Munster Senior Hurling Championship

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Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship
Sponsors Guinness, RTÉ, Ethiad Airways
First played 1888
Current Champions Waterford (8th win)
Most Wins Cork (50 wins)

The Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months. The Munster Hurling Final is played in July and is considered one of the biggest and best sporting occasions in Ireland.

Hurling is the most prominent of Gaelic games in Munster. As such the Munster Hurling Championship is regarded as the most skillful and exciting of all the provincial hurling championships. Two of hurling's three most successful teams, Cork and Tipperary, play provincial hurling in Munster.

Contents

[edit] Format

The Munster Hurling Championship is run on a knock-out basis in which once a team loses they are eliminated from the competition. Five of the six counties of Munster, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, participate in the championship, although Kerry, the sixth county have made occasional appearances. An open draw is made in which three of these teams automatically qualify for the semi-final stage of the competition. Two other teams play in a "quarter-final" with the winner joining the other three teams at the semi-final stage. Both the winners and runners-up of the Munster Final automatically qualify for the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship series of games.

[edit] Munster Championship moments

[edit] 1880s-1940s

  • In 1887 the very first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship takes place using an open-draw system. Tipperary win the very first All-Ireland final. From 1888 onwards it is decided that the hurling championship will be run on a provincial basis in Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster.
  • In 1888 the very first scheduled Munster final fails to take place. The game between Cork and Clare is called off when the Limerick hurling team launches an objection. The final is rescheduled for the following week but is never played.
  • In 1889 the Munster hurling title is awarded to Clare. The side had been scheduled to play Kerry in the Munster final, however, the men from ‘the Kingdom’ fail to travel to the game.
  • In 1890 Cork win the very first played final of the Munster Championship. They defeat Kerry on a score line of 2-0 to 0-1.
  • In 1891 the very first replay of a Munster final takes place. The replay was ordered following an objection by the Limerick hurling team. Kerry later win the replay and go on to claim the All-Ireland title as well, thus becoming the first team to win a Munster and an All-Ireland title in the same year.
  • In 1892 hurling teams are reduced from twenty-one players to seventeen players-a-side. Cork win the first Munster final that is contested under these new rules.
  • In 1898 the Munster final is abandoned because of fading light. At the time the match is called off the scores are level between Cork and Tipperary. Tipp win the subsequent replay on a score line of 1-13 to 1-2.
  • In 1905 Cork become the first team to win five Munster titles in-a-row. It is a record which is later equalled in 1979 and in 1986 by the Cork team of that era. No other county has equalled the record.
  • In the 1908 Munster final Tipperary are declared the champions when they receive a walk-over from Kerry. Tipp later go on to win the All-Ireland title.
  • In 1913 hurling teams are reduced from seventeen players to fifteen players-a-side. Tipperary win the first Munster final that is contested under these new rules.
  • In the 1926 Munster final Tipperary lead Cork by 1-2 to 0-0 when the game is abandoned after sixteen minutes when the crowd overruns the pitch. The replay of the game ends in a draw on a score line of Cork 4-1, Tipperary 3-4. Cork go on to win the second replay on a score line of 3-6 to 2-4. This game is the first GAA fixture to be broadcast on radio.
  • In the 1930 Munster semi-final John and Charles Ware of Waterford are both sent-off, however, they both refuse to leave the field. After sixteen minutes the entire team storm off the pitch and refuse to continue the game against Tipperary.
  • In the 1933 Munster final, Limerick lead Waterford by 11 points when Jim Ware of Waterford is hit on the head near the end of the match. As a result of this the crowd invade the pitch to join in a row among the players. Limerick were later awarded the match.
  • In 1935 politics and sport become intertwined when Kerry threaten to withdraw from the Munster Championship unless conditions for republican prisoners are improved at the Curragh.
  • In the 1935 Munster semi-final Cork's Tommy Kelly is injured so badly in a collision with Limerick's Mick Ryan that players, officials and the entire crowd kneel in silent prayer as he receives the Last Rites on the field.
  • In 1936 Limerick receive a bye into the Munster final as they embark on a tour of the United States in May.
  • Due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in various parts of the country in 1941 only two teams, Cork and Limerick, take part in the Munster Championship. Cork later win the All-Ireland final but lose the delayed Munster final to Tipperary.
  • The 1944 Munster final becomes known as ‘the great bicycle final’. Due to wartime travel restrictions thousands of people cycled and walked to the game between Cork and Limerick in Thurles.
  • The 1949 Munster quarter-final between Cork and Tipperary has gone down as one of the greatest chapter in the history of the Munster Championship. The first game ended in a draw on a score line of 3-10 apiece. In the replay of the game both sides finished level once again on a score line of 1-5 apiece. Both sides, however, took different approaches as extra-time was about to be played. Tipperary retired to their dressing room where the players refreshed themselves with a creamery churn full of water. Cork on the other hand remained out on the field in what was one of the warmest days ever recorded in Ireland. As a result Tipp emerged a much fresher team and won the game by 2-8 to 1-9.

