The 2024 Joe McDonagh Cup was the seventh edition of the Joe McDonagh Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2018[1] and is the second-tier of Hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by six GAA county teams ranked 12–17 in the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The fixtures were announced on 13 April 2018. The competition began on 5 May 2018. The competition ran from 20 April to 8 June 2024.

2024 Joe McDonagh Cup
Dates20 April - 8 June 2024
Teams6
Champions Offaly (1st title)
Jason Sampson (captain)
Johnny Kelly (manager)
Runners-up Laois
Aaron Dunphy (captain)
William Maher (manager)
Relegated Meath
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored57 (3.56 per match)
Points scored680 (42.5 per match)
Top scorer(s) Brian Duignan (3-37)
Killian Doyle (1-43)
2023 (Previous) (Next) 2025

The Joe McDonagh Cup final was played on 8 June 2024 at Croke Park in Dublin, between Offaly and Laois, in what was their first ever meeting in the final.[2] Offaly won the match by 2–23 to 0–26 to claim their first ever cup title.[3][4]

Offaly's Brian Duignan and Westmeath's Killian Doyle were the joint-top scorers.

Team changes

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To championship

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Relegated from the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Promoted from the Christy Ring Cup

From championship

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Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Relegated to the Christy Ring Cup

Format

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Cup format

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

Promotion

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If the Joe McDonagh champions are a non-Munster team, they are automatically promoted to the following year's Leinster Championship. If the champions are a Munster team, they are automatically promoted to the following year's Munster Championship. The Joe McDonagh Cup champions replace the bottom-placed team in the provincial championship containing six teams.

Relegation

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

Teams by province

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The participating teams, listed by province, with numbers in parentheses indicating final positions in the 2024 National Hurling League before the championship were:

Leinster (4)

Munster (1)

Ulster (1)

Teams

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General information

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Six counties will compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup:

County Last Cup Title Last Provincial Title Last All-Ireland Title Position in 2023 Championship Appearance
  Down 1997 5th 4th
  Kerry 1891 1891 4th 7th
  Laois 2019 1949 1915 3rd 4th
  Meath Champions (Christy Ring Cup) 5th
  Offaly 1995 1998 Runners-up 4th
  Westmeath 2021 6th (Leinster Senior Hurling Championship) 5th

Personnel and kits

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County Manager Captain(s) Sponsor
  Down
  Kerry Stephen Molumphy Tomás O'Connor Kerry Group
  Laois Willie Maher Aaron Dunphy Laois Hire
  Meath
  Offaly Johnny Kelly Jason Sampson Glenisk
  Westmeath

Draws

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Group stage seeding

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The fixtures for the group stage were an open draw.

Numbers in brackets indicate ranking in the 2024 NHL.[9]

Pot

All-Ireland seeding

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The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship draw took place in 7th December 2023.

Seeded into preliminary quarter-finals

  • Joe McDonagh Cup winners
  • Joe McDonagh Cup runners-up

Unseeded into preliminary quarter-finals

  • 3rd place Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
  • 3rd place Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Group Stage

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Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L SF SA Diff Pts Qualification
1   Laois 5 4 0 1 14-122 3-101 +54 8 Advance to Final and All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals
2   Offaly (P) 5 4 0 1 15-125 9-97 +46 8
3   Kerry 5 3 0 2 4-92 8-85 -5 6
6   Westmeath 5 2 1 2 6-114 6-92 +22 5
5   Down 5 1 1 3 11-97 10-130 -30 3
6   Meath (R) 5 0 0 5 5-81 19-126 -87 0 Relegated to Christy Ring Cup

Round 1

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20 April 2024 Round 1   Down 3-24 (33) 0-25 (25)   Meath Ballycran  
2pm (HT: 1-15 - 0-13) Venue: McKenna Park

Pts: T Prenter 2-1, D Sands 1-3, P Sheehan 0-5 (4fs), P Óg McCrickard 0-3 (2fs), O McManus and E Sands 0-2 each, M Fisher, D Hughes, L Savage, C Taggart, D Hughes, and F Turpin 0-1 each.
Report
Pts: P O'Hanrahan 0-17 (15fs), E Óg Ó Donnchadha 0-2, S Ennis, J Toher, K Gorman, N McLarnon, N Potterton, S Martin 0-1 each.
Referee: C McDonald (Antrim)


