Antrim Junior Hurling Championship

The Antrim Junior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Casement Social Club Junior Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Antrim JHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the junior-graded clubs in the county of Antrim in Northern Ireland. It is the third tier overall in the entire Antrim hurling championship system.

Antrim Junior Hurling Championship
IrishCraobh Iomána Shóisearach Aontroma
CodeHurling
Region Antrim (GAA)
TrophyKevin Grieve Cup
No. of teams8
Title holders St Mary's Rasharkin (4th title)
SponsorsCasement Social Club
Official websiteOfficial website

In its current format, the Antrim Junior Championship begins in August. The 8 participating club teams are draw into two groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system.[1] The first and second-placed teams in both groups proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final. The winner of the Antrim Junior Championship qualifies for the subsequent Ulster Club Championship.

St Mary's Rasharkin are the title holders after defeating Glen Rovers, Armoy by 2–10 to 0–14 in the 2024 final.

Format

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Group stage

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The 8 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 knockout stage.

Knockout stage

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Semi-finals: The first and second-placed teams from both groups contest this round. The two winners from these games advance to the final.

Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

Promotion

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At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Antrim Intermediate Championship for the following season.

Teams

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2024 teams

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Team Location Colours Position in 2024 In championship since
All Saints Ballymena Black and white Group stage ?
Ciceam Ard Eoin ? ? Quarter-finals 2024
CLG MacDaibhéid ? ? Semi-finals 2024
Glen Rovers Armoy Blue and white Runners-up ?
Gort na Móna Turf Lodge Maroon, blue and yellow Semi-finals ?
Lámh Dhearg Springfield Road Red and white Quarter-finals ?
St Mary's Rasharkin Rasharkin Blue and saffron Champions ?

Sponsorship

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Casement Social Club have been the title sponsor of the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship since 2019.[2]

Qualification for subsequent competitions

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The Antrim Junior Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Ulster Junior Club Hurling Championship.

Trophy and medals

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The Kevin Grieve Cup is the current prize for winning the championship. In accordance with GAA rules, the County Board awards a set of gold medals to the championship winners.

List of finals

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Legend

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List of Antrim JHC finals

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Year Winners Runners-up #
Club Score Club Score
2024 St Mary's Rasharkin 2-10 Glen Rovers, Armoy 0-14 [3]
2023 St Brigid's Cloughmills 1-12 Glen Rovers, Armoy 0-13 [4]
2022 Shane O'Neill's 1-21 St Mary's Rasharkin 0-16 [5]
2021 Con Magees 1-21 Shane O'Neill's 0-16 [6]
2020 St. Paul's 3-12 St Mary's Rasharkin 1-08 [7]
2019 Gort na Móna 0-20 St. Paul's 0-14 [8]
2018 Robert Emmets 1-23 Shane O'Neill's 2-07 [9]
2017 Gort na Móna 3-12 Shane O'Neill's 3-10 [10]
2016 Lámh Dhearg 2-10 Robert Emmets 1-12 [11]
2015 St Mary's Rasharkin 1-12 St. Teresa's 0-12
2014 Con Magees 1-12 St Mary's Rasharkin 0-12 [12]
2013 Creggan Kickhams 3-08 Robert Emmets 1-09 [13]
2012 St. Enda's 0-14 Robert Emmets 0-07 [14]
2011 Creggan Kickhams 0-17 Con Magees 2-06
2010 St Brigid's Cloughmills 1-16 Robert Emmets 3-07 [15]
2009 St Mary's Rasharkin 1-14 Robert Emmets 2-06 [16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Antrim announce Championship groups for 2023 season". The Irish News. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Casement Social Club Junior Hurling Championship". Antrim GAA website. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Early second half goals swing it Rasharkin's way". The Saffron Gael. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Biddies pip Rovers in entertaining final". The Saffron Gael. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Late surge sees Shane O'Neill's take Junior title". The Saffron Gael. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Con Magees get back to Ulster action but Naomh Colum Cille will be tough opponents". The Saffron Gael. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Second half goals seal it for St Paul's". The Saffron Gael. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Gort na Mona claim Junior Hurling Championship title". The Irish News. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Emmets make it sixth time lucky to take the junior crown". The Saffron Gael. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Gorts withstand late Glenarm goal rush to claim junior title". The Saffron Gael. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Late Donal Nugent goal helps Lámh Dhearg lift Antrim JHC". The Irish News. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Niall and Twig steal the show in Final showdown!!!". Con Magees GAA website. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  13. ^ "GAA sidebar". The Irish News. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  14. ^ "St Enda's ended 20 year wait to lift Junior Hurling Championship title". The Saffron Gael. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Cloughmills win Antrim Junior Hurling Championship". Northern Ireland World. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Rasharkin win junior hurling title at the fourth attempt". Antrim GAA website. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2023.