[edit] 1950s-present

  • The 1950 Munster final between Cork and Tipperary is played amid great scenes of anarchy in FitzGerald Stadium. Up to 50,000 people packed into the stadium as gates were broken down and walls were scaled as uncontrollable fans fought to gain entry. Every Cork score was greeted by a pitch invasion, while Seán Kenny and Tony Reddin of Tipperary were nearly attacked by unruly supporters on several occasions. Tipp eventually won the game by 2-17 to 3-11.
  • In 1959 Galway, having practically no hurling competition in the Connacht Championship, decide to enter the Munster Championship instead. They remain in the southern province's competition until 1969, however, after recording only just one win in a decade they later retreat back to the All-Ireland semi-final stage.
  • At half-time in the 1959 Munster semi-final Waterford lead reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Tipperary by the incredible score of 8-2 to 0-0. Michael O'Hehir, who was commentating on a match in the Connacht Football Championship, announces the half-time score but advises listeners that it must be a joke.
  • The 1960 Munster final between Cork and Tipperary is regarded as the toughest game of hurling ever to be played. Cork enjoyed most of the possession, however, the accuracy of Jimmy Doyle ensured a win for Tipp on a score line of 4-13 to 4-11.
  • The 1961 Munster final between Cork and Tipperary marks the end of a twelve-year era of epoch-making clashes between the two sides. An official crowd of 62,175 at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick is the biggest ever attendance recorded at a sporting event outside of Croke Park in Dublin.
  • In a first-round game of the Munster Championship between Tipperary and Limerick in 1962 the referee, Jimmy Smith, mistakenly blows the whistle for full-time with four minutes left on the clock. At the time Tipp were leading by a point, however, when Smith got the teams back onto the field Limerick managed to level the scores and force a replay.
  • In 1967 John Doyle of Tipperary becomes the first player to win ten Munster hurling titles.
  • On the day of the 1977 Munster final, armed robbers make off with £24,579 in gate receipts during the second-half of the game between Cork and Clare.
  • In the 1978 Munster final 54,181 people, the biggest attendance since 1961, see Cork take on Clare in Semple Stadium. Before the game even began Cork's John Horgan gets stuck in traffic and has to persuade some Gardaí to escort him through the huge crowds to the stadium.
  • In 1979 Cork make history by winning their fifth Munster Championship title in-a-row. It is the second time that Cork have won five consecutive Munster finals, the first time being between 1901 and 1905.
  • In 1986 Jimmy Barry-Murphy of Cork wins a record-equalling tenth Munster hurling medal.
  • In the 1987 Munster semi-final Cork's John Fenton scores the goal that is widely regarded as the greatest of all-time. Playing in his usual midfield position he receives a pass on the ground from Tomás Mulcahy before striking on it first time. The sliothar ends up forty yards away in the back of the Limerick net.
  • In 1987 Tipperary beat Cork in a replay to win their first Munster title since 1971. When accepting the cup Tipp captain Richard Stakelum tells the ecstatic crowd ‘the famine is over, before leading the Tipperary followers in a rendition of Slievenamon.
  • At the start of the 1990 championship Tipperary manager Michael 'Babs' Keating writes off Cork's chances of having success by saying that 'donkeys don't win derbies.' Keating is forced to eat his words in the Munster final when Cork defeat Tipp by 4-16 to 2-14. Mark Foley of Cork records a huge tally of 2-7 from play.
  • In 1991 the Munster final between Cork and Tipperary goes to a replay for the second time in five years. In one of the all-time classic finals Tipperary win the game on a score-line of 4-19 to 4-15.
  • In 1992 the Munster final is broadcast live by Radio Telefís Éireann for the first time ever. The game itself is won by Cork who defeat Limerick by 1-22 to 3-11.
  • In 1995 Clare come from nowhere to win the Munster title by beating Limerick on a score line of 1-17 to 0-11. Clare's goalkeeper, Davy FitzGerald, scores a penalty to give Clare their first provincial win since 1932. They later claim the All-Ireland title for the first time since 1914.
  • In the first-round of the 1996 Munster Championship Cork are defeated by Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It is the first time in seventy-five years that Cork have been defeated at home.
  • In 1996 Clare lose their Munster and All-Ireland titles in the first-round of the Munster championship when Limerick's Ciarán Carey solos the ball for 70 metres before scoring the winning point. The score has been described as one of the greatest match-winners of all-time.
  • In 1997 the qualifier or ‘back-door’ system is introduced which allows the defeated Munster and Leinster finalists to re-enter the All-Ireland series of games. Tipperary are the first team from Munster to benefit. They are defeated by Clare in the Munster final but later qualify for the All-Ireland final where they are beaten by Clare once again.
  • In 2002 there are jubilant scenes at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as Waterford win their first Munster title in thirty-nine years. The Decies, who had been underdogs going into the game, defeat Tipperary on a score-line of 2-23 to 3-12.
  • In 2003 John Mullane of Waterford enters the record books by becoming one of only a handful of players to score a hat-trick of goals in a Munster final. In spite of this Waterford are still defeated by Cork on a score-line of 3-16 to 3-12.
  • In 2004 the Cork versus Waterford clash in the Munster final is regarded as one of the greatest provincial finals of all-time. Even after Waterford are reduced to 14 men they still go on to defeat their newest rivals by 3-16 to 1-21.
  • In 2006 Cork make history by becoming the first team to win fifty Munster Senior Hurling Championship titles. "The Rebels" defeat Tipperary to win the game on a score-line of 2-14 to 1-14.