21 April 2024 Round 1   Laois 2-21 (27) 0-24 (24)   Offaly Portlaoise  
2pm (HT: 0-11 - 0-16) Venue: O'Moore Park

Pts: P Purcell 2-1, A Dunphy 0-5 (three frees), A Corby and S Maher (two frees, one 65) 0-4 each, J Quinlan 0-3, T Cuddy 0-2, L O'Connell and J Lennon 0-1 each
Report
Pts: A Screeney 0-8 (four frees), B Duignan 0-4 (two frees), S Bourke, K Sampson, E Cahill (one free) and D Bourke 0-2 each, D Ravenhill, C King, C Mitchel and L Fox 0-1 each
Referee: C Cunning (Antrim)


21 April 2024 Round 1   Westmeath 1-14 (17) 1-20 (23)   Kerry Mullingar  
2pm (HT: 0-6 - 0-9) Venue: TEG Cusack Park

Pts: K Doyle 0-11 (7f), T Doyle 1-1, A Clarke, s McGovern 0-1 each
Report
Pts: M O'Connor 1-10 (10f), F Mackessy 0-4 (2f), R Walsh 0-3, D Shanahan, N Mulcahy, K Hayes 0-1 each
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny)


Round 2

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27 April 2024 Round 2   Meath 1-16 (19) 7-29 (50)   Laois Navan  
3pm (HT: 1-8 - 2-16) Venue: Páirc Tailteann

Pts: N Potterton 0-4 (0-1f, 0-1 65), M Horan 1-0, S Quigley 0-3, J Toher 0-2 (0-2f), K Gorman 0-1, T Shine 0-1, S Martin 0-1, J Kelly 0-1, S Ennis 0-1, E Og O Donnchadha 0-1, D Rogers 0-1
Report
Pts: W Dunphy 1-4, M Dowling 2-0, M Phelan 1-2, T Keyes 1-2, A Dunphy 0-5, J Duggan 1-1, P Purcell 0-4, S Maher 0-4 (0-1f, 0-1 65), E Rowland 1-0 (1-0 pen), P Delaney 0-2, D Dooley 0-2, A Corby 0-2, FC Fennell 0-1
Referee: P Owens (Down)


27 April 2024 Round 2   Offaly 2-23 (29) 1-20 (23)   Westmeath Tullamore  
3pm (HT: 1-11 - 1-11) Venue: Glenisk O'Connor Park

Pts: B Duignan 1-11 (1-0 pen, 8fs, 1 65), C Kiely 0-3, D Bourke 1-0, K Sampson 0-2, C Mitchell 0-2, E Kelly 0-2, B Conneely 0-1, C King 0-1, L Fox 0-1
Report
Pts: K Doyle 0-15 (10fs, 1 65), D O’Reilly 1-1, E Keyes 0-1, R Greville 0-1, D Williams 0-1, D Glennon 0-1
Referee: B Keon (Galway)


28 April 2024 Round 2   Kerry 0-26 (26) 2-12 (18)   Down Tralee  
13:00 (HT: 0-10 – 2-04) Venue: Austin Stack Park

Pts: M O’Connor (0-13, 7s), D Goggin (0-4), F Mackessy (1f) and R Walsh (0-2 each), C Walsh, K Hayes, B Barrett, D Woulfe and G Dooley (0-1 each)
Report[10]
Pts: D Sands (1-1), C Taggart (1-0), P Sheehan (0-3fs), T Prenter, E Sands and C Egan (0-2 each), D Hughes and F Turpin (0-1 each)
Referee: C Doyle (Tipperary)


Round 3

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4 May 2024 Round 3   Down 3-19 (28) 1-25 (28)   Westmeath Ballycran  
3pm Venue: McKenna Park

Pts: P Óg McCrickard 0-13 (9f), T McGrattan 3-2, P Savage 0-2, D Hughes, D Sands 0-1 each.
Report
Pts: K Doyle 1-7 (6f), D O’Reilly 0-5, D Williams 0-4 (2f), K Regan, D Clinton, C Doyle (1f) 0-2 each, A Clarke, O McCabe, T Doyle 0-1 each.


4 May 2024 Round 3   Meath 3-16 (25) 5-31 (46)   Offaly Navan  
Venue: Páirc Tailteann

Pts: N Potterton (2-5, 1-5f), T Shine (1-2), E Og O Donnchadha, D Murtagh, K Gorman (0-2 each), N McLarnon, M Horan, J Kelly (0-1).
Report
Pts: C Mitchell (1-7), D Bourke (1-3), E Cahill (0-6, 3f), B Duignan (0-6, 5f), K Sampson (1-2), A Screeney (1-1), O Kelly (1-0), D King, E Kelly (0-2 each), C Kiely, D Shirley (0-1 each).


