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Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship
Code	Hurling
Founded	1973; 51 years ago (1973)
Region	Cork (GAA)
Trophy	Dick Barrett Cup
No. of teams	6 (county championship) 29 (total)
Title holders	Sarsfields (4th title)
First winner	Newtownshandrum
Most titles	Midleton (6 titles)
Sponsors	Evening Echo
Official website	Official website

Cork Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Evening Echo Cork County Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship, is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1973 for the top tier under-21 hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland.

In its current format, the Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship begins in November following the completion of the Divisional Under-21 Championships, which are played from the summer to the winter months. The divisional champions compete in a single-elimination tournament which culminates with the county final played at Páirc Uí Rinn in December. The prize for the winning team is the Dick Barrett Cup.

As of 2024, 29 clubs were participating in the Under-21 A Championship. The title has been won at least once by 16 different clubs. The all-time record-holders are Midleton, who have won six championship titles.

Sarsfields are the Under-21 A title holders, defeating the 2018 title-holders, defeating Midleton by 2–17 to 0–22 in the 2019 final.

History

Beginnings

The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship at inter-county level was created in 1964 and had proved successful in bridging the gap between the minor and senior grades. In 1973, the Cork County Board developed their own under-21 championship. It was the fifth county championship to be created in Cork, after the senior, intermediate, junior and minor championships.

Team dominance

Due to the limited time frame that players compete in the grade, it has been difficult for individual clubs to dominate the championship. In spite of this, several clubs have had limited dominance over the years. Between 1990 and 1994 St. Finbarr's dominated the championship with much of the same team by winning four championships in five seasons. Newtownshandrum ended the century by winning three successive championships between 1998 and 2000. The first decade of the new century saw Erin's Own win three championships between 2002 and 2005. Blackrock had a sustained period of dominance by winning three championships from five successive final appearances between 2012 and 2016.

Formats used

From 1973 until 2015, the championship used a divisional format. The seven respective champions from Avondhu, Carbery, Carrigdhoun, Duhallow, Imokilly, Muskerry and Seandún contested the county championship. That county-wide championship used a single elimination format whereby once a team lost they were eliminated. In 2016, the under-21 championship underwent a major restructuring whereby the divisional system for the top tier was abolished and the strongest 22 clubs entered a new countywide championship.

Teams

Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship

Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship

Cork Under-21 C Hurling Championship

Sponsorship

Since 2005 the Premier Under-21 Championship has been sponsored by the Evening Echo. The competition was previously sponsored by TSB Bank.

Under-21 A Hurling Championship

2024 teams

29 clubs will compete in the 2024 Cork Under-21 A Hurling Championship:

Note: Bold indicates title-holders.

Roll of honour

List of finals

Premier 2 Under-21 Hurling Championship (2018–2019)

Under-21 A Hurling Championship (2016–2019)

Under-21 B Hurling Championship

This competition is confined to clubs who compete at the B level in each of the regional divisions in County Cork. The winners are presented with the Gene Fitzgerald Cup. This cup commemorates Gene Fitzgerald, the former politician who also had administrative positions with Cork GAA County Board.

2024 teams

37 clubs will compete in the 2024 Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship:

Note: Bold indicates title-holders.

Roll of honour

List of finals

Under-21 C Hurling Championship

2024 teams

23 clubs will compete in the 2024 Cork Under-21 C Hurling Championship:

Note: Bold indicates title-holders.

List of finals

See also

• Cork Under-21 Football Championship

References

1. "Midleton win first Cork U21A hurling title in 11 year after epic extra-time battle with the Barrs". Irish Examiner. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
2. O'Callaghan, Theresa (14 November 2015). "Brilliant Blackrock sweep aside anxious Duhallow". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
3. Hurley, Denis (22 October 2012). "Ryan goals keep resurgent Rockies on roll". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
4. "Glory for Watergrasshill after hard-earned win". Irish Examiner. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
5. "Killeagh v Clon, U21". The Southern Star. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
6. "Tenacious Bal deserved their victory in U21 final". The Southern Star. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.

Sources

• Cork Under-21 Hurling Final results
• Cork GAA - A History 1886-1986 Jim Cronin

• Hurling competitions in County Cork