The 1978–79 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the ninth season of the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier club hurling tournament.[1] The championship ran from 8 October 1978 to 25 March 1979.
| Championship Details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 8 October 1978 – 25 March 1979 |
| All Ireland Champions | |
| Winners | Blackrock (3rd win) |
| Captain | John Horgan |
| All Ireland Runners-up | |
| Runners-up | Ballyhale Shamrocks |
| Captain | Denis Shefflin |
| Provincial Champions | |
| Munster | Blackrock |
| Leinster | Ballyhale Shamrocks |
| Ulster | McQuillan's |
| Connacht | Ardrahan |
| Championship Statistics | |
| Top Scorer |  Joe Henry (7–17) |
← 1977–78 1979–80 → | |
St Finbarr's of Cork were the defending champions, however, they failed to qualify after being beaten by Glen Rovers in the semi-finals of the 1978 Cork SHC.[2][3] Crumlin of Dublin and Dunhill of Waterford made their championship debuts.[4][5]
The All-Ireland final was played at Semple Stadium in Thurles on 25 March 1979, between Blackrock of Cork and Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny, in what was a first championship meeting between the teams.[6] Blackrock won the match by 5–07 to 5–05 and became the first team to win the title three times.[7][8]
Tooreen's Joe Henry was the championship's top scorer with 7–17.
Connacht quarter-finals
edit| 5 November 1978 Quarter-final | St Mary's | 0–03 – 4–15 | Athleague | Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada |
| 12 November 1978 Quarter-final | Tooreen | 6–10 – 0–01 | Tourlestrane | Ballyhaunis Grounds |
| J Henry 6-7, J Cunnane 0-2, R Greeley 0-1. | L McEntyre 0-1. |
Connacht semi-final
edit| 19 November 1978 Semi-final | Athleague | 1–03 – 2–05 | Tooreen | Athleague Sportsfield |
| A Flaherty 1-2, D Finneran 0-1. | A Henry 2-0, J Henry 0-3, T Henry 0-1, J Cunnane 0-1. |
Connacht final
edit| 3 December 1978 First round | Ardrahan | 2–09 – 1–07 | Tooreen | Athleague Sportsfield |
| M Whelan 1-1, V Mullins 1-0, G Bond 0-3, G Linnane 0-2, S Dolan 0-1, M Kearns 0-1, M Bond 0-1. | J Henry 1-7. |
Leinster first round
edit| 22 October 1978 First round | Naomh Moninne | 0–08 – 1–21 | Kilmessan | Dundalk |
| P Murphy 0–5, T Ryan 0–2, O Reilly 0–1. | E O'Neill 0–12, C Killeen 1–1, C Maguire 0–3, T Horan 0–2, G Hynes 0–1, N O'Riordan 0–1, B White 0–1. |
| 22 October 1978 First round | Carnew Emmets | 6–11 – 1–05 | Carlow Town | Aughrim County Ground |
| M Doyle 2–2, P Doyle 2–0, S Brennan 1–2, T Collins 1–0, M Doyle 0–3, S Doyle 0–2, P Brennan 0–1, M Doyle 0–1. | O Mullins 1–0, M Power 0–3, P Dunbar 0–1, W Power 0–1. |
| 22 October 1978 First round | Brownstown | 2–11 – 2–10 | St. Brigid's | Cusack Park |
| J Leonard 2–5, J Henry 0–2, J Fitzsimons 0–2, P Shaw 0–2. | P White 1–4, S Barry 1–2, M Power 0–1, M O'Connell 0–1, D Rankin 0–1, J O'Connell 0–1. |
Leinster quarter-finals
edit| 5 November 1978 Quarter-final | Brownstown | 3–08 – 2–13 | Rapparees | Cusack Park |
| J Leonard 2–5, C Shaw 1–0, M Carr 0–1, J Fitzsimons 0–1, E Dolan 0–1. | L Rigney 2–1, M Maher 0–4, H Goff 0–3, P Wilson 0–2, J Rigley 0–1, T Wildes 0–1, P Courtney 0–1. |
| 5 November 1978 Quarter-final | Kilmessan | 0–11 – 3–12 | Camross | St Loman's Park |
| E O'Neill 0–6, B White 0–2, G Hynes 0–2, T Horan 0–1. | F Keenan 1–4, Martin Cuddy 1–2, S Bergin 1–1, Michael Cuddy 0–2, S Collier 0–1, J Fitzpatrick 0–1, P Dowling 0–1. |
