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Lory Meagher Cup

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Lory Meagher Cup
Current season or competition:
2024 Lory Meagher Cup
CodeHurling
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009)
RegionRepublic of Ireland Ireland (GAA)
TrophyLory Meagher Cup
No. of teams6
Title holders Fermanagh (3rd title)
Most titles Fermanagh, Louth (3 titles)
TV partner(s)TG4
Official websiteOfficial website

The Lory Meagher Cup (Irish: Corn Labhraí Uí Mheachair;[1] often referred to as the Meagher Cup) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The cup forms the fifth-tier of Hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by the six county teams ranked 30–35 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Each year, the champions of the Lory Meagher Cup are promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup. The competition is named in honour of former Kilkenny hurler Lory Meagher who many regard as one of the greatest hurlers of all time.

The Lory Meagher Cup, which was introduced for the 2009 season, provides a meaningful championship for fifth tier teams deemed "too weak" for the fourth tier Nicky Rackard Cup.

The title has been won by 9 different counties, 5 of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Fermanagh and Louth, who have won the cup on 3 occasions. Fermanagh are the title holders, defeating Longford by 3-17 to 0-22 in the 2024 final.

History

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Creation

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Following the success of the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup for the lower tier hurling teams, it was decided in 2008 to investigate the possibility of introducing a fourth tier. The Hurling Development Committee (HDC) proposed the new four-tier structure in place of the existing three-tier model. It, and the second and third-tier competitions, were to consist of eight teams.[2] The proposals were accepted at a special GAA Congress in October 2008.[3] Another second tier competition, the Joe McDonagh Cup, was added in 2018, moving the Lory Meagher Cup down into tier 5.[4]

Development

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Team changes

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12 county teams have participated in at least one edition of the Lory Meagher Cup. Fermanagh and Leitrim have participated in the most editions. South Down, although not an official county entered a team the first 3 seasons of the Cup but withdrew after 2011. Monaghan became the most recent county to make their debut in the Cup in 2021.

Team dominance

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Summary of champions

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# County Titles Runners-up Total
1 Louth 3 0 3
2 Fermanagh 2 3 5
Longford 2 2 4
Tyrone 2 1 3
Warwickshire 2 0 2
6 Donegal 1 2 3
Sligo 1 2 3
Leitrim 1 1 2
Monaghan 1 0 1
10 Lancashire 0 3 3
Cavan 0 1 1

Format history

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Double elimination (2009–2011)

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In 2009 a double elimination format was introduced, thus guaranteeing each team at least two games before being eliminated from the competition.

Group stage (2013–present)

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Since 2013, a group stage has been included in the cup. The teams within the group stage has varied between 3 and 6 teams throughout the years.

Lory Meagher Cup moments

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  • Warwickshire 2-16 - 0-10 Longford (8 June 2013): Warwickshire became the first and only overseas team to win the Lory Meagher Cup.
  • Leitrim 2-23 - 2-22 Lancashire (22 June 2019): Leitrim won their first ever All-Ireland title, defeating Lancashire after extra time in Croke Park.

Format

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Group stage

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Group stage: There are six teams in the Cup. During the course of a season (from May to June) each team plays the others once (a single round-robin system) for a total of five games. Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. The top two teams in the group contest the Lory Meagher Cup final. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth-placed teams are eliminated from the championship.

Tie-breakers

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In the event of teams finishing on equal points, the tie shall be decided by the following means (in the order specified):[5]

  • Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two teams
  • Score difference – subtracting the total "Scores Against" from the total "Scores For"
  • Highest Total "Score For"
  • Highest Total "Goals For"
  • A Play-Off

Knockout stage

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Final: The top two teams in the group stage contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

The Lory Meagher has no direct entry route to compete in that year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Promotion

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At the end of the championship, the winning team is promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup for the following season.

