Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

{{Short description|Annual hurling competition for intermediate clubs in Laois}}

{{Infobox GAA tournament

| name = Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

| currentlyrunning =2024 Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

| image =

| caption =

| irish = Craobh Príomh-Idirmheánach Iomáint Laoise

| code = Hurling

| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2020}}

| region = Laois

| trophy = Dick Palmer Cup

| teams = 8

| title holders = Borris-in-Ossory–Kilcotton

| currentordinal = 1

| super = st

| most titles =

| mostordinal =

| sponsors = Laois Shopping Centre

| tv =

| motto =

| website = [http://www.laoisgaa.ie/ Laois gaa]

}}

The Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Laois Shopping Centre Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Laois PIHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 2020 for the second tier hurling teams in the county of Laois in Ireland.

In its current format, the Laois Premier Intermediate Championship begins with a group stage in mid-summer. The eight participating teams are divided into two groups of four and play each other in a round-robin system. The three top-ranking teams in each group proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Laois Hire O'Moore Park. The winner of the Laois Premier Intermediate Championship qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.

The title has been won by four different clubs, none of which have won the title more than once. Borris-in-Ossory–Kilcotton are the title holders after defeating Ballinakill by 2–16 to 0–19 in the 2024 final.{{cite web|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/1622890/scully-on-the-double-as-borris-kilcotton-crowned-laois-pihc-champions-over-ballinakill.html|title=Scully on the double as Borris-Kilcotton crowned Laois PIHC champions over Ballinakill|publisher=Laois Live|date=5 October 2024|access-date=10 October 2024|first=|last=}}

History

A second tier senior hurling competition had existed in various formats since 1995. It was originally played as the Dick Palmer Cup, with clubs qualifying for the competition by not reaching a certain stage of the Laois Senior Championship. Since 2010, the Laois Senior A Championship operated as a stand-alone competition, with promotion and relegation to the various championships. A review of Laois's hurling structures in 2019 resulted in the Laois Senior A Championship being renamed the Laois Premier Intermediate Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2019/11/18/senior-hurling-to-start-prior-to-lower-grades-among-the-proposals-from-laois-gaa-fixtures-group/|title=Senior hurling to start prior to lower grades among the proposals from Laois GAA fixtures group|publisher=Laois Today|date=18 November 2019|access-date=16 September 2023|first=|last=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2019/12/04/name-change-paves-the-way-for-area-teams-in-laois-senior-hurling-championship/|title=Name change paves the way for area teams in Laois senior hurling championship|publisher=Laois Today|date=4 December 2019|access-date=16 September 2023|first=Alan|last=Hartnett}}

Format

=Group stage=

The eight teams are divided into two groups of four. Over the course of the group stage each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top two teams in each group qualify for the knock-out stage.

=Knockout stage=

Following the completion of the group stage, the top three teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.

Quarter-finals: The second and third-ranked teams in each group contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: The two quarter-final winners and the top-ranked teams contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

=Promotion and relegation=

At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Laois Senior Championship for the following season. The two bottom-placed teams from the group stage take part in a playoff, with the losing team being relegated to the Laois Intermediate Championship.

Teams

= 2025 teams =

The 8 teams competing in the 2025 Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship are:

class="wikitable sortable"

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" |Club

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" |Location

!In championship since

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" |Championship titles

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" |Last championship title

Abbyleix

|Abbyleix

|2025

|2022

Ballyfin

|Ballyfin

|2019{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Steven |date=2018-08-30 |title=Conroy goals key as Castletown maintain senior status |url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2018/08/30/conroy-goals-key-as-castletown-maintain-senior-status/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Laois Today |language=en-GB}}

|—

Camross

|Coolrain

|2020{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Steven |date=2019-09-21 |title=Winning ways continue as Camross claim intermediate hurling title |url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2019/09/21/winning-ways-continue-as-camross-claim-intermediate-hurling-title/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Laois Today |language=en-GB}}

|—

Clonaslee–St Manman's

|Clonaslee

|1997

|—

Clough–Ballacolla

|Clough and Ballacolla

|2023

|—

Colt–Shanahoe

|Raheen

|2024

|—

Mountmellick

|Mountmellick

|2025

|—

Rathdowney–Errill

|Rathdowney and Errill

|2021{{Cite web |last=Hartnett |first=Alan |date=2021-06-18 |title=Second half surge sees Rathdowney-Errill down 14-man Trumera and claim 2020 intermediate glory |url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/06/18/second-half-surge-sees-rathdowney-errill-down-14-man-trumera-and-claim-2020-intermediate-glory/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Laois Today |language=en-GB}}

|—

Sponsorship

Laois Shopping Centre became the first title sponsor of the championship in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://laoisgaa.ie/laois-shopping-centre-adult-hurling-and-football-championships-2023-official-launch/|title=Laois Shopping Centre Adult Hurling and Football Championships 2023 – Official Launch|newspaper=Laois GAA website|date=18 July 2023|access-date=16 September 2023|first=|last=}}

