The Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Leadon Timber Frame Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Derry IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association for the second tier hurling teams in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.
| Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Irish | Craobhchomórtas Idirmhéanach Iomána Dhoire |
| Code | Hurling |
| Region |  Derry (GAA) |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Title holders |  Ballinascreen (th title) |
| Sponsors | Leadon Timber Frame |
| Official website | Derry GAA |
In its current format, the Derry Hurling Championship begins with a group stage. The eight participating teams are divided into two groups of four and play each other in a round-robin system. The second-placed team in each group proceeds to the intermediate final at the Derry Centre of Excellenece. The winner of the Derry Intermediate Hurling Championship qualifies for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Championship.
Ballinascreen are the title holders after defeating Eoghan Rua by 3-16 to 0-05 in the 2023 final.[1]
Format
Group stage
The 8 teams in the Derry Hurling Championship are divided into two groups of four.[2] Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three 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.
Knockout stage
Senior final: The top teams in each group contest the senior final.
Intermediate final: The second-placed teams in each group contest the intermediate final.
Junior final: The third-placed teams in each group contest the junior final.
Qualification for subsequent competitions
The Derry Intermediate Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. A team can only progress to the Ulster series of games in their respective grade if they retain their championship status from the previous season, or if they drop one grade.[3]
List of finals
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Venue | # | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Score | Club | Score | |||
| 2017 | Lavey | 0-16 | Swatragh | 0-12 | Derry Centre of Excellence | |
| 2018 | Swatragh | 0-17 | Ballinascreen | 2-16 | Derry Centre of Excellence | |
| 2019 | Banagher | 0-21 | Swatragh | 0-08 | Derry Centre of Excellence | [4] |
| 2020 | Swatragh | 2-13 | Ballinascreen | 2-09 | Derry Centre of Excellence | [5] |
| 2021 | Banagher | 0-13 | Lavey | 0-11 | Derry Centre of Excellence | [6] |
| 2022 | Eoghan Rua | 3-09 | Ballinascreen | 2-11 | Derry Centre of Excellence | [7] |
| 2023 | Ballinascreen | 3-16 | Eoghan Rua | 0-05 | Derry Centre of Excellence | [8] |