East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship
The East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Michael O'Connor Motor Factors East Cork Junior Hurling Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Imokilly Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1926 for junior hurling teams in East Cork.
| East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Region | |
| Trophy | Jamesy Kelleher Cup |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Title holders |  |
| First winner |  |
| Most titles | |
| Sponsors | Michael O'Connor Motor Factors |
| Official website | http://www.eastcorkgaa.com/ |
The series of games begin in June, with the championship culminating with the final in September. The championship includes a knock-out stage and a "back door" for teams defeated in the first round.
The East Cork Junior Championship is an integral part of the wider Cork Junior Hurling Championship. The winners and runners-up of the East Cork championship join their counterparts from the other six divisions to contest the county championship.
11 clubs currently participate in the East Cork Championship. The title has been won at least once by 19 different teams. The all-time record-holders are Castlemartyr who have won 11 titles.
Russell Rovers are the title-holders after defeating St. Ita's by 2–16 to 1–12 in the 2018 championship final.
The championship
Overview
The East Cork Junior Championship is a double elimination tournament. Each team is allowed two defeats before being eliminated from the championship.
Each match is played as a single leg. If a match ends as a draw there is a period of extra time, however, if both sides are still level at the end of extra time a replay takes place and so on until a winner is found.
Participating teams
| Team | Location | Colours |
|---|---|---|
| Bride Rovers | Rathcormac | Green, white and gold |
| Carrignavar | Carrignavar | Red and green |
| Carrigtwohill | Carrigtwohill | Blue and yellow |
| Cobh | Cobh | Yellow and green |
| Erin's Own | Glounthaune | Blue and red |
| Fr. O'Neill's | Ballymacoda | Red and green |
| Killeagh | Killeagh | Green and white |
| Lisgoold | Lisgoold | Blue and yellow |
| Russell Rovers | Shanagarry | Black and amber |
| St. Catherine's | Ballynoe | Purple and yellow |
| St. Ita's | Gortroe | White and green |
Roll of honour
| # | Team | Wins | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castlemartyr | 11 | 1935, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1963, 1964, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 |
| 2 | Midleton | 9 | 1929, 1934, 1936, 1943, 1945, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1990 |
| Cloyne | 9 | 1938, 1939, 1944, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1976, 1986, 1987 | |
| Carrigtwohill | 9 | 1941, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1994 | |
| 3 | Aghada | 6 | 1931, 1933, 1940, 1980, 1991, 1992 |
| 4 | Bride Rovers | 5 | 1930, 1932, 1968, 1969, 1998 |
| Killeagh | 5 | 1967, 1970, 1971, 1988, 1995 | |
| Erin's Own | 5 | 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2007 | |
| Fr. O'Neill's | 5 | 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005 | |
| 5 | Sarsfields | 4 | 1937, 1953, 2004, 2016 |
| St. Catehrine's | 4 | 1957, 1981, 1983, 2017 | |
| Dungourney | 4 | 1972, 2006, 2011, 2015 | |
| 6 | Cobh | 3 | 1926, 1959, 1985 |
| Ballinacurra | 3 | 1927, 1928, 1942 | |
| Castlelyons | 3 | 1955, 1993, 1997 | |
| Watergrasshill | 3 | 1974, 2000, 2003 | |
| 7 | Carrignavar | 2 | 2008, 2012 |
| Russell Rovers | 2 | 2018, 2019 | |
| 8 | Leeside | 1 | 1949 |
| Youghal | 1 | 1952 | |
Records
Gaps
Top five longest gaps between successive championship titles:
- 51 years: Sarsfields (1953-2004)
- 45 years: Castlemartyr (1964-2009)
- 40 years: Aghada (1940-1980)
- 38 years: Castlelyons (1955-1993)
- 37 years: Midleton (1945-1982)
- 36 years: Bride Rovers (1932-1968)
- 34 years: St. Catherine's (1983-2017)
- 34 years: Dungourney (1972-2006)
- 33 years: Cobh (1926-1959)
- 29 years: Bride Rovers (1969-1998)