–
Roll of honour # Club Wins Years won1. Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe1 2025
List of Clare IHC finals Year Winners Score Runners-up Score 2025 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe 2–18 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-20
List of previous Clare IHC finals (1927–2024) From 1927 to 2024, the Clare IHC was the second-tier of the Clare hurling pyramid until it was replaced by the Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship. The below list of Clare IHC finals are now considered to be a part of the history of the Clare PIHC as its participants compete for the old Clare IHC trophy – Paddy Browne Cup. The 2024 intermediate champions, Wolfe Tones, Shannon, were the last winners of the Clare IHC to have their name engraved on the Paddy Browne Cup as intermediate champions in 2024. The Clare IHC began afresh from 2025 with the inaugural Pappy O'Callaghan Cup.
Year Winners Runners-up 2024 Wolfe Tones, Shannon Tubber 2023 Corofin Sixmilebridge 2022 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Tulla 2021 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 2020 Scariff Tubber 2019 Broadford St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 2018 Feakle Tubber 2017 Kilmaley Tubber 2016 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Broadford 2015 Wolfe Tones, Shannon Broadford 2014 Feakle Parteen 2013 Whitegate Feakle 2012 Ruan Crusheen 2011 Éire Óg, Ennis Ruan 2010 Killanena Ruan 2009 Whitegate Feakle 2008 Broadford Sixmilebridge 2007 Clonlara Killanena 2006 Clooney-Quin Killanena 2005 Inagh Bodyke 2004 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe Clooney-Quin 2003 Broadford Feakle 2002 Corofin Clooney-Quin 2001 Ballyea Sixmilebridge 2000 Crusheen Clooney 1999 Clonlara Crusheen 1998 Kilnamona Inagh 1997 Broadford Sixmilebridge 1996 Bodyke Clonlara 1995 Ogonnelloe Crusheen 1994 Cratloe Ogonnelloe 1993 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Scariff 1992 Whitegate Ogonnelloe 1991 Corofin St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 1990 Sixmilebridge Cratloe 1989 Clonlara Bodyke 1988 Sixmilebridge Corofin 1987 Crusheen Clarecastle 1986 Clooney Corofin 1985 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Clooney 1984 Whitegate St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 1983 Wolfe Tones, Shannon Killanena 1982 Scariff Killanena 1981 Broadford Scariff 1980 Kilmaley Cratloe 1979 Tulla Cratloe 1978 Ruan Clonlara 1977 O'Callaghan's Mills Kilmaley 1976 Tubber Scariff 1975 Clonlara Wolfe Tones, Shannon 1974 Broadford O'Callaghan's Mills 1973 Feakle Broadford 1972 Tubber Feakle 1971 Sixmilebridge Tubber 1970 Cratloe Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe 1969 Bodyke Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe 1968 O'Callaghan's Mills Cratloe 1967 Newmarket-on-Fergus Bodyke 1966No Championship 1965No Championship 1964No Championship 1963No Championship 1962No Championship 1961No Championship 1960 Crusheen O'Callaghan's Mills 1959 Whitegate Clooney 1958 St. John's, Ennis Scariff 1957 Cappagh Sixmilebridge 1956 Parteen Turnpike, Ennis 1955No Championship 1954No Championship 1953Competition Unfinished 1952 Our Lady's Mental Hospital, Ennis O'Callaghan's Mills 1951 Sixmilebridge Turnpike, Ennis 1950 Dysart / Ruan 1949No Championship 1948 Ruan Whitegate 1947 Broadford Ardnacrusha 1946 Bodyke Ruan 1945 Ennis Faughs (Ennis Dals / Barefield) Broadford 1944 Ballyea Broadford 1943 Cratloe Broadford 1942 Mountshannon Sixmilebridge 1941 Broadford Scariff 1940 Ruan Sixmilebridge 1939 Mountshannon Sixmilebridge 1938 Scariff Ennis Rovers 1937 Cratloe Scariff 1936 Bodyke Ruan 1935 Kilkishen Bodyke 1934 Clooney Kilkishen 1933 O'Callaghan's Mills Feakle 1932 Bodyke O'Callaghan's Mills 1931 Clarecastle O'Callaghan's Mills 1930 Feakle Bodyke 1929 O'Callaghan's Mills Kilbane / Ogonnelloe 1928 Clonlara Ennis Dalcassians 1927 Ennis Rovers Kilmore
In late 1943, Ennis Dalcassians offered an opportunity to any players from their neighbours and fellow junior club, Doora-Barefield, to join with them and compete for titles at a higher level in both codes. Ennis Faughs won the 1945 intermediate hurling final against Broadford. In early 1974, Éire Óg took complete control over the organisation of gaelic games in Ennis when it merged with Ennis Rovers, St. John's and Turnpike to form one combined club for the town. Ennis Rovers won the 1927 intermediate hurling final against Kilmore, and lost the 1938 intermediate hurling final to Scariff. Turnpike lost the 1951 and 1956 intermediate hurling finals to Sixmilebridge and Parteen respectively. St. John's won the 1958 intermediate hurling final against Scariff.
See also Clare Senior Hurling Championship Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Clare Junior A Hurling Championship Clare Premier Junior B Hurling Championship Clare Junior B Hurling Championship Clare Premier Junior C Hurling Championship Clare Junior C Hurling Championship Clare Under-21 A Hurling Championship Clare Minor A Hurling Championship Clare Cup (Clare Hurling League Div.1)
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