| 5 November 1978 Quarter-final | Crumlin | 4–14 – 2–13 | Coolderry | Croke Park |
| M Reynolds 3–3, B Donovan 1–1, L Hennebry 0–3, J Kealy 0–3, P Kavanagh 0–2, P McCarthy 0–2. | P Carroll 0–6, O Kennedy 1–1, D Dooley 1–1, D Loughnane 0–2, P McLoughney 0–2, M King 0–1. |
| 5 November 1978 Quarter-final | Carnew Emmets | 1–06 – 2–12 | Ballyhale Shamrocks | Carnew Emmets Grounds |
| S Brennan 1–2, T Sullivan 0–1, S Doyle 0–1, M Doyle 0–1, P Doyle 0–1. | M Fennelly 2–2, P Holden 0–4, G Fennelly 0–3, S Reid 0–1, J Walsh 0–1, B Fennelly 0–1. |
Leinster semi-finals
edit| 19 November 1978 Semi-final | Crumlin | 1–13 – 2–09 | Rapparees | Geraldine Park |
| M Reynolds 1-0, L Hennebry 0-3, B Donovan 0-3, M Reilly 0-2, J Keeley 0-2, N Clare 0-1, D McCarthy 0-1, D Murphy 0-1. | J Rigley 1-1, P Doyle 1-0, T Wilds 0-2, M Maher 0-2, P Wilson 0-1, C Keogh 0-1, H Gough 0-1, N Gough 0-1. |
| 19 November 1978 Semi-final | Ballyhale Shamrocks | 4–12 – 2–02 | Camross | Geraldine Park |
| B Fennelly 2–2, G Fennelly 0–6, M Fennelly 0–4, S Reid 1–0, P Hogan 1–0. | S Cuddy 1–1, M Cuddy 1–0, F Keenan 0–1. |
Leinster final
edit| 3 December 1978 Final | Ballyhale Shamrocks | 1–13 – 1–06 | Crumlin | Dr Cullen Park |
| B Fennelly 1–5, G Fennelly 0–4, S Reid 0–2, P Holden 0–1, L Fennelly 0–1. | P McCarthy 1–0, L Henneberry 0–2, J Kealy 0–2, C Henneberry 0–1, B Donovan 0–1. |
Munster quarter-finals
edit| 22 October 1978 Quarter-final | Kilruane MacDonagh's | 1–13 – 2–10 | South Liberties | MacDonagh Park |
| L O'Shea 1–3, S Hennessy 0–3, D Whelan 0–3, S O'Meara 0–2, G Williams 0–1, E O'Shea 0–1. | E Grimes 1–6, J McKenna 1–0, M Grimes 0–2, M Butler 0–1, L Shanahan 0–1. |
| 5 November 1978 Quarter-final | Newmarket-on-Fergus | 7–10 – 2–13 | Dunhill | Newmarket-on-Fergus GAA Ground |
| J McNamara 1–4, P McNamara 2–0, G Lohan 2–0, T Ryan 1–3, S Liddy 1–3. | T Casey 1–6, J Brohan 1–0, J Raher 0–2, P Walsh 0–2, R Power 0–1, S Cooke 0–1, F Murphy 0–1. |
| 5 November 1978 Quarter-final replay | South Liberties | 1–07 – 2–15 | Kilruane MacDonagh's | Fr Hayes Memorial Park |
| J McKenna 1–0, E Grimes 0–3, M Shanahan 0–2, M O'Brien 0–1, P Hartigan 0–1. | S O'Meara 1–3, S Hennessy 1–2, J Williams 0–3, L O'Shea 0–2, M Keogh 0–2, G Williams 0–1, D Whelan 0–1, L Gaynor 0–1. |
Munster semi-finals
edit| 19 November 1978 Semi-final | Ballyduff | 3–02 – 3–07 | Newmarket-on-Fergus | Ballyduff Grounds |
| J O'Sullivan 2–0, M O'Sullivan 1–0, J Bunyan 0–2. | T Ryan 0–4, M Gilmartin 1–0, G Lohan 1–0, M O'Leary 1–0, S Liddy 0–1, P McNamara 0–1, J McNamara 0–1. |
| 19 November 1978 Semi-final | Blackrock | 3–11 – 1–08 | Kilruane MacDonagh's | Páirc Uí Chaoimh |
| E O'Sullivan 2–0, D McCurtain 1–0, D Collins 0–2, R Cummins 0–2, P Moylan 0–2, E O'Donoghue 0–2, T Cashman 0–1, P Kavanagh 0–1, F Delaney 0–1. | S O'Meara 1–3, L O'Shea 0–3, S Hennessy 0–1, D Whelan 0–1. |
Munster final
edit| 3 December 1978 Final | Blackrock | 3–08 – 1–08 | Newmarket-on-Fergus | Páirc Uí Chaoimh |
| R Cummins 2–0, D Buckley 1–1, P Moylan 0–2, F Cummins 0–1, D McCurtain 0–1, P Kavanagh 0–1, E O'Donoghue 0–1, E O'Sullivan 0–1. | S Liddy 1–1, J McNamara 0–4, M Gilmartin 0–2, T Ryan 0–1. |
Ulster semi-final
edit| 8 October 1978 Semi-final | Cúchullains | 0–08 – 5–10 | Ballycastle McQuillan's | Lurgan Grounds |
Ulster final
edit| 22 October 1978 Final | Portaferry | 2–07 – 2–15 | Ballycastle McQuillan's | St Patrick's Park |
