Jump to content

2025 Joe McDonagh Cup

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joe McDonagh Cup 2025
Corn Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonnacha
Tournament details
Level2
Year2025
TrophyJoe McDonagh Cup
Dates19 April - 8 June 2025
Teams6
Winners
Champions Kildare (1st win)
ManagerBrian Dowling
CaptainRian Boran
Qualify forJoe McDonagh Cup Final
All-Ireland SHC
Runners-up
Runners-up Laois
ManagerTommy Fitzgerald
CaptainEnda Rowland
Promotion/Relegation
Promoted team(s) Kildare
Relegated team(s) Kerry
Other
Matches played16
Total scored68-691 (55.94 points per game)
Top Scorer Martin Kavanagh (4-43)
← 2024
2026 →

The 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup was the eighth staging of the Joe McDonagh Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2018.[1]

Offaly, winner of the 2024 final, were promoted to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, replaced by Carlow who were relegated back to this competition.[2] Kildare were promoted from the Christy Ring Cup.[3]

The top two teams from the round robin stage played off in a final to decide the winner, both finalists also advancing to the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship knock-out stages. The bottom team was relegated to Christy Ring Cup.

Team changes

[edit]

To Championship

[edit]

Relegated from the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Promoted from the Christy Ring Cup

From Championship

[edit]

Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Relegated to the Christy Ring Cup

Format

[edit]

Cup format

[edit]

Initially each of the six teams played the other five teams in single round-robin matches. The top two teams after the round robin games competed in the Joe McDonagh Cup final. The Joe McDonagh Cup champions and runners-up also advanced to the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, with the Joe McDonagh Cup teams having home advantage.

Promotion

[edit]

If the Joe McDonagh champion was a non-Munster team, they would be automatically promoted to the following year's Leinster Championship. If the champion was a Munster team, they would be automatically promoted to the following year's Munster Championship. The Joe McDonagh Cup winner would replace the bottom-placed team in the provincial championship containing six teams.[clarify]

Relegation

[edit]

The bottom-placed team in the Joe McDonagh Cup was automatically relegated to the following year's Christy Ring Cup and was replaced by the Christy Ring Cup winner.

Teams by province

[edit]

The participating teams, listed by province, with numbers in parentheses indicating final positions in the 2025 National Hurling League before the championship were:


Leinster (4)

Munster (1)

Ulster (1)

Teams

[edit]

General Information

[edit]

Six counties will compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup:

County Last Cup Title Last Provincial Title Last All-Ireland Title Position in 2024 Championship Appearance
Carlow 2023 — — 6th (Leinster Senior Hurling Championship) 6th
Down — 1997 — 5th 5th
Kerry — 1891 1891 3rd 8th
Kildare — — — Champions (Christy Ring Cup) 3rd
Laois 2019 1949 1915 Runners-up 5th
Westmeath 2021 — — 4th 6th

Personnel and kits

[edit]
County Manager Captain(s) Sponsor
Carlow Tom Mullally Kevin McDonald SETU
Down Ronan Sheehan Caolan Taggart and Eoghan Sands EOS IT Solutions
Kerry John Griffin[4] Tomás O'Connor Kerry Group
Kildare Brian Dowling Rian Boran Brady Family Ham
Laois Tommy Fitzgerald Enda Rowland Laois Hire
Westmeath Seoirse Bulfin Aonghus Clarke and Killian Doyle Renault

Group Stage

[edit]

Table

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L SF SA Diff Pts Qualification
1 Kildare 5 4 0 1 10-112 6-90 +34 8 Advance to Final and All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Finals (PQ)
2 Laois 5 3 1 1 16-127 9-92 +56 7
3 Carlow 5 3 1 1 19-110 7-102 +44 7
4 Westmeath 5 2 0 3 11-117 14-106 +2 4
5 Down 5 1 0 4 4-92 17-128 -75 2
6 Kerry 5 1 0 4 5-88 12-128 -61 2 Relegated to Christy Ring Cup (R)
  • Laois proceed to both the Joe McDonagh Cup final on points difference over Carlow.
  • Kerry are relegated on head-to-head record with Down.

