Cork GAA Cups and Trophies

Every Cork GAA county trophy carries a story, and most honour a player or administrator who gave a lifetime to the Association. Below are the men behind the cups, grouped by competition.

If you have information on the history of any of these trophies, please contact pro.cork@gaa.ie.

Hurling Championships

Seán Óg Murphy Cup — Premier Senior Hurling Championship

Seán Óg Murphy (1897–1956), a native of Cork city, hurled with Blackrock and played football with Nils. With Nils he won junior football titles in 1913 and 1914. With his beloved Blackrock he won county hurling titles in 1913, 1920, 1924, 1925 and 1927, captaining the last three.

With Cork he won three All-Ireland medals (1919, 1926 and 1928) and six Munster medals. He captained Munster in the first Railway Cup in 1927, when Leinster won, and again in 1928 and 1929, when he collected two winners’ medals.

Murphy was a Cork hurling selector across four decades. He was a selector while still playing, including on the 1926 and 1928 All-Ireland teams he captained. After injury ended his career he helped guide Cork to All-Irelands in 1929 and 1931, and was a key backroom figure for six more in 1941, 1943, 1944, 1952, 1953 and 1954. He was secretary of Cork County Board from 1929 until his death in 1956. In 2000 he was named full-back on the Cork Hurling Team of the Century.

Jim Forbes Cup — Senior A Hurling Championship

History to come.

Seamus Long Cup — Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

Seamus Long was a founder member of Ballinora GAA club, and he and his family are credited with setting up the Divisional Boards. He was principal of Ballinora school from 1913 to 1951 and was elected secretary of the Ballincollig club in 1914.

In 1924 he became the first secretary of the Muskerry Board and founding chairman of the Ballinora club. He was Vice-Chairman of Cork County Board from 1940 to 1946 and a Munster Council delegate from 1949 until his death in 1953.

Paddy Walsh Cup — Intermediate A Hurling Championship

Paddy Walsh, a native of Castlemartyr in East Cork, served the GAA for many years until his death in 2001. The GAA grounds in Castlemartyr are named in his honour. He played for Mogeely and Castlemartyr for many years, captaining Mogeely against Castlemartyr in the 1952 East Cork final, and represented Imokilly in the County Championship.

It was as an administrator that Paddy became best known, locally and across the county. He held almost every role in his club: president, long-serving chairman, field administrator, selector, team manager, East Cork Board delegate and County Board delegate. He developed dressing rooms, guarded the fields and pursued players. He did whatever was needed to keep a small rural club afloat and, at times, remarkably successful.

Read Paddy Walsh’s obituary.

Jimmy O’Mahony Cup — Premier Junior Hurling Championship

History to come.

Denis O’Riordan Cup — Divisions/Colleges Hurling Championship

The winners go on to the Premier Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals.

History to come.

John Quirke Cup — Junior A Hurling Championship

Johnny Quirke (1911–1983) of Blackrock is regarded as one of the finest hurlers Cork ever produced. He played for Cork from 1932 until 1946 and was part of the great four-in-a-row team of the 1940s. He later served as a Cork selector for many years and stayed deeply involved with Blackrock. His selection on the Cork Hurling Team of the Century confirms his place among the county’s greatest players.

Dan Hoare Cup — Junior B Inter-Divisional Hurling Championship

Dan Hoare, a native of Conna in East Cork, was President of Cork County Board when he died in January 2016. He had earlier served as Vice-President and Treasurer.

His club, St Catherine’s, was at the heart of his life. He was a County Board delegate and a member of the General Purposes Committee (GPC) before serving as County Board Treasurer from 1987 to 1996. He went on to serve as Munster Council Treasurer from 2001 to 2005 and on national committees at Croke Park.

Confined Junior B Hurling Championship Cup (unnamed)

This cup was first presented in 1984. Kilbree were the first winners.

Dick Barrett Cup — U21 A Hurling Championship

Known over the years as the U21 A (1973–2015), U21 Premier (2016–2017) and U21 Premier 1 Championship.

The Dick Barrett Memorial Committee presented this cup to Cork County Board in 1974. Dick Barrett was born in 1889 in Hollyhill, near Ballineen. A qualified teacher, he took a post in Upton and became involved with the local club, Knockavilla, serving for a time as club secretary. He strongly believed Knockavilla should keep its independence rather than amalgamate with parish neighbours Valley Rovers. A member of the IRB, he fought on the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War and was executed in 1922.

Jim Sarsfield Cup — U21 B Hurling Championship

Jim Sarsfield of Watergrasshill gave his whole life to the GAA and to his club. With his brother Felix, he kept Watergrasshill going through tough times. Jim held every officership in the club and was club president when he died in October 2013.

