Walsh Cup (hurling)
| Walsh Cup | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2014 Walsh Cup | |
 | |
| Irish | Corn Uí Bhreatnaigh |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Region |
 Leinster (GAA) |
| Trophy | The Walsh Cup |
| No. of teams | 12 (2014) |
| Title holders | Kilkenny (19th title) |
| Most titles | Kilkenny (19 titles) |
| Sponsors | Bord na Móna |
| TV partner(s) | TG4 |
| Official website | leinster.gaa.ie |
The Walsh Cup (Irish: Corn Uí Bhreatnaigh), originally known as the Leinster Accident Fund Tournament, is an annual hurling competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) since 1954 for the top inter-county teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland. Nowadays, teams from the provinces of Ulster and Connacht are eligible to compete, as well as teams from third-level institutions within these provinces. Contested by 12 teams, it operates on a straight knock-out system. The competition runs from January to February, with most games played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the others during weekday evenings. Sponsored by Bord na Móna, it is therefore officially known as the Bord na Móna Walsh Cup.
The Walsh Cup is part of a series of GAA tournaments known as the Bord na Móna Leinster GAA Series, along with the Kehoe Cup and the O'Byrne Cup. The original purpose of these competitions was to raise funds to supplement an injury scheme for the players. Nowadays, the funds generated are used to alleviate hardship among players, mentors and families who are in financial difficulties. The funds are administered through the twelve counties of Leinster. Apart from this, the competitions provide an opportunity for the teams to select their panel for the year and prepare for the upcoming National League.[1]
Since the inception of the Walsh Cup in 1954, a total of 9 teams have won the tournament. Kilkenny have been the most successful team with 19 titles to their name.[2] They are also the current title holders having won the 2014 tournament.[3]
History
In 1954, the Leinster Council established a new inter-county tournament in an effort to raise funds to supplement the medical bills of players who were in financial difficulty. This scheme, known as the Players' Injury Fund, was the first of its kind to be offered by a provincial GAA council. Originally known as the Leinster Accident Fund Tournament, it started as a knockout competition for the 12 counties in Leinster. The hurling tournament was the first to be played out in its inaugural year and was won by Leinster champions, Wexford. The final took place on September 19, 1954 when they beat Dublin by 1-8 to 0-2 in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. This famous Wexford team then went on to win successive All-Irelands in 1955 and 1956. Following the death of former Leinster Council chairman Tom Walsh (Kilkenny) in July 1956, the Kilkenny firm Mahon and McPhillips donated a cup in his honour and thus the tournament became known as the Walsh Cup. The first winners of the cup were All-Ireland champions Wexford, who beat Kilkenny in the final by 2-10 to 1-8 in Enniscorthy on October 14, 1956.[4]
During the fifties and sixties, the tournament was dominated by the stronger hurling counties of Kilkenny and Wexford. As a result of this, the Walsh Cup was not contested for much of the seventies. In 1977, a second cup was presented to the Leinster Council for a hurling competition which became known as the Kehoe Cup. The Leinster Council decided to alternate it with the Walsh Cup between the stronger and developing counties for the Players' Injury Fund.[5] As a result, Kilkenny and Wexford were moved to the Kehoe Cup and for the first time an Offaly team lifted the Walsh Cup after beating Dublin in the final by 7-7 to 1-7 on December 4, 1977 in Birr, Co. Offaly. The Walsh Cup was not contested again until 1980 when Laois won their first title, beating Carlow in the final by 2-12 to 2-10 on July 16 in Portlaoise. This was followed with wins by Offaly and Westmeath in 1981 and 1982. There was a break in the competition again from 1983 to 1986. When it recommenced in 1987, it was decided by the Leinster Council that the Walsh Cup would be used exclusively for the stronger hurling counties and the Kehoe Cup for the developing counties.
