Players Champions Cup

The Players Champions Cup is the trophy awarding to the winner of a hurling competition held periodically in the United States. It has been staged three times as the Fenway Hurling Classic in Boston, Massachusetts, and once as the New York Hurling Classic in Queens, New York. The first two editions were sponsored by AIG,[1][2] while the most recent editions have been sponsored by Aer Lingus.[3][4]

Players Champions Cup
Logo of the 2019 event
CodeHurling
Founded2015
TrophyPlayers Champions Cup
Title holdersKilkenny (1st title)
Most titlesGalway, Clare, Limerick, Kilkenny (first titles)
SponsorsAer Lingus

Format

Matches are played in the Super 11’s format, which only permits goals to be scored, not points. Goals scored inside the 20 yards (18 m) exclusion zone are worth three points, else five points from outside. The 2015 event was a single match, divided into four 15-minute quarters with unlimited substitutions. Later events have had two semi-final matches then a final match, all held on the same day, with matches divided into two 20-minutes halves. Yellow cards result in a two-minute spell in the sin bin and frees are taken on a tap-and-go basis. A team has 30 seconds after gaining possession to attempt a shot at goal. This is reduced to 20 seconds in the final two minutes of each period. The dimensions of the pitch are 100 yards (91 m) x 53 yards (48 m)—the size of a gridiron football pitch, without the end zones—which is laid into halves, with a defensive zone marked by a line drawn 20 yards (18 m) from each goal line.[5][6][7]

Results

2015

This was the first time that hurling was played at Fenway Park since November 1954, when Cork defeated an American team.[1][8] With Galway facing Dublin in the event's only match, the contest was marred by a brawl in the second quarter in front of the Dublin goal.[9][10] A bout of pushing and shoving quickly started with players throwing punches, wrestling on the ground. Galway’s Iarla Tannin and Andy Smith along with Dublin’s Conor Dooley were all yellow-carded.[11][12] Each side was later fined €5,000 by the Central Competitions Control Committee of the GAA.[13]

Fenway Hurling Classic
Galway 50 – 47 Dublin
J Flynn (18), C Whelan (12), B Molloy (11), C Mannion (3), G Lally (3), S Moloney (3) Report E Dillon (17), F McGibb (10), D Sutcliffe (6), N McMorrow (5), D O’Callaghan (3), J McCaffrey (3), C McBride (3)
Attendance: 27,776
Referee: A Kelly (Galway)

2017

The 2017 competition took place on 19 November at Fenway Park and was a doubleheader with Dublin playing Galway and Tipperary playing Clare in the Super 11’s format. The winners of the two semi-finals played in the final for the Players Championship Cup.[14][15][16] Clare defeated Galway in the final 50–33 to win the Players Champions Cup.[17][18][19][20]

Fenway Hurling Classic
Semi Final
Galway 55 – 39 Dublin
Jason Flynn (20), Conor Cooney (10), Padraig Breheny (9), Shane Moloney (5), Davy Glennon (5), Conor Whelan (3), Joseph Cooney (3) Report Danny Sutcliffe (8), John Hetherton (8), Donal Burke (5), Fergal Whitely (3), Paul Crummy (3), James Madden (3), Emmet McKenna (3), Cian O'Sullivan (3), Paul Winters (3)
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)
Fenway Hurling Classic
Semi Final
Tipperary 45 – 50 Clare
J McGrath 16, N McGrath 10, C Kenny 6, J O’Dwyer, G Browne 5 each, S Curran 3 Report P Duggan 25, T Kelly 8, C McGrath 6, I Galvin 5, D Fitzgerald, D Corry 3 each
Referee: A Kelly (Galway)
Fenway Hurling Classic
Final
Galway 33 – 50 Clare
C Cooney 13, J Flynn 6, E Burke 5, Whelan, P Flaherty, S Maloney 3 each Report P Duggan 27, C O’Connell, J Conlon 6 each, D McInerney 5, D Correy, J Browne 3 each
Attendance: 27,862
Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)

2018

The 2018 competition took place at Fenway Park on 18 November and was a doubleheader with Cork playing Clare and Limerick playing Wexford in the Super 11’s format. The winners of the two semi-finals played in the final for the Players Championship Cup, with Limerick defeating Cork.[21][22][23]

Fenway Hurling Classic
Semi Final
Cork42 – 37 Clare
P Horgan 20, D Kearney 10, B Cooper 6, T O’Mahony 6 Report T Kelly 13, P Duggan 9, S O’Donnell 6, D Conroy 6, P Collins 3
Referee: J Murphy (Limerick)
Fenway Hurling Classic
Semi Final
Wexford45 – 53Limerick
L Chin 11, Jack O’Connor 10, P Morris 8, H Kehoe 6, K Foley 5, S Casey 5 Report P Ryan 15, C Lynch 8, G Mulcahy 8, A Gillane 8, D Byrnes 5, G Hegarty 3, K Hayes 3, T Morrissey 3
Referee: C Lyons (Cork)
Fenway Hurling Classic
Final
Limerick 38 – 30 Cork
B Murphy 13, C Lynch 10, T Morrissey 9, K Hayes 3, A la Touche Cosgrave 3 Report P Horgan 16, B Cooper 6, S Kingston 5, C Lehane 3
Attendance: 12,674
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny)