A man of deeply held beliefs, he never compromised his convictions and always spoke his mind at East Cork Board and County Board. He saw his club rise from Junior B to Junior A, and winning the county Junior A Hurling Championship in 1974 was a highlight he celebrated for many a day. He was also very proud when the club’s pitch was named after Felix.

Jim’s contribution to Watergrasshill GAA can never be fully measured, and he gave much while asking nothing in return. His family presented this cup to the County Board in his memory. Inniscarra were the first winners, in November 2017.

Gene Fitzgerald Cup — U21 C Hurling Championship

Presented by the Fitzgerald family in 2010, this cup honours Gene Fitzgerald of Cloughduv, a former Vice-President and Treasurer of Cork County Board who died in 2007. Gene also served as a government minister and as a Member of the European Parliament. Castlelyons were the first winners.

Football Championships

Andy Scannell Cup — Premier Senior Football Championship

Andy Scannell, a native of Ballingeary, was a national teacher at Clondulane National School outside Fermoy. He played with Fermoy and served as club secretary from 1936 to 1939 and chairman from 1940 to 1945. He chaired the Avondhu Division from 1946 to 1952.

Andy played junior hurling and football for Cork. He was a Cork selector at several levels, including the 1945 All-Ireland senior football team and the 1953 and 1954 All-Ireland senior hurling teams. He was also an accomplished referee at county and Munster level.

He was Vice-Chairman of Cork County Board in 1947 and Chairman from 1952 to 1955. He became Vice-Chairman of the Munster Council in 1957 and was a Central Council delegate in 1957 and 1958. Andy died suddenly in January 1959.

Kevin McTernan Cup — Senior A Football Championship

In October 2018, St Finbarr’s beat Duhallow to reclaim the Andy Scannell Cup, ending a 33-year wait and a run of eight lost finals. The tears were mostly of joy. But thoughts inevitably turned to two great goalkeepers, stars of earlier lost finals, both of whom died young. Kevin McTernan was one of them.

Kevin was a proud servant of the southside club. He was part of the 1985 Féile-winning team and won three consecutive U21 hurling medals from 1988 to 1990. Football, though, was his first love. At 30 he made the Barr’s number 1 jersey his own. He played in three consecutive county finals from 2008 to 2010, winning the Intermediate title in 2008 and losing narrowly to Clonakilty in 2009 and Nemo Rangers in 2010.

Kevin retired from playing after the 2010 final, aged 39, but his service to the club never wavered. He was a selector with county-winning U21 and U16 football teams, a minor football selector and vice-chairman of the minor committee. He was also a senior football selector before his terminal illness.

Billy Long Cup — Premier Intermediate Football Championship

Billy Long was involved with Lees in the 1940s and 1950s. He was a Cork senior football selector in 1956 and a member of the County Board Executive. He died young, and his family donated this cup in his memory.

Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup — Intermediate A Football Championship

This cup honours John “Lock” O’Sullivan of Adrigole, who attended Beara Community School from 1989 to 1994. With the school he won Junior County and Munster Vocational medals in 1992. In 1994 he added Senior County, Munster and All-Ireland medals, when Beara beat Davitt College, Castlebar, in the All-Ireland final.

At UCC he won an All-Ireland Higher Education League medal in 1996. He was part of the Beara teams that won back-to-back U21 titles in 1996 and 1997, and of the Beara panel that won the 1997 County Senior Football title. John played for the Cork U21s in 1997 and the Cork juniors in 2002. A gifted all-round sportsman, in August 2002 he helped Ireland win the inaugural Australian Rules World Cup, beating Papua New Guinea in the final.

John won many honours with his beloved Adrigole. Fittingly, his last game was for Adrigole in the County Junior Football semi-final against Tadhg Mac Carthaigh in Bantry on 10 November 2002. With the sides level at 0-10 each in injury time, John kicked the winning point. Just nine days later, on 19 November 2002, he died suddenly.

Donal Hurley Cup — Premier Junior Football Championship

History to come.

Tadhg Crowley Cup — Divisions/Colleges Football Championship

Tadhg “Tadhgo” Crowley of Clonakilty, born in 1921, was a dual Cork minor in 1939 and won a minor hurling medal. But football was where he would shine. He won his first County Senior medal with Clonakilty that same year and played junior for Cork in 1941 and 1942.

From 1943 he was a regular on the Cork senior team at midfield or centre-back. His great year was 1945, when he captained Cork to Munster and All-Ireland glory. Arguably the greatest centre-back ever to wear the Cork jersey, he was a hero to every man, woman and child in Clonakilty.

