The Wicklow Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Lightning Protection Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Wicklow IHC) is an annual club hurling competition organised by the Wicklow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by intermediate-ranked clubs in the county of Wicklow in Ireland, deciding the competition winners through a group and knockout format. It is the second tier overall in the entire Wicklow hurling championship system.
In its current format, the Wicklow Intermediate Hurling Championship begins with a group stage. The nine participating teams are divided into two groups and play each other in a round-robin system. The top two teams in each group proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Echelon Park. The winner of the Wicklow Intermediate Championship, as well as gaining promotion to the Wicklow SHC, qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Junior Club Championship.
Western Gaels are the reigning champions, having beaten Arklow Rock Parnells by 4–11 to 1–09 in the 2026 final.
Format Group stage
The 9 teams in the Wicklow Intermediate Championship are divided into two groups. The draw for both groups is arranged in a manner that keeps the "stronger" sides, or those who have played at senior level or won the IHC in recent years, in Group 1. The remaining five teams are placed in Group 2. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three of four games depending on the number of teams in the group. 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 two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage
Knockout stage
Semi-finals: The top two teams from each group 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.
Teams
2026 teams ClubLocationColoursPosition in 2025In championship sinceChampionship titlesLast championship titleArklow Rock ParnellsArklowGreen and white?0—AvondaleRathdrumGreen and white?22024BarndarrigBarndarrigBlue and white202421994Bray EmmetsBrayNavy and green?32022Carnew EmmetsCarnewBlue and yellowRunners-up?22021GlenealyGlenealyRed and white?42017KilcooleKilcooleGreen and yellowSemi-final?32020Western GaelsBlessington, Lacken, Manor Kilbride, Valleymount, Hollywood, Dunlavin, and Donard/GlenNavy and blueSemi-final?0—
Qualification for subsequent competitions At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship.
List of finals
Year Winners Runners-up Venue # Club Score Club Score2026Western Gaels4-11Arklow Rock Parnells1-09Echelon Park2025 Aughrim 2-16 Carnew Emmets 1-12 Echelon Park 2024 Avondale 2-16 Aughrim 2-03 Echelon Park 2023 St Patrick's 3-13 Bray Emmets 1-09 Echelon Park 2022 Bray Emmets 3-15 Kilcoole 0-10 Echelon Park 2021 Carnew Emmets 2-09 Bray Emmets 1-10 Aughrim County Ground 2020 Kilcoole 2-22 Glenealy 1-07 Aughrim County Ground 2019 Carnew Emmets 0-10 Barndarrig 0-03 Aughrim County Ground 2018 Avondale 5-18 Arklow Rock Parnells 1-06 Aughrim County Ground 2017 Glenealy 2-10 Carnew Emmets 1-11 Pearse Park 2016 Kiltegan 0-12 Bray Emmets 1-07 Aughrim County Ground 2015 Bray Emmets 3-14 Arklow Rock Parnells 3-07 Aughrim County Ground 2014 Glenealy 2-11 Carnew Emmets 1-07 Pearse Park 2013 Éire Óg Greystones 0-13 Carnew Emmets 0-12 Aughrim County Ground 2012 Glenealy 1-13 Éire Óg Greystones 1-08 Aughrim County Ground 2011 St Patrick's 1-13 Glenealy 2-05 Aughrim County Ground 2010 Newcastle 1-12 Glenealy 2-08 Pearse Park
Roll of honour
By club # Team Titles Runners-up Championships won Championships runner-up1 Bray Emmets232015, 20222016, 2021, 2023 Carnew Emmets222019, 20212017, 2025 Avondale202018, 2024—4 Glenealy1120172020 Kilcoole1120202022 Aughrim1120252024 Kiltegan102016— St Patrick's102023—Western Gaels102026—10 Arklow Rock Parnells03—2015, 2018, 2026 Barndarrig01—2019
See also Wicklow Senior Hurling Championship Wicklow Junior Hurling Championship
References
External links Official Wicklow Website Wicklow on Hoganstand Wicklow Club GAA