The last decade has seen many new teams compete in the Walsh Cup, including non-Leinster and third-level teams. In 2003, the Down hurlers made history by becoming the first non-Leinster team to compete in the tournament. In the year that followed, UCD became the first ever third-level team to compete and spectacularly won their debut tournament beating Kilkenny in Nolan Park by 2-16 to 0-5 on February 7, 2004.[6] Antrim followed suit of Down when they joined the competition in 2005 and made history as the first Ulster team to win the tournament on February 3, 2008. They lifted the trophy in front of a home crowd in Casement Park after beating Offaly by 3-9 to 2-7.[7] That same year saw Down lose in the quarter-finals, after which they moved to the Kehoe Cup. Galway were the first Connacht team to enter the Walsh Cup which came about in 2009 as part of their move from the Connacht Championship to the Leinster Championship in a bid to play hurling in a more competitive environment. Along with the county hurlers, Galway colleges GMIT and NUIG followed suit, as well as Dublin College DIT. Although 2010 saw Galway college GMIT move to the Kehoe Cup, the Galway county hurlers won their first Walsh Cup, beating Dublin by 1-22 to 1-15 on February 14 in Parnell Park. In November 2011, Antrim decided to withdraw from the 2012 competition due to the appointment of a new management team, but then returned to the competition in 2013.[8]
Format
The Walsh Cup is a straight knockout tournament with each match played as a single leg. The pairings are drawn at random without seeding and the draw usually takes place in November or December of the previous year. Out of the twelve teams that are entered into the draw, eight are drawn to compete in the first round and the remaining four teams that are drawn automatically qualify for the quarter-finals. The four winning teams from the first round progress to the quarter-finals while the losing teams are drawn against each other to compete for the Walsh Cup Shield. If a match ends in a draw, it is settled in extra time. However, if the score remains level at the end of extra time, a replay takes place and so on until a winner is found.
The format of the competition has remained virtually unchanged since its inception in 1954. The most significant change to the tournament was the entry of teams from outside of Leinster. Many of the inter-county teams in Connacht and Ulster now compete in the Walsh Cup and Kehoe Cup, similar to that of the Leinster Championship. Another change to the competition was the entry of teams from third-level institutions. Colleges situated within any of the three provinces are now eligible to compete in either the Walsh Cup or Kehoe Cup. These changes have benefited the new and existing teams within the tournament by improving the standard of the competition.
Twelve teams currently participate in the Walsh Cup. The inter-county teams include Antrim, Carlow, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly and Wexford, while the third-level teams consist of DIT, NUIG and UCD.
Sponsorship
In December 2011, the Leinster Council announced a new partnership with Bord na Móna which would provide the competition with a sponsor for the first time in its then 57-year history. This three-year sponsorship deal began in January 2012 and helps fund what is now known as the Bord na Móna Leinster GAA Series, which includes the Walsh Cup and Shield, the Kehoe Cup and Shield, and the O'Byrne Cup and Shield. The sponsorship also helps to finance the Leinster GAA's hardship fund, which is the only one of its kind offered by a provincial GAA council and has been in existence since the establishment of the tournament in 1954. In the past, this fund has helped local communities, families and players to finance medical bills, rebuild homes lost through tragic circumstances and made financial payments to assist disabled players.[9]
Records and statistics
The Walsh Cup has been contested 49 times since its establishment in 1954. The first team to win the Walsh Cup was Wexford, who have since held the title on 15 occasions and been runners-up 12 times. The most successful team to date has been Kilkenny, who have won 18 titles and finished runners-up 15 times. A total of 9 different teams have won the tournament since it began, 7 of which were from Leinster, one from Connacht (Galway) and one from Ulster (Antrim). Of the remaining 6 Leinster teams, Carlow, Meath and Wicklow are yet to win the competition, while Kildare, Longford and Louth are yet to even contest a final. UCD are the only third-level team to have won the tournament (2004).
Roll of honour
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Years winners | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kilkenny |
|
|
1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014 | 1956, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011 |
 Wexford |
|
|
1954, 1956, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 | 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1973, 1989, 1992, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013 |
 Dublin |
|
|
1960, 1964, 1966, 2003, 2011, 2013 | 1954, 1957, 1958, 1969, 1977, 1997, 2010, 2014 |
 Offaly |
|
|
1977, 1981, 1990, 1993, 1994 | 1966, 1974, 1987, 1985, 2008 |
 Laois |
|
|
1980, 1991 | 1981, 1988, 1996, 2001 |
 Galway |
|
|
2010 | 2009, 2012 |
| Westmeath |
|
|
1982 | 1955 |
| UCD |
|
|
2004 | |
 Antrim |
|
|
2008 | |
 Carlow |
|
|
1980 | |
 Wicklow |
|
|
1982 | |
 Meath |
|
|
1994 |
No competition: 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1983-1986.[10]
Finals
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Antrim |
3-09 (18) | Offaly |
2-07 (13) | Casement Park, Belfast |
| 2009AET | Kilkenny |
2-17 (23) | Galway |
1-18 (21) | Freshford, Co. Kilkenny |
| 2010 | Galway |
1-22 (25) | Dublin |
1-15 (18) | Parnell Park, Donnycarney |
| 2011 | Dublin |
2-17 (23) | Kilkenny |
2-13 (19) | Parnell Park, Donnycarney |
| 2012 | Kilkenny |
2-20 (26) | Galway |
1-14 (17) | Pearse Stadium, Salthill |
| 2013 | Dublin |
1-19 (22) | Wexford |
0-16 (16) | Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford |
| 2014 | Kilkenny |
0-24 (24) | Dublin |
1-17 (20) | Croke Park, Dublin |
AET: Abandoned in extra time.
