The 2021 Joe McDonagh Cup was the fourth staging of the Joe McDonagh Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2018. The competition, which was delayed for a second successive year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games, began on 26 June 2021. The fixtures were published on 21 April 2021.
Antrim, winner of the 2020 final, were promoted to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, while there was no relegation to or from the competition. Down and Kildare entered the competition from the Christy Ring Cup.
On 17 July 2021, Westmeath won the Joe McDonagh Cup after a 2–28 to 1–24 win over Kerry in the final at Croke Park. It was their first ever cup title having previously lost two finals.
Meath's Jack Regan was the championship's top scorer with 1-36.
Team changes
To Championship Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
None
Promoted from the Christy Ring Cup
Down Kildare
From Championship Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
Antrim
Relegated to the Christy Ring Cup
None
Teams
General Information CountyLast Cup titleLast Provincial titleLast All-Ireland titlePosition in 2020 ChampionshipAppearance Carlow2018——4th3rd Down—2001—Runners-up (Christy Ring Cup)1st Kerry—18911891Runners-up4th Kildare———Champions (Christy Ring Cup)1st Meath———5th3rd Westmeath———3rd4th
Personnel and kits CountyManagerCaptain(s)Sponsor CarlowTom Mullally—IT Carlow DownRonan Sheehan—EOS IT Solutions Kerry Fintan O'Connor Paudie O'ConnorKerry Group KildareDavid HerityBrian ByrneBrady Family Ham Meath Nick Weir—Glenveagh Properties Westmeath Shane O'BrienCormac BoyleRenault
Group stage
Group A TeamQualification1 Westmeath22002-421-3964Advance to Knockout Stage2 Carlow21012-403-39 -223 Kildare20024-374-41 -40Advance to Relegation playoff
Group A round 1
Group A round 2
Group A round 3
Group B TeamQualification 1 Kerry21013-451-4922Advance to Knockout Stage2 Down21012-484-40223 Meath21012-442-28 -42Advance to Relegation playoff
Group B round 1
Group B round 2
Group B round 3
Knockout stage
Final Westmeath are promoted to the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Relegation Playoff
Kildare are relegated to the 2022 Christy Ring Cup.
Stadia and locations CountyLocationProvinceStadiumCapacity CarlowCarlowLeinsterNetwatch Cullen Park DownNewryUlsterPáirc Esler KerryTraleeMunsterAustin Stack Park KildareNewbridgeLeinsterSt. Conleth's Park MeathNavanLeinsterPáirc Tailteann WestmeathMullingarLeinsterCusack Park
Statistics
Top scorers
Top scorer overall Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Jack ReganMeath1-3639313.002Shane ConwayKerry1-222538.333Jack SheridanKildare2-182438.004Chris NolanCarlow0-2121210.505Killian DoyleWestmeath0-202036.666Paul SheehanDown0-161628.007Pádraig BoyleKerry0-151534.008Niall MitchellWestmeath2-071334.33Niall O'BrienWestmeath0-131334.3310Brian ByrneKildare0-121234.00
In a single game Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition1Jack ReganMeath0-1717Kildare2Jack ReganMeath1-0811DownJack ReganMeath0-1111KerryShane ConwayKerry1-0811DownChris NolanCarlow0-1111WestmeathPaul SheehanDown0-1111Meath7Chris NolanCarlow0-1010KildareShane ConwayKerry0-1010Meath9Kevin McDonaldCarlow2-028KildareJames BurkeKildare2-028CarlowJack SheridanKildare1-058WestmeathJack SheridanKildare1-058KildareKillian DoyleWestmeath0-088Kildare
Scoring Events
Widest winning margin: 10 points Kildare 1-15 - 0-28 Meath (Relegation Playoff) Most goals in a match: 5 Kildare 3-16 - 2-22 Carlow (Round 1A) Most points in a match: 52 Westmeath 2-28 - 1-24 Kerry (Final) Most goals by one team in a match: 3 Kildare 3-16 - 2-22 Carlow (Round 1A) Most points by one team in a match: 28 Meath 0-28 - 1-21 Kerry (Round 3B) Westmeath 2-28 - 1-24 Kerry (Final) Kildare 1-15 - 0-28 Meath (Relegation Playoff) Highest aggregate score: 61 points Westmeath 2-28 - 1-24 Kerry (Final) Lowest aggregate score: 41 points Carlow 0-18 - 0-23 Westmeath (Round 1B)
Miscellaneous
Westmeath's Davey Glennon became the first player to win both Joe McDonagh Cup and All-Ireland Championship winners' medals, having claimed the latter with Galway in 2017. Westmeath won their 1st championship in 11 years since winning the 2010 Christy Ring Cup. Down become only the second ever Ulster team to compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup. First-time Joe McDonagh Cup meetings: Kildare v Carlow (Round 1) Kerry v Down (Round 2) Down v Meath (Round 3) Westmeath v Kildare (Round 3) Kildare v Meath (Relegation Playoff)
References