The Lory Meagher Cup (; often referred to as the Meagher Cup) is the fifth-highest inter-county senior championship in hurling. Each year, the champion team in the Lory Meagher Cup is promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup.
The Lory Meagher Cup, which was introduced for the 2009 season, provides a meaningful championship for fifth tier teams deemed "too weak" for the fourth tier Nicky Rackard Cup.
The winners of the championship receive the Lory Meagher Cup, named after former Kilkenny hurler Lory Meagher who many regard as one of the greatest hurlers of all time.
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 Louth, who have won the cup on 3 occasions. Monaghan are the title holders, defeating Lancashire by 3-22 to 3-20 in the 2023 final.
History
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.
Format
Group Stage
The 6 teams will play each other once in the group stage. The top 2 teams in the group will advance to the final.
Final and Promotion
The winner of the final will be promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup.
Teams
2024 Cup
Six counties will compete in the 2024 Lory Meagher Cup, with Fermanagh relegated from the Nicky Rackard Cup:
List of Finals
Roll of Honour
Performances by county
Performances by province
Team records and statistics
Legend
– Champions
– Runners-up
– Semi-finals/Quarter-finals/Round 2
– Group Stage
CR – Christy Ring Cup
NR – Nicky Rackard Cup
— – Inactive
For each championship, the number of teams (in brackets) are shown.
Debut of teams
Seasons in Lory Meagher Cup
The number of years that each county has played in the Lory Meagher Cup between 2009 and 2024. A total of 12 counties have competed in at least one season of the Lory Meagher Cup. Fermanagh and Leitrim have participated in the most championships. The counties in bold participate in the 2024 Lory Meagher Cup.
List of Lory Meagher Cup counties
The following teams have competed in the Lory Meagher Cup for at least one season.
Other records
By decade
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 for Louth (2020, 2022)
Finishing positions
Most championships
3, Louth (2016, 2020, 2022)
Most second-place finishes
3, Fermanagh (2012, 2014, 2020) 3, Lancashire (2018, 2019, 2023)
Most third-place finishes
3, Cavan (2018, 2020, 2023) Most fourth-place finishes 3, Leitrim (2013, 2014, 2016) Most fifth-place finishes 3, Lancashire (2015, 2016, 2022)
Most sixth-place finishes
1, Cavan (2022) 1, Fermanagh (2017) 1, Warwickshire (2023) 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)
Unbeaten sides
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
Beaten sides
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.