[edit] Roll of Honour

County Wins Winning Years
Cork 50 1890, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1912, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006
Tipperary 36 1895, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1913, 1916, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001
Limerick 18 1897, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1921, 1923, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1955, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1994, 1996
Waterford 8 1938, 1948, 1957, 1959, 1963, 2002, 2004, 2007
Clare 6 1889, 1914, 1932, 1995, 1997, 1998
Kerry 1 1891

[edit] List of Munster Finals

The teams listed below are those which took part in the Munster Senior Hurling Final in the year listed. The teams in bold went on to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in that season.

Year Winner Score Runner-up Score Winning Captain Venue
1889 Clare w/o Kerry scr John Considine
1890 Cork 2-0 Kerry 0-1 Dan Lane
1891 Kerry 1-1 Limerick 1-2
Replay Kerry 2-4 Limerick 0-1 John O'Mahony
1892 Cork 5-3 Kerry 2-5 Bill O'Callaghan
1893 Cork 5-3 Limerick 0-0 John 'Curtis' Murphy
1894 Cork 3-4 Tipperary 1-2 Stephen Hayes
1895 Tipperary 7-8 Limerick 0-2 Mikey Maher
1896 Tipperary 1-3 Cork 1-3
Replay Tipperary 7-9 Cork 2-3 Mikey Maher
1897 Limerick 4-9 Cork 1-6 Denis Grimes
1898 Tipperary 3-0 Cork 2-3
Replay Tipperary 1-13 Cork 1-2 Mikey Maher
1899 Tipperary 5-16 Clare 0-8 Tim Condon
1900 Tipperary 6-11 Kerry 1-9 Ned Hayes
1901 Cork 3-10 Clare 2-6 Paddy Cantillon
1902 Cork 2-9 Limerick 1-5 Jamesy Kelleher
1903 Cork 5-16 Waterford 1-1 Steva Riordan
1904 Cork 3-10 Tipperary 3-4 Denis Harrington
1905 Cork 7-12 Limerick 1-4 Chris Young
1906 Tipperary 3-4 Cork 0-9 Tom Semple
1907 Cork 1-6 Tipperary 1-4 Jamesy Kelleher
1908 Tipperary w/o Kerry scr Tom Semple
1909 Tipperary 2-10 Cork 2-6 Tom Semple
1910 Limerick 5-1 Cork 4-2 John 'Tyler' Mackey
1911 Limerick 5-3 Tipperary 4-3 John 'Tyler' Mackey
1912 Cork 5-1 Tipperary 3-1 Barry Murphy
1913 Tipperary 8-2 Cork 4-3 Patrick 'Wedger' Meagher
1914 Clare 3-2 Cork 3-1 Amby Power
1915 Cork 8-2 Clare 2-1 Connie Sheehan
1916 Tipperary 5-0 Cork 1-2 Johnny Leahy
1917 Tipperary 3-4 Limerick 3-4
Replay Tipperary 6-4 Limerick 3-1 Johnny Leahy
1918 Limerick 11-3 Clare 1-2 Willie Hough
1919 Cork 3-5 Limerick 1-6 Jimmy Kennedy
1920 Cork 3-4 Limerick 0-5 Dick O'Gorman
1921 Limerick 5-2 Cork 1-2 Bob McConkey
1922 Tipperary 2-2 Limerick 2-2