2019

The 2019 competition was held at Citi Field in Queens on 16 November. In first-round games, defending champion Limerick defeated Wexford, and event newcomer Kilkenny defeated Tipperary. In the final, Kilkenny took a 34–22 halftime lead over Limerick, and continued on to a 64–40 win.[24]

New York Hurling Classic
Semi Final
Limerick52 – 20 Wexford
A Costello 8, G Hegarty 6 (1 pen), B Hennessy 6 (1 pen), S Flanagan 6, D O’Donovan 4, P O’Loughlin 4, P Ryan 4 Report C Dunbar 6 (1 pen), S Murphy 6, D Reck 4, P Morris 4
New York Hurling Classic
Semi Final
Kilkenny86 – 36 Tipperary
B Ryan 20, G Alylward 18 (1 pen), W Walsh 12, R Leahy 8, J Maher 8, L Blanchfield 6 (1 pen), A Murphy 6, M Carey 4, C Browne 4 Report S Callanan 14 (1 pen), J Forde 10, C Darcy 4, M Breen 4, J Morris 4
New York Hurling Classic
Final
Kilkenny64 – 40 Limerick
A Murphy 24 (3 pen), B Ryan 18 (1 pen), C Fogarty 6, G Alylward 4, L Blanchfield 4, M Cody 4, L Scanlon 4 Report P Ryan 16 (2 pen), C Ryan 8, P O’Loughlin 4, G Hegarty 4, D Hannon 4, A Costello 4
Attendance: 11,214

Appearances

Includes all matches played through the 2019 event.

Team Wins Losses Win pct. Years played
Kilkenny201.0002019
Limerick31.7502018, 2019
Clare21.6672017, 2018
Galway21.6672015, 2017
Cork11.5002018
Tipperary02.0002017, 2019
Wexford02.0002018, 2019
Dublin02.0002015, 2017

Championship years are denoted by bold type.

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References
  1. "They're lining up for the AIG Fenway Hurling Classic". bostonirish.com. October 30, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  2. "Double-header announced for AIG Fenway Hurling Classic". GAA.ie. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  3. "Fenway Hurling Classic". MLB.com. 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  4. "The New York Hurling Classic". MLB.com. 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  5. "'These things happen' - Fenway Classic brawl dismissed as Galway take honours". Irish Independent. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  6. "Hurling breaking new ground in Boston's Fenway Park". Irish Times. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  7. "Hurling Super 11s explained: Eight new rules, pitch size and scoring system". Irish Independent. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  8. "Irish Hurling Team Shows Lethal Style in Boston". The Boston Globe. November 8, 1954. p. 15. Retrieved November 18, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  9. "'By a Yank's eye, it's a mongrel, one with a greyhound's speed and a pit bull's bite'". The 42. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  10. "Epic Brawl Between Galway And Dublin At Fenway Park". NESN. Retrieved November 18, 2018 – via YouTube.
  11. "Boston brawl and Galway fightback the main talking points for 25,000 Fenway crowd". The 42. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  12. "Exhibition match? Dublin and Galway take chunks out of each other in mass brawl". The 42. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  13. Breheny, Martin; Verney, Michael (November 28, 2015). "Exclusive: €5,000 fines for Fenway brawlers". Irish Independent. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  14. "AIG Fenway Hurling Classic and Irish Festival". GAA.ie. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  15. "Dublin and Galway set for Fenway Park rematch". RTE Sport. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  16. "WATCH: Another brawl between Dublin and Galway breaks out at Fenway Classic". Irish Independent. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  17. "Clare beat Galway in frenetic Fenway final". RTE Sport. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  18. "Clare beat Galway to Fenway Hurling Classic title in Boston". Irish Times. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  19. "A flavour of home for Irish abroad". Irish Examiner. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  20. "Fenway Classic: Duggan display hands title to Clare". Tipperary Star. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  21. Campbell, Lauren (November 18, 2018). "Fenway Hurling Classic: Updates, Highlights From Three Matches At Fenway Park". NESN. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  22. "All-Ireland champions Limerick round off glorious year with Fenway Classic win". Irish Independent. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  23. "Limerick round off glorious year with Fenway Classic victory in Boston". Irish Times. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  24. "Limerick reach New York Hurling Classic final but suffer defeat to Kilkenny". Limerick Leader. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.

Further reading
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