| P Lennon 1-1, G Lennon 0-4, P Braniff 1-0, M Moreland 0-1, H Denvir 0-1. | P Boyle 0-7, B Donnelly 1-3, D Mooney 1-1, E Donnelly 0-3, T Barton 0-1. |
All-Ireland quarter-final
edit| 28 January 1979 Quarter-final | Ardrahan | 1–08 – 2–05 | St Gabriel's | Pearse Stadium |
| JJ O'Dea 1-0, M Whelan 0-3, G Bond 0-2, M Bond 0-2, V Mullins 0-1. | F Canning 0-4, M Linnane 1-0, K Burke 1-0, P Tierney 0-1. |
| 18 February 1979 Quarter-final replay | St Gabriel's | 2–09 – 0–10 | Ardrahan | Páirc Ciaráin |
| F Canning 1-4, A Gordon 0-3, J Geoghegan 1-0, M Nevin 0-1, T Burke 0-1. | G Bond 0-4, V Howley 0-2, V Mullins 0-1, M Bond 0-1, PJ Mahony 0-1, M Whelan 0-1. |
All-Ireland semi-finals
edit| 4 March 1979 Semi-final | Ballyhale Shamrocks | 4–10 – 1–07 | St Gabriel's | Nowlan Park |
| K Fennelly 1–4, P Holden 1–2, G Fennelly 1–1, L Fennelly 1–0, B Fennelly 0–2, M Fennelly 0–1. | F Canning 1-3, T Burke 0-3, A Gordon 0-1. |
| 4 March 1979 Semi-final | Blackrock | 5–12 – 2–06 | Ballycastle McQuillan's | Páirc Mac Uílín |
| É O'Donoghue 2–1, P Moylan 1–3, R Cummins 1–2, E O'Sullivan 1–1, T Lyons 0–2, D Collins 0–2, J Horgan 0–1. | E Donnelly 1–3, D Donnelly 1–0, P Boyle 0–2, P Vallatt 0–1. |
All-Ireland final
edit| 25 March 1979 Final | Blackrock | 5–07 – 5–05 | Ballyhale Shamrocks | Semple Stadium |
| P Moylan 1–4, R Cummins 2–1, E O'Sullivan 1–2, D Lyons 1–0. | K Fennelly 2–1, G Fennelly 0–4, P Holden 1–0, L Fennelly 1–0, B Fenenlly 1–0. | Referee: S Purcell (Galway) |
Statistics
editTop scorers
edit| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Henry | Tooreen | 7–17 | 38 | 3 | 12.66 |
| 2 | John Leonard | Brownstown | 4–10 | 22 | 2 | 11.00 |
| 3 | Ger Fennelly | Ballyhale Shamrocks | 1–18 | 21 | 5 | 4.20 |
| 4 | Ray Cummins | Blackrock | 5–05 | 20 | 4 | 5.00 |
| 5 | Brendan Fennelly | Ballyhale Shamrocks | 3–10 | 19 | 5 | 3.80 |
| 6 | Eugene O'Neill | Kilmessan | 0–18 | 18 | 2 | 9.00 |
| 7 | Frank Canning | St Gabriel's | 2–11 | 17 | 3 | 5.66 |
| Pat Moylan | Blackrock | 2–11 | 17 | 4 | 4.25 | |
| 9 | Éamonn O'Sullivan | Blackrock | 4–04 | 6 | 4 | 4.00 |
| 10 | Mickey Reynolds | Crumlin | 4–03 | 15 | 3 | 5.00 |
Miscellaneous
edit- Blackrock became the first team to win three All-Ireland titles. John Horgan was the captain for all three victories, making him the only three-time All-Ireland-winning captain.[9]
References
edit- ↑ Breheny, Martin (15 March 2011). "All-Ireland Club Hurling". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ↑ "Leesiders have a habit of coming out on top". Wexford People. 8 August 2003. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ↑ "Four provinces represented in Clubs' big day". Hogan Stand. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ↑ "Alone it stands... Crumlin's epic win in 1980 still sets bar in Dublin". Irish Independent. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ↑ "Dunhill HC". Club Info. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ↑ "Seventh heaven beckons for a small parish never short of hurlers". Irish Times. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ↑ "City slickers' return in Cork reminiscent of days of 'Little All-Ireland'". RTÉ Sport. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ↑ "The Christy O'Connor column: Kilkenny kingpins Ballyhale a club like no other". Echo Live. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ↑ "OBITUARY: John Horgan, Cork hurling captain, Blackrock club legend". Irish Examiner. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2025.