2021 Joe McDonagh Cup

Joe McDonagh Cup

2021 Joe McDonagh CupDates| 26 June – 17 July 2021

|

Teams| 6
Champions|  Westmeath (1st title)
Cormac Boyle (captain)
Shane O'Brien (manager)
Runners-up|  Kerry
Paudie O'Connor (captain)
Fintan O'Connor (manager)
Relegated|  Kildare
Tournament statistics
Matches played| 8
Goals scored| 19 (2.38 per match)
Points scored| 351 (43.88 per match)
Top scorer(s)|  Jack Regan (1-36)
| ← 2020 (Previous) | (Next) 2022 →

|

The 2021 Joe McDonagh Cup was the fourth staging of the Joe McDonagh Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2018.[1] The competition, which was delayed for a second successive year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games, began on 26 June 2021. The fixtures were published on 21 April 2021.[2]

Antrim, winner of the 2020 final, were promoted to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, while there was no relegation to or from the competition. Down and Kildare entered the competition from the Christy Ring Cup.[3]

On 17 July 2021, Westmeath won the Joe McDonagh Cup after a 2-28 to 1-24 win over Kerry in the final at Croke Park.[4] It was their first ever cup title having previously lost two finals.[5]

Meath's Jack Regan was the championship's top scorer with 1-36.

## Team changes[edit]

### To Championship[edit]

Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

* None

Promoted from the Christy Ring Cup

* Down
* Kildare

### From Championship[edit]

Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

* Antrim

Relegated to the Christy Ring Cup

* None

## Teams[edit]

### General Information[edit]

County | Last Cup title  | Last Provincial title  | Last All-Ireland title  | Position in 2020 Championship  | Appearance

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Carlow | 2018 | —  | —  | 4th  | 3rd
Down | —  | 2001 | —  | Runners-up (Christy Ring Cup)  | 1st
Kerry | —  | 1891 | 1891 | Runners-up  | 4th
Kildare | —  | —  | —  | Champions (Christy Ring Cup)  | 1st
Meath | —  | —  | —  | 5th  | 3rd
Westmeath | —  | —  | —  | 3rd  | 4th

### Personnel and kits[edit]

County | Manager | Captain(s) | Sponsor

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Carlow  | Tom Mullally | —  | IT Carlow
Down  | Ronan Sheehan  | —  | EOS IT Solutions
Kerry  | Fintan O'Connor | Paudie O'Connor  | Kerry Group
Kildare  | David Herity | Brian Byrne  | Brady Family Ham
Meath  | Nick Weir  | —  | Glenveagh Properties
Westmeath  | Shane O'Brien  | Cormac Boyle | Renault

## Group stage[edit]

### Group A[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | SF | SA | Diff | Pts | Qualification

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1  |  Westmeath | 2 | 2  | 0  | 0  | 2-42  | 1-39  | 6  | 4 | Advance to Knockout Stage
2  |  Carlow | 2 | 1  | 0  | 1  | 2-40  | 3-39  | -2  | 2 |
3  |  Kildare | 2 | 0  | 0  | 2  | 4-37  | 4-41  | -4  | 0 | Advance to Relegation playoff

#### Group A round 1[edit]

Kildare v  Carlow 26 June 2021 Round 1|  Kildare | 3-16 - 2-22|  Carlow | St. Conleth's Park

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| J Burke 2-2, J Sheridan 0-5f, B Byrne 0-4f, C Smith 1-0, D Flaherty, K Whelan, C Dowling, C Derivan, S Ryan 0-1 each. | Report | C Nolan 0-10 (0-6f), K McDonald 2-2, D English 0-3f, JM Nolan (0-1 sideline), J Nolan, J Doyle 0-2 each, R Coady 0-1. | Referee: C Cunning (Antrim)

#### Group A round 2[edit]

Carlow v  Westmeath 3 July 2021 Round 2|  Carlow | 0-18 - 0-23|  Westmeath | Netwatch Cullen Park

