Lory Meagher Cup

The Lory Meagher Cup (Irish: Corn Labhraí Uí Mheachair; often referred to as the Meagher Cup) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The cup forms the fifth-tier of hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by the six county teams ranked 30–36 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Each year, the champions of the Lory Meagher Cup are promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup. The competition is named in honour of former Kilkenny hurler Lory Meagher who many regard as one of the greatest hurlers of all time.

The Lory Meagher Cup, which was introduced for the 2009 season, provides a championship for fifth tier teams deemed "too weak" for the fourth tier Nicky Rackard Cup.

The title has been won by 9 different counties, 5 of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Fermanagh and Louth, who have won the cup on 3 occasions. Fermanagh are the title holders, defeating Longford by 3-17 to 0-22 in the 2024 final.

Following the success of the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup for the lower tier hurling teams, it was decided in 2008 to investigate the possibility of introducing a fourth tier. The Hurling Development Committee (HDC) proposed the new four-tier structure in place of the existing three-tier model. It, and the second and third-tier competitions, were to consist of eight teams. The proposals were accepted at a special GAA Congress in October 2008. Another second tier competition, the Joe McDonagh Cup, was added in 2018, moving the Lory Meagher Cup down into tier 5.

12 county teams have participated in at least one edition of the Lory Meagher Cup. Fermanagh and Leitrim have participated in the most editions. South Down, although not an official county entered a team the first 3 seasons of the Cup but withdrew after 2011. New York became the most recent county to make their debut in the Cup in 2025.

In 2009, a double elimination format was introduced, thus guaranteeing each team at least two games before being eliminated from the competition.

Since 2013, a group stage has been included in the cup. The teams within the group stage has varied between 3 and 6 teams throughout the years.

• Warwickshire 2-16 - 0-10 Longford (8 June 2013): Warwickshire became the first and only overseas team to win the Lory Meagher Cup.
• Leitrim 2-23 - 2-22 Lancashire (22 June 2019): Leitrim won their first ever All-Ireland title, defeating Lancashire after extra time in Croke Park.

Group stage: Six of the seven teams start at group stage(New York only enter from the semi-finals on, due to travel costs) During the course of a season (from May to June) each team plays the others once (a single round-robin system) for a total of five games. Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. The frst placed team in the group advance straight to the Lory Meagher Cup final while second place play New York(in Ireland) in the Lory Meagher Cup semi-final The third, fourth, fifth and sixth-placed teams are eliminated from the championship.

In the event of teams finishing on equal points, the tie shall be decided by the following means (in the order specified):

• Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two teams
• Score difference – subtracting the total "Scores Against" from the total "Scores For"
• Highest Total "Score For"
• Highest Total "Goals For"
• A Play-Off

Final: The top two teams in the group stage contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

The Lory Meagher has no direct entry route to compete in that year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

At the end of the championship, the winning team is promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup for the following season.

There is no relegation from the Lory Meagher Cup as it is the bottom of five tiers in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Seven counties will compete in the 2025 Lory Meagher Cup, with Monaghan relegated from the Nicky Rackard Cup and New York entering the competition:

Legend

• 1st – Champions
• 2nd – Runners-up
• SF/QF/R2 – Semi-finals/Quarter-finals/Round 2
• 3rd/4th/5th/6th – Group Stage
• CR – Christy Ring Cup
• NR – Nicky Rackard Cup
• — – Inactive

For each championship, the number of teams (in brackets) are shown.

The number of years that each county has played in the Lory Meagher Cup between 2009 and 2025. A total of 13 counties have competed in at least one season of the Lory Meagher Cup. Leitrim have participated in the most championships. The counties in bold participate in the 2025 Lory Meagher Cup.

The following teams have competed in the Lory Meagher Cup for at least one season.

Legend

As of 12 June 2024 (After 2024 Lory Meagher Cup).

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Lory Meagher Cup titles, is as follows:

• 2000s: 1 for Tyrone (2009)
• 2010s: 2 each for Longford (2010, 2014) and Warwickshire (2013, 2017)
• 2020s: 2 each for Louth (2020, 2022) and Fermanagh (2021, 2024)

• Most matches played
  • 51, Leitrim

• Most wins
  • 22, Fermanagh

• Most losses
  • 30, Leitrim

• Most draws
  • 6, Fermanagh

• Most championships
  • 3, Louth (2016, 2020, 2022)
  • 3, Fermanagh (2015, 2021, 2024)

• Most second-place finishes
  • 3, Fermanagh (2012, 2014, 2020)
  • 3, Lancashire (2018, 2019, 2023)
  • 3, Longford (2013, 2022, 2024)

• Most third-place finishes
  • 4, Cavan (2018, 2020, 2023, 2024)
• Most fourth-place finishes
  • 4, Leitrim (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024)
• Most fifth-place finishes
  • 3, Lancashire (2015, 2016, 2022)

• Most sixth-place finishes
  • 1, Cavan (2022)
  • 1, Fermanagh (2017)
  • 1, Warwickshire (2023)
  • 1, Lancashire (2024)
• Most semi-final finishes
  • 2, Leitrim (2010, 2012)
  • 2, Longford (2009, 2021)
  • 2, South Down (2009, 2011)
  • 2, Warwickshire (2011, 2012)
• Most quarter-final finishes
  • 2, Fermanagh (2009, 2011)
• Most round 2 or round 3 finishes
  • 1, Cavan (2009)
  • 1, Leitrim (2011)
  • 1, Longford (2012)
  • 1, South Down (2010)
  • 1, Warwickshire (2009)

• 6 teams have won the Lory Meagher Cup unbeaten:
  • Donegal had 4 wins in 2011
  • Tyrone had 3 wins in 2012
  • Warwickshire had 3 wins and 1 draw in 2013
  • Longford had 3 wins and 1 draw in 2014
  • Louth had 5 wins in 2016
  • Warwickshire had 6 wins in 2017
  • Fermanagh had 4 wins and 2 draws in 2024

The group stage of the cup has resulted in 9 'back-door' Lory Meagher Cup champions:

• Tyrone (2009) were beaten by South Down in round 1.
• Longford (2010) were beaten by Donegal in round 1.
• Fermanagh (2015) were beaten by Sligo in round 5.
• Sligo (2018) were beaten by Cavan in round 3.
• Leitrim (2019) were beaten by Lancashire in round 1.
• Louth (2020) were beaten by Fermanagh in round 1.
• Fermanagh (2021) were beaten by Cavan in round 1.
• Louth (2022) were beaten by Monaghan in round 2 and Longford in round 3.
• Monaghan (2023) were beaten by Cavan in round 2.

