Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship

Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship
Irish	Craobh Idirmheánach Iomáint Cheatharlach
Code	Hurling
Founded	1984; 41 years ago (1984)
Region	Carlow (GAA)
Trophy	Pat Foley Cup
No. of teams	5
Title holders	St Mullin's (7th title)
Most titles	Naomh Eoin (9 titles)
Sponsors	JJ Kavanagh and Sons
Official website	Carlow GAA

The Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the JJ Kavanagh Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Carlow IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Carlow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1984 for the second tier hurling teams in the county of Carlow in Ireland.

In its current format, the Carlow Intermediate Championship begins with a group stage in mid-summer. The five participating club teams play each other in a round-robin system. The four top-ranking teams proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Netwatch Cullen Park. The winner of the Carlow Intermediate Championship qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Club Championship.

The title has been won by 14 different clubs, nine of which have won the title more than once.^[1] Naomh Eoin is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it nine times. St Mullin's are the title holders after defeating Mount Leinster Rangers by 2-15 to 0-10 in the 2024 final.^[2]

Six clubs start in the group stage. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed five group 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. The top four teams qualify for the knockout stage

Following the completion of the group stage, the teams from the group are ranked (1-4) in terms of points accumulated and scoring difference. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.

Semi-finals: The tip four teams from the group stage contest this round. First place plays fourth place and second place plays third place The two winners from these two games advance to the final.

Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Carlow Senior Hurling Championship for the following season.

The bottom-placed team from the group stage is relegated to the Carlow Junior Hurling Championship.

At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.

The 6 teams competing in the 2024 Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship are:

Team	Location	Colours	Position in 2024	In championship since	Championship titles	Last championship title
Bagenalstown Gaels	Bagenalstown	Green and black	Group stage	?	1	2019
Carlow Town	Carlow	White and blue	Semi-finals	?	2	2013
Kildavin/Clonegal	Kildavin	Red and black	Group stage	2024	3	2003
Mount Leinster Rangers	Borris	Black and red	Runners-up	?	7	2016
Naomh Eoin	Myshall	Black and yellow	Semi-finals	?	9	2022
St Mullin's	St Mullin's	Green and white	Champions	?	7	2024

At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.

• Gold – Leinster junior club champions
• Silver – Leinster junior club runners-up

• 2018: The first match ended in a draw: Naomh Eoin 1–09 — 1–09 Mount Leinster Rangers.

• Carlow Senior Hurling Championship (Tier 1)
• Carlow Junior Hurling Championship (Tier 3)
• Carlow Junior Hurling Shield (Tier 4)
• Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship
• Carlow Intermediate Football Championship

• Carlow GAA website