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| C Nolan 0-11 (0-7f), Jon Nolan 0-3, T Joyce 0-2, JM Nolan & D English 0-1 each. | Report | N O’Brien and K Doyle 0-6 (0-4f) each, J Boyle 0-3, N Mitchell & C Doyle 0-2 each, A Clarke, A Cox, J Coll & D Clinton 0-1 each. | Referee: R McGann (Antrim)

#### Group A round 3[edit]

Westmeath v  Kildare 10 July 2021 Round 3|  Westmeath | 2-19 - 1-21|  Kildare | TEG Cusack Park

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| K Doyle 0-8 (0-4f), N O’Brien 0-5 (0-4f), N Mitchell 1-1, C Doyle 1-0, J Coll 0-2, R Greville, D Glennon & D McNicholas 0-1 each. | Report | J Sheridan 1-5 (0-4f), B Byrne 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 65), P Divilly 0-3, J Burke & D Slattery 0-2 each, C Dowling, K Whelan & J Byrne 0-1 each. | Referee: C McAllister (Cork)

### Group B[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | SF | SA | Diff | Pts | Qualification

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1  |  Kerry | 2 | 1  | 0  | 1  | 3-45  | 1-49  | 2  | 2 | Advance to Knockout Stage
2  |  Down | 2 | 1  | 0  | 1  | 2-48  | 4-40  | 2  | 2 |
3  |  Meath | 2 | 1  | 0  | 1  | 2-44  | 2-28  | -4  | 2 | Advance to Relegation playoff

#### Group B round 1[edit]

Kerry v  Down 26 June 2021 Round 1|  Kerry | 2-24 - 1-21|  Down | Austin Stack Park

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| S Conway ( 1-8, 0-4F, 0-1 65), S Nolan (0-4, 0-1F)), M Boyle, P Boyle (0-4 each), B Mahony ( 0-3), C Hussey (1-0), F OSullivan ( 0-1) | Report | D Sands (1-2), P Sheehan (0-5, 0-4F), O McManus (0-4F), P Óg McCrickard (0-3), D Hughes ( 0-2), C Woods (0-1 65), R McCusker, T Prender, P Savage, and E Sands (0-1 each) | Referee: C McAllister (Cork)

#### Group B round 2[edit]

Down v  Meath 3 July 2021 Round 2|  Down | 1-27 - 2-16|  Meath | McKenna Park

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| P Sheehan 0-11, nine frees; R McClusker 1-1; T Prenter 0-3; D Sands 0-2; E Sands 0-2; P Savage 0-2; L Savage 0-1; C Egan 0-1; R Costello 0-1; J Doran 0-1, C Woods 0-1; O MacManus 0-1. | Report | J Regan 1-8, five frees; A Douglas 1-0; A Gannon 0-2; D Kelly 0-2; J Toher 0-2; I Bermingham 0-1; P Conneely 0-1. | Referee: P Murphy (Carlow)

#### Group B round 3[edit]

Meath v  Kerry 10 July 2021 Round 3|  Meath | 0-28 - 1-21|  Kerry | Páirc Tailteann

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| J Regan 0-11 (0-5f, 0-2 65, 0-1 sideline), P Conneely 0-6, A Douglas 0-3, P O'Hanrahan 0-2, S Quigley 0-2, I Birmingham 0-1, J Toher 0-1, A Gannon 0-1, M O'Sullivan 0-1. | Report | S Conway 0-10 (0-8f, 0-1 65), C Hussey 1-1, P Boyle 0-4 (0-1f), S Nolan 0-2, D Collins 0-1, M Boyle 0-1, M O'Connor 0-1, M Leane 0-1. | Referee: S Hynes (Galway)

## Knockout stage[edit]

### Final[edit]

Westmeath v  Kerry 17 July 2021 Final|  Westmeath | 2-28 - 1-24|  Kerry | Croke Park