On 2 occasions a team was defeated twice but have remained in the championship:

• Louth (2022) were beaten by Monaghan and Longford but still qualified for the final.
• Lancashire (2023) were beaten by Cavan and by Monaghan but still qualified for the final.

Only two counties have appeared in the final more than once, being victorious on all occasions:

• Louth
• Warwickshire

On the opposite end of the scale, only one county has appeared in the final more than once, losing on each occasion:

• Lancashire

• 9, Leitrim (2009–2017)
• 9, Warwickshire (2009–2017)

Leitrim and Warwickshire have the record number of consecutive participations in the Lory Meagher Cup, taking part in 9 seasons.

Although not an officially recognised achievement, no team have ever achieved the distinction of winning the Lory Meagher Cup and their respective Division in the National Hurling League.

• The most one sided finals:
  • 15 points – 2021: Fermanagh 3-26 - 1-17 Cavan
  • 13 points – 2022: Louth 3-27 - 3-14 Longford
  • 12 points – 2013: Warwickshire 2-16 - 0-10 Longford
  • 11 points – 2020: Louth 2-19 - 2-08 Fermanagh
  • 8 points – 2010: Longford 1-20 - 1-12 Donegal
• The most one sided other matches:
  • 29 points – 2011: South Down 4-25 - 0-08 Leitrim

• Most goals in a match:
  • 11 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
• Most points in a match:
  • 46 – 2024: Lancashire 0-21 - 2-25 Cavan
  • 46 – 2024: Lancashire 2-24 - 6-22 Warwickshire
• Most goals by one team in a match:
  • 8 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
• Most points by one team in a match:
  • 29 – 2023: Cavan 3-29 - 5-09 Lancashire
• Highest aggregate score:
  • 77 – 2021: Longford 8-25 - 3-19 Louth
• Lowest aggregate score:
  • 20 – 2023: Leitrim 0-08 - 0-12 Longford

Only three teams were able to defend their title the following year. None of these teams were able to do so. These are:

• Longford on 0 attempts out of 1 (2011)
• Warwickshire on 0 attempts out of 1 (2014)
• Louth on 0 attempts out of 1 (2021)

Usually defending champions are promoted and a number of teams survived the first year of the Nicky Rackard Cup. These are:

• 00 on 00 attempts out of 00 (0000)

• Longest gaps between successive cup titles:
  • 6 years: Fermanagh (2015–2021)
• Longest gaps between successive Lory Meagher Cup final appearances:
  • 8 years: Longford (2014–2022)
• Longest gap between successive championship appearances
  • 7 years: Cavan (2010–2017)
  • 7 years: Longford (2014–2021)

• Longest active gaps between since last title:
  • 13 years: Donegal (2011–)
  • 12 years: Tyrone (2012–)
  • 10 years: Longford (2014–)
  • 7 years: Warwickshire (2017–)
  • 6 years: Sligo (2018–)
  • 5 years: Leitrim (2019–)
  • 2 years: Louth (2022–)
  • 1 year: Monaghan (2023–)
• Longest active gaps since last cup final appearance:
  • 13 years: Donegal (2011–)
  • 12 years: Tyrone (2012–)
  • 7 years: Warwickshire (2017–)
  • 6 years: Sligo (2018–)
  • 5 years: Leitrim (2019–)
  • 3 years: Cavan (2021–)
  • 2 years: Louth (2022–)
  • 1 year: Lancashire (2023–)
  • 1 year: Monaghan (2023–)
• Longest active gap since last cup appearance
  • 13 years: Donegal (2011–)
  • 13 years: South Down (2011–)

• Only on 5 occasions has the Lory Meagher Cup final involved two teams from the same province:
  • Tyrone vs Donegal (2009)
  • Donegal vs Tyrone (2011)
  • Tyrone vs Fermanagh (2012)
  • Fermanagh vs Cavan (2021)
  • Louth vs Longford (2022)
• The province providing the highest number of different winning teams is Ulster, with four:
  • Donegal
  • Fermanagh
  • Monaghan
  • Tyrone
• Province success rates
  • Ulster 44% (4 out of 9 counties)
  • Connacht 40% (2 out of 5 counties)
  • Britain 33% (1 out of 3 counties)
  • Leinster 17% (2 out of 12 counties)
  • Munster 0% (0 out of 6 counties)

The record for the longest unbeaten run stands at 7 games held by Tyrone (2009–2011).

• Best finish by a debuting team
  • Champions, Tyrone (2009)
• Best finish by a debuting team (after 2009)
  • Champions, Louth (2016)
• Highest winning record
  • 83%, Tyrone (10 wins in 12 matches)
• Lowest winning record
  • 26%, Cavan (9 wins in 35 matches)
• Most played match
  • Fermanagh vs Leitrim

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (Tier 1)
• Joe McDonagh Cup (Tier 2)
• Christy Ring Cup (Tier 3)
• Nicky Rackard Cup (Tier 4)