Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship

The Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Leadon Timber Frame Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Derry IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association for the second tier hurling teams in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

In its current format, the Derry Hurling Championship begins with a group stage. The eight participating teams play each other in a round-robin system. The first four teams proceed to a semi-final. The losers of the semi-finals proceed to the intermediate final at the Derry Centre of Excellenece which is in essence a match for place 3. The winner of the Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship qualifies for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Championship.

Lavey are the title holders after defeating Banagher by 1-17 to 0-15 in the 2026 final.

Format Group stage The 8 teams in the Derry Hurling Championship are divided into two groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the othersplay each other in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three 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.

Knockout stage Senior final: The top two teams in each group contest the senior semi finals (nominally called the "Senior/Intermediate playoff").

Intermediate final: The losing senior semi-finalists contest the intermediate final.

Junior final: The 3rd and fourth placed teams contest a semi-final, for a place in the junior final.

Teams

Qualification CountyChampionshipQualifying teamsDerryDerry Senior Hurling ChampionshipTwo semi-final losers

2026 Teams 8 clubs are eligible to compete in the 2026 Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship: TeamLocationColoursPosition in 2025Championship titlesLast championship title Ballinascreen Draperstown Maroon and white Runners-up 1 2023 Banagher Feeny / Park Maroon and white Junior runners-up 2 2021 Eoghan Rua Coleraine Maroon and green Junior semi-final 1 2022 Kevin Lynch's Dungiven White and black Senior runners-up 0— Lavey Lavey Orange and black Junior champion 1 2017 Na Magha Derry Green, white, and black Junior semi-final 0— Slaughtneil Slaughtneil Maroon and white Senior champions 0— Swatragh Swatragh Green and white Champion 4 2025

Qualification for subsequent competitions The Derry Intermediate Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. A team can only progress to the Ulster series of games in their respective grade if they retain their championship status from the previous season, or if they drop one grade.

List of finals Legend

– Ulster intermediate club champions – Ulster intermediate club runners-up

List of Derry IHC finals from 2017 onwards Year Winners Runners-upVenue# Club Score Club Score2026Lavey1-17Banagher0-15Derry Centre of Excellence2025Swatragh2-13Ballinascreen1-07Derry Centre of Excellence2024 Swatragh 2-10 Kevin Lynch's 0-11 Derry Centre of Excellence 2023 Ballinascreen 3-16 Eoghan Rua 0-05 Derry Centre of Excellence 2022 Eoghan Rua 3-09 Ballinascreen 2-11 Derry Centre of Excellence 2021 Banagher 0-13 Lavey 0-11 Derry Centre of Excellence 2020 Swatragh 2-13 Ballinascreen 2-09 Derry Centre of Excellence 2019 Banagher 0-21 Swatragh 0-08 Derry Centre of Excellence 2018 Swatragh 0-17 Ballinascreen 2-16 Derry Centre of Excellence 2017 Lavey 0-16 Swatragh 0-12 Derry Centre of Excellence

Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship

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