The Clare Junior A Hurling Championship (abbreviated to Clare JAHC) is an annual GAA club competition organised by the Clare County Board for hurling clubs below intermediate, premier intermediate and senior level. It is contested by the top-ranking junior hurling clubs in County Clare, Ireland. It is the fourth-tier adult competition of the Clare hurling pyramid.
The Clare JAHC was introduced in 1926 as a county-wide competition for hurling clubs deemed not strong enough for senior level. Intermediate level was introduced in 1927 for the same reason and placed above the Clare JAHC in the Clare hurling pyramid. In later years the Clare JAHC was opened to the second-, third-, and/or fourth-string teams from higher-ranked clubs.
In 2025 the Clare County Board introduced three new levels to the Clare hurling pyramid – Premier Intermediate, Premier Junior B and Premier Junior C. Every level below the sixteen-team senior level was now a new or updated ten-team level, with the respective champions promoted up one level, and the losers of a relegation play-off dropping down a level for the following year.
The winners of the Clare JAHC are presented with the John Daly Cup, and are promoted to the Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship.
The current (2025) champions are The Banner who defeated Ballyea by 2-15 to 0-15, to win their first title at this level.
Munster club qualification The winners of the Clare JAHC also qualify to represent Clare in the Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship. However, if a second-, third-, or fourth-string team wins the Clare JAHC, the highest finishing first-string team qualifies instead.
One Clare club has won the Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship: Newmarket-on-Fergus won the 2003 Munster junior club title, beating Dromina (Cork) in the final.
No Clare club has progressed to the All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship.
2026 Junior A clubs The ten teams competing in the 2026 Clare Junior A Hurling Championship are: Club Location Colours Titles Last title Ballyea Ballyea Black & Amber31991 Clarecastle Clarecastle Black & White22012 Clonlara Clonlara Amber & Black42019 Clooney-Quin Clooney / Quin Green & Red21966 Cratloe Cratloe Blue & White42013 Crusheen Crusheen Red & White52010 Ennistymon Ennistymon Green & Yellow12004 Inagh-Kilnamona Inagh / Kilnamona Yellow & Green82014 Newmarket-on-Fergus Newmarket-on-Fergus Blue & Gold52011 Wolfe Tones Na Sionna Shannon Green & White62008
Roll of honour # Club Wins Years won1. Inagh-Kilnamona8 1965 (as Kilnamona), 1971 (as Kilnamona), 1975 (as Kilnamona), 1984 (as Inagh), 1989 (as Kilnamona), 1993 (as Inagh), 1996 (as Kilnamona), 20142. Bodyke7 1929, 1942 (as Tuamgraney), 1946, 1957 (as Tuamgraney), 1961, 1986, 2017 Parteen-Meelick 1930 (as Meelick), 1945 (as Ardnacrusha), 1954 (as Parteen), 1968 (as Parteen), 1987 (as Meelick), 2005 (as Parteen), 2007 (as Meelick)4. Sixmilebridge6 1947 (as Cappagh), 1949 (as Cappagh), 1950, 1956 (as Cappagh), 1981, 2016 Wolfe Tones, Shannon 1931 (as Tradaree), 1943 (as Tradaree), 1974, 1979, 1995, 20086. Crusheen5 1934, 1941, 1944, 1959, 2010 Newmarket-on-Fergus 1926, 1972, 1998, 2003, 2011 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 1952, 1960, 1983, 2000, 20229. Clonlara4 1973, 1999, 2015, 2019 Cratloe 1935, 1964, 1976, 2013 Éire Óg, Ennis 1927 (as Ennis Dals), 1990, 2002, 201812. Broadford3 1939, 1955, 1958, 2023 (as Kilbane) Ballyea 1940, 1982, 1991 Corofin 1969, 1980, 2009 Killanena 1970, 1977, 1994 Kilmaley 1963, 2001, 2006, 2024 Ogonnelloe 1937, 1988, 2021 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe 1967, 1978, 199719. Clarecastle2 1985, 2012 Clooney-Quin 1933 (as Clooney), 1966 (as Clooney) Feakle 1928, 1953 (as Bauroe) Ruan 1932, 1948 Scariff 1936, 199224. Ennistymon1 2004 Our Lady's Mental Hospital, Ennis 1951 O'Callaghan's Mills 2020 The Banner, Ennis 2025 Tubber 1962 Whitegate 1938 (as Mountshannon)
See also All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship Clare Senior Hurling Championship Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship Clare Premier Junior B Hurling Championship Clare Junior B Hurling Championship Clare Premier Junior C Hurling Championship Clare Junior C Hurling Championship Clare Under-21 A Hurling Championship Clare Minor A Hurling Championship Clare Cup (Clare Hurling League Div.1)
References