The Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship (abbreviated to the Clare PIHC) is an annual GAA club competition organised by the Clare County Board for hurling clubs below senior level. It is contested by the top-ranking intermediate hurling clubs in County Clare, Ireland. It is the second-tier adult competition of the Clare hurling pyramid.
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.
From 1927 to 2024 the Clare IHC was the second-tier of the Clare hurling pyramid. However, since the introduction of premier intermediate in 2025, it is effectively a new competition with a new trophy on offer for the winners. The Pappy O'Callaghan Cup was commissioned for the intermediate champions from 2025 onwards, and the previous intermediate trophy, the Paddy Browne Cup, is now awarded to the premier intermediate champions.
The winners of the Clare PIHC are presented with the Paddy Browne Cup, and are promoted to the Clare Senior Hurling Championship.
The current (2025) champions are O'Callaghan's Mills who defeated Clarecastle by 2-19 to 1-16, to win their sixth title at this level.
Munster club qualification Prior to the creation of the Clare PIHC in 2025, the winners of the Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship qualified to represent Clare in the Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. From 2025, the winners of the Clare PIHC have this honour. However, if a second-, third-, or fourth-string team wins the Clare PIFC, the highest finishing first-string team qualifies instead.
Three Clare clubs have won the Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship: Clooney-Quin won the 2006 Munster intermediate club title, beating Bishopstown (Cork) in the final. Clonlara won the 2007 Munster intermediate club title, beating Dromin-Athlacca (Limerick) in the final. Wolfe Tones won the 2015 Munster intermediate club title, beating Newcestown (Cork) in the final. They later lost to Bennettsbridge (Kilkenny) in the All-Ireland intermediate club semi-final.
Four more Clare clubs have reached the Munster intermediate club final: Broadford lost the 2008 final to Blarney (Cork). Kilmaley lost the 2017 final to Kanturk (Cork). Feakle lost the 2018 final to Charleville (Cork). Corofin lost the 2023 final to Castlelyons (Cork). O'Callaghan's Mills lost the 2025 final to Upperchurch-Drombane (Tipperary).
No Clare club has won the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.
2026 Premier Intermediate clubs The ten teams competing in the 2026 Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship are: Club Location Colours Titles Last title Bodyke Bodyke Black & Amber51996 Clarecastle Clarecastle Black & White11931 Corofin Corofin Red & White32023 Parteen-Meelick Parteen / Meelick Blue & Red11956 Ruan Ruan Saffron & Blue52012 Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge Saffron & Blue51990 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe Killaloe Scarlet & Amber22021 Tubber Tubber Black & Amber21976 Tulla Tulla Claret & Gold11979 Whitegate Whitegate Red & Black72013
Roll of honour # Club Wins Years won Years old intermediate won1. Broadford8 1941, 1947, 1974, 1981, 1997, 2003, 2008, 20192. Whitegate7 1939 (as Mountshannon), 1942 (as Mountshannon), 1959, 1984, 1992, 2009, 20133. O'Callaghan's Mills6 2025 1929 (as Kilkishen), 1933, 1935 (as Kilkishen), 1968, 19774. Bodyke5 1932, 1936, 1946, 1969, 1996 Clonlara 1928, 1975, 1989, 1999, 2007 Ruan 1940, 1948, 1950 (with Dysart), 1978, 2012 Sixmilebridge 1951, 1957 (as Cappagh), 1971, 1988, 19908. Cratloe4 1937, 1943, 1970, 1994 Éire Óg, Ennis 1927 (as Ennis Rovers), 1945 (as Ennis Faughs), 1958 (as St. John's), 2011 Feakle 1930, 1973, 2014, 2018 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 1985, 1993, 2016, 202212. Clooney-Quin3 1934 (as Clooney), 1986 (as Clooney), 2006 Corofin 1991, 2002, 2023 Crusheen 1960, 1987, 2000 Scariff 1938, 1982, 2020 Wolfe Tones, Shannon 1983, 2015, 202417. Ballyea2 1944, 2001 Inagh-Kilnamona 1998 (as Kilnamona), 2005 (as Inagh) Kilmaley 1980, 2017 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe 2004, 2021 Tubber 1972, 197622. Clarecastle1 1931 Killanena 2010 Newmarket-on-Fergus 1967 Ogonnelloe 1995 Our Lady's Mental Hospital, Ennis 1952 Parteen-Meelick 1956 (as Parteen) Tulla 1979