Tadhg was also an accomplished referee. He took charge of six county finals between 1953 and 1959, missing only 1954, when Clonakilty were playing. His sudden death in 1963 robbed Clonakilty of its most famous son.

Donal O’Sullivan Cup — Junior A Football Championship

Donal O’Sullivan, a native of Ardgroom on the Beara Peninsula, played with St Vincent’s, Glanmire and Imokilly before joining Lees in 1950. He played centre-back on the 1953 Cork junior football team and captained the Cork seniors to the 1956 National League title. He also captained Lees to the 1955 County Senior title.

Donal represented Lees on Cork County Board and was its Vice-Chairman from 1970 to 1975. He was Chairman from 1976 to 1978, years in which Cork completed a three-in-a-row of All-Ireland senior hurling titles. He chaired the Munster Council from 1980 to 1983. Donal died in 2001.

Jim Cronin Cup — Junior B Inter-Divisional Football Championship

Jim Cronin was a lifelong member of the Millstreet club and its County Board delegate for many years. A renowned author and GAA historian, he wrote books now treasured by fans, quizmasters and statisticians, including A Rebel Hundred: Cork’s 100 All-Irelands and Cork GAA History 1886–1986.

He was elected County PRO in 1994, then served as Vice-Chairman from 1997 to 1999 and Chairman from 2000 to 2002. At the time of his death he was Honorary Vice-President of Cork County Board.

Confined Junior B Football Championship Cup (unnamed)

This cup was first presented in 1984.

Confined Junior C Football Championship Cup (unnamed)

This cup was first presented in 2016.

Pádraig A. Ó Murchú Cup — U21 A Football Championship

This cup honours the legendary Patrick Aloysius “Weeshie” Murphy of Bere Island, who served the GAA for many years as a player and administrator. He was full-back on Cork’s 1945 All-Ireland-winning football team and played club football for Bere Island, Beara and Lees. He won three Railway Cup medals (1946, 1948 and 1949) and was named full-back on the Cork Millennium Team.

Weeshie was Chairman of Cork County Board from 1955 to 1965 and was Chairman of the Munster Council when he died in 1973. His son, Dr Con Murphy, has been team doctor to Cork’s inter-county teams since 1976.

Seán Ó Crualaoí Cup — U21 B Football Championship

The Crowley family presented this cup in 2010 in memory of Seán Crowley of Bandon, a Vice-President of Cork County Board until his death in 2009. Bandon GAA was his great sporting love, followed by Carbery, Cork and Munster, in that order.

Seán represented Bandon on the Carbery Board and, for many years, Bandon and Carbery on Cork County Board. He chaired the Carbery Board for several years and was a long-serving selector on Carbery hurling and football teams. He was also a selector on the 1972 Munster Railway Cup winners and Cork’s 1973 All-Ireland football winners, both breakthroughs after long lean spells.

It is fitting that the U21 B football cup bears his name. For Seán the local club was the heartbeat of the GAA, and he was a strong supporter of smaller rural clubs. Erin’s Own were the first winners.

Mick Dolan Cup — U21 C Football Championship

Mick Dolan was a true gentleman, a great servant of Cork GAA and his club Fermoy, a great character and a friend to everyone who knew him.

He was elected County Development Officer for 1999–2001, then served as Vice-Chairman from 2003 to 2005 and Chairman from 2006 to 2008. He also sat on various County Board committees, including hearings and appeals. Mick was instrumental in recording the history of Cork GAA, and the publication of the Cork GAA History 1987–2011 book gave him great pleasure.

Mick gave a lifetime of service to Fermoy as a player and administrator, including as club chairman. The huge turnout at his funeral showed how much he was loved. This cup, donated by his family, is a fitting tribute, and we are sure Mick would tell the winning captain: “Have a drink out of that tonight, oul’ stock.”

County Hurling Leagues

Denis Conroy Cup — Division 1 Hurling League

This cup honours Denis Conroy of Carrigtwohill, who served Cork County Board as Registrar, Vice-Chairman and Chairman. His dream came true at the Cork Convention at the end of 1987. Forty-eight years after first standing for election to the County Board, he became Chairman. He was 76 and had suffered a stroke that autumn, but he stood his ground against illness as he did against everything else.

Cork won seven All-Ireland titles during his three years as Chairman, and the 1990 double gave him a unique distinction. Cork had won the double in 1890 and Tipperary ten years later. But neither had been won in the same calendar year, or under the same chairman.

At St Colman’s College, Fermoy, he captained the Dr Harty Cup team, and he went on to play Fitzgibbon Cup for UCC. He also played senior championship for UCC, in the days when students had to play for the college. He scored two goals on his senior championship debut for Carrigtwohill in 1937. Later that summer his goal was Carrig’s only score in the county final against Glen Rovers.

He was Munster Council representative for 25 years and served as a Central Council delegate, a GPC member and a Congress delegate. He was County Board Registrar for a time and became Vice-Chairman two years before becoming Chairman. At his death he was Vice-President. Five GAA presidents shouldered his coffin on the night of his removal. He was buried, a statesman of the Association, a few hundred yards from where he was born.

Ger O’Donovan Cup — Division 2 Hurling League

Ger O’Donovan played hurling and football for Bandon and St Brogan’s College, Bandon, winning many honours with both. With Bandon he won three U16 B hurling county medals, a Premier Minor hurling county medal, two West Cork U21 hurling medals and a 1999 Junior A hurling county medal, as well as a Minor A football county medal.

He hurled for Cork from U14 to minor, winning an All-Ireland Minor Hurling medal in 1998. With St Brogan’s he won junior and senior county medals and three All-Ireland Senior Hurling Vocational medals with Cork.

Ger played his last game for the Lilywhites against Carrigtwohill in July 2002. Diagnosed with terminal cancer that year, he died on 30 December 2003, aged just 23. The O’Donovan family presented this cup, and Ger’s beloved Bandon first won it in 2008.

Seán Ó Maoláin Cup — Division 3 Hurling League

History to come.

Bowler Walsh Cup — Division 4 Hurling League

History to come.

Seán Ó Murchú Cup — Division 5 Hurling League

Seán Ó Murchú of the St Vincent’s club was one of its most esteemed members. He had a long playing career with the club and was its County Board delegate for many years. He chaired the club’s Field Development Committee and was club president at the time of his death in 2002.

A lecturer at UCC and the college’s Director of Adult Education, he was regarded by everyone who knew him as a true gentleman. His wife Joan presented this cup to the County Board in his memory.

Liam Breathnach Cup — Division 6 Hurling League

William “Bowler” Walsh of Sarsfields, a native of Glounthaune, had a ten-year career with the Cork hurlers and lost All-Ireland finals in 1912 and 1915. He represented Sarsfields on Cork County Board and was Cork’s Munster Council representative from 1931 to 1939.

He was Vice-Chairman of the County Board from 1937 to 1940 and Chairman from 1941 to 1946. He was also a senior hurling selector on the All-Ireland-winning teams of 1941, 1943, 1944 and 1946. Defeated for the chair in 1947, he served one more year on the General Purposes Committee before stepping down. He had made a notable contribution to a glorious chapter in Cork GAA history. He died in 1964 and is buried in Rathcooney.

Judge Con Murphy Cup — Division 7 Hurling League

Con Murphy was born in Bandon on 5 April 1960. He played underage for Bandon and was full-back on the U14 team that won the county title in 1974. He attended Hamilton High School, Bandon. He was club secretary in the 1984 Centenary Year, club chairman in 1987 and a selector with the minor hurling team that won the county title in 1995.

He married Miriam Higgins, who won All-Ireland senior camogie medals with Cork in the 1980s. Con died on 1 August 2011, and Miriam presented this cup in his memory.

County Football Leagues

Bryan O’Loughlin Cup — Division 1 Football League

History to come.

Division 2 Football League Cup (unnamed)

Division 3 Football League Cup (unnamed)

Paddy Driscoll Cup — Division 4 Football League

Paddy Driscoll, a Garda in Cobh and a member of Russell Rovers, played football for Cork in the 1950s. He lost All-Ireland finals in 1956 and 1957, won National League medals in 1952 and 1956 and played in five Railway Cup finals. He was named right corner-back on the Munster Team of the Millennium. He also refereed in the 1950s, but his playing commitments meant he did not continue.

Paddy joined the County Board in 1954, representing the Garda, and was elected to the General Purposes Committee in 1956. In 1957 he succeeded Con Murphy as Treasurer, when Murphy became Secretary, and held the post until 1962. He chaired the East Cork Board from 1965 to 1973 and Cork County Board from 1979 to 1981.

He was a trustee of the Association and a Cork football selector for 20 years, his greatest achievement being the 1973 All-Ireland senior football title. He managed the All Stars team in 1983. Paddy died in 2001. His son Brendan Driscoll is the County Board’s Coaching Officer.

Division 5 Football League Cup (unnamed)

Munster League Cup — Division 6 Football League

History to come.

Jackie O’Shea Cup — Division 7 Football League

Jackie O’Shea of Donoughmore was born on 2 January 1926. From his minor days in 1942 he was known far and wide as a goalkeeper of great skill and courage. He played for 20 years for his club and also for the Muskerry senior team.

