1995 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1995 (known for the first time for sponsorship reasons as the Guinness Hurling Championship 1995) was the 109th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Clare won the championship, beating Offaly 1-13 to 2-8 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin, it was their first All-Ireland win since 1914.

1995 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
Championship details
Dates30 April - 3 September 1995
Teams19
All-Ireland champions
Winning teamClare (2nd win)
CaptainAnthony Daly
ManagerGer Loughnane
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing teamOffaly
CaptainJohnny Pilkington
ManagerÉamonn Cregan
Provincial champions
MunsterClare
LeinsterOffaly
UlsterDown
ConnachtGalway
Championship statistics
No. matches played19
Top Scorer Johnny Dooley (0-27)
Player of the Year Seánie McMahon
Brian Lohan
All-Star TeamSee here
1994
1996

Pre-championship

Sponsorship

In 1994 Bank of Ireland became the first ever sponsor of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Following the success of this deal it was decided that the hurling championship could also benefit from sponsorship. The decision, however, to award the sponsorship deal to Guinness was a controversial one, as there were concerns over the Gaelic Athletic Association's association with an alcoholic drinks company. Former President of the GAA, Dr. Mick Loftus, was one of the most vocal critics of the proposed sponsorship deal. At a meeting of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Central Council on 6 May, the decision to make Guinness the sponsor was accepted almost unanimously. The sponsorship deal involved Guinness providing £3 million to the GAA over three years. £500,000 of this money would go to funding the championship, while a similar amount would go to the marketing and promotion of the game.

Betting

Prior to the opening of the championship former All-Ireland-winning journalists Seán Moran and Tom Humphries gave their predictions for the upcoming championship in The Irish Times. Kilkenny were regarded as the strongest contenders for All-Ireland glory in 1995. They were the reigning National Hurling League champions and had won back-to-back championship titles from three successive final appearances between 1991 and 1993. Offaly, in spite of being reigning All-Ireland champions, were placed second to Kilkenny in the championship stakes. They faced a more difficult passage through the provincial series, however, an anticipated Leinster final meeting with Kilkenny was the only thing stopping the team from making it two-in-a-row. Following the trauma of their All-Ireland defeat the previous year, Limerick were still regarded as the brightest prospect in Munster. They were given the nod to retain their provincial crown and challenge, once again, for the All-Ireland title.

The championship

Participating counties

Province County Stadium Manager Most recent success
All-Ireland Provincial NHL Position in 1994
Leinster Dublin Parnell Park Jimmy Gray 1938 1961 1938-39 Beaten by Wexford in Leinster quarter-final replay
Carlow Dr. Cullen Park Martin Fitzpatrick Beaten by Meath in Leinster second-round
Kilkenny Nowlan Park Ollie Walsh 1993 1993 1994-95 Beaten by Offaly in Leinster semi-final
Laois O'Moore Park Pat Critchley 1915 1949 Beaten by Laois in Leinster semi-final
Meath Páirc Tailteann John Davis Beaten by Kilkenny in Leinster quarter-final
Offaly O'Connor Park Éamonn Cregan 1994 1994 1990-91 Beat Limerick in All-Ireland final
Westmeath Cusack Park Georgie Leahy Beaten by Westmeath in Leinster first round
Wexford Wexford Park Liam Griffin 1968 1977 1972-73 Beaten by Offaly in Leinster final
Munster Clare Cusack Park Ger Loughnane 1914 1932 1977-78 Beaten by Limerick in Munster final
Cork Páirc Uí Chaoimh Johnny Clifford 1990 1992 1992-93 Beaten by Limerick in Munster quarter-final
Kerry Austin Stack Park John Meyler 1891 1891 Beaten by Clare in Munster semi-final
Limerick Gaelic Grounds Tom Ryan 1973 1994 1991-92 Beaten by Offaly in All-Ireland final
Tipperary Semple Stