The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the AIB Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship; abbreviated as the Leinster Club SHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the champion senior clubs in the province of Leinster in Ireland. It is the most prestigious club competition in Leinster hurling.
Introduced in 1971, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open to all 12 county senior champions from the 1970 championship season. The competition is currently limited to the eight champion club teams from the strongest hurling counties in Leinster.
In its current format, the Leinster Club Championship begins in November following the completion of the individual county championships. The eight participating teams compete in a single-elimination tournament which culminates with the final match on the first Sunday in December. The winner of the Leinster Club Championship, as well as being presented with the O'Neill Cup, qualifies for the subsequent All-Ireland Club Championship.
The competition has been won by 18 teams, 10 of which have won it more than once. Kilkenny clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories with 23 wins. Ballyhale Shamrocks is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it 12 times.
St Martin's are the reigning champions, having beaten Ballyhale Shamrocks by 0-24 to 2-17 in the 2025 final.
Format Overview
The Leinster Championship is a single elimination tournament. Each team is afforded only one defeat before being eliminated from the championship. Pairings for matches are drawn at random and there is no seeding.
Each match is played as a single leg. If a match is drawn there is a period of extra time, however, if both sides are still level at the end of extra time a replay takes place and so on until a winner is found.
Format
Quarter-finals: Eight teams contest this round. The four winning teams advance directly to the semi-final stage. The four losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Semi-finals: The two winning teams advance directly to the final. The two losing teams are eliminated from the championship.
Final: The final is contested by the two semi-final winners.
Teams Qualification
CountyChampionshipQualifying team CarlowCarlow Senior Hurling ChampionshipChampions DublinDublin Senior Hurling ChampionshipChampions KildareKildare Senior Hurling ChampionshipChampions KilkennyKilkenny Senior Hurling ChampionshipChampions LaoisLaois Senior Hurling ChampionshipChampions OffalyOffaly Senior Hurling ChampionshipChampions WestmeathWestmeath Senior Hurling ChampionshipChampions WexfordWexford Senior Hurling ChampionshipChampions
2024 teams 73 clubs will compete in the 2024 Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship: County No. Clubs competing in county championship Carlow5Bagenalstown Gaels, Ballinkillen, Mount Leinster Rangers, Naomh Eoin, St Mullin's Dublin10Ballyboden St Enda's, Cuala, Craobh Chiaráin, Kilmacud Crokes, Lucan Sarsfields, Na Fianna, St Brigid's, St Jude's, St Vincent's, Whitehall Colmcille Kildare8Ardclough, Celbridge, Coill Dubh, Confey, Éire Óg-Corrachoill, Leixlip, Maynooth, Naas Kilkenny12Ballyhale Shamrocks, Bennettsbridge, Clara, Dicksboro, Erin's Own, Glenmore, Graigue-Ballycallan, James Stephens, Mullinavat, O'Loughlin Gaels, Thomastown, Tullaroan Laois10Abbeyleix, Ballinakill, Borris-in-Ossory–Kilcotton, Camross, Castletown, Clough–Ballacolla, Portlaoise, Rathdowney–Errill, Rosenallis, The Harps Offaly10Ballinamere, Belmont, Birr, Coolderry, Kilcormac–Killoughey, Kinnitty, Seir Kieran, Shinrone, St Rynagh's, Tullamore Westmeath6Castlepollard, Castletown Geoghegan, Clonkill, Lough Lene Gaels, Raharney, St Oliver Plunkett's Wexford12Cloughbawn, Crossabeg–Ballymurn, Faythe Harriers, Ferns St Aidan's, Glynn–Barntown, Naomh Éanna, Oulart–The Ballagh, Oylegate–Glenbrien, Rapparees, Shelmaliers, St Anne's, St Martin's Note: Bold indicates title-holders.
Managers
Managers in the Leinster 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 managersManagerTeamWinsWinning yearsPad Joe WhelehanBirr51997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007Adrian FinanJames Stephens22004, 2005Maurice AylwardBallyhale Shamrocks22006, 2008Mattie KennyCuala22016, 2017Henry ShefflinBallyhale Shamrocks22018, 2019Pádraig HoranBirr11994Tom RyanGlenmore11995Frank KeenanCamross11996Dan QuigleyRathnure11986,1987,1998Jim NearyGraigue-Ballycallan12000Michael NolanO'Loughlin Gaels12003Mick FennellyBallyhale Shamrocks12009Michael NolanO'Loughlin Gaels12010Ken HoganCoolderry12011Danny OwensKilcormac–Killoughey12012Tom MullallyMount Leinster Rangers12013Andy MoloneyBallyhale Shamrocks12014Frank FlanneryOulart–The Ballagh12015James O' ConnorBallyhale Shamrocks12021Pat HobanBallyhale Shamrocks12022
Qualification for subsequent competitions
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship winners qualify for the subsequent All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship. The winners contest the All-Ireland semi-finals with the other three provincial representatives.
Titles listed by club
# Club County Wins Runners Up Years won Years runners up 1 Ballyhale Shamrocks Kilkenny 12 3 1978, 1980, 1983, 1989, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 1988, 1991, 2025 2 Birr Offaly 7 3 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007 2003, 2006, 2008 3 Rathnure Wexford 6 2 1971, 1973, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1998 1970, 1972 4 St. Rynagh's Offaly 4 4 1970, 1972, 1982, 1993 1973, 1974, 1975, 1992 James Stephens Kilkenny 4 1 1975, 1981, 2004, 2005 1976 6 Buffer's Alley Wexford 3 1 1985, 1988, 1992 1982 O'Loughlin Gaels Kilkenny 3 1 2003, 2010, 2023 2016 8 Camross Laois 2 3 1976, 1996 1979, 1986, 1990 Cuala Dublin 2 2 2016, 2017 1989, 2015 Glenmore Kilkenny 2 0 1990, 1995 - 11 Oulart–The Ballagh Wexford 1 6 2015 1994, 1995, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Kilcormac–Killoughey Offaly 1 3 2012 2014, 2017, 2024 The Fenians Kilkenny 1 1 1974 1977 Crumlin Dublin 1 1 1979 1978 Coolderry Offaly 1 1 2011 1980 Na Fianna Dublin 1 1 2024 2023 St. Martin's Kilkenny 1 0 1984 Graigue-Ballycallan Kilkenny 1 0 2000 Mount Leinster Rangers Carlow 1 0 2013 St Martin's Wexford 1 0 2025 21 Kinnitty Offaly 0 3 1983, 1984, 1985 Castletown Laois 0 3 1997, 1999, 2001 University College Dublin Dublin 0 3 2000, 2004, 2005 Portlaoise Laois 0 2 1987, 1998 Ballyboden St. Enda's Dublin 0 2 2007, 2018 Bennettsbridge Kilkenny 0 1 1971 Faythe Harriers Wexford 0 1 1981 Dicksboro Kilkenny 0 1 1993 O'Toole's Dublin 0 1 1996 Young Irelands Kilkenny 0 1 2002 Tullamore Offaly 0 1 2009 St. Mullin's Carlow 0 1 2019 Clough–Ballacolla Laois 0 1 2021 Kilmacud Crokes Dublin 0 1 2022
Titles listed by county
By county CountyTitlesRunners-upTotalMost recent win Kilkenny249332023 Offaly1315282012 Wexford1110212025 Dublin411152024 Laois29111996 Carlow1122013
Clubs per county CountyWinnersWinning ClubsRunners-UpRunner-Up ClubsKilkenny24Ballyhale Shamrocks (12), James Stephens (4), O'Loughlin Gaels (3), Glenmore (2), The Fenians, St. Martin's, Graigue-Ballycallan9Ballyhale Shamrocks (3), James Stephens (1), O'Loughlin Gaels, The Fenians, Young Irelands, Dicksboro, BennettsbridgeOffaly13Birr (7), St. Rynagh's (4), Kilcormac/Killoughey, Coolderry15St. Rynagh's (4), Birr (3), Kinnitty (3), Kilcormac/Killoughey (3), Coolderry, TullamoreWexford11Rathnure (6), Buffer's Alley (3), Oulart-the Ballagh, St Martin's10Oulart-the Ballagh (6), Rathnure (2), Buffer's Alley, Faythe HarriersDublin4Cuala (2), Crumlin, Na Fianna11University College Dublin (3), Ballyboden St. Enda's (2), Cuala (2), Crumlin (1), O'Toole's (1), Kilmacud Crokes (1), Na Fianna (1)Laois2Camross (2)9Castletown (3), Camross (3), Portlaoise (2), Clough/Ballacolla (1),Carlow1Mount Leinster Rangers1St. Mullin's
List of finals
List of Leinster finals YearWinnersRunners-upRefereeCountyClubScoreCountyClubScore2025 WEXSt Martin's0-24 KILBallyhale Shamrocks2-17Chris Mooney (Dublin)2024 DUBNa Fianna2-22 OFFKilcormac–Killoughey2-16Padraig Dunne (Laois) 2023 KIL O'Loughlin Gaels 0-22 DUB Na Fianna 1-18 Caymon Flynn (Westmeath) 2022–23 KIL Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-22 DUB Kilmacud Crokes 2-19 Paud O'Dwyer (Carlow) 2021–22 KIL Ballyhale Shamrocks 6-23 LAO Clough–Ballacolla 0-14 Richie Fitzsimons (Offaly) 2020-21 2019-20 KIL Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-21 CAR St. Mullin's 0-15 Sean Stack (Dublin) 2018–19 KIL Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-21 DUB Ballyboden St Endas 0-11 Patrick Murphy (Carlow) 2017–18 DUB Cuala 1-23 OFF Kilcormac/Killoughey 1-09 Sean Cleere (Kilkenny) 2016–17 DUB Cuala 3-19 KIL O'Loughlin Gaels 1-16 Mick Murtagh (Westmeath) 2015–16 WEX Oulart–The Ballagh 2-13 DUB Cuala 0-13 David Hughes (Carlow) 2014–15 KIL Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-21 OFF Kilcormac/Killoughey 1-14 Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow) 2013–14 CAR Mount Leinster Rangers 0-11 WEX Oulart–The Ballagh 0-08 John Keenan (Wicklow) 2012–13 OFF Kilcormac–Killoughey 1-12 WEX Oulart–The Ballagh 0-11 Sean Cleere (Kilkenny) 2011-12 OFF Coolderry 1-15 WEX Oulart–The Ballagh 1-11 James McGrath (Westmeath) 2010-11 KIL O'Loughlin Gaels 0-14 WEX Oulart–The Ballagh 1-08 Tony Carroll (Offaly) 2009-10 KIL Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-16 OFF Tullamore 1-08 James Owens (Wexford) 2008-09 KIL Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-13 OFF Birr 1-11 Fergus Smith (Meath) 2007-08 OFF Birr 1-11 DUB Ballyboden St Endas 0-13 Anthony Stapleton (Laois) 2006-07 KIL Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-20 OFF Birr 1-08 James McGrath (Westmeath) 2005-06 KIL James Stephens 2-13 DUB UCD 1-12 James Owens (Wexford) 2004-05 KIL James Stephens 1-13 DUB UCD 1-12 2003-04 KIL O'Loughlin Gaels 0-15 OFF Birr 0-09 2002-03 OFF Birr 2-05 KIL Young Irelands 1-02 2001-02 OFF Birr 0–10; 2-10 (R) LAO Castletown 1-07; 0-05 (R) 2000-01 KIL Graigue-Ballycallan 0-14 DUB UCD 1-08 1999-00 OFF Birr 1-16 LAO Castletown 0-11 1998–99 Wexford Rathnure 1-13 Laois Portlaoise 1-06 1997–98 Offaly Birr 0-11 Laois Castletown 0-05 1996–97 Laois Camross 1-12 Dublin O'Toole's 2-05 1995–96 Kilkenny Glenmore 2-13 Wexford Oulart–The Ballagh 2-10 1994–95 Offaly Birr 3-07 Wexford Oulart–The Ballagh 2-05 1993–94 Offaly St. Rynagh's 1-14 Kilkenny Dicksboro 2-10 1992–93 Wexford Buffer's Alley 2-13 Offaly St. Rynagh's 0-13 1991–92 Offaly Birr 2-14 Kilkenny Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-03 1990–91 Kilkenny Glenmore 0-15 Laois Camross 1-09 1989–90 Kilkenny Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-11 Dublin Cuala CLG 0-07 1988–89 Wexford Buffer's Alley 1-12 Kilkenny Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-09 1987–88 Wexford Rathnure 3-08 Laois Portlaoise 1-13 1986–87 Wexford Rathnure 2-16 Laois Camross 3-09 1985–86 Wexford Buffer's Alley 3-09 Offaly Kinnitty 0-07 1984–85 Kilkenny St. Martin's 2-11 Offaly Kinnitty 0-12 1983–84 Kilkenny Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-06 Offaly Kinnitty 0-09 1982–83 Offaly St. Rynagh's 1-16 Wexford Buffer's Alley 2-10 1981–82 Kilkenny James Stephens 0-13 Wexford Faythe Harriers 1-09 1980–81 Kilkenny Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-10 Offaly Coolderry 1-08 1979–80 Dublin Crumlin 3-05 Laois Camross 0-11 1978–79 Kilkenny Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-13 Dublin Crumlin 1-06 1977–78 Wexford Rathnure 0-16 Kilkenny The Fenians 1-10 1976–77 Laois Camross 3-09 Kilkenny James Stephens 1-14 1975–76 Kilkenny James Stephens 1-14 Offaly St. Rynagh's 2-04 1974–75 Kilkenny The Fenians 2-06 Offaly St. Rynagh's 1-06 1973–74 Wexford Rathnure 1-18 Offaly St. Rynagh's 2-09 1972–73 Offaly St. Rynagh's 5-05 Wexford Rathnure 2-13 1971–72 Wexford Rathnure 2-12 Kilkenny Bennettsbridge 1-08 1970–71 Offaly St. Rynagh's 4-10 Wexford Rathnure 2-09
Records and statistics Team
Most wins: 12: Ballyhale Shamrocks (1978, 1980, 1983, 1989, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) Most consecutive wins: 4: Ballyhale Shamrocks (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)