On 17 March 2019, Ballyhale Shamrocks won the championship following a 2-28 to 2-11 defeat of St. Thomas's in the All-Ireland final. This was their seventh All-Ireland title overall and their first title since 2015.[3]
The top hurling teams in Ireland's counties compete in their senior club championship. Each county decides the format for determining their county champions – it can be knockout, double-elimination, league, etc or a combination.
Only single club teams are allowed to enter the All-Ireland Club championship. If a team which is an amalgamation of two or more clubs, a divisional team or a university team wins a county's championship, a single club team will represent that county in the provincial championship as determined by that county's championship rules. Normally it is the club team that exited the county championship at the highest stage.
Provincial Championships
Leinster, Munster and Ulster organise a provincial championship for their participating county champions. Connacht discontinued their senior club championship after 2007 but they do organise intermediate and junior championships. The Galway champions represent Connacht in the All-Ireland senior club semi-finals as Galway club hurling is at higher level than the hurling in the other four Connacht counties.
Some Leinster, Munster and Ulster counties also enter their senior champions in the All-Ireland intermediate club championship (tier 2) as it is recognised that club hurling is weak in those counties.
All matches are knock-out. Two ten minute periods of extra time are played each way if it's a draw at the end of normal time in all matches including the final. If the score is still level after extra time the match is replayed.
All-Ireland
The two semi-finals are usually played on a Saturday in early February. The All-Ireland final is traditionally played in Croke Park on St. Patrick's Day, the 17th of March.
All matches are knock-out. Two ten minute periods of extra time are played each way if it's a draw at the end of normal time in the semi-finals or final. If the score is still level after extra time the match is replayed.
Initial Schedule
County championships April 2018 to November 2018 Provincial championships October 2018 to December 2018 All-Ireland semi-finals early February 2019 All-Ireland final 17 March 2019
C Fennelly (4-4), TJ Reid (0-6, 1 '65, 1f), E Cody (1-1), E Reid (1-0), A Mullen (0-3), B Cody (0-2), E Shefflin (0-1), D Mullen (0-1), R Corcoran (0-1), R Reid (0-1), J Cuddihy (0-1).
P Casey (2-2); A Breen (0-6); S Dowling (0-5, frees); K Downes (1-1, 0-1 free); R Lynch (0-3, 1 free); C Grimes (0-2); D Dempsey, A Dempsey, C Boylan (0-1 each).
Pauric Mahony 0-14 (8fs), C Power 1-2, Philip Mahony 1-0, Brian O’Sullivan 0-3, Barry O’Sullivan 0-2, P Horgan, I Kenny, B O’Keeffe, C Sheehan and JJ Hutchinson 0-1 each.
The Leinster, Munster and Ulster champions qualify for the All-Ireland semi-finals. The Galway champions represent Connacht and enter the competition at the semi-final stage.