The Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Laois Shopping Centre Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Laois PIHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 2020 for the second tier hurling teams in the county of Laois in Ireland.
| Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Irish | Craobh Príomh-Idirmheánach Iomáint Laoise |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Region |  Laois (GAA) |
| Trophy | Dick Palmer Cup |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Title holders |  Borris-in-Ossory–Kilcotton (1st title) |
| Sponsors | Laois Shopping Centre |
| Official website | Laois gaa |
In its current format, the Laois Premier Intermediate Championship begins with a group stage in mid-summer. The eight participating teams are divided into two groups of four and play each other in a round-robin system. The three top-ranking teams in each group proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Laois Hire O'Moore Park. The winner of the Laois Premier Intermediate Championship qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship.
The title has been won by four different clubs, none of which have won the title more than once. Borris-in-Ossory–Kilcotton are the title holders after defeating Ballinakill by 2–16 to 0–19 in the 2024 final.[1]
History
editA second tier senior hurling competition had existed in various formats since 1995. It was originally played as the Dick Palmer Cup, with clubs qualifying for the competition by not reaching a certain stage of the Laois Senior Championship. Since 2010, the Laois Senior A Championship operated as a stand-alone competition, with promotion and relegation to the various championships. A review of Laois's hurling structures in 2019 resulted in the Laois Senior A Championship being renamed the Laois Premier Intermediate Championship.[2][3]
Format
editGroup stage
editThe eight teams are divided into two groups of four. Over the course of the group stage each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top two teams in each group qualify for the knock-out stage.
Knockout stage
editFollowing the completion of the group stage, the top three teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.
- Quarter-finals: The second and third-ranked teams in each group contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the semi-finals.
- Semi-finals: The two quarter-final winners and the top-ranked teams contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
- Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
Promotion and relegation
editAt the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Laois Senior Championship for the following season. The two bottom-placed teams from the group stage take part in a playoff, with the losing team being relegated to the Laois Intermediate Championship.
Teams
edit2025 teams
editThe 8 teams competing in the 2025 Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship are:
| Club | Location | Colours | In championship since | Championship titles | Last championship title | First or second team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Abbyleix
|
Abbyleix | Primrose and blue | 2025 | 1 | 2022 | 2nd team |
 Ballyfin
|
Ballyfin | Green and white | 2012 | 0 | — | 1st team |
 Camross
|
Coolrain | Black and amber | 2020 | 0 | — | 2nd team |
 Clonaslee–St Manman's
|
Clonaslee | Red and white | 2010 | 0 | — | 1st team |
| Clough–Ballacolla
|
Clough and Ballacolla | Blue and gold | 2023 | 0 | — | 2nd team |
 Colt–Shanahoe
|
Raheen | Blue and red | 2024 | 0 | — | 1st team |
| Mountmellick
|
Mountmellick | Blue and white | 2025 | 0 | — | 1st team |
 Rathdowney–Errill
|
Rathdowney and Errill | Red, white and green | 2021 | 0 | — | 2nd team |
Sponsorship
editLaois Shopping Centre became the first title sponsor of the championship in 2020.[4]
Qualification for subsequent competitions
editAt the end of the championship, the winning team qualify to the subsequent Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. Portlaoise in 2018 are the only team to have reached the Leinster final, however, they were beaten by Graigue-Ballycallan.[5]
List of finals
editList of Laois PIHC finals
edit| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Venue | # | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Score | Club | Score | |||
| 2024 | Borris-in-Ossory–Kilcotton | 2-16 | Ballinakill | 0-19 | Laois Hire O'Moore Park | note: both teams promoted due to Championship restructure[6] |
| 2023 | Portlaoise | 0-19 | Ballyfin | 0-10 | Laois Hire O'Moore Park | [7] |
| 2022 | Abbeyleix St Lazarian's | 1-24 | Clonaslee | 0-13 | MW Hire O'Moore Park | [8] |
| 2021 | Ballinakill | 2-14 | Ballyfin | 1-14 | MW Hire O'Moore Park | [9] |
| 2020 | The Harps | 1-18 | Portlaoise | 2-12 | MW Hire O'Moore Park | [10] |
Roll of honour
editBy club
edit| # | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Championships won | Championships runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portlaoise | 1 | 1 | 2023 | 2020 |
| The Harps | 1 | 0 | 2020 | — | |
| Ballinakill | 1 | 0 | 2021 | — | |
| Abbeyleix St Lazarian's | 1 | 0 | 2022 | — | |
| 5 | Ballyfin | 0 | 2 | — | 2021, 2023 |
| Clonaslee | 0 | 1 | — | 2022 |
See also
edit- Laois Senior Hurling Championship
- Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
- Laois Intermediate Hurling Championship
- Laois Junior A Hurling Championship
- Laois Junior B Hurling Championship
- Laois Junior C Hurling Championship
References
edit- ^ "Scully on the double as Borris-Kilcotton crowned Laois PIHC champions over Ballinakill". Laois Live. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Senior hurling to start prior to lower grades among the proposals from Laois GAA fixtures group". Laois Today. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ Hartnett, Alan (4 December 2019). "Name change paves the way for area teams in Laois senior hurling championship". Laois Today. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Laois Shopping Centre Adult Hurling and Football Championships 2023 – Official Launch". Laois GAA website. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Eddie Brennan's first-half goal the difference as Graigue-Ballycallan claim Leinster IHC title". The 42. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ McEvoy, Barry (5 October 2024). "Senior promotion secured but silverware on the line as Borris-Kilcotton and Ballinakill meet again". Laois Today. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ McEvoy, Barry (22 October 2023). "Portlaoise defeat Ballyfin to return to the Senior Hurling grade for 2024". Leinster Express. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ Gannon, Tom (2 October 2022). "Abbeyleix runaway winners of the Laois premier intermediate final". Laois Live. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ Egan, Andrew (7 November 2021). "Lynch and Lalor goals help Ballinakill return to Senior ranks at first time of asking". Laois Live. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "The Harps strings are humming as they end years of heartache". Laois Nationalist. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2023.