After retiring he immersed himself in club administration as secretary, PRO and committee member, attending 72 consecutive AGMs. He died on 20 April 2011. The O’Shea family presented this cup.

Other Cups

These cups are not listed in the 2026 Competitions Document. Each is shown with the competition it was previously listed for.

Micheál “Haulie” Ó Donghaile Cup — previously Division 1 Hurling League

Haulie Donnelly was one of the great sons of the parish of Ballymacoda/Ladysbridge, and for many years his name was synonymous with the GAA there. He sat on the club committee for 30 years, was an East Cork Board delegate for more than 20 years and served as a selector at various levels. He rarely missed a game, from U12 to Premier Intermediate.

He was a constant presence at Ahavine on match days, preparing the field and raising the club flag. He was very proud of that flag, which he kept at his family home, where he also repaired hurleys for players of all ages.

Haulie saw the club through poor times, losing several East Cork finals and wondering whether Fr O’Neill’s would ever make the breakthrough. It came in 1996, when Dick O’Neill raised the Jamsey Kelleher Cup in Killeagh, the first of many firsts for the club. The following Wednesday, at the East Cork Board meeting where winners customarily address the delegates, Haulie gave a speech still rated the most passionate ever heard there. Ten years later, in 2006, the club honoured him by asking him to bring the All-Ireland Junior Hurling cup to the board meeting, though he had retired as a delegate. These were two of his proudest moments.

Haulie was Vice-President of Fr O’Neill’s when he died on 6 August 2010. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Carmel and sons John and Gerard, who presented this cup to the County Board in 2012.

Kelleher Shield — previously Division 1 Football League

Presented by John Kelleher in 1913, this impressive shield is one of the oldest trophies in the county. Bantry were the first winners in 1913, followed by Fermoy in 1914.

John Kelleher was Managing Director of T. Lyons and Co., and he presented the shield to be competed for by football teams. He had a remarkable career with the firm. He joined in 1859, aged 13, and became Managing Director 14 years later, in 1873. When he retired in 1932 he had been with the company for 73 years, 59 of them as Managing Director.

Tom Creedon Cup — previously Intermediate Football Tournament

Macroom GAA Club, the Muskerry Division and Cork County Board presented this cup in memory of Macroom and Cork footballer Tom Creedon, who died tragically in August 1983.

Born in 1954, Tom played for Macroom from underage to senior. He won the U14 County Schools Shield in 1967, a Mid Cork U16 medal in 1970, five minor medals from 1968 to 1972 and U21 medals in 1972 and 1974. At adult level he won Muskerry Cup medals in 1981 and 1982 and an Intermediate Football League medal in 1981. In 1982 he captained Macroom to the County Intermediate Football title and a return to senior ranks. His last championship game was against St Nick’s in May 1983, a 1-9 to 0-7 win.

Tom’s inter-county career began with Cork’s 1972 Munster and All-Ireland minor football winners. He won a Munster U21 medal in 1974, when Cork beat Kerry in the final. He played senior football for Cork from 1975 to 1983, winning a National League medal in 1980 and playing in nine Munster finals, including replays in 1976 and 1982. He won a Railway Cup medal with Munster in 1981.

Tom also played for UCC, for the Combined Universities in 1976 and for Muskerry from 1978 to 1982. A natural leader, he captained Macroom at every level. His death robbed Macroom of one of its greatest players.

Jerry Keating Cup — previously Junior B Hurling League

Jerry Keating chaired the Duhallow Board from 1974 to 2002, having previously been secretary of the Juvenile Board. He was instrumental in establishing Coiste na nIomána in 1967 and helped assemble a divisional U14 hurling team that enjoyed great success in that competition.

A strong supporter of the ideals of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, he was very active in promoting Scór and served as its County Chairman for 13 years. He was also Treasurer of Ból-Chumann na hÉireann. A native of Rylane, he embraced his adopted clubs, Lyre and Banteer, with great enthusiasm. A former headmaster of Lyre school, he died on 30 October 2010. The Duhallow Board presented this cup.

John Brady Cup — previously Junior B Football League

John Brady was born on 12 December 1926 and was immersed in Cumann Lúthchleas Gael all his life. He played with Éire Óg from his earliest days and served as a selector with various club teams over the decades. He became a delegate to the Muskerry Board, served on the GPC and was a Muskerry senior hurling selector through the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

His finest administrative achievement came in 1993, when he was elected President of the Muskerry Board. His wit and razor-sharp mind were the source of many stories. John died on 20 January 2011. The Éire Óg club presented this cup.