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The Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the JJ Kavanagh Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Carlow IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Carlow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1984 for the second tier hurling teams in the county of Carlow in Ireland.
In its current format, the Carlow Intermediate Championship begins with a group stage in mid-summer. The five participating club teams play each other in a round-robin system. The four top-ranking teams proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Netwatch Cullen Park. The winner of the Carlow Intermediate Championship qualifies for the subsequent Leinster Club Championship.
The title has been won by 14 different clubs, nine of which have won the title more than once. Naomh Eoin is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it nine times. Naomh Bríd are the title holders after defeating Mount Leinster Rangers by 2–17 to 1–12 in the 2025 final.
Format
Group stage
Six clubs start in the group stage. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed five group games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top four teams qualify for the knockout stage
Knockout stage
Following the completion of the group stage, the teams from the group are ranked (1-4) in terms of points accumulated and scoring difference. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.
Semi-finals: The tip four teams from the group stage contest this round. First place plays fourth place and second place plays third place The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
Promotion
At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Carlow Senior Hurling Championship for the following season.
Note: The scores from the following matches are unavailable; Burren Rangers vs Naomh Eoin, Naomh Eoin vs Naomh Bríd, Naomh Eoin vs St. Mullin's, St Mullin's vs Burren Rangers