| Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Irish | Craobh Idirmheánach Iomáint Cheatharlach |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 1984 (1984) |
| Region |  Carlow (GAA) |
| Trophy | Pat Foley Cup |
| No. of teams | 7 |
| Title holders |  Naomh Bríd (3rd title) |
| Most titles |  Naomh Eoin (9 titles) |
| Sponsors | JJ Kavanagh and Sons |
| Official website | Carlow GAA |
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.[1] Naomh Eoin is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it nine times. Naomh Bríd are the title holders after defeating Mount Leinster Rangers by 2–17 to 1–12 in the 2025 final.[2]
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
| Team | Location | Colours | Position in 2025 | In championship since | Championship titles | Last championship title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bagenalstown Gaels
|
Bagenalstown | Green and black | Junior champions | 2026 | 1 | 2019 |
 Burren Rangers
|
Kilbride | Green and white | Semi-finals | 2025 | 0 | N/A |
 Carlow Town
|
Carlow | White and blue | Semi-finals | ? | 2 | 2013 |
 Kildavin/Clonegal
|
Kildavin | Red and black | Group stage | 2024 | 4 | 2003 |
| Mount Leinster Rangers
|
Borris | Black and red | Runners-up | ? | 7 | 2016 |
| St Mullin's
|
St Mullin's | Green and white | Group stage | ? | 8 | 2024 |
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, 2022 |
| 2 | Mount Leinster Rangers | 7 | 1988, 1996, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| St Mullin's | 7 | 1998, 1999, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2023, 2024 | |
| 4 | Kildavin | 3 | 1989, 1991, 2003 (with Clonegal) |
| Naomh Bríd | 3 | 2017, 2021, 2025 | |
| 6 | Parnells | 2 | 1984, 1987 |
| Ballinkillen | 2 | 1990, 1994 | |
| Erin's Own | 2 | 1993, 2005 | |
| Carlow Town | 2 | 2011, 2013 | |
| 10 | Palatine | 1 | 1985 |
| Ballymurphy | 1 | 1986 | |
| St Fintan's | 1 | 1992 | |
| St Vincent's | 1 | 1997 | |
| Bagenalstown Gaels | 1 | 2019 |
List of finals
Legend
- Gold – Leinster junior club champions
- Silver – Leinster junior club runners-up
List of Carlow IHC finals
Notes
- 2018: The first match ended in a draw: Naomh Eoin 1–09 — 1–09 Mount Leinster Rangers.
See also
- Carlow Senior Hurling Championship (Tier 1)
- Carlow Junior Hurling Championship (Tier 3)
- Carlow Junior Hurling Shield (Tier 4)
- Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship
- Carlow Intermediate Football Championship
References
- ^ "Club Titles - Carlow". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Naomh Bríd deservedly lift Intermediate title". Carlow Nationalist. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "St Mullins make it back-to-back Intermediate Hurling titles". Carlow Nationalist. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "SPORT: Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship Final & Junior Hurling Shield Final". Carlow Live. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Rangers and Naomh Eoin meet in IHC final". The Nationalist. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Bagenalstown return to top table". The Nationalist. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Naomh eoin hold out for sweet win". The Nationalist. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Battling Naomh Bríd get over the line". The Nationalist. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
External links
- Carlow GAA website
