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Since 1927, with the exception of the 'foot and mouth' year of 1941, a 'Premier' Carlow Hurling Championship has been completed.

The 1927 Championship was contested on a double round league basis by Carlow Town, Bagenalstown and St. Mullins, who played each other both home and away. The top two teams on points, Carlow Town and Bagenalstown, contested the final on March 11, 1928 in Leighlinbridge with the men from the County Capital winning by 2-3 to 1-4. From 1928 to 1933 the Championship was played on a knock-out basis and in 1930 and 1931, Paulstown, from neighbouring Kilkenny, 'crossed border lines' to compete in Carlow. Indeed the Kilkenny club contested the final in 1930 while in 1931 the County Final, between Bagenalstown and St. Mullins, was played in Paulstown, the only Carlow Hurling final to be played outside the county boundary.

From 1934 to 1945 the Carlow Championship, apart from 1938, was played on a single league basis with the top team on points declared champions. During those dozen years of league-championship, Erins Own, founded in 1934, won eight titles

* The league was not played and O'Derrig Cup doubled as championship.

** The 'foot and mouth epidemic of 1941 forced the cancellation of championship.

From 1946 to 1959 the Carlow J.H.C. was played on a knock-out basis. During those 14 campaign's, St. Mullins won nine titles, including a magnificent six-in-a-row.

11 of those finals were played in Dr. Cullen Park, with the finals of 1950, 1951 and 1952 having a McGrath Park, Bagenalstown, setting. The 1952 final between St. Mullins and Borris was the last occasion a Carlow 'Premier' hurling title was decided outside of the 'County Grounds'.

1946 Borris 2-1 Leighlinbridge 1-0		1953 St. Mullins 3-1 Tinnehinch 1-0
1947 Hacketstown 2-4 St. Mullins 2-2		1954 St. Mullins 5-6 Hacketstown 1-2
1948 Cournellan 3-3 St. Mullins 2-2		1955 Cournellan 5-4 Hacketstown 3-2
1949 St. Mullins 8-1 Leighlinbridge 1-0		1956 Leighlinbridge 1-8 Tullow 0-2
1950 St. Mullins 2-7 Erins Own 2-5		1957 St. Mullins1-8 Tullow 3-0
1951 St. Mullins 5-11 Leighlinbridge 3-3		1958 St. Mullins 6-4 Tullow 0-5
1952 St. Mullins 2-5 Borris 2-2		1959 St. Mullins 4-1 Carlow Town 2-1

Carlow's premier hurling championship was first awarded senior status in 1960, as the county team had won promotion to Division 1 of the N.H.L. following back-to-back Division 2 title wins.

In the inaugural year of 1960 the 'old junior cup' was presented to the winners while Carlow Town's Ned Long in 1961 became the first player to accept to-day's Cup.

The first draw in a Final occurred in 1965, St. Mullins beating Carlow Town in the replay. Since then finals have been drawn in 1978, 1991 and 1993 and 1999, all involving Naomh Eoin and St. Mullins with the '78 decider taking four games, plus one period of extra-time. Myshall eventually emerged victors in all but '99.

From 1960 to 1982, with the exception of 1974, the S.H.C. was played on a knock-out basis. In 1974 a loser-group system was experimented with, the four teams beaten in the first round playing off for semi-final berth.

The present league-style championship, with the top four teams contesting the semi-finals, was introduced in 1983 and is now in it's 19th year.

St. Mullins became the first team to win the Championship having lost a game when winning in 1983.

All the S.H.C. finals since 1960 have been in Dr. Cullen Park. In 1970 Erins Own were awarded the title when St. Mullins refused to field on the appointed date.

1960 St. Mullins 3-8 Leighlinbridge 2-1	1974 Naomh Eoin 2-16 Ballinkillen 3-5
1961 Carlow Town 5-15 St. Mullins 4-1	1975 Naomh Eoin 3-12 St. Fintan's 2-12
1962 St. Mullins 7-13 Erins Own 4-9	1976 Naomh Eoin 1-16 Ballinkillen 0-10
1963 Carlow Town 9-9 St. Mullins 4-10	1977 Carlow Town 2-7 St. Fintan's 1-7
1964 Erins Own 3-11 Cournellan 0-3	1978 Naomh Eoin 0-16 St. Mullins 2-10
1965 St. Mullins 0-12 Carlow Town 1-9	Replay Naomh Eoin 1-16 St. Mullins 3-10
Replay St. Mullins 2-13 Carlow Town 2-4	1st Replay Naomh Eoin 0-21 St. Mullins 4-9 (E.T.)
1966 St. Mullins 4-15 Tullow 0-8	2nd Replay Naomh Eoin 1-8 St. Mullins 1-6
1967 Erins Own 5-4 St. Mullins 2-8	1979 Carlow Town 0-13 Ballinkillen 0-11
1968 St. Mullins 3-9 Erins Own 3-6	1980 Carlow Town 2-10 Ballymurphy 1-8
1969 St. Fintan's 5-6 Erins Own 2-4	1981 Naomh Eoin 2-13 Ballymurphy 2-8
1970 Erins Own W.O. St. Mullins Scr.	1982 Naomh Eoin 0-15 St. Mullins 1-5
1971 St. Fintan's 1-12 Borris 2-3	1983 St. Mullins 2-8 Ballymurphy 0-6
1972 Palatine 4-9 Ballinkillen 0-14	1984 St. Mullins 5-9 Ballymurphy 3-9
1973 Ballinkillen 5-5 Naomh Eoin 2-9	1985 Naomh Eoin 3-18 St. Mullins 3-6
Replay Naomh Eoin 3-12 St. Mullins 1-13	1986 Naomh Eoin 5-12 St. Fintan's 2-7
1994 Naomh Eoin 3-6 Parnells 0-11	1987 Naomh Eoin 2-17 St. Mullins 2-10
1995 Naomh Eoin 1-15 Carlow Town 1-10	1988 Carlow Town 3-10 Naomh Eoin 1-9
1996 Naomh Br’d 1-16 St. Mullins 2-6	1989 St. Mullins 4-9 Naomh Eoin 2-10
1997 St. Mullins 2-15 Naomh Eoin 1-9	1990 Naomh Eoin 2-10 St. Mullins 1-11
1998 Naomh Eoin 1-14 Carlow Town 0-10	1991 Naomh Eoin 2-7 St. Mullins 3-4
1999 Naomh Eoin 3-11 St. Mullins 4-8	Replay Naomh Eoin 1-14 St. Mullins 1-8
Replay St. Mullins 4-13 St. Mullins 1-7	1992 Naomh Eoin 1-9 St. Mullins 1-8
2000 St. Mullins 2-10 Naomh Eoin 2-2	1993 Naomh Eoin 3-9 St. Mullins 1-15
2001 Ballinkillen 2-10, Mount Leinster Rangers 0-4

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Roll of Honour 1927-2001

Carlow 'Premier' Hurling Championships

Source: http://carlow.gaa.ie/hurling_milestones.htm

 

20: St. Mullins - 1932, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1997, 1999.

16: Naomh Eoin - 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 1998

11: Erins Own - 1934, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940 1943, 1944, 1945, 1964, 1967, 1970

10: Carlow Town - 1927, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1961 1963, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1988

4: Bagenalstown - 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931

2: Cournellan - 1946, 1955.

2: St. Fintan's - 1969, 1971

2: Ballinkillen - 1973, 2001

1: Cooleyhune - 1933

1: Borris - 1946

1: Hacketstown - 1947

1: Leighlinbridge - 1956

1: Palatine - 1972

1: Naomh Br’d - 1996

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© 2001 County Carlow IGP^TM

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