Kenilworth duo make history as Warwickshire crown historic hurling All Britain double

Warwickshire GAA has reached the greatest milestone in its underage hurling history after securing the 2026 U15 and U17 All Britain Hurling Championships, becoming the first Warwickshire county teams to complete the historic championship double.

Representing boys from Kenilworth, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Coventry and Birmingham, the two teams have delivered a season unmatched in the history of Warwickshire GAA.

No previous Warwickshire underage teams have won both All Britain hurling titles in the same season, making 2026 the county's most successful underage hurling campaign on record.

Winning one All Britain Championship is a major achievement.

Winning both U15 and U17 titles in the same year is unprecedented for Warwickshire and represents a landmark moment for British GAA, demonstrating that sustained player development, coaching and commitment can overcome far larger playing populations.

The scale of the achievement becomes even more remarkable when viewed in context.

For decades, London GAA has been the dominant force in All Britain hurling, selecting players from more than 25 clubs across the capital.

Warwickshire's county panels, by comparison, are drawn primarily from just three clubs – John Mitchels, St Finbarrs and Erin Go Bragh.

Despite having a significantly smaller player base, the Warwickshire teams defeated London in both All Britain Championship finals.

Those victories underline the remarkable progress of underage hurling in Warwickshire and rank among the most significant achievements in the history of underage hurling in Britain.

Captained by Charlie Hamill, Warwickshire U15s produced a superb display to defeat London 6-07 to 1-06.

Shortly after, the U17s completed the historic double with a thrilling 4-05 to 4-02 victory in London, captained by Ryan Brough.

Guiding both championship-winning squads throughout the season were Camillus Hamill and Seamus Brough, whose partnership has played a central role in the development of underage hurling across Warwickshire.

Working together, the pair have developed players from grassroots level into All Britain champions, creating an environment built on discipline, enjoyment, resilience and continuous improvement.

Their success in leading Warwickshire to the double establishes Hamill and Brough as the most successful underage county hurling management partnership in Warwickshire GAA history.

Camillus Hamill said: “The trophies are fantastic and the boys deserve every bit of recognition they receive, but what makes me most proud is the way they carry themselves.

“They train hard, support each other and represent their clubs, county and families brilliantly. These championships are the reward for a huge amount of effort from a lot of people.”

Brough added: “People see the finals, but they don't always see the work that goes into getting there.

“The commitment from these lads has been outstanding. They have listened, learned, worked hard for one another and earned everything they've achieved this season."

Looking ahead, Hamill believes the achievements should inspire the next generation.

"This isn't the finish line,” he said.

“If anything, it's the beginning. We hope these victories show young people across Warwickshire what is possible.

“There is so much talent out there and we'd love to see even more players picking up a hurl and getting involved."

Brough agreed, adding: “What has impressed me most is their willingness to keep improving.

“They never believed they had made it. They always wanted to learn more, train harder and get better. That's a special quality in any team.”

The county's success reflects years of work by John Mitchels, St Finbarrs and Erin Go Bragh, whose coaches, volunteers and families have established one of the strongest underage hurling pathways in Britain.

The story continues at the end of September when John Mitchels GAA Club will travel to County Antrim to compete against seven Irish teams in one of Ireland's most prestigious underage hurling tournaments.

The tournament has already attracted Irish media interest, with photographers and videographers confirmed to cover the event, providing another opportunity to showcase the standard of Warwickshire hurling.

The club is currently seeking sponsorship to support the tour and continue investing in youth development.

Before then, Warwickshire will host the first All Britain International Tournament at Páirc na hÉireann on Saturday, 12th September, with games commencing at 10.30am.

Supporters, families and anyone interested in watching the future of British GAA are warmly invited to attend.

Warwickshire GAA also continues to expand its schools outreach programme and welcomes new players of all abilities.

Schools interested in introducing hurling, or businesses wishing to support the County Antrim tour or the continued development of underage hurling in Warwickshire, are encouraged to make contact.

For sponsorship opportunities, school visits or joining details, contact Camillus Hamill at [email protected]