Dr Croke Cup

All-Ireland PPS Croke Cup
Current season or competition:
2024 Croke Cup
IrishCraobh Iomána Iarbhunscoileanna na hÉireann
CodeHurling
Founded1944; 80 years ago (1944)
RegionIreland (GAA)
TrophyDr Croke Cup
No. of teams6
Title holders St Kieran's College (25th title)
First winner St Flannan's College
Most titles St Kieran's College (25 titles)
SponsorsMasita
TV partner(s)TG4
Official websiteOfficial website

The All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Croke Cup, is an annual inter-schools hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. It is the highest inter-schools hurling competition in Ireland, and has been contested every year, except on two occasions, since 1944.

The All-Ireland final, usually held in March, serves as the culmination of a knockout series of games played in February and March. Currently, qualification for the All-Ireland series is limited to teams competing in Connacht, Leinster and Munster. Eligible players must be under the age of 19.

The title has been won at least once by 17 different schools, nine of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are St Kieran's College, who have won the competition 24 times.

St Kieran's College are the current champions, having beaten St. Raphael's College by 0-26 to 1-18 in the 2024 All-Ireland final.[1]

History

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St Kieran's College (left) and St Flannan's College (right) have won 38 All-Ireland titles between them.

Inter-colleges hurling competitions had been played since 1918, with the Leinster Championship and Dr Harty Cup both being formed that year.[2][3] A similar competition had been running in Connacht since 1938. Participation in these competitions was limited to voluntary secondary schools. Similarly, an annual inter-provincial competition between Conancht, Leinster and Munster had been taking place, with the best college players from the respective provinces being picked to form the teams. It wasn't until 1944 that the Leinster and Munster champions faced each other to decide the All-Ireland champions. St Flannan's College beat St Kieran's College by 5–05 to 3–03 to claim the inaugural title.[4][5][6] It was the first of a record-setting four successive All-Ireland titles for St Flannan's College.[7]

St Kieran's College became the second team to win the All-Ireland title, however, the championship was suspended following their victory over St Colman's College in 1948.[8][9] The championship was reintroduced in 1957, with representatives from the Connacht Championship being allowed to contest the All-Ireland series for the first time. Representatives from the Ulster Championship were allowed to contest the All-Ireland series for the first time in 1964, however, their participation was shortlived.[10][11]

The Croke Cup has seen a keen rivalry develop between St Flannan's College and St Kieran's College. By 1999, both colleges had won 13 All-Ireland titles. In spite of this, other colleges have enjoyed multiple successes at various times throughout the history of the competition. The North Monastery, St Finbarr's College and St Colman's College brought 10 All-Ireland titles to Cork between 1960 and 1977. St Peter's College, Wexford won four All-Ireland titles from six All-Ireland finals appearances between 1960 and 1973, while Limerick CBS claimed two victories from four consecutive finals appearances between 1964 and 1967.[12][13][14][15] Tipperary wrote their name into the All-Ireland roll of honour when Templemore CBS claimed the title in 1978, while St Brendan's Community School from Offaly won their sole Croke Cup in 1986.[16][17] The Leinster-Munster stranglehold on the competition was broken in 1995 when St. Raphael's College became the first college from County Galway to claim the All-Ireland title.[18][19]

The turn of the century has seen St Kieran's College dominate by winning 11 titles between 2000 and 2023. Amalgamated teams have also enjoyed successes during this period, with Dublin Colleges claiming the title in 2006 and Dungarvan Colleges winning in 2013.[20][21] Amalgamated teams were later precluded from participating in the All-Ireland series, however, vocational schools were permitted to field teams in the competition after a merger with the All-Ireland VS SAHC in 2014. By that stage, the championship had undergone a further expansion when the introduction of a "back door system" in 2005 allowed the defeated Leinster and Munster finalists entry into the All-Ireland series for the first time.[22] The "back door system" was extended to the Connacht runners-up in 2014. The Croke Cup was suspended mid-championship in 2020 and not held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

Current format

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Qualification

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Province Championship Teams progressing
Connacht Connacht GAA PPS Senior A Hurling Championship Champions and runners-up
Leinster Leinster GAA PPS Senior A Hurling Championship Champions and runners-up
Munster Dr Harty Cup Champions and runners-up

Championship

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The championship features six teams in a knockout series of games. Two teams receive byes to the All-Ireland semi-finals, while the other four teams play each other in two All-Ireland quarter-finals. This is organised on a strict rotational basis between the Connacht, Leinster and Munster teams. Teams who have met each other in the respective provincial championships are precluded from meeting each other until the All-Ireland final.

Sponsorship

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Masita became the title sponsor of the championship in 2013.[24][25] The competition was previously sponsored by Coca-Cola.[26]

Trophy and medals

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The Dr Croke Cup is the current prize for winning the All-Ireland final. It was commissioned to honour Thomas Croke (1824–1902), who was the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly and one of the first patrons of the Gaelic Athletic Association.[27][28]

Traditionally, the victory presentation takes place at a special rostrum in the main grandstand of the stadium. The winning captain accepts the cup on behalf of his team before giving a short speech. Individual members of the winning team then have an opportunity to come to the rostrum to lift the cup, which is held by the winning team until the following year's final. In accordance with GAA rules, a set of gold medals is awarded to the championship winners.

Roll of honour

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# Team County Won Years won
1 St Kieran's College Kilkenny 25 1948, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1965, 1971, 1975, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2014,
2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
2 St Flannan's College Clare 14 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1958, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2005
3 North Monastery Cork 5 1960, 1970, 1980, 1985, 1994
St Finbarr's College Cork 5 1963, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1984
5 St Peter's College Wexford 4 1962, 1967, 1968, 1973
St Colman's College Cork 4 1977, 1997, 2001, 2002
7 Limerick CBS Limerick 2 1964, 1966
DLS College Waterford Waterford 2 2007, 2008
9 Templemore CBS Tipperary 1 1978
Kilkenny CBS Kilkenny 1 1981
St Brendan's CS Offaly 1 1986
St Raphael's College Galway 1 1995
Dublin Colleges Dublin 1 2006
Thurles CBS Tipperary 1 2009
Nenagh CBS Tipperary 1 2012
Dungarvan Colleges Waterford 1 2013
Our Lady's SS Tipperary 1 2017
Border Ardscoil Rís Limerick 1 2022

List of finals

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Year Winners Score Runners-up Score
1944 St Flannan's College 5-05 St Kieran's College 3-03
1945 St Flannan's College 7-10 St Joseph's CBS 2-03
1946 St Flannan's College 5-07 O'Connell School 5-02
1947 St Flannan's College 6-08 Cistercian College 3-01
1948 St Kieran's College 2-12 St Colman's College 2-02
1949 No competition
1950 No competition
1951 No competition
1952 No competition
1953 No competition
1954 No competition
1955 No competition
1956 No competition
1957 St Kieran's College 4-02 St Flannan's College 2-07
1958 St Flannan's College 3-10 St Kieran's College 0-02
1959 St Kieran's College 2-13 Tipperary CBS 4-02
1960 North Monastery 1-09 St Peter's College 1-04
1961 St Kieran's College 8-08 North Monastery 1-04
1962 St Peter's College 4-11 Rice College 2-04
1963 St Finbarr's College 4-08 Patrician College 3-04
1964 Limerick CBS 6-07 St Peter's College 4-05
1965 St Kieran's College 6-09 Limerick CBS 6-01
1966 Limerick CBS 8-09 St Mary's College 2-02
1967 St Peter's College 5-11 Limerick CBS 3-06
1968 St Peter's College 5-10 Coláiste Chríost Rí 4-05
1969 St Finbarr's College 5-15 St Kieran's College 2-01
1970 North Monastery 2-13 Kilkenny CBS 2-08
1971 St Kieran's College 8-06 St Finbarr's College 5-08
1972 St Finbarr's College 3-07 St Kieran's College 2-05
1973 St Peter's College 4-15 Our Lady's College, Gort 1-05
1974 St Finbarr's College 2-11 St Kieran's College 1-12
1975 St Kieran's College 6-09 Colaiste Iognaid Ris, Cork 2-03
1976 St Flannan's College 3-09 Presentation College, Athenry 1-07
1977 St Colman's College 2-13 St Kieran's College 1-09
1978 Templemore CBS 2-11 St Peter's College 1-04
1979 St Flannan's College 3-15 Presentation College, Birr 2-03
1980 North Monastery 5-11 St Brendan's Community School 3-07
1981 Kilkenny CBS 3-05 North Monastery 1-08
1982 St Flannan's College 2-09 St Peter's College 0-10
1983 St Flannan's College 0-16 Kilkenny CBS 2-04
1984 St Finbarr's College 1-15 St Kieran's College 0-08
1985 North Monastery 4-11 Birr Community School 1-05
1986 Birr Community School 5-08 North Monastery 1-08
1987 St Flannan's College 4-11 St Kieran's College 1-07
1988 St Kieran's College 3-10 Midleton CBS 2-07
1989 St Kieran's College 3-05 St Flannan's College 1-09
1990 St Kieran's College 2-10 St Flannan's College 0-07
1991 St Flannan's College 1-15 St Kieran's College 1-09
1992 St Kieran's College 1-07 St Colman's College 0-08
1993 St Kieran's College 3-15 Our Lady's, Gort 1-10
1994 North Monastery 1-10 St Mary's College 1-06
1995 St Raphael's College 3-10 Midleton CBS 3-05
1996 St Kieran's College 1-14 St Colman's College 2-06
1997 St Colman's College 4-20 Good Counsel College 0-09
1998 St Flannan's College 2-16 St Raphael's College 1-11
1999 St Flannan's College 2-15 St Kieran's College 2-10 [29]
2000 St Kieran's College 1-10 St Flannan's College 0-09 [30]
2001 St Colman's College 2-10 Gort Community School 2-07 [31]
2002 St Colman's College 0-11 St Kieran's College 2-04 [32]
2003 St Kieran's College 1-15 St Colman's College 1-04 [33]
2004 St Kieran's College 3-20 St Raphael's College 1-06 [34]
2005 St Flannan's College 2-15 St Kieran's College 2-12 [35]
2006 Dublin Colleges 1-11 St Flannan's College 0-11 [36]
2007 De La Salle College, Waterford 0-13 Kilkenny CBS 1-09 [37]
2008 De La Salle College, Waterford 2-12, 2-09 (R) Thurles CBS 1-15, 2-08 (R) [38]
2009 Thurles CBS 1-17 Good Counsel College 1-15 [39]
2010 St Kieran's College 2-11 Ardscoil Rís 2-08 [40]
2011 St Kieran's College 2-10 Ardscoil Rís 1-11 [41]
2012 Nenagh CBS 3-10 Kilkenny CBS 2-11 [42]
2013 Dungarvan Colleges 1-12 Kilkenny CBS 1-07 [43]
2014 St Kieran's College 2-16 Kilkenny CBS 0-13 [44]
2015 St Kieran's College 1-15 Thurles CBS 1-12 [45]
2016 St Kieran's College 1-15 Ardscoil Rís 1-13 [46]
2017 Our Lady's SS 3-13 St Kieran's College 3-11 [47]
2018 St Kieran's College 5-19 Presentation College, Athenry 3-16 [48]
2019 St Kieran's College 1-15 Presentation College, Athenry 1-12 [49]
2020 No competition due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.
2021 No competition due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.
2022 Ardscoil Rís 1-17 St Kieran's College 0-15 [50]
2023 St Kieran's College 3-13 Presentation College, Athenry 0-12 [51]
2024 St Kieran's College 0-26 St Raphael's College 1-18 [52]

Records and statistics

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Final

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Teams

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By decade

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The most successful college of each decade, judged by number of championship titles, is as follows:

Gaps

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Longest gaps between successive championship titles:

Top scorers

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All time

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As of 2023 Croke Cup
# Name Team(s) Goals Points Total
1 Adrian Mullen St Kieran's College 4 37 49
2 Stephen Power DLS College 4 36 48
3 Harry Shine St Kieran's College 4 24 36

In finals

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# Player Team Final Score Total
1 Bernie McMahon St Flannan's College 1947 4-02 14
Frank O'Brien St Finbarr's College 1969 4-02 14
Andrew O'Shaughnessy St Colman's College 2001 2-08 14
Tony O'Sullivan North Monastery 1980 2-08 14
5 Joe Ryan St Kieran's College 1971 4-00 12
D. J. Carey St Kieran's College 1989 3-03 12
Richard Grace Limerick CBS 1967 2-06 12
Richie Power St Kieran's College 2004 1-09 12
Mark Kennedy Presentation College 2018 1-09 12
Pádraig Kennedy St Flannan's College 1958 1-09 12

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ryan, Peter (16 March 2024). "Raphael's push them to brink but kingpins Kieran's claim 25th Croke Cup". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  2. ^ "CBC Power into first Harty Cup final in 101 years". Irish Independent. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  3. ^ "St Kieran's Or Dublin North Set For Top Oil Schools Hurling Glory". Leinster GAA website. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  4. ^ "6 of the brightest Kilkenny and Tipperary hurling talents chasing Croke Cup glory". The 42. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  5. ^ Ó Muircheartaigh, Joe (14 February 2020). "Bishop Willie Walsh: 'To me the Harty players were giants of men'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Our Lady's block St Kieran's route to an historic four in-a-row". Tipperary Live. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Our Lady's block St Kieran's route to an historic four in-a-row". Tipperary Live. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  8. ^ "All-Ireland Senior Colleges Title 1948". St Kieran's College website. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  9. ^ "St Colmans can move a step closer". Irish Independent. 11 April 2002. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Mageean Cup". Ulster Schools' GAA website. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  11. ^ McAleenan, Séamus (6 December 2022). "Mageean Cup: Garron Tower hoping to revive rich history in the competition". The Irish News. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Boys of '62 50 years on". Irish Independent. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  13. ^ Keane, Brendan (12 May 2018). "Special trip down memory lane". Gorey Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Winning Peter's captains featured in new book". Irish Independent. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  15. ^ Aherne, Tom (19 August 2021). "Then & Now: Limerick hurling great Eamonn Grimes". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  16. ^ "From 1978 Harty Cup final goal poacher to All-Ireland hurling winning coach". The 42. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  17. ^ Hogan, Vincent (29 November 1999). "Birr's success vital to Offaly cause". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  18. ^ Glennon, Stephen (30 November 2022). "St Brigid's history-makers have a special Bond". The Tuam Herald. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  19. ^ Gribbin, Vincent (28 April 1998). "Minors roll back years". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  20. ^ Ahern, Neil (14 January 2008). "Dublin students top of the hurling class". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  21. ^ Keane, Thomas (15 August 2013). "Draws made for Dr Harty Cup '14". The Munster Express. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  22. ^ Larkin, Brendan (9 April 2005). "St Kieran's will be very difficult to dethrone". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  23. ^ "All-Ireland GAA PPS competitions cancelled". Hogan Stand. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  24. ^ Roche, Frank (29 March 2013). "Meath revival needs time". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  25. ^ "Masita Ireland extend sponsorship of GAA All-Ireland Post-Primary competitions". GAA website. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Coca-Cola to sponsor colleges GAA finals". Irish Examiner. 15 April 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  27. ^ "Bicentenary of first GAA patron Archbishop T.W. Croke". GAA website. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  28. ^ "55 Years of the Croke Cup". Hogan Stand. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  29. ^ "Flannan's finest finish". Irish Independent. 19 April 1999. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  30. ^ "All-Ireland Senior Colleges Title 2000". St Kieran's College website. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  31. ^ Harrington, John (6 May 2001). "O'Shaughnessy inspires Colman's". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  32. ^ Harrington, John (29 April 2002). "St Colman's resolve wins battle of nerves". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  33. ^ Larkin, Brendan (28 April 2003). "Awesome Kierans take title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  34. ^ Gallagher, Mark (4 May 2004). "Power-packed St Kieran's in a different class". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  35. ^ Foley, Cliona (3 May 2005). "O'Connor's new kids on block lift gloom as Flannan's deliver". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  36. ^ "McBride strike crucial as Dublin land first crown". Irish Independent. 2 May 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  37. ^ "Power base sees De La Salle land first title". Irish Independent. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  38. ^ "De La Salle hold their nerve". Irish Examiner. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  39. ^ Furlong, Brendan (15 April 2009). "Counsel close to causing upset". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  40. ^ "Brennan's strike foils Ardscoil bid". Irish Independent. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  41. ^ "O'Hanrahan heaps misery on Ardscoil". Irish Independent. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  42. ^ "All-ireland Colleges SHC FInal: Kilkenny CBS 2-11 Nenagh CBS 3-10". Kilkenny People. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  43. ^ Cahill, Jackie (8 April 2013). "Triumphant Dungarvan 'can divide and conquer'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  44. ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (7 April 2014). "Kingpins Kieran's add to CBS tale of woe". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  45. ^ Cahill, Jackie (6 April 2015). "'Awesome' Kieran's seal 20th title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  46. ^ Cormican, Eoghan (29 March 2016). "St Kieran's joy as Ardscoil frustrated again". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  47. ^ Cormican, Eoghan (25 March 2017). "Our Lady's Templemore take home Croke Cup with narrow win over St Kieran's College". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  48. ^ Kane, Conor (31 March 2018). "Despite losing a 10-point lead, St Kieran's claim 22nd Croke cup title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  49. ^ Egan, Kevin (30 March 2019). "St. Kieran's College continue to dominate school hurling with Croke Cup victory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  50. ^ Keane, Paul (17 March 2022). "Kennedy delivers killer blow as Ardscoil Rís claim historic Croke Cup". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  51. ^ Keane, Paul (17 March 2023). "St Kieran's too strong for Pres in Croke Cup final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  52. ^ Smyth, Ivan (16 March 2024). "St Raphael's preserve honour but St Kieran's excel in extra-time to secure Croke Cup". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
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