Qualification for subsequent competitions

At the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. Portlaoise in 2018 are the only team to have reached the Leinster final, however, they were beaten by Graigue-Ballycallan.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/graigue-ballycallan-leinster-title-eddie-brennan-4370723-Dec2018/|title=Eddie Brennan's first-half goal the difference as Graigue-Ballycallan claim Leinster IHC title|newspaper=The 42|date=1 December 2018|access-date=16 September 2024|first=|last=}}

List of finals

= List of Laois PIHC finals =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;" ! rowspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! \| Year ! colspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! \| Winners ! colspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! \| Runners-up ! rowspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! \| Venue ! rowspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! \|#
style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Club ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Score ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Club ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Score
2024 \| Borris-in-Ossory–Kilcotton \| 2-16 \| Ballinakill \| 0-19 \| Laois Hire O'Moore Park \|note: both teams promoted due to Championship restructure{{Cite web \|last=McEvoy \|first=Barry \|date=2024-10-05 \|title=Senior promotion secured but silverware on the line as Borris-Kilcotton and Ballinakill meet again \|url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2024/10/05/senior-promotion-secured-but-silverware-on-the-line-as-borris-kilcotton-and-ballinakill-meet-again/ \|access-date=2024-10-31 \|website=Laois Today \|language=en-GB}}
2023 \| Portlaoise \| 0-19 \| Ballyfin \| 0-10 \| Laois Hire O'Moore Park \| {{cite web\|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/1329329/portlaoise-defeat-ballyfin-to-return-to-the-senior-hurling-grade-for-2024.html\|title=Portlaoise defeat Ballyfin to return to the Senior Hurling grade for 2024\|publisher=Leinster Express\|date=22 October 2023\|access-date=22 October 2023\|first=Barry\|last=McEvoy}}
2022 \| Abbeyleix St Lazarian's \| 1-24 \| Clonaslee \| 0-13 \| MW Hire O'Moore Park \| {{cite web\|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/927109/abeeyleix-runaway-winners-of-the-laois-premier-intermediate-final.html\|title=Abbeyleix runaway winners of the Laois premier intermediate final\|publisher=Laois Live\|date=2 October 2022\|access-date=16 September 2023\|first=Tom\|last=Gannon}}
2021 \| Ballinakill \| 2-14 \| Ballyfin \| 1-14 \| MW Hire O'Moore Park \| {{cite web\|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/689434/lynch-and-lalor-goals-help-ballinakill-return-to-senior-ranks-at-first-time-of-asking.html\|title=Lynch and Lalor goals help Ballinakill return to Senior ranks at first time of asking\|publisher=Laois Live\|date=7 November 2021\|access-date=16 September 2023\|first=Andrew\|last=Egan}}
2020 \| The Harps \| 1-18 \| Portlaoise \| 2-12 \| MW Hire O'Moore Park \| {{cite web\|url=https://laois-nationalist.ie/2021/08/13/the-harps-strings-are-humming-as-they-end-years-of-heartache/\|title=The Harps strings are humming as they end years of heartache\|publisher=Laois Nationalist\|date=13 August 2021\|access-date=16 September 2023\|first=\|last=}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"

! rowspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! | Year

! colspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! | Winners

! colspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! | Runners-up

! rowspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! | Venue

! rowspan="2" style="background:#1874CD;color:white" ! |#

style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Club

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Score

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Club

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Score

2024

| Borris-in-Ossory–Kilcotton

| 2-16

| Ballinakill

| 0-19

| Laois Hire O'Moore Park

|note: both teams promoted due to Championship restructure{{Cite web |last=McEvoy |first=Barry |date=2024-10-05 |title=Senior promotion secured but silverware on the line as Borris-Kilcotton and Ballinakill meet again |url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2024/10/05/senior-promotion-secured-but-silverware-on-the-line-as-borris-kilcotton-and-ballinakill-meet-again/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Laois Today |language=en-GB}}

2023

| Portlaoise

| 0-19

| Ballyfin

| 0-10

| Laois Hire O'Moore Park

| {{cite web|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/1329329/portlaoise-defeat-ballyfin-to-return-to-the-senior-hurling-grade-for-2024.html|title=Portlaoise defeat Ballyfin to return to the Senior Hurling grade for 2024|publisher=Leinster Express|date=22 October 2023|access-date=22 October 2023|first=Barry|last=McEvoy}}