Fixtures

[edit]

Round 1

[edit]
19 April 2025 Round 1 Kildare 0-19 (19) – (20) 1-17 Kerry Newbridge
14:00 David Qualter 0-10 (1’65, 4fs), Cathal McCabe 0-3, Gerry Keegan 0-2, Darragh Melville 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-1, Cian Boran 0-1 Report Padraig Boyle 1-7 (5fs), Dylan Moriarty 0-5 (3fs, 1’65), Oisín Maunsell 0-3, Kevin Goulding 0-2 Stadium: St Conleth's Park
Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)
19 April 2025 Round 1 Carlow 6-23 (41) - (20) 0-20 Down Carlow
14:30 Chris Nolan (3-1), James Doyle (1-3), Marty Kavanagh (0-6fs), Paddy Boland (1-1), Jon Nolan (0-3), Ciaran Whelan (0-3), Ted Joyce (1-0), Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-2), Conor Kehoe (0-2), Donagh Murphy (0-2) Report Tom McGrattan (0-8 2-65s 6fs), Pearse Óg McCrickard (0-4), Paul Sheehan 0-3 (1-sl), Chris Egan (0-2), Caolan Taggart (0-1), Eoghan Sands (0-1), Tim Prenter (0-1) Stadium: Dr Cullen Park
Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)
19 April 2025 Round 1 Laois 3-25 (34) – (25) 1-22 Westmeath Portlaoise
15:00 Tomas Keyes 1-8 (0-3 frees, 0-1 65), Ben Conroy 1-2, Paddy Purcell and Jer Quinlan 0-4 each, Cha Dwyer 1-0, David Dooley 0-2, Martin Phelan, James Duggan, Jordan Walshe, Aidan Corby and Podge Delaney 0-1 each Report Killian Doyle 1-11 (1-6 frees), Peter Clarke 0-5, David O'Reilly 0-2, Robbie Greville, Niall O'Brien, Eamon Cuneen (65) and David Williams 0-1 each Stadium: Laois Hire O'Moore Park
Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)

Round 2

[edit]
26 April 2025 Round 2 Down 1-12 (15) – (54) 6-36 Laois Ballycran
13:30 P óg McCrickard 1-1; P Sheehan 0-4 (0-3f); E Sands & D Sands 0-2 each; M Fisher (65), C Taggart & T Prenter 0-1 each Report B Conroy 2-2; J Duggan 2-1; C Dwyer 1-4; T Keyes (0-6f) & J Quinlan (0-2f) 0-7 each; PJ Scully 1-2 (0-1f); A Corby 0-5; P Delaney (2f) & R Mullaney 0-2 each; FC Fennell, D Dooley, J Lennon & C Comerford 0-1 Stadium: McKenna Park
26 April 2025 Round 2 Kildare 3-24 (33) – (27) 2-21 Westmeath Newbridge
16:30 J Sheridan 1-3 (3fs), J Burke 1-2, D Qualter (2fs), G Keegan 0-5, D Melville 1-0, P Dolan, C Boran 0-3, D O’Meara, C McCabe, C Dowling 0-1 Report K Doyle 0-10 (8fs,1 65), D Williams 1-3, N O’Brien 0-5, P Clarke 1-0, D O’Reilly, Mark Cunningham, O McCabe 0-1 Stadium: St Conleth's Park
Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin)
27 April 2025 Round 2 Kerry 0-17 (17) - (36) 3-27 Carlow Tralee
14:00 D Moriarty (0-6, fs), L Crowley and S Nolan (0-3 each), O Maunsell (0-2), P O’Connor, T Doyle, and S Brosnan (0-1 each) Report C Nolan (1-5), M Kavanagh (0-8.4fs), P Boland (1-2). C Kehoe (1-1), J Nolan (0-4), T Joyce (0-2), K McDonald (s/l), J Doyle, J McCullagh, J Treacy, and C Whelan (0-1 each) Stadium: Austin Stack Park

