The Waterford Senior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Senior Hurling Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1897 for the top hurling teams in the county of Waterford in Ireland.
The series of games are played during the spring, summer and autumn months with the county final currently being played at Walsh Park in October. Initially played as a knock-out competition, the championship currently features a group stage followed by a knock-out stage. The Waterford County Championship is an integral part of the wider Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship. The winners of the Waterford county final join the champions of the other hurling counties to contest the provincial championship. Twelve teams currently participate in the Waterford County Championship. The title has been won at least once by 23 different teams. The all-time record-holders are Mount Sion, who have won a total of 35 titles. Ballygunner are the title-holders after defeating Fourmilewater by 1–16 to 0–15 in the 2026 championship final.
Format
Current format Group stage: The 12 teams are divided into two groups of six. Each team plays each other once. The top four teams in each group advance to the quarter final stage
Relegation play-off: In 2027 the Senior Championship is reduced to 10 teams. Thus, 3 teams are relegated to the Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2026.
Quarter-finals: 8 teams contest this round. The 4 winning teams advance to the Semi-finals. The 4 losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Semi-finals: 4 teams contest this round. The 2 winning teams advance to the Semi-finals. The 2 losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Final: The final is contested by the two semi-final winners.
Teams
2026 teams The following 12 teams contested the 2026 Waterford Senior Hurling Championship:
Team Location Colours Division Position in 2025 In championship since Championship titles Last championship title Abbeyside Abbeyside Blue and orange West Preliminary quarter-finals 2004 0— Ballygunner A Ballygunner Red and black East Champions? 24 2025 Ballygunner B Ballygunner Red and black East Waterford PIHC winners 2026 242025 Clonea Rathgormack Red and green East Quarter-finals 2019 5 1952 De La Salle Waterford Red and white East Semi-finals ? 3 2012 Dungarvan Dungarvan Blue and white West Preliminary quarter-finals 2010 6 1941 Ferrybank Ferrybank Green and white East Relegation final winners 2024 3 1919 Fourmilewater Ballymacarbry Blue and white West Quarter-finals 2002 0— Lismore Lismore Yellow and black West Quarter-finals 2017 3 1993 Mount Sion Waterford Blue and white East Runners-up ? 35 2006 Passage Passage East Red and white East Quarter-finals ? 1 2013 Roanmore Waterford Blue and white East Semi-finals 2011 2 1990
Qualification for subsequent competitions The Waterford Senior Hurling Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship.
Managers Managers in the Waterford Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the individual club committees. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and a backroom team consisting of various coaches.
+ Winning managers (1999–present)ManagerTeamWinsWinning years Darragh O'SullivanBallygunner6 2019 (j), 2020 (j), 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Jim GreeneMount Sion3 2002, 2003, 2004 Fergal HartleyBallygunner3 2014, 2017, 2018 Denis WalshBallygunner2 2015, 2016 David FranksBallygunner2 2019 (j), 2020 (j)Jason RyanBallygunner22025, 2026 Michael GaffneyBallygunner1 1999 Kevin RyanMount Sion1 2000 Gordon RyanBallygunner1 2001 John FitzpatrickBallygunner1 2005 Páraic FanningMount Sion1 2006 Morris GearyBallyduff Upper1 2007 Owen DunphyDe La Salle1 2008 Ger CunninghamBallygunner1 2009 Michael RyanDe La Salle1 2010 Niall O'DonnellBallygunner1 2011 Derek McGrathDe La Salle1 2012 Peter QueallyPassage1 2013
