The All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship was a second tier Hurling championship competition held annually between 1974 and 2004 for the so-called 'weaker' hurling teams in Ireland and organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is contested by those county teams knocked out in the first round of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the winner is awarded the championship. The series of games began every year immediately after the completion of the National Hurling League with the All-Ireland final being played in June or July, initially in Croke Park, Dublin but later in provincial venues around the country and in Britain. The championship was abolished in 2004 and these teams now play in the Joe McDonagh Cup which is the successor competition to the championship. The title was won by 11 different teams, 6 of which won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are London, who won the competition 5 times. The history of the championship was bookended by victories for Kildare, winners of the first title in 1974 and the last in 2004.

History

Creation

Following ongoing one-sided matches in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship between counties of differing standards, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) began considering the addition of a tournament for so-called weaker senior counties who were usually eliminated in the early stages of their respective provincial championship. The GAA found broad support for the introduction of a second-tier championship and canvassed options for its potential structure and future inclusion within the annual calendar. The championship was branded the Senior B championship and its inaugural season was 1974. Second and third-tier competitions have already been incorporated in hurling for several years, such as the Intermediate and Junior championships.

Development

The championship remained knockout but the number of participating teams increased.

Team changes

12 county teams have participated in at least one edition of the championship.

Championship moments

Format

The championship was open to all hurling teams who did not take part in the proper All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. It was a knock-out competition whereby once a team lost they were eliminated from the championship.

Teams

2004 Championship

The championship was suspended after the completion of the 2004 All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship. Three counties competed in 2004:

List of All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship counties

Team appearances (1974-1977)

Qualification for subsequent competitions

Qualification for the All-Ireland Championship

The Senior B winners qualify back into the subsequent All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship at the preliminary quarter-final stage. The Senior B champions plays a provincial winner at this stage.

All-Ireland record of Senior B teams

Roll of Honour

List of finals

Team records and statistics

Team results

Legend For each year, the number of counties (in brackets) are shown.

Teams

Performances by province