Relegation

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There is no relegation from the Lory Meagher Cup as it is the bottom of five tiers in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Group stage qualifications

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Team Qualification
1st in Group Advance to Lory Meagher Cup Final
2nd in Group
3rd in Group
4th in Group
5th in Group
6th in Group

Teams

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2025 Cup

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Seven counties will compete in the 2025 Lory Meagher Cup, with Monaghan relegated from the Nicky Rackard Cup and New York entering the competition:

County Location Stadium Province Position in 2024 Championship First year in Championship In Championship since Championship Titles Last Championship Title
Cavan Cavan Breffni Park Ulster 3rd 2009 2017 0 —
Lancashire East Didsbury Old Bedians Britain 6th 2015 2022 0 —
Leitrim Carrick-on-Shannon Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada Connacht 4th 2009 2022 1 2019
Longford Longford Pearse Park Leinster Runners-up 2009 2021 2 2014
Monaghan Clones St Tiernach's Park Ulster 6th (Nicky Rackard Cup) 2009 2025 2 2023
New York Bronx Gaelic Park North America N / A 2025 2025 0 —
Warwickshire Solihull Páirc na hÉireann Britain 5th 2009 2023 2 2017

List of Finals

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Year Date Winners Runners-up Venue Winning captain Winning margin Referee
County Score County Score
2024 2 June Fermanagh 3-22 (31) Longford 2-20 (26) Croke Park, Dublin Ryan Bogue 5 J. Judge (Mayo)
2023 3 June Monaghan 3-22 (31) Lancashire 3-20 (29) Croke Park, Dublin 2 Tarlach Conway (Derry)
2022 21 May Louth 3-27 (36) Longford 3-14 (23) Croke Park, Dublin 13 Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)
2021 31 July Fermanagh 3-26 (35) Cavan 1-17 (20) Croke Park, Dublin 15 Michael Kennedy
2020 28 Nov Louth 2-19 (25) Fermanagh 2-08 (14) Croke Park, Dublin 11
2019 22 June Leitrim[6] 2-23 (29) AET Lancashire 2-22 (28) AET Croke Park, Dublin 1
2018 23 June Sligo 4-15 (27) Lancashire 2-20 (26) Croke Park, Dublin 1
2017 10 June Warwickshire[7] 0-17 (17) Leitrim 0-11 (11) Croke Park, Dublin 6
2016 4 June Louth[8] 4-15 (27) Sligo 4-11 (23) Croke Park, Dublin 4
2015 6 June Fermanagh[9] 3-16 (25) Sligo 1-17 (20) Croke Park, Dublin 5
2014 7 June Longford[10] 3-18 (27) Fermanagh 3-16 (25) Croke Park, Dublin 2
2013 8 June Warwickshire[11] 2-16 (22) Longford 0-10 (10) Croke Park, Dublin 12
2012 9 June Tyrone[12] 2-24 (30) Fermanagh 3-20 (29) Croke Park, Dublin 1
2011 4 June Donegal 2-12 (18) Tyrone 0-17 (17) Croke Park, Dublin 1
2010 3 July Longford 1-20 (23) Donegal 1-12 (15) Croke Park, Dublin 8
2009 11 July Tyrone 5-11 (26) Donegal 3-16 (25) Croke Park, Dublin 1

Roll of Honour

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Performances by county

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County Titles(s) Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
Fermanagh 3 3 2015, 2021, 2024 2012, 2014, 2020,
Louth 3 0 2016, 2020, 2022 —
Longford 2 3 2010, 2014 2013, 2022, 2024
Tyrone 2 1 2009, 2012 2011
Warwickshire 2 0 2013, 2017 —
Donegal 1 2 2011 2009, 2010
Sligo 1 2 2018 2015, 2016
Leitrim 1 1 2019 2017
Monaghan 1 0 2023 —
Lancashire 0 3 — 2018, 2019, 2023
Cavan 0 1 — 2021

Performances by province

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Division Titles Runners-up Total
Ulster 7 7 14
Leinster 5 3 8
Connacht 2 3 5
Britain 2 3 5

Team records and statistics

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Legend

  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • SF/QF/R2 – Semi-finals/Quarter-finals/Round 2
  • 3rd/4th/5th/6th – Group Stage
  • CR – Christy Ring Cup
  • NR – Nicky Rackard Cup
  • — – Inactive

For each championship, the number of teams (in brackets) are shown.