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| N Mitchell 1-4, K Doyle 0-6 (3fs), D Glennon 0-5, C Doyle 1-2, R Greville 0-4, N O’Brien (1f), A Clarke 0-2 each, J Boyle, A Craig, D McNicholas (f) 0-1 each. | Report | P Boyle 0-7 (3fs), M Boyle 1-3, S Conway 0-4 (2fs, 1 sideline), C Hussey 0-3, S Nolan, B O’Mahony 0-2 each, J Diggins, C O’Keeffe, D Collins 0-1 each. | Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny)

Westmeath are promoted to the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

## Relegation Playoff[edit]

Kildare v  Meath 17 July 2021 Playoff|  Kildare | 1-15 - 0-28|  Meath | Parnell Park

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| J Sheridan 1-5 (4 frees), B Byrne 0-2 (65, 1 free), P Divilly 0-2, J Travers 0-2, J Byrne 0-1 Conor Dowling 0-1, S Ryan 0-1, G Keegan 0-1. | Report | J Regan 0-17 (13 frees), E Ó Donnchadha 0-4, S Morris 0-2, J Toher 0-2, M O’Sullivan 0-2, A Gannon 0-1. | Referee: C Cunning (Antrim)

Kildare are relegated to the 2022 Christy Ring Cup.

## Stadia and locations[edit]

County  | Location  | Province  | Stadium  | Capacity

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Carlow  | Carlow | Leinster  | Netwatch Cullen Park | 21,000
Down  | Newry | Ulster  | Páirc Esler | 20,000
Kerry  | Tralee | Munster  | Austin Stack Park | 12,000
Kildare  | Newbridge | Leinster  | St. Conleth's Park | 8,200
Meath  | Navan | Leinster  | Páirc Tailteann | 17,000
Westmeath  | Mullingar | Leinster  | Cusack Park | 11,000

## Statistics[edit]

### Top scorers[edit]

#### Top scorer overall[edit]

Rank  | Player  | Club  | Tally  | Total  | Matches  | Average

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1  | Jack Regan | Meath | 1-36  | 39  | 3  | 13.00
2  | Shane Conway | Kerry | 1-22  | 25  | 3  | 8.33
3  | Jack Sheridan | Kildare | 2-18  | 24  | 3  | 8.00
4  | Chris Nolan | Carlow | 0-21  | 21  | 2  | 10.50
5  | Killian Doyle | Westmeath | 0-20  | 20  | 3  | 6.66
6  | Paul Sheehan  | Down | 0-16  | 16  | 2  | 8.00
7  | Pádraig Boyle | Kerry | 0-15  | 15  | 3  | 4.00
8  | Niall Mitchell | Westmeath | 2-07  | 13  | 3  | 4.33
Niall O'Brien | Westmeath | 0-13  | 13  | 3  | 4.33
10  | Brian Byrne  | Kildare | 0-12  | 12  | 3  | 4.00

#### In a single game[edit]

Rank  | Player  | Club  | Tally  | Total  | Opposition

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1  | Jack Regan | Meath | 0-17  | 17  | Kildare
2  | Jack Regan | Meath | 1-08  | 11  | Down
Jack Regan | Meath | 0-11  | 11  | Kerry
Shane Conway | Kerry | 1-08  | 11  | Down
Chris Nolan | Carlow | 0-11  | 11  | Westmeath
Paul Sheehan  | Down | 0-11  | 11  | Meath
7  | Chris Nolan | Carlow | 0-10  | 10  | Kildare
Shane Conway | Kerry | 0-10  | 10  | Meath
9  | Kevin McDonald  | Carlow | 2-02  | 8  | Kildare
James Burke  | Kildare | 2-02  | 8  | Carlow
Jack Sheridan | Kildare | 1-05  | 8  | Westmeath
Jack Sheridan | Kildare | 1-05  | 8  | Kildare
Killian Doyle | Westmeath | 0-08  | 8  | Kildare