Round 3

[edit]
10 May 2025 Round 3 Carlow 1-20 (23) - (29) 2-23 Kildare Carlow
14:00 M Kavanagh 1-7 (1-0 pen, 5fs), James Doyle 0-4, C Nolan 0-3, C Kehoe, J Nolan 0-2 each, C Whelan, P Boland 0-1 each Report D Qualter 0-7 (fs), J Burke 0-5, C Dowling 1-1, G Keegan 0-4 (1f), each, J Sheridan 1-0, J Travers, D Melville 0-2 each, D Guerin, C McCabe 0-1 each Stadium: Dr Cullen Park
Referee: Éamonn Furlong (Wexford)
10 May 2025 Round 3 Westmeath 2-24 (30) - (20) 0-20 Down Mullingar
14:30 D Williams 1-6 (1-0 pen, 6f); E Cunneen 0-4; D O'Reilly, M Cunningham, N O'Brien 0-3 each; J Boyle 1-0; K Doyle 0-2 (1f); P Clarke, N Mitchell, D Hickey 0-1 each Report P Sheehan 0-11 (8f, 1 '65', 1 s/l); P Óg McCrickard, T Prenter, T Murray, E Sands 0-2 each; F Turpin 0-1 Stadium: TEG Cusack Park
Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)
11 May 2025 Round 3 Laois 5-28 (43) - (24) 1-21 Kerry Portlaoise
16:00 J Duggan 5-2, T Keyes 0-7 (6fs, 1’65), A Dunphy 0-6 (3fs, 1’65), D Dooley 0-4, F C Fennell 0-3, M Dowling 0-2, P Delaney (1f), R Mullaney, P Purcell and W Dunphy 0-1 each Report S Nolan 0-11 (6fs), K Hayes 1-0, D Casey and O Maunsell 0-2 each, D Shanahan, K Goulding, R Walsh, T Doyle, L Crowley, and R Mahony 0-1 each Stadium: Laois Hire O'Moore Park
Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)

Round 4

[edit]
17 May 2025 Round 4 Down 2-26 (32) - (25) 2-19 Kerry Ballycran
14:00 F Turpin 1-4, P Og McCrickard 0-7 (1x65, 0-2f), D Sands 0-4, C Egan 1-0, D Hughes 0-3, T Prenter 0-3, P Sheehan 0-2f, E Sands 0-1, L Savage 0-1, C Taggart 0-1 Report P Boyle 0-9 (0-8f), N Mulcahy 1-2, R Walsh 0-4, L Rochford 1-0, K Goulding, P O’Connor, K O’Connor, K Hayes 0-1 each Stadium: McKenna Park
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)
17 May 2025 Round 4 Westmeath 4-22 (34) - (44) 7-23 Carlow Mullingar
16:00 K Doyle 0-8 (3fs, 1‘65’), M Cunningham 1-4, N O’Brien 1-3 (1-0pen), P Clarke 1-1, D Glennon 1-0, K Regan, D O’Reilly, D McCormack (1f) 0-2 each Report M Kavanagh 3-12 (1-0pen, 0-8fs, 0-2‘65’s), C Nolan 2-2, James Doyle 1-4, F Fitzpatrick 1-0, J McCullagh 0-2, C Whelan, John Doyle, J Nolan 0-1 each Stadium: TEG Cusack Park
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
18 May 2025 Round 4 Laois 1-18 (21) - (32) 4-20 Kildare Portlaoise
15:00 T Keyes 0-7 (five frees), C Dwyer 1-1, P Purcell and A Corby 0-2 each, P Delaney (free), D Dooley, J Duggan, B Conroy, L Cleere and J Lennon 0-1 each Report D Qualter 1-6 (0-6 frees), J Sheridan 2-0, C McCabe 1-2, G Keegan and J Burke 0-3 each, R Boran, D Guerin, S Leacy, C Boran, C Dowling and D Melville 0-1 each Stadium: Laois Hire O'Moore Park
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)

Round 5

[edit]
24 May 2025 Round 5 Carlow 2-17 (23) - (23) 1-20 Laois Carlow
14:00 M Kavanagh 0-10 (7fs, 2-65s), C Nolan, P Boland 1-1 each, J Doyle 0-2, JM Nolan, F Fitzpatrick, Jon Nolan 0-1 each Report T Keyes 0-14 (9fs 2-65s), James Duggan 1-1, J Quinlan, P Delaney (f), T Cuddy, C Dwyer (f), A Dunphy 0-1 each Stadium: Netwatch Cullen Park
Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)
24 May 2025 Round 5 Kildare 1-26 (29) - (17) 1-14 Down Newbridge
14:00 D Qualter 1-13 (12fs,1 65), G Keegan, D Melville 0-3 each, P Dolan, S Leacy, J Burke, C McCabe, C Dowling, J Travers, K Harrington 0-1 each Report P Sheehan 0-8 (7fs, 1 65), S Pucci 1-0, D Hughes 0-3, T Prenter, D Sands, F Turpin 0-1 each Stadium: Cedral St Conleth's Park
Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)
24 May 2025 Round 5 Kerry 1-14 (17) - (34) 2-28 Westmeath Tralee
14:00 P Boyle 0-6 (5fs), L Rochford 1-0, T Godley 0-2, K Goulding, K Hayes, N Mulcahy, S Nolan, S Horan, L Crowley 0-1 each Report K Doyle 0-15 (8fs, 1’65), D O’Reilly 1-6, N O’Brien 1-1, D Williams, P Clarke 0-2 each, K Regan, M Cunningham 0-1 each Stadium: Austin Stack Park
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)