List of finals
Legend – Munster senior club champions – Munster senior club runners-up
List of Waterford SHC finals Year Winners Runners-up Club Score Club Score2026Ballygunner1-16 Fourmilewater0-15 2025 Ballygunner2–35 Mount Sion1–16 2024 Ballygunner 2-28 Abbeyside 2-10 2023 Ballygunner 2-26 De La Salle 0-21 2022 Ballygunner 2-11 Mount Sion 0-08 2021 Ballygunner 2-27 Roanmore 0-13 2020 Ballygunner 1-23 Passage 0-09 2019 Ballygunner 1-24 De La Salle 1-15 2018 Ballygunner 2-19 Abbeyside 0-13 2017 Ballygunner 2-18 De La Salle 0-16 2016 Ballygunner 4-20 Passage 1-12 2015 Ballygunner 0-16 Tallow 0-12 2014 Ballygunner 2-16 Mount Sion 0-09 2013 Passage 3-16 Ballygunner 3-13 2012 De La Salle 1-21 Dungarvan 0-12 2011 Ballygunner 1-19 Tallow 0-06 2010 De La Salle 3-13 Ballygunner 1-11 2009 Ballygunner (4-12) 1-17 Lismore (2-18) 0-19 2008 De La Salle 0-11 Abbeyside 0-09 2007 Ballyduff Upper 1-18 Ballygunner 1-14 2006 Mount Sion 2-13 Ballygunner 0-12 2005 Ballygunner 2-10 De La Salle 1-12 2004 Mount Sion 4-14 Ballygunner 4-07 2003 Mount Sion 1-14 Ballygunner 1-10 2002 Mount Sion 1-19 Ballygunner 2-14 2001 Ballygunner 4-12 Lismore 1-16 2000 Mount Sion 1-20 Ballygunner 0-09 1999 Ballygunner 1-18 Mount Sion 2-10 1998 Mount Sion 3-19 Ballyduff Upper 0-10 1997 Ballygunner 2-17 Passage 1-14 1996 Ballygunner 3-13 Lismore 1-12 1995 Ballygunner (1-08) 3-13 (R) Mount Sion (1-08) 1-17 (R) 1994 Mount Sion 2-13 Passage 1-11 1993 Lismore 0-08 Passage 0-07 1992 Ballygunner 1-12 Mount Sion 2-07 1991 Lismore 5-07 Mount Sion 1-05 1990 Roanmore 3-13 Ballyduff Upper 2-06 1989 Roanmore 3-08 Ballyduff Upper 2-07 1988 Mount Sion 2-15 Ballygunner 3-08 1987 Ballyduff Upper 4-07 Roanmore 2-11 1986 Mount Sion 0-16 Lismore 0-10 1985 Tallow 3-08 Ballyduff Upper 2-08 1984 Tallow 2-12 Portlaw 2-01 1983 Mount Sion 5-11 Ballyduff Upper 2-06 1982 Ballyduff Upper 0-20 Dunhill 1-11 1981 Mount Sion 4-13 Dunhill 1-14 1980 Tallow 1-07 Dunhill 1-06 1979 Dunhill 2-17 Ballyduff Upper 2-08 1978 Dunhill 2-16 Mount Sion 4-08 1977 Portlaw 4-10 Ballyduff Upper 2-10 1976 Portlaw 7-12 Tallow 1-05 1975 Mount Sion 6-04 Portlaw 2-07 1974 Mount Sion 3-08 Portlaw 2-10 1973 Portlaw 2-11 Mount Sion 2-07 1972 Mount Sion 2-10 Dunhill 2-08 1971 Portlaw 1-13 St. Mollerans 2-08 1970 Ballyduff Lower/Portlaw (awarded title) 1969 Mount Sion 7-11 Abbeyside 2-13 1968 Ballygunner 2-10 Mount Sion 3-02 1967 Ballygunner 2-10 Ballyduff Lower/Portlaw 3-05 1966 Ballygunner 2-06 Mount Sion 2-03 1965 Mount Sion 3-02 Ballygunner 2-04 1964 Mount Sion 3-06 Abbeyside 1-06 1963 Mount Sion 4-06 Ballygunner 3-04 1962 Erin's Own 5-07 Mount Sion 1-04 1961 Mount Sion 2-14 Erin's Own 2-04 1960 Mount Sion 5-09 Erin's Own 2-05 1959 Mount Sion 5-05 Erin's Own 5-04 1958 Mount Sion 6-10 Faughs 1-08 1957 Mount Sion 2-10 Abbeyside 1-02 1956 Mount Sion 7-07 Cappoquin 2-06 1955 Mount Sion 2-10 Abbeyside 3-04 1954 Mount Sion 3-14 Erin's Own 5-02 1953 Mount Sion 7-11 Tourin 1-01 1952 Clonea 1-10 T. F. Meaghers 2-01 1951 Mount Sion 7-08 Dungarvan 0-09 1950 Tourin 3-07 Mount Sion 2-05 1949 Mount Sion 4-08 Clonea 0-06 1948 Mount Sion 4-08 Avonmore 0-08 1947 Erin's Own 3-04 Clonea 3-01 1946 Erin's Own 5-07 Brickey Rangers 2-04 1945 Mount Sion 3-08 Dungarvan 2-05 1944 3rd Battalion 4-03 Portlaw 2-07 1943 Mount Sion 3-08 Tallow 1-05 1942 Erin's Own 2-05 Lismore 2-03 1941 Dungarvan 2-06 Mount Sion 1-05 1940 Mount Sion 6-05 Dungarvan 3-02 1939 Mount Sion 2-04 Erin's Own 2-02 1938 Mount Sion 4-03 Erin's Own 3-04 1937 Portlaw 3-01 Dungarvan 0-03 1936 Mount Sion 2-06 Tallow 1-05 (Tallow won on objection) 1935 Erin's Own 4-07 Tallow 2-04 1934 Erin's Own 6-04 Tallow 0-02 1933 Erin's Own 7-06 Dunhill 1-03 1932 Erin's Own 2-02 Tallow 0-02 1931 Erin's Own 4-07 Tallow 0-03 1930 Erin's Own 6-04 Dungarvan 0-01 1929 Erin's Own 10-04 