Team 2009 (8) 2010 (7) 2011 (7) 2012 (5) 2013 (4) 2014 (4) 2015 (5) 2016 (5) 2017 (6) 2018 (4) 2019 (4) 2020 (3) 2021 (5) 2022 (6) 2023 (6) 2024 (6) 2025 (7) Years
Cavan R2 QF — — — — — — 5th 3rd 4th 3rd 2nd 6th 3rd 3rd 11
Donegal 2nd 2nd 1st NR NR NR NR NR NR NR CR NR NR NR NR NR CR 3
Fermanagh QF SF QF 2nd 3rd 2nd 1st NR 6th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st NR NR 1st NR 13
Lancashire — — — — — — 5th 5th 4th 2nd 2nd — — 5th 2nd 6th 9
Leitrim QF SF R2 SF 4th 4th 3rd 4th 2nd NR 1st NR NR 3rd 5th 4th 14
Longford SF 1st QF R3 2nd 1st NR NR NR NR NR NR SF 2nd 4th 2nd 11
Louth NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 1st NR NR NR 1st SF 1st NR NR NR 4
Monaghan NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR QF 4th 1st NR 4
New York — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1
Sligo NR NR NR NR NR NR 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st NR CR CR CR CR CR NR 4
South Down SF R2 SF — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 3
Tyrone 1st NR 2nd 1st NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR CR CR CR 3
Warwickshire R2 QF SF SF 1st 3rd 4th 3rd 1st NR NR — — NR 6th 5th 12

Debut of teams

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Year Debutants Total
2009 Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford, South Down, Tyrone, Warwickshire 8
2010–2014 None 0
2015 Lancashire, Sligo 2
2016 Louth 1
2017–2020 None 0
2021 Monaghan 1
2022–2024 None 0
2025 New York 1
Total 13

Seasons in Lory Meagher Cup

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The number of years that each county has played in the Lory Meagher Cup between 2009 and 2025. A total of 13 counties have competed in at least one season of the Lory Meagher Cup. Leitrim have participated in the most championships. The counties in bold participate in the 2025 Lory Meagher Cup.

Years Counties
14 Leitrim
13 Fermanagh
12 Warwickshire
11 Cavan, Longford
9 Lancashire
4 Louth, Monaghan, Sligo
3 Donegal, South Down, Tyrone
1 New York

List of Lory Meagher Cup counties

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The following teams have competed in the Lory Meagher Cup for at least one season.

County Appearances Debut Most recent Championship titles Last Championship title Best Lory Meagher Cup result
Cavan 10 2009 2024 0 — 2nd
Donegal 3 2009 2011 1 2011 1st
Fermanagh 13 2009 2024 2 2021 1st
Lancashire 8 2015 2024 0 — 2nd
Leitrim 13 2009 2024 1 2019 1st
Longford 10 2009 2024 2 2014 1st
Louth 4 2016 2022 3 2022 1st
Monaghan 3 2021 2023 0 2023 1st
Sligo 4 2015 2018 1 2018 1st
South Down 3 2009 2011 0 — Semi-finals
Tyrone 3 2009 2012 1 2012 1st
Warwickshire 11 2009 2024 2 2017 1st

All-time table

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Legend

Colours
Currently competing in the Christy Ring Cup
Currently competing in the Nicky Rackard Cup
Currently competing in the Lory Meagher Cup

As of 12 June 2024 (After 2024 Lory Meagher Cup).

# Team Pld W D L Points P.P.G.
1 Fermanagh 47 22 6 19 50 46.808
2 Longford 40 21 4 15 46 52.500
3 Warwickshire 42 21 1 20 43 50.000
4 Leitrim 51 20 1 30 41 39.215
5 Louth 17 12 0 5 24 1.411
= Sligo 19 12 0 7 24 1.263
7 Cavan 35 9 4 22 22 25.714
8 Tyrone 12 10 0 2 20 1.666
= Donegal 13 10 0 3 20 1.538
= Lancashire 37 10 0 27 20 27.027
11 Monaghan 14 8 2 4 18 1.285
12 South Down 9 4 0 5 8 0.888
13 New York 0 0 0 0 0 —

By Semi-Final/Top 4 Appearances

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Team No. Years
Fermanagh 10 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
Leitrim 10 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024
Longford 8 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Warwickshire 7 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Cavan 6 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
Sligo 4 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Louth 4 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022
Lancashire 4 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023
Donegal 3 2009, 2010, 2011
Tyrone 3 2009, 2011, 2012
South Down 2 2009, 2011
Monaghan 2 2022, 2023