Final

[edit]
8 June 2025 Final Kildare 2-26 (32) – (22) 1-19 Laois Dublin  
Venue: Croke Park
TV: TG4


Stadia and Locations

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup teams.
See also: List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums
County Location Province Stadium(s) Capacity
Carlow Carlow Leinster Dr Cullen Park 21,000
Down Rubane Ulster McKenna Park 1,320
Kerry Tralee Munster Austin Stack Park 12,000
Kildare Newbridge Leinster St Conleth's Park 15,000
Laois Portlaoise Leinster O'Moore Park 22,000
Westmeath Mullingar Leinster TEG Cusack Park 11,500

Statistics

[edit]

Top Scorers

[edit]

Overall

[edit]
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average
1 Martin Kavanagh Carlow 4-43 55 5 11.00
2 Killian Doyle Westmeath 1-46 49 5 9.80
3 David Qualter Kildare 2-41 47 5 9.40
4 Tomás Keyes Laois 1-43 46 5 9.20
5 Chris Nolan Carlow 7-12 33 5 6.60
6 James Duggan Laois 8-06 30 5 6.00
7 Paul Sheehan Down 0-28 28 5 5.60
8 Pádraig Boyle Kerry 1-22 25 3 8.33
9 James Doyle Carlow 2-13 19 5 3.80
10 Pearse Óg McCrickard Down 1-14 17 5 3.60
Gerry Keegan Kildare 0-17 17 5 3.60
David O'Reilly Westmeath 1-14 17 5 3.60

In A Single Game

[edit]
Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition
1 Martin Kavanagh Carlow 3-12 21 Westmeath
2 James Duggan Laois 5-02 17 Kerry
3 David Qualter Kildare 1-13 16 Down
4 Killian Doyle Westmeath 0-15 15 Kerry
5 Killian Doyle Westmeath 1-11 14 Laois
Tomás Keyes Laois 0-14 14 Carlow
7 Tomás Keyes Laois 1-08 11 Westmeath
Shane Nolan Kerry 0-11 11 Laois
Paul Sheehan Down 0-11 11 Westmeath
10 David Qualter Kildare 0-10 10 Kerry
Pádraig Boyle Kerry 1-07 10 Kildare
Chris Nolan Carlow 3-01 10 Down
Killian Doyle Westmeath 0-10 10 Kildare
Martin Kavanagh Carlow 1-07 10 Kildare
Martin Kavanagh Carlow 0-10 10 Laois

Scoring events

[edit]
  • Widest winning margin: 39 points
    • Down 1-12 - 6-36 Laois (Round 2)
  • Most goals in a match: 11
    • Westmeath 4-22 - 7-23 Carlow (Round 4)
  • Most points in a match: 49
    • Laois 5-28 - 1-21 Kerry (Roynd 3)
  • Most goals by one team in a match: 7
    • Westmeath 4-22 - 7-23 Carlow (Round 4)
  • Most points by one team in a match: 36
    • Down 1-12 - 6-36 Laois (Round 2)
  • Highest aggregate score: 78 points
    • Westmeath 4-22 - 7-23 Carlow (Round 4)
  • Lowest aggregate score: 39 points
    • Kildare 0-19 - 1-17 Kerry (Round 1)
  • Hat-trick Heros:
    • Chris Nolan (Carlow) 3-01 v Down (Round 1)
    • James Duggan (Laois) 5-02 v Kerry (Round 3)
    • Martin Kavanagh (Carlow) 3-12 v Westmeath (Round 4)

Miscellaneous

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Moran, Seán (30 September 2017). "GAA Congress approve round-robin provincial hurling championships". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  2. ^ Mohan, David (26 May 2024). "Leinster SHC: Antrim victory relegates Carlow". www.gaa.ie. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  3. ^ O'Connell, Cian (5 December 2024). "GAA Master Fixtures for 2025 published". www.gaa.ie. p. 7. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  4. ^ Brennan, Paul (24 May 2025). "Kerry suffer relegation after heavy loss to Westmeath". RTÉ. Somewhat ironically, it was John 'Tweek' Griffin who captained Kerry to Christy Ring Cup success in 2015, but a decade later he is in the ignominious position of being the team manager as the county drops down to the third tier of championship hurling for the first time.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2025_Joe_McDonagh_Cup&oldid=1301047353"