Replay Tipperary 4-2 Limerick 1-4 Johnny Leahy
1923 Limerick 2-3 Tipperary 1-0 Paddy McInerney
1924 Tipperary 3-1 Limerick 2-2 Johnny Leahy
1925 Tipperary 6-6 Waterford 1-2 Johnny Leahy
1926 Cork 0-0 Tipperary 1-2
1st Replay Cork 4-1 Tipperary 3-4
2nd Replay Cork 3-6 Tipperary 2-4 Seán Óg Murphy
1927 Cork 5-3 Clare 3-4 Seán Óg Murphy
1928 Cork 2-2 Clare 2-2
Replay Cork 6-4 Clare 2-2 Seán Óg Murphy
1929 Cork 4-6 Waterford 2-3 Dinny Barry-Murphy
1930 Tipperary 6-4 Clare 2-8 John Joe Callanan
1931 Cork 1-9 Waterford 4-0
Replay Cork 5-4 Waterford 1-2 Eudie Coughlan
1932 Clare 5-2 Cork 4-1 John Joe Doyle
1933 Limerick 3-7 Waterford 1-2 Micky Fitzgibbon Cork Athletic Grounds
1934 Limerick 4-8 Waterford 2-5 Timmy Ryan Cork Athletic Grounds
1935 Limerick 5-5 Tipperary 1-4 Timmy Ryan
1936 Limerick 8-5 Tipperary 4-6 Mick Mackey
1937 Tipperary 6-3 Limerick 4-3 Jim Lanigan
1938 Waterford 3-5 Clare 2-5 Willie Walsh
1939 Cork 4-3 Limerick 3-4 Jack Lynch
1940 Limerick 4-3 Cork 3-6
Replay Limerick 3-3 Cork 2-4 Mick Mackey
1941 Tipperary 5-4 Cork 2-5 Johnny Ryan
1942 Cork 4-15 Tipperary 4-1 Jack Lynch Cork Athletic Grounds
1943 Cork 2-13 Waterford 3-8 Mick Kennefick Cork Athletic Grounds
1944 Cork 6-7 Limerick 4-13 Thurles Sportsfield
Replay Cork 4-6 Limerick 3-6 Seán Condon
1945 Tipperary 4-3 Limerick 2-6 John Maher
1946 Cork 3-8 Limerick 1-3 Christy Ring Thurles Sportsfield
1947 Cork 2-6 Limerick 2-3 Seán Condon
1948 Waterford 4-7 Cork 3-9 Jim Ware
1949 Tipperary 1-16 Limerick 2-10 Pat Stakelum Cork Athletic Grounds
1950 Tipperary 2-17 Cork 3-11 Seán Kenny FitzGerald Stadium
1951 Tipperary 2-11 Cork 2-9 Jimmy Finn Gaelic Grounds
1952 Cork 1-11 Tipperary 2-6 Paddy Barry Gaelic Grounds
1953 Cork 3-10 Tipperary 1-11 Christy Ring Gaelic Grounds
1954 Cork 2-8 Tipperary 1-8 Christy Ring Gaelic Grounds
1955 Limerick 2-15 Clare 2-6 Liam Ryan
1956 Cork 5-5 Limerick 3-5 Christy Ring Thurles Sportsfield
1957 Waterford 1-11 Cork 1-6 Phil Grimes Thurles Sportsfield
1958 Tipperary 4-12 Waterford 1-5 Tony Wall
1959 Waterford 3-9 Cork 2-9 Frankie Walsh Thurles Sportsfield
1960 Tipperary 4-13 Cork 4-11 Tony Wall Thurles Sportsfield
1961 Tipperary 3-6 Cork 0-7 Matt Hassett Gaelic Grounds
1962 Tipperary 5-14 Waterford 2-3 Jimmy Doyle
1963 Waterford 0-11 Tipperary 0-8 Joe Condon
1964 Tipperary 3-13 Cork 1-5 Mick Murphy Gaelic Grounds
1965 Tipperary 4-11 Cork 0-5 Jimmy Doyle Gaelic Grounds
1966 Cork 4-9 Waterford 2-9 Gerald McCarthy Gaelic Grounds
1967 Tipperary 4-12 Clare 2-6 Mick Roche