By decade

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The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Lory Meagher Cup titles, is as follows:

Match records

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Other records

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Finishing positions

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Unbeaten sides

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Beaten sides

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The group stage of the cup has resulted in 9 'back-door' Lory Meagher Cup champions:

On 2 occasions a team was defeated twice but have remained in the championship:

Final success rate

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Only two counties have appeared in the final more than once, being victorious on all occasions:

On the opposite end of the scale, only one county has appeared in the final more than once, losing on each occasion:

Consecutive participations

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Leitrim and Warwickshire have the record number of consecutive participations in the Lory Meagher Cup, taking part in 9 seasons.

Winning other trophies

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Although not an officially recognised achievement, no team have ever achieved the distinction of winning the Lory Meagher Cup and their respective Division in the National Hurling League.

Biggest wins

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Scoring Events

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  • Most goals in a match:
    • 11 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
  • Most points in a match:
    • 46 – 2024: Lancashire 0-21 - 2-25 Cavan
    • 46 – 2024: Lancashire 2-24 - 6-22 Warwickshire
  • Most goals by one team in a match:
    • 8 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
  • Most points by one team in a match:
    • 29 – 2023: Cavan 3-29 - 5-09 Lancashire
  • Highest aggregate score:
    • 77 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
  • Lowest aggregate score:
    • 20 – 2023: Leitrim 0-08 - 0-12 Longford

Successful defending

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Only three teams were able to defend their title the following year. None of these teams were able to do so. These are:

Usually defending champions are promoted and a number of teams survived the first year of the Nicky Rackard Cup. These are:

  • 00 on 00 attempts out of 00 (0000)

Gaps

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Active gaps

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Provinces

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Lory Meagher Cup final pairings

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Pairing Meetings Last meeting
Donegal v Tyrone 2 2011
Fermanagh v Longford 2 2024
Donegal v Longford 1 2010
Fermanagh v Sligo 1 2015
Fermanagh v Tyrone 1 2012
Lancashire v Leitrim 1 2019
Cavan v Fermanagh 1 2021
Fermanagh v Louth 1 2020
Lancashire v Monaghan 1 2023
Lancashire v Sligo 1 2018
Leitrim v Warwickshire 1 2017
Longford v Louth 1 2022
Longford v Warwickshire 1 2013
Louth v Sligo 1 2016

Longest undefeated run

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The record for the longest unbeaten run stands at 7 games held by Tyrone (2009–2011).

Miscellaneous

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  • Best finish by a debuting team
  • Best finish by a debuting team (after 2009)
  • Highest winning record
    • 83%, Tyrone (10 wins in 12 matches)
  • Lowest winning record
    • 26%, Cavan (9 wins in 35 matches)
  • Most played match

Player records

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Top scorers

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In a season

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Year Player County Score Total
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

In final

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Year Player County Score Total
2023 Niall Arthur Monaghan 0-10 10
2022 D. Geoghegan Louth 0-09 9
2021 Tom Keenan Fermanagh 3-02 11
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CLG ULADH – AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚÍL 2015" (PDF). 22 January 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  2. ^ "New hurling format proposed". Irish Times. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Galway and Antrim voted into Leinster". Irish Times. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  4. ^ Moran, Seán (5 May 2018). "New hurling championship structure may pose awkward questions". The Irish Times.
  5. ^ "Official Guide - Part 1" (PDF). Gaelic Athletic Association. 23 March 2019.
  6. ^ Walsh, Daire (22 June 2019). "Extra-time glory for Leitrim in Lory Meagher decider" – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ "Watson the star as Warwickshire win Lory Meagher". 10 June 2017 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Mooney, Francis (4 June 2016). "Late goal blitz secures Lory Meagher Cup for Louth" – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "Fermanagh hold fast despite flurry of red cards". Irish Times. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Longford bounce back to regain title". Irish Examiner. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Warwickshire land Lory Meagher spoils". RTÉ Sport. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Lory Meagher final: Tyrone win thriller in extra time". Hogan Stand. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
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