Walsh Cup Shield
| Walsh Cup Shield | |
|---|---|
|
Current season or competition: 2013 Walsh Cup Shield | |
| Irish | Sciath Choirn Uí Bhreatnaigh |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Region |
Leinster (GAA) |
| Trophy | The Walsh Shield |
| No. of teams | 4 (2014) |
| Title holders | Carlow (1st title) |
| Most titles | Offaly & Laois (2 titles) |
| Sponsors | Bord na Móna |
| TV partner(s) | TG4 |
| Official website | leinster.gaa.ie |
The Walsh Cup Shield (Irish: Sciath Choirn Uí Bhreatnaigh) is a competition for the teams that lose in the first round of the Walsh Cup. The four losing teams are drawn against each other in a straight knockout tournament. It was set up to give the losing teams more than one competitive game in preparation for the upcoming National Hurling League (NHL). The competition runs in parallel with the final stages of the Walsh Cup during the months of January and February. Sponsored also by Bord na Móna, it is therefore officially known as the Bord na Móna Walsh Cup Shield.
Since the inception of the Walsh Cup Shield in 2008, a total of 4 teams have won the tournament. Offaly and Laois have been the most successful teams having won 2 titles each.[11] The current title holders are Carlow, who won the 2014 tournament.[12]
Roll of honour
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Years winners | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offaly |
|
|
2011, 2012 | 2009 |
| Laois |
|
|
2008, 2010 | |
| Carlow |
|
|
2014 | 2010, 2011 |
| DIT |
|
|
2013 | 2012 |
| Dublin |
|
|
2009 | |
| Westmeath |
|
|
2008, 2014 |
Finals
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Laois |
2-14 (20) | Westmeath |
2-11 (17) | Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath |
| 2009 | Dublin |
1-20 (23) | Offaly |
2-15 (21) | Banagher, Co. Offaly |
| 2010 | Laois |
1-16 (18) | Carlow |
1-10 (13) | Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow |
| 2011R | Offaly |
3-23 (32) | Carlow |
2-14 (20) | O'Moore Park, Port Laoise |
| 2012 | Offaly |
0-22 (22) | DIT |
1-14 (17) | O'Moore Park, Port Laoise |
| 2013 | DIT |
3-13 (22) | Westmeath |
2-05 (11) | Mullingar, Co. Westmeath |
| 2014 | Carlow |
1-16 (19) | Westmeath |
1-07 (10) | Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow |
R: Replayed after original final was abandoned in extra time.
References
- ↑ "Leinster GAA joins forces with Bord na Móna to boost hardship fund". Bord na Móna. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
- ↑ "Walsh Cup Senior Hurling Roll Of Honour". Leinster GAA. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ "Kilkenny keep cool to seal Walsh Cup win". RTÉ Sport. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ Humphrey Kelleher (2013). GAA Family Silver. Sportsfile. pp. 152–153. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ↑ Humphrey Kelleher (2013). GAA Family Silver. Sportsfile. pp. 154–155. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ↑ "UCD defeat Kilkenny to claim Walsh Cup". RTÉ Sport. 7 February 2004. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ↑ "Antrim 3-09 Offaly 2-07". RTÉ Sport. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ↑ "Antrim pull out of Walsh Cup". RTÉ Sport. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ↑ "Leinster GAA joins forces with Bord na Móna to boost hardship fund". Bord na Móna. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
- ↑ "Walsh Cup Senior Hurling Roll Of Honour". Leinster GAA. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ "Walsh Cup Senior Hurling Shield Roll Of Honour". Leinster GAA. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ "GAA results: 26 January". RTÉ Sport. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
External links
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