Liam McCarthy Cup

The MacCarthy Perpetual Challenge Cup (commonly referred to – and incorrectly spelled – as the McCarthy Cup) is a trophy awarded annually by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the hurling team that wins the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Based on the design of a medieval drinking vessel, the trophy was first awarded in 1923 to the winners of the (delayed) 1921 All-Ireland hurling championship final. The original 1920s trophy was retired in the 1990s, and a new identical trophy awarded annually since 1992. The original trophy is on permanent display at the GAA Museum, Croke Park.

All-Ireland winners are permitted to keep the Liam MacCarthy Cup for a period of one year until the following year's All-Ireland final. Kilkenny hold the record for retaining the cup on the most occasions. Kilkenny held the All-Ireland title for four consecutive years from 2006 until 2009. All-Ireland-winning captains receive a model replica of the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

The original Liam MacCarthy Cup commemorates the memory of Liam MacCarthy. Born in London to Irish parents in 1851, he was prominently involved in the establishment of a GAA county board in London in the 1890s. In 1922 a trophy in his honour was presented to the Central Council of the GAA, and replaced the Great Southern Cup as the All-Ireland trophy. It was first presented in 1923 - to the Limerick team which defeated Dublin in the 1921 All-Ireland Hurling Final. (Owing to the political situation in Ireland at the time, the 1921 final was not actually played until March 1923. Hence, though not first presented until 1923 it was the 1921 All-Ireland champions who are noted as the first recipients of the Liam MacCarthy Cup.)

The design of the cup is based on a medieval drinking vessel called a mather.

In 1992 the original Liam MacCarthy Cup was retired. Tipperary were the last team to claim the original. In 1992 an exact replica was produced and has been awarded on an annual basis since then. Kilkenny were the first team to win the 'new' MacCarthy Cup. The replica was crafted by James Kelly in Kilkenny.

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