1968 Tipperary 2-13 Cork 1-7 Mick Roche
1969 Cork 4-6 Tipperary 0-9 Denis Murphy Gaelic Grounds
1970 Cork 3-10 Tipperary 3-8 Paddy Barry Gaelic Grounds
1971 Tipperary 4-16 Limerick 3-18 Tadhg O'Connor FitzGerald Stadium
1972 Cork 6-18 Clare 2-8 Frank Norberg Semple Stadium
1973 Limerick 6-7 Tipperary 2-18 Éamonn Grimes
1974 Limerick 6-14 Clare 3-9 Seán Foley
1975 Cork 3-14 Limerick 0-12 Gerald McCarthy
1976 Cork 3-15 Limerick 4-5 Ray Cummins Páirc Uí Chaoimh
1977 Cork 4-15 Clare 4-10 Martin O'Doherty Semple Stadium
1978 Cork 0-13 Clare 0-11 Charlie McCarthy Semple Stadium
1979 Cork 2-14 Limerick 0-9 John Horgan Semple Stadium
1980 Limerick 2-14 Cork 2-10 Seán Foley Semple Stadium
1981 Limerick 3-12 Clare 2-9 Paudie Fitzmaurice
1982 Cork 5-31 Waterford 3-6 Jimmy Barry-Murphy Semple Stadium
1983 Cork 3-22 Waterford 0-12 Jimmy Barry-Murphy Gaelic Grounds
1984 Cork 4-15 Tipperary 3-14 John Fenton Semple Stadium
1985 Cork 4-17 Tipperary 4-11 Ger Cunningham Páirc Uí Chaoimh
1986 Cork 2-18 Clare 3-12 Tom Cashman FitzGerald Stadium
1987 Tipperary 1-18 Cork 1-18 Semple Stadium
Replay Tipperary 4-22 Cork 1-22 Richard Stakelum FitzGerald Stadium
1988 Tipperary 2-19 Cork 1-13 Pat O'Neill Gaelic Grounds
1989 Tipperary 0-26 Waterford 2-8 Bobby Ryan
1990 Cork 4-16 Tipperary 2-14 Kieran McGuckin Semple Stadium
1991 Tipperary 2-16 Cork 4-10 Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Replay Tipperary 4-19 Cork 4-15 Declan Carr Semple Stadium
1992 Cork 1-22 Limerick 3-11 Ger FitzGerald
1993 Tipperary 3-27 Clare 2-12 Michael O'Meara
1994 Limerick 0-25 Clare 2-10 Gary Kirby Semple Stadium
1995 Clare 1-17 Limerick 0-11 Anthony Daly Semple Stadium
1996 Limerick 0-19 Tipperary 1-16 Gaelic Grounds
Replay Limerick 4-7 Tipperary 0-16 Ciarán Carey Páirc Uí Chaoimh
1997 Clare 1-18 Tipperary 0-18 Anthony Daly Páirc Uí Chaoimh
1998 Clare 1-16 Waterford 3-10 Semple Stadium
Replay Clare 2-16 Waterford 0-10 Anthony Daly Semple Stadium
1999 Cork 1-15 Clare 0-14 Mark Landers Semple Stadium
2000 Cork 0-23 Tipperary 3-12 Fergal Ryan Semple Stadium
2001 Tipperary 2-16 Limerick 1-17 Tommy Dunne Páirc Uí Chaoimh
2002 Waterford 2-23 Tipperary 3-12 Fergal Hartley Páirc Uí Chaoimh
2003 Cork 3-16 Waterford 3-12 Alan Browne Semple Stadium
2004 Waterford 3-16 Cork 1-21 Ken McGrath Semple Stadium
2005 Cork 1-21 Tipperary 1-16 Seán Óg Ó hAilpín Páirc Uí Chaoimh
2006 Cork 2-14 Tipperary 1-14 Pat Mulcahy Semple Stadium
2007 Waterford 3-17 Limerick 1-14 Michael 'Brick' Walsh Semple Stadium

