Cork Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Evening Echo Cork County Premier Under-21 A Hurling Championship, is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1973 for the top tier under-21 hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland.
In its current format, the Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship begins in November following the completion of the Divisional Under-21 Championships, which are played from the summer to the winter months. The divisional champions compete in a single-elimination tournament which culminates with the county final played at Páirc Uí Rinn in December. The prize for the winning team is the Dick Barrett Cup.
As of 2024, 29 clubs were participating in the Under-21 A Championship. The title has been won at least once by 16 different clubs. The all-time record-holders are Midleton, who have won six championship titles.
Sarsfields are the Under-21 A title holders, defeating the 2018 title-holders, defeating Midleton by 2–17 to 0–22 in the 2019 final.
Due to the limited time frame that players compete in the grade, it has been difficult for individual clubs to dominate the championship.[original research?] In spite of this, several clubs have had limited dominance over the years. Between 1990 and 1994 St. Finbarr's dominated the championship with much of the same team by winning four championships in five seasons. Newtownshandrum ended the century by winning three successive championships between 1998 and 2000. The first decade of the new century saw Erin's Own win three championships between 2002 and 2005. Blackrock had a sustained period of dominance by winning three championships from five successive final appearances between 2012 and 2016.[citation needed]
Formats used
From 1973 until 2015, the championship used a divisional format. The seven respective champions from Avondhu, Carbery, Carrigdhoun, Duhallow, Imokilly, Muskerry and Seandún contested the county championship. That county-wide championship used a single elimination format whereby once a team lost they were eliminated. In 2016, the under-21 championship underwent a major restructuring whereby the divisional system for the top tier was abolished and the strongest 22 clubs entered a new countywide championship.[citation needed]
This competition is confined to clubs who compete at the B level in each of the regional divisions in County Cork. The winners are presented with the Gene Fitzgerald Cup. This cup commemorates Gene Fitzgerald, the former politician who also had administrative positions with Cork GAA County Board.
2024 teams
37 clubs will compete in the 2024 Cork Under-21 B Hurling Championship:
