The Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Gerry Kennedy Crash Repairs Eastern Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Eastern IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the eastern divisional section of the Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 and contested by intermediate team in the county of Waterford in Ireland.

In its current format, the Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship begins with a group stage. The six participating teams play each other in a round-robin system. The two top-ranking teams proceed to the final match at Walsh Park. The winner of the Eastern IHC subsequently represent the division in the Waterford IHC.

Roanmore are the title holders after defeating St Molleran's by 3–14to 0–18 in the 2026 final.

History The Eastern Intermediate Championship was established in 1964 in an effort to bridge the standard of play between the Waterford SHC and the divisional junior championships. Ballyduff Lower were the first championship winners.

On 31 January 2022, Waterford County Board delegates voted on the restructuring of the entire intermediate hurling championship system following a review process. It was decided to establish an all-county eight-team Waterford Premier Intermediate Championship for 2023. These eight teams were made up of the four semi-finalists from the 2022 Eastern and Western intermediate championships.

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

Final

The top two teams from the group stage contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

Relegation The fifth and sixth-placed teams from the group stage take part in a relegation playoff to determine who drops to the Eastern Junior A Hurling Championship.

Teams

2026 teams The following 6 teams contested the 2024 Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship: TeamLocationChampionship titles (since 1995)Last championship title ButlerstownWaterford0— DunhillDunhill62021 Erins OwnWaterford22003Micheal MacCraithTramore0— Roanmore B Waterford32026 St Molleran'sCarrick-Beg22008

Qualification for subsequent competitions

From its inception in 1964, the Eastern IHC champions automatically qualify for the Waterford IHC. Here they play the Western IHC winners to determine the county champions. This format was abandoned for a period in the late 1970s and early 1980s when a county-wide Waterford IHC was in operation, however, it was later reinstated.

Roll of honour

Roll of honour (1995–present) # Club Titles Championships won1Dunhill61999, 2001, 2011, 2013, 2016, 20212Clonea52002, 2006, 2009, 2017, 2018Portlaw52004, 2012, 2015, 2023, 20244Ballyduff Lower31998, 2000, 2020Roanmore32010, 2025, 20266Erin's Own21997, 2003Passage22005, 2007St Molleran's21995, 2008Ballygunner22019, 202210Ferrybank11996St Saviour's12014

List of finals

List of finals (1995–present) Year Winners Runners-up # Club Score Club Score2026Roanmore3-14St Molleran's0-182025Roanmore3-19St Molleran's3-12 2024 Portlaw 3-21 St Molleran's 0-13 2023 Portlaw 3-22 Erin's Own 3–11 2022 Ballygunner 1–18 Ballyduff Lower 1–12 2021 Dunhill 0–17 Ferrybank 1-08 2020 Ballyduff Lower 2–18 Dunhill 1-20 2019 Ballygunner 3-21 Dunhill 1-09 2018 Clonea 0-22 Dunhill 0–19 2017 Clonea 3–15 Erin's Own 0–11 2016 Dunhill 2–15 Erin's Own 0–13 2015 Portlaw 3–15 Clonea 2–15 2014 St Saviour's 1–19 Ballygunner 2–12 2013 Dunhill 1–12 Portlaw 0-07 2012 Portlaw 1–19 Clonea 3-09 2011 Dunhill 2–12 Portlaw 0–17 2010 Roanmore 1–14 Clonea 0–13 2009 Clonea 2–12 Mount Sion 2-07 2008 St Molleran's 0–13 St Saviour's 1-08 2007 Passage 0-09 Portlaw 0-08 2006 Clonea 1–11 Portlaw 0–12 2005 Passage 3–15 Clonea 1-08 2004 Portlaw 3-08 Clonea 2-09 2003 Erin's Own 3–14 Dunhill 3-06 2002 Clonea 1–10 Dunhill 0–11 2001 Dunhill 1-09 Ballydurn 1-03 2000 Ballyduff Lower 5-06 Ballydurn 1-08 1999 Dunhill 0–10 Ferrybank 1-04 1998 Ballyduff Lower 4–16 St Saviour's 1–11 1997 Erin's Own 2–12 Ferrybank 1–12 1996 Ferrybank 2–11 Mount Sion 1-07 1995 St Molleran's 1–10 Kill 1-09

Notes 1995 - The first match ended in a draw: St Molleran's 2–12, Kill 3-09. 1997 - The first match ended in a draw: Erin's Own 1–12, Ferrybank 1–12. 2008 - The first match ended in a draw: St Molleran's 0–13, St Saviour's 1–10.

See also

Waterford Intermediate Hurling Championship Western Intermediate Hurling Championship

References