4 May 2024 Round 3   Kerry 0-18 (18) 1-25 (28)   Laois Tralee  
3pm Venue: Austin Stack Park

Pts: F Mackessy 0-5 (2f), C Walsh 0-4 (3f), M O’Connor 0-3 (2f, 1 ‘65’), R Walsh 0-3, K Hayes 0-1, M Leane 0-1, B Barrett 0-1
Report
Pts: A Dunphy 0-11 (8f, 1 ‘65’), S Maher 0-3 (2f, 1 ‘65’), T Keyes 1-1, L O’Connell 0-2, P Purcell 0-2, D Dooley 0-2, A Corby 0-2, T Cuddy 0-1, J Lennon 0-1


Round 4

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18 May 2024 Round 4   Westmeath 1-29 (32) 0-14 (14)   Meath Mullingar  
Venue: TEG Cusack Park

Pts: K Doyle 0-8 (3fs, 1‘65’), D Clinton 1-4, D O’Reilly 0-6, D Williams 0-4, P Clarke, R Greville 0-2 each, T Doyle, A Clarke, O McCabe 0-1 each.
Report
Pts: J Murray, N Potterton (3f) 0-3 each, T Shine, K Gorman 0-2 each, S Ennis, J Kelly, E Óg Ó Donnchadha, S Geraghty 0-1 each.


18 May 2024 Round 4   Laois 4-31 (43) 0-17 (17)   Down Portlaoise  
Venue: Laois Hire O'Moore Park

Pts: W Dunphy and T Keyes 2-2 each, A Dunphy (3fs) and R King (2fs, 1 65) 0-5 each, A Corby 0-4, J Quinlan and D Dooley 0-3 each, P Purcell 0-2, J Duggan, P Delaney, C Comerford, R Mullaney and M Phelan 0-1 each.
Report
Pts: P Og McCrickard 0-5 (3fs), P Sheehan 0-4 (1f), M Fisher, T McGrattan, M Conlon, C Taggart, F Turpin, D Sands and P Savage 0-1 each


19 May 2024 Round 4   Offaly 3-24 (33) 0-15 (15)   Kerry Tullamore  
Venue: Glenisk O'Connor Park

Pts: E Cahill (1-8, 1-0 pen, 4fs, ’65), K Sampson (1-2), C Mitchell ( 0-4), O Kelly (1-0), B Duignan (0-3), J Sampson and C Kelly (0-2 each) C King and D Maher (0-1 each).
Report
Pts: M O’Connor (0-8, 6fs, 1’45), C Walsh (0-2, 1f), F Mackessy, R Walsh, K Hayes, D Woulfe and N Mulcahy (0-1 each).


Round 5

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25 May 2024 Round 5   Kerry 3-13 (22) 1-10 (13)   Meath Tralee  
Venue: Austin Stack Park

Pts: G Dooley 2-3, B Barrett 0-4 (4fs), M Leane 1-0, L Crowley 0-2, F Mackessy 0-2 (0-1 ’65), E Murphy 0-1, D Goggin 0-1,
Report
Pts: J Murray 1-7 (6fs, 1-0pen), S Ennis 0-1, K Rogers 0-1, S Geraghty 0-1.


25 May 2024 Round 5   Westmeath 2-26 (32) 0-16 (16)   Laois Mullingar  
Venue: TEG Cusack Park

Pts: D Williams 0-11 (7fs, 1'65'), N Mitchell 2-0, D O'Reilly 0-4, D Clinton, R Greville, K Doyle 0-2 each, A Clarke, P Clarke, K Regan, O McCabe 0-1, T Doyle 0-1 each.
Report
Pts: R King 0-7 (5fs), L Cleere, J Keyes, G Lynch 0-2 each, C Comerford, M Phelan, W Dunphy 0-1 each.


25 May 2024 Round 5   Down 3-25 (34) 5-23 (38)   Offaly Ballycran  
Venue: McKenna Park

Pts: D Sands 3-2, P Shehan 0-10 (9f, 1'65), P Og McCrickard 0-5, E Sands 0-2, T McGrattan 0-2, C Taggart 0-2, R McCrickard, D Hughes 0-1 each.
Report
Pts: B Duignan 1-9 3f, O Kelly 1-3, J Clancy 2-1, J Nally1-2, E Kelly 0-2, E Cahill 0-2, D King, L Watkins, R Ravenhill, S Burke, 0-1 each.