2022

| Abbeyleix St Lazarian's

| 1-24

| Clonaslee

| 0-13

| MW Hire O'Moore Park

| {{cite web|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/927109/abeeyleix-runaway-winners-of-the-laois-premier-intermediate-final.html|title=Abbeyleix runaway winners of the Laois premier intermediate final|publisher=Laois Live|date=2 October 2022|access-date=16 September 2023|first=Tom|last=Gannon}}

2021

| Ballinakill

| 2-14

| Ballyfin

| 1-14

| MW Hire O'Moore Park

| {{cite web|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/689434/lynch-and-lalor-goals-help-ballinakill-return-to-senior-ranks-at-first-time-of-asking.html|title=Lynch and Lalor goals help Ballinakill return to Senior ranks at first time of asking|publisher=Laois Live|date=7 November 2021|access-date=16 September 2023|first=Andrew|last=Egan}}

2020

| The Harps

| 1-18

| Portlaoise

| 2-12

| MW Hire O'Moore Park

| {{cite web|url=https://laois-nationalist.ie/2021/08/13/the-harps-strings-are-humming-as-they-end-years-of-heartache/|title=The Harps strings are humming as they end years of heartache|publisher=Laois Nationalist|date=13 August 2021|access-date=16 September 2023|first=|last=}}

Roll of honour

= By club =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \|# ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Club ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Titles ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Runners-up ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Championships won ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Championships runner-up
rowspan="4" \|1 \| style="text-align:left;"\| Portlaoise \| 1 \|1 \| 2023 \|2020
style="text-align:left;"\| The Harps \| 1 \|0 \| 2020 \|—
style="text-align:left;"\| Ballinakill \| 1 \|0 \| 2021 \|—
style="text-align:left;"\| Abbeyleix St Lazarian's \| 1 \|0 \| 2022 \|—
rowspan="2" \|5 \| style="text-align:left;"\| Ballyfin \|0 \|2 \|— \|2021, 2023
style="text-align:left;"\| Clonaslee \|0 \|1 \|— \|2022

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

style="background:#1874CD;color:white" |#

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Club

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Titles

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Runners-up

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Championships won

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Championships runner-up

rowspan="4" |1

| style="text-align:left;"| Portlaoise

| 1

| 2023

|2020

style="text-align:left;"| The Harps

| 1

| 2020

|—

style="text-align:left;"| Ballinakill

| 1

| 2021

|—

style="text-align:left;"| Abbeyleix St Lazarian's

| 1

| 2022

|—

rowspan="2" |5

| style="text-align:left;"| Ballyfin

|—

|2021, 2023

style="text-align:left;"| Clonaslee

|—

|2022

Laois Senior A Hurling Championship

This competition has existed in various guises since 1995.The Laois GAA Records Bible 1888–2016 by John Phelan It was originally played as the Dick Palmer Cup up to 2009, then became a competition ancillary to the main championship. In the earlier years, clubs would qualify for the Senior B by not reaching a certain stage of the main competition.

Since 2010, it has been a proper Tier2 competition, with promotion/relegation to/from the Senior Hurling Championship and from 2015, it has been called the Senior A Hurling Championship.

In 2020 it was replaced by the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.

{{Infobox GAA championship main|

|image=

|name=Laois Senior A Hurling Championship

|firstwin=

|sponsors=Laois Shopping Centre

|irish=Craobh Sinsir Iomáint Laoise

|current= Rosenallis(2019)

| 1

|super=st

| c

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Year ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Winner ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Score ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Opponent ! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" \| Score
2012 \| Clough–Ballacolla \| 0-16 \| Camross \| 2-05
2013 \| Abbeyleix \| 4-12 \| Ballyfin \| 0-09
2014 \| Ballinakill \| 0-22 \| St Fintan's, Mountrath \| 1-12
2015 \| Portlaoise \| 1-14 \| Clonaslee \| 1-11
2016 \| Castletown \| 1–11 \| Ballyfin Gaels \| 0–13
2017 \| Ballyfin Gaels \| 0–15 \| Colt \| 0–12
2018 \| Portlaoise \| 1-13 \| The Harps \| 1-11
2019 \| Rosenallis \| 1-12 \| The Harps \| 1-11

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Year

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Winner

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Score

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Opponent

! style="background:#1874CD;color:white" | Score

2012

| Clough–Ballacolla

| 0-16

| Camross

| 2-05

2013