### Scoring Events[edit]

* Widest winning margin: 10 points
* Kildare 1-15 - 0-28 Meath (Relegation Playoff)
* Most goals in a match: 5
* Kildare 3-16 - 2-22 Carlow (Round 1A)
* Most points in a match: 52
* Westmeath 2-28 - 1-24 Kerry (Final)
* Most goals by one team in a match: 3
* Kildare 3-16 - 2-22 Carlow (Round 1A)
* Most points by one team in a match: 28
* Meath 0-28 - 1-21 Kerry (Round 3B)
* Westmeath 2-28 - 1-24 Kerry (Final)
* Kildare 1-15 - 0-28 Meath (Relegation Playoff)
* Highest aggregate score: 61 points
* Westmeath 2-28 - 1-24 Kerry (Final)
* Lowest aggregate score: 41 points
* Carlow 0-18 - 0-23 Westmeath (Round 1B)

## Miscellaneous[edit]

* Westmeath's Davey Glennon became the first player to win both Joe McDonagh Cup and All-Ireland Championship winners' medals, having claimed the latter with Galway in 2017.
* Westmeath won their 1st championship in 11 years since winning the 2010 Christy Ring Cup.
* Down become only the second ever Ulster team to compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup.
* First-time Joe McDonagh Cup meetings:
* Kildare v Carlow (Round 1)
* Kerry v Down (Round 2)
* Down v Meath (Round 3)
* Westmeath v Kildare (Round 3)
* Kildare v Meath (Relegation Playoff)

## References[edit]

1. ^ Moran, Seán (30 September 2017). "GAA Congress approve round-robin provincial hurling championships". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
2. ^ "2021 McDonagh, Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cup draws". Hogan Stand. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
3. ^ Team, The42 (22 November 2020). "Herity guides Kildare to Christy Ring Cup triumph over Down in Croke Park decider". The42.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
4. ^ "Westmeath end Joe McDonagh Cup hoodoo with victory over Kerry at Croke Park". Irish Independent. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
5. ^ "Westmeath storm past Kingdom to win Joe McDonagh Cup". The 42. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Joe McDonagh Cup

2024 participants|

* Down
* Kerry
* Laois
* Meath
* Offaly
* Westmeath

Seasons|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Finals|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022

* Liam MacCarthy Cup (Tier 1)
* Joe McDonagh Cup (Tier 2)
* Christy Ring Cup (Tier 3)
* Nicky Rackard Cup (Tier 4)
* Lory Meagher Cup (Tier 5)

* v
* t
* e

2021 GAA season

« 2020

2022 »

Football|

| Championship|

* Connacht Championship
* Final
* Leinster Championship
* Final
* Munster Championship
* Final
* Ulster Championship
* Final

* All-Ireland Series:
* Qualifiers
* Final

|

League (NFL)|

* Division 1
* Division 2
* Division 3
* Division 4

Preseason competitions|

* Dr McKenna Cup
* FBD Connacht
* McGrath Cup
* O'Byrne Cup (all cancelled due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic)

Other adult competitions|

* Club Championship
* International Rules Series
* Sigerson (cancelled due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic)

Youth competitions|

| Under-20|

* All-Ireland
* Connacht
* Leinster
* Munster
* Ulster

|

Under-17|

* All-Ireland
* Connacht
* Leinster
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Seasons|

* Donegal
* Down

* * *

Hurling|

| Championship
Tier 1|

* Leinster Championship
* Final
* Munster Championship
* Final

* All-Ireland Series:
* Championship
* Final

|

Tiers 2 to 5|

* Joe McDonagh Cup
* Final
* Christy Ring Cup
* Final
* Nicky Rackard Cup
* Final
* Lory Meagher Cup

League (NHL)|

* Division 1 (Group A · Group B)
* Division 2A
* Division 2B
* Division 3A
* Division 3B

Preseason competitions|

* Walsh Cup
* Kehoe Cup
* Munster Senior Hurling League (all cancelled due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic)

Other adult competitions|

* Club Championship
* Fitzgibbon (cancelled due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic)

Youth competitions|

| Under-20|

* All-Ireland
* Leinster
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|

Under-17|

* All-Ireland
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