| Dates | 26 June – 17 July 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 6 | ||
| Champions |  Westmeath (1st title)Cormac Boyle (captain) Shane O'Brien (manager) | ||
| Runners-up |  KerryPaudie O'Connor (captain) Fintan O'Connor (manager) | ||
| Relegated |  Kildare | ||
| Tournament statistics | |||
| Matches played | 8 | ||
| Goals scored | 19 (2.38 per match) | ||
| Points scored | 351 (43.88 per match) | ||
| Top scorer(s) | Jack Regan (1-36) | ||
| |||
The 2021 Joe McDonagh Cup was the fourth staging of the Joe McDonagh Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2018.[1] The competition, which was delayed for a second successive year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games, began on 26 June 2021. The fixtures were published on 21 April 2021.[2]
Antrim, winner of the 2020 final, were promoted to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, while there was no relegation to or from the competition. Down and Kildare entered the competition from the Christy Ring Cup.[3]
On 17 July 2021, Westmeath won the Joe McDonagh Cup after a 2-28 to 1-24 win over Kerry in the final at Croke Park.[4] It was their first ever cup title having previously lost two finals.[5]
Meath's Jack Regan was the championship's top scorer with 1-36.
- ^ Moran, Seán (30 September 2017). "GAA Congress approve round-robin provincial hurling championships". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ "2021 McDonagh, Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cup draws". Hogan Stand. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Team, The42 (22 November 2020). "Herity guides Kildare to Christy Ring Cup triumph over Down in Croke Park decider". The42.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Westmeath end Joe McDonagh Cup hoodoo with victory over Kerry at Croke Park". Irish Independent. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Westmeath storm past Kingdom to win Joe McDonagh Cup". The 42. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.