List of Clare PIHC finals
Year Winners Score Runners-up Score 2025 O'Callaghan's Mills 2-19 Clarecastle 1-16 2024 Wolfe Tones, Shannon 1-17 Tubber 0-19 2023 Corofin 0-18 Sixmilebridge 0-14 2022 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Tulla 2021 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 2020 Scariff Tubber 2019 Broadford St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 2018 Feakle Tubber 2017 Kilmaley Tubber 2016 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Broadford 2015 Wolfe Tones, Shannon Broadford 2014 Feakle Parteen 2013 Whitegate Feakle 2012 Ruan Crusheen 2011 Éire Óg, Ennis Ruan 2010 Killanena Ruan 2009 Whitegate Feakle 2008 Broadford Sixmilebridge 2007 Clonlara Killanena 2006 Clooney-Quin Killanena 2005 Inagh Bodyke 2004 Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe Clooney-Quin 2003 Broadford Feakle 2002 Corofin Clooney-Quin 2001 Ballyea Sixmilebridge 2000 Crusheen Clooney 1999 Clonlara Crusheen 1998 Kilnamona Inagh 1997 Broadford Sixmilebridge 1996 Bodyke Clonlara 1995 Ogonnelloe Crusheen 1994 Cratloe Ogonnelloe 1993 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Scariff 1992 Whitegate Ogonnelloe 1991 Corofin St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 1990 Sixmilebridge Cratloe 1989 Clonlara Bodyke 1988 Sixmilebridge Corofin 1987 Crusheen Clarecastle 1986 Clooney Corofin 1985 St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield Clooney 1984 Whitegate St. Joseph's, Doora-Barefield 1983 Wolfe Tones, Shannon Killanena 1982 Scariff Killanena 1981 Broadford Scariff 1980 Kilmaley Cratloe 1979 Tulla Cratloe 1978 Ruan Clonlara 1977 O'Callaghan's Mills Kilmaley 1976 Tubber Scariff 1975 Clonlara Wolfe Tones, Shannon 1974 Broadford O'Callaghan's Mills 1973 Feakle Broadford 1972 Tubber Feakle 1971 Sixmilebridge Tubber 1970 Cratloe Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe 1969 Bodyke Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe 1968 O'Callaghan's Mills Cratloe 1967 Newmarket-on-Fergus Bodyke 1966No Championship 1965No Championship 1964No Championship 1963No Championship 1962No Championship 1961No Championship 1960 Crusheen O'Callaghan's Mills 1959 Whitegate Clooney 1958 St. John's, Ennis Scariff 1957 Cappagh Sixmilebridge 1956 Parteen Turnpike, Ennis 1955No Championship 1954No Championship 1953Competition Unfinished 1952 Our Lady's Mental Hospital, Ennis O'Callaghan's Mills 1951 Sixmilebridge Turnpike, Ennis 1950 Dysart / Ruan 1949No Championship 1948 Ruan Whitegate 1947 Broadford Ardnacrusha 1946 Bodyke Ruan 1945 Ennis Faughs (Ennis Dals / Barefield) Broadford 1944 Ballyea Broadford 1943 Cratloe Broadford 1942 Mountshannon Sixmilebridge 1941 Broadford Scariff 1940 Ruan Sixmilebridge 1939 Mountshannon Sixmilebridge 1938 Scariff Ennis Rovers 1937 Cratloe Scariff 1936 Bodyke Ruan 1935 Kilkishen Bodyke 1934 Clooney Kilkishen 1933 O'Callaghan's Mills Feakle 1932 Bodyke O'Callaghan's Mills 1931 Clarecastle O'Callaghan's Mills 1930 Feakle Bodyke 1929 Kilkishen Kilbane / Ogonnelloe 1928 Clonlara Ennis Dalcassians 1927 Ennis Rovers Kilmore
In late 1943, Ennis Dalcassians offered an opportunity to any players from their neighbours and fellow junior club, Doora-Barefield, to join with them and compete for titles at a higher level in both codes. Ennis Faughs won the 1945 intermediate hurling final against Broadford. In early 1974, Éire Óg took complete control over the organisation of gaelic games in Ennis when it merged with Ennis Rovers, St. John's and Turnpike to form one combined club for the town. Ennis Rovers won the 1927 intermediate hurling final against Kilmore, and lost the 1938 intermediate hurling final to Scariff. Turnpike lost the 1951 and 1956 intermediate hurling finals to Sixmilebridge and Parteen respectively. St. John's won the 1958 intermediate hurling final against Scariff.
See also All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship Clare Senior Hurling Championship Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship Clare Junior A 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