Knockout stage

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Final

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  Laois0-26 (26) – (29) 2-23  Offaly
A Dunphy 0-11 (0-6f, 0-2 65), P Purcell 0-5, A Corby 0-4, FC Fennell 0-1, T Keyes 0-1, L O'Connell 0-1, J Duggan 0-1, I Shanahan 0-1, R King 0-1 Report B Duignan 1-4, E Cahill 0-7 (0-5f), C Mitchell 0-4, O Kelly 1-0, C Kiely 0-2, K Sampson 0-2, King 0-1, A Screeney 0-1, D Bourke 0-1, J Clancy 0-1
Referee: C McDonald (Antrim)
Man of the match: Charlie Mitchell (Offaly)


Stadia and locations

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County Location Province Stadium(s) Capacity
Neutral Dublin Leinster Croke Park 82,300
  Down Ballycran Ulster McKenna Park 5,000
  Kerry Tralee Munster Austin Stack Park 12,000
  Laois Portlaoise Leinster Laois Hire O'Moore Park 22,000
  Meath Navan Leinster Páirc Tailteann 11,000
  Offaly Tullamore Leinster Glenisk O'Connor Park 20,000
  Westmeath Mullingar Leinster TEG Cusack Park 11,000

Statistics

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Top scorers

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Overall
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average
1   Brian Duignan Offaly 3-37 46 6 7.66
  Killian Doyle Westmeath 1-43 46 5 9.20
3   Maurice O'Connor Kerry 1-34 37 4 9.25
4   Aaron Dunphy Laois 0-37 37 5 7.40
5   Eoghan Cahill Offaly 1-25 28 5 5.60
6   Pearse Óg McCrickard Down 0-26 26 5 5.20
7   Daithí Sands Down 5-08 23 5 4.60
8   Paul Sheehan Down 0-22 22 5 4.40
9   Charlie Mitchell Offaly 1-18 21 5 4.20
10   Patrick Purcell Laois 2-14 20 5 4.00
  David Williams Westmeath 0-20 20 5 4.00
In a single game
Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition
1   Padraic O'Hanrahan Meath 0-17 17 Down
2   Killian Doyle Westmeath 0-15 15 Offaly
3   Brian Duignan Offaly 1-11 14 Westmeath
4   Maurice O'Connor Kerry 1-10 13 Westmeath
  Maurice O'Connor Kerry 0-13 13 Down
  Pearse Óg McCrickard Down 0-13 13 Westmeath
7   Brian Duignan Offaly 1-09 12 Down
8   Daithí Sands Down 3-02 11 Offaly
  Nicky Potterton Meath 2-05 11 Offaly
  Eoghan Cahill Offaly 1-08 11 Kerry
  Aaron Dunphy Laois 0-11 11 Kerry
  Killian Doyle Westmeath 0-11 11 Kerry
  David Williams Westmeath 0-11 11 Laois
  Aaron Dunphy Laois 0-11 11 Offaly

Scoring events

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  • Widest winning margin: 31 points
  • Most goals in a match: 8
  • Most points in a match: 49
  • Most goals by one team in a match: 7
  • Most points by one team in a match: 31
  • Highest aggregate score: 72 points
  • Lowest aggregate score: 35 points

Miscellaneous

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "GAA votes to change senior hurling championship". Irish Examiner. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Preview: Joe McDonagh Cup Final - Laois v Offaly". GAA website. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Offaly overcome Laois fightback to land maiden Joe McDonagh Cup". Irish Examiner. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Joe McDonagh Cup Final: Offaly resist Laois comeback". GAA website. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Westmeath relegated as joy turns to heartbreak". RTÉ Sport. 28 May 223. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Royals withstand Derry fightback to claim Christy Ring Cup title". Irish Examiner. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Carlow dig deep to snatch Joe McDonagh Cup from Offaly after extra time". Irish Independent. 27 May 223. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Down stay in Joe McDonagh as Kildare make the drop to Christy Ring". RTÉ Sport. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  9. ^ Damian, Stack (17 April 2024). "Joe McDonagh Cup 2024: County by county guide to hurling's second tier championship". Irish Independent.
  10. ^ "Maurice O'Connor haul helps Kerry to Joe McDonagh victory". RTE. Retrieved 28 April 2024.