Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship

Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship
IrishCraobhchomórtas Idirmhéanach Iomána Dhoire
CodeHurling
Region Derry (GAA)
No. of teams8
Title holders Lavey (2nd title)
Most titles Swatragh (6)
SponsorsLeadon Timber Frame
Official websiteDerry GAA

The Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Leadon Timber Frame Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Derry IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association for the second tier hurling teams in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

In its current format, the Derry Hurling Championship begins with a group stage. The eight participating teams play each other in a round-robin system. The first four teams proceed to a semi-final. The losers of the semi-finals proceed to the intermediate final at the Derry Centre of Excellenece which is in essence a match for place 3. The winner of the Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship qualifies for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Championship.

Lavey are the title holders after defeating Banagher by 1-17 to 0-15 in the 2026 final.

Format

Group stage

The 8 teams in the Derry Hurling Championship are divided into two groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the othersplay each other in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games 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.

Knockout stage

Senior final: The top two teams in each group contest the senior semi finals (nominally called the "Senior/Intermediate playoff").

Intermediate final: The losing senior semi-finalists contest the intermediate final.

Junior final: The 3rd and fourth placed teams contest a semi-final, for a place in the junior final.

Teams

Qualification

County Championship Qualifying teams
Derry Derry Senior Hurling Championship Two semi-final losers

2026 Teams

8 clubs are eligible to compete in the 2026 Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship:

Team Location Colours Position in 2025 Championship titles Last championship title
Ballinascreen Draperstown Maroon and white Runners-up 1 2023
Banagher Feeny / Park Maroon and white Junior runners-up 2 2021
Eoghan Rua Coleraine Maroon and green Junior semi-final 1 2022
Kevin Lynch's Dungiven White and black Senior runners-up 0 —
Lavey Lavey Orange and black Junior champion 1 2017
Na Magha Derry Green, white, and black Junior semi-final 0 —
Slaughtneil Slaughtneil Maroon and white Senior champions 0 —
Swatragh Swatragh Green and white Champion 4 2025

Qualification for subsequent competitions

The Derry Intermediate Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. A team can only progress to the Ulster series of games in their respective grade if they retain their championship status from the previous season, or if they drop one grade.

List of finals

Legend

List of Derry IHC finals from 2017 onwards

Year Winners Runners-up Venue #
Club Score Club Score
2026 Lavey 1-17 Banagher 0-15 Derry Centre of Excellence
2025 Swatragh 2-13 Ballinascreen 1-07 Derry Centre of Excellence
2024 Swatragh 2-10 Kevin Lynch's 0-11 Derry Centre of Excellence
2023 Ballinascreen 3-16 Eoghan Rua 0-05 Derry Centre of Excellence
2022 Eoghan Rua 3-09 Ballinascreen 2-11 Derry Centre of Excellence
2021 Banagher 0-13 Lavey 0-11 Derry Centre of Excellence
2020 Swatragh 2-13 Ballinascreen 2-09 Derry Centre of Excellence
2019 Banagher 0-21 Swatragh 0-08 Derry Centre of Excellence
2018 Swatragh 0-17 Ballinascreen 2-16 Derry Centre of Excellence
2017 Lavey 0-16 Swatragh 0-12 Derry Centre of Excellence

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Strong second half display sees Lavey defeat Banagher to win Derry Intermediate Hurling title". Derry Journal. 20 September 2026. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "2023 Club Championship Group Stage". Derry GAA website. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Ballinascreen EMPHATIC at Owenbeg on their way to Intermediate title". Derry Now. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "ULSTER IHC: 'Underdogs as usual' - Eoghan Rua prepare for Ulster trail". Derry Now. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Banagher edge out Lavey to claim Derry intermediate title". Derry Now. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Swatragh in control against Ballinascreen to claim another intermediate win". Derry Now. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Banagher bag Intermediate title after victory over Swatragh". Derry Journal. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2023.