Lismore 1-01 1928 Erin's Own 5-06 Tallow 2-00 1927 Erin's Own 8-02 Dungarvan 0-05 1926 Dungarvan 5-02 Lismore 2-03 1925 Lismore 4-02 Erin's Own 2-03 1924 T. F. Meaghers 11-05 Dungarvan 1-02 1923 Dungarvan 1922 T. F. Meaghers 1921 No Championship 1920 Dungarvan 9-02 Ferrybank 1-00 1919 Ferrybank 1918 Clonea 4-03 Ferrybank 2-01 1917 Dungarvan 1916 Young Irelands 6-02 Ferrybank 2-00 1915 Ferrybank 1914 St Stephens De La Salle 1913 St Stephens De La Salle 5-04 Ballyduff Upper 0-02 1912 T. F. Meagher's 4-02 Clonea 1-00 1911 T. F. Meaghers 1910 T. F. Meaghers 4-04 Dungarvan 1-02 1909 T. F. Meaghers 1908 Dungarvan 14 Points Dunhill 1 Goal 1907 Clonea 1906 De La Salle 5-05 Ballyduff Lower 0-05 1905 Clonea 6-10 Ballyduff Upper 3-05 1904 Gracedieu Clonea 1903 Clonea De La Salle 1902 Clonea Shanacool Durrow 1901 1900 1899 Ballydurn Blackwater Ramblers 1898 1897 Ballytruckle
Roll of honour
# Club Titles Championships won 1 Mount Sion 35 1938, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 2 Ballygunner 25 1966, 1967, 1968, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 3 Erin's Own 13 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1942, 1946, 1947,1962 4 T.F. Meaghers 6 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1922, 1924 Dungarvan 6 1908, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1926, 19416 Portlaw 5 1937, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977 7 Clonea 5 1902, 1903, 1905, 1907, 1952 8 Tallow 4 1936, 1980, 1984, 19859 Ferrybank 3 1915, 1916, 1919 Lismore 3 1925, 1991, 1993 Ballyduff Upper 3 1983, 1987, 2007 De La Salle 3 2008, 2010, 201213 St Stephens De La Salle 2 1913, 1914 Ballyduff Lower 2 1906, 1970 (awarded title) Dunhill 2 1978, 1979 Roanmore 2 1989, 199017 Ballytruckle 1 1897 Ballydurn 1 1899 Gracedieu 1 1904 Young Irelands 1 1918 3rd Battalion 1 1944 Tourin 1 1950 Passage 1 2013
Records and statistics Teams By decade The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Waterford Senior Hurling Championship titles, is as follows:
1890s: 1 each for Ballytruckle (1897) and Ballydurn (1899) 1900s: 4 for Clonea (1902-03-05-07) 1910s: 3 each for T. F. Meaghers (1910-11-12) and Ferrybank (1915-16-19) 1920s: 3 each for Dungarvan (1920-23-26) and Erin's Own (1927-28-29) 1930s: 6 for Erin's Own (1930-31-32-33-34-35) 1940s: 5 for Mount Sion (1940-43-45-48-49) 1950s: 8 for Mount Sion (1951-53-54-55-56-57-58-59) 1960s: 6 for Mount Sion (1960-61-63-64-65-69) 1970s: 5 for Portlaw (1970-71-73-76-77) 1980s: 4 for Mount Sion (1981-83-86-88) 1990s: 5 for Ballygunner (1992-95-96-97-99) 2000s: 5 for Mount Sion (2000-02-03-04-06) 2010s: 7 for Ballygunner (2011-14-15-16-17-18-19) 2020s: 7 for Ballygunner (2020-21-22-23-24-25-26)
Gaps Top five longest gaps between successive championship titles:
66 years: Lismore (1925-1991) 45 years: Clonea (1907-1952) 44 years: Tallow (1936-1980) 33 years: Portlaw (1937-1970) 20 years: Ballyduff Upper (1987-2007)
Top scorers In finals + FinalTop scorerTeamScoreTotal 1995 Ballygunner 1-05 8 1996 Ballygunner 2-04 10 1997 Ballygunner 1-08 11 1998 Mount Sion 1-04 7 1999 Ballygunner 1-08 11 2000 Mount Sion 1-07 7 2001 Lismore 0-10 10 2002 Mount Sion 0-11 11 2003 Ballygunner 0-06 6 2004 Mount Sion 1-03 6 2005 De La Salle 0-09 9 2006 Mount Sion 0-07 72007 Ballygunner 1-06 9 Ballyduff Upper 0-09 92008 De La Salle 0-03 3 De La Salle 0-03 3 2009 Ballygunner 1-09 12 2010 De La Salle 0-09 9 2011 Ballygunner 0-11 11 2012 Dungarvan 0-09 92013 Ballygunner 1-07 10 Passage 1-07 10 2014 Ballygunner 0-10 10 2015 Tallow 0-10 10 2016 Ballygunner 1-11 14 2017 Ballygunner 0-09 9 2018 Ballygunner 0-13 13 2019 Ballygunner 0-12 12 2020 Ballygunner 0-08 82021Dessie HutchinsonBallygunner1-09122022Ballygunner1-0472023Reuben HalloranDe La Salle0-12122024Ballygunner0-11112025Ballygunner0-11112026Aaron RyanFourmilewater0-088
See also