Offaly Intermediate Hurling Championship


The Offaly Intermediate Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1929 for the second tier hurling teams in the county of Offaly in Ireland.
The series of games are played during the summer and autumn months with the county final currently being played at O'Connor Park in late autumn. The championship includes a group stage which is followed by a knock-out phase for the top teams. There is also promotion and relegation involving the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship and the Offaly Junior A Hurling Championship.
The Intermediate Championship is an integral part of the wider Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship. The winners of the Offaly county final join the champions of the other hurling counties to contest the provincial championship.
Twelve clubs currently participate in the Intermediate Championship.
Shamrock's are the current title-holders after defeating St. Rynagh's in the 2014 championship decider.

History

The intermediate championship dates back to 1929. It was the third hurling championship to be established in Ofaly, and was seen as a stepping stone between the senior and junior hurling championships.
Over the years the championship proved difficult to sustain. There were no finals in 1940 and 1941, while the 1949 decider was declared void. In 1959 the championship was suspended, however, it was revived in 1963, only to be suspended again until 1978. It has remained a staple of the hurling calendar since then, however, it has undergone some major changes. Originally played as a straight knock-out championship, the competition was eventually expanded to feature a group stage which provided more games.

Top winners

Recent finals