[edit] See also

v • d • e
Gaelic Athletic Association
   
v • d • e
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships

1887  • 1888  • 1889
1890  • 1891  • 1892  • 1893  • 1894  • 1895  • 1896  • 1897  • 1998  • 1899
1900  • 1901  • 1902  • 1903  • 1904  • 1905  • 1906  • 1907  • 1908  • 1909
1910  • 1911  • 1912  • 1913  • 1914  • 1915  • 1916  • 1917  • 1918  • 1919
1920  • 1921  • 1922  • 1923  • 1924  • 1925  • 1926  • 1927  • 1928  • 1929
1930  • 1931  • 1932  • 1933  • 1934  • 1935  • 1936  • 1937  • 1938  • 1939
1940  • 1941  • 1942  • 1943  • 1944  • 1945  • 1946  • 1947  • 1948  • 1949
1950  • 1951  • 1952  • 1953  • 1954  • 1955  • 1956  • 1957  • 1958  • 1959
1960  • 1961  • 1962  • 1963  • 1964  • 1965  • 1966  • 1967  • 1968  • 1969
1970  • 1971  • 1972  • 1973  • 1974  • 1975  • 1976  • 1977  • 1978  • 1979
1980  • 1981  • 1982  • 1983  • 1984  • 1985  • 1986  • 1987  • 1988  • 1989
1990  • 1991  • 1992  • 1993  • 1994  • 1995  • 1996  • 1997  • 1998  • 1999
2000  • 2001  • 2002  • 2003  • 2004  • 2005  • 2006  • 2007  • 2008

Connacht Championship   -  Leinster Championship   -  Munster Championship   -  Ulster Championship