The Connacht Senior Hurling Championship showcases the best hurling talent from counties in the Connacht province, including Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon. Teams battle fiercely, displaying skill, determination, and passion in pursuit of provincial glory, captivating fans with thrilling clashes and adding to the storied legacy of hurling in Connacht. Connacht Senior Hurling Championship | Team Performances.
The Connacht Council organizes the Connacht Senior Hurling CSH Championship, a yearly inter-county hurling championship. It was the top inter-county hurling competition in the region of Connacht. Connacht Senior Hurling Championship | Team Performances.
Beginning of Championship
The CSH Championship first took place in 1900. Teams compete for the M.J. “INKY” Flaherty Cup in the championship final held during the summer months, determining the ultimate winner of the cup.
The championship was always knockout, meaning the losing team was removed from the tournament. In addition to the Leinster, Munster, and Ulster championships, the winner of this championship gets a direct entry to the semi-finals of the All Ireland series, providing an excellent opportunity for the team to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level possible. Connacht Senior Hurling Championship | Team Performances.
Some realistic facts regarding these championships are:
- Without a doubt, the very first championship game took place between none other than Galway and Mayo. The Galway defeated Mayo in the final, in 1900.
- Galway won the titles 25 times, and they are getting the most titles, while Mayo and Roscommon teams won the titles 3 and 1 times respectively.
- Galway and Roscommon played the highest-scoring match in 1998. The Galway dominated Roscommon by 3-24 to 2-17.
- The last final was played on Aug 8, 1998, at Galway’s Pearse ground.
Division of Teams
It’s a fact that Galway stands out as the only county to have won multiple medals, proving their dominance in the game. The other three counties managed to secure at least one Connacht title each, but it’s clear that Galway is a force to be reckoned with. Exactly, Galway held the medal 25 times, the highest by any other county team.
The Galway county team played against Sligo in the inaugural match, and ultimately, Galway emerged victorious. Connacht Senior Hurling Championship | Team Performances.
Sponsorships
The sponsors are involved from day to day for different championships. Take for example the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship from 1995 to 1999. During this time, sponsors were able to capitalize on the immense popularity of the event and achieve great brand exposure. Below are the details of the sponsors who supported the championship during those years.
- From 1900 to 1922, the Connacht Hurling Championship was sponsorless.
- 1995 to 1999, The Connacht Title, which was also called The Guinness Connacht Championship, was held by Guinness.
Managers of the championship
The managers responsible for overseeing The Connacht Senior Hurling Championships are:
- Micheal Donoghue manager of the Galway team.
- Without a doubt, Cyril Farrell is the confident and capable manager of the Galway team.
- John Mclntyre is the manager of the Mayo team.
Micheal Donoghue (Galway)
Galway team manager is Micheal Donoghue and he emerged at the top for the 4 times Connacht Senior Hurling Championships during 1980 and 1987. He worked hard for Galway to succeed in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1983 and is viewed as the most talented hurling manager.
Cyril Farrell (Galway)
Cyril Farrell, in his capacity as the manager of the Galway team, played an instrumental role in leading the team to victory in three Connacht Senior Hurling Championships in 1990. Moreover his progressive instructive system and exclusive talent for discovering the best players for their teams.
John Mclntyre (Mayo)
John Mclntyre is the manager of the Mayo team and only managed to get their first title of Connacht Senior Hurling Championships in 1993. He is a well-liked and expert club manager in the hurling world.
Team Performances
Every team wants to perform in this championship of Connacht teams and their performances are mentioned below:
- Galway (25)
- Mayo (1)
- Roscommon (1)
- Sligo (0)
Galway (25)
The Galway board is responsible for hurling games in the province of Galway. Their impressive record boasts a total of 25 championship titles, with their first being secured in 1900, in addition to their recent victory in the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship.
Galway team performed aggressively in hurling as well as in football codes. Galway’s dominance over other teams is due to a strong hurling history, talented players, and highly experienced managers. Without a doubt, they stand alone as the only team to have achieved their peak in the entire history of Connacht Hurling.
Galway highly dominated in the Connacht Senior Hurling and, due to the high involvement of this single team, the Championship ended in 1999. Galway right now plays straight in the Leinster SH Championship, whereas the other Connacht counties, according to their grade, participate in the Christy Ring Cup or Nicky Rackard Cup.
Mayo (1)
The Mayo County Board is the governing body responsible for promoting and organizing Gaelic sports in the province of Mayo. It is important to note that the county is commonly referred to as “The Yew County”, and the county colors are green and red. They won 1 Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, and they won their first championship in 1905.
Each year, the four senior hurling clubs in Mayo take part in the TJ Tyrell Mayo SH Championship. Ballyhaunis is undoubtedly the reigning senior champion club, with an impressive record of having won six senior trophies.
Roscommon (1)
The Roscommon County Board of the GAA is in charge of Gaelic games in the province of Roscommon. Their nickname is “The Rossies” and county colors are Primrose and Royal blue. They won 1 Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, and they won their first championship in 1901.
It is a fact that in 1910, the Roscommon hurling team appeared in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semifinal, marking their first and only appearance in the history of the sport. The Tipperary County team won by a margin of 10 goals to 1 point against their opponent. In 1984, Roscommon defeated Wexford to win the Centenary Cup.
The Roscommon County team won the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship In 1999 and the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship in 1994.
Sligo (0)
The Sligo area Board is responsible for both hurling and football in the province of Sligo. The county’s official colors are black and white, and their nickname is “The Yeats County”. Despite their best efforts, the team has yet to win the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship title.
It’s worth noting that the county football team has achieved significant success in the Connacht Senior Football Championship, having won three senior state titles in 1928, 1975, and 2007. Their hard work and dedication to the sport have proven to be the driving force behind their success. Their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts have paved the way for them to achieve great feats in their field. The Sligo team never played in the All-Ireland final. Historically, the province of Sligo has not actively participated in the sport of hurling. However, more recently, the hurling team has achieved greater success than its football counterpart.
The Mickey Galvin-coached Sligo team won their first memorable senior All-Ireland hurling title with a success against Louth in the 2008 Nicky Rackard Cup final. Sligo claimed victory in the All-Ireland title in 2018, thanks to the exceptional management of Darragh Cox and Daithi Hand. Moreover, in the same year, the county dominated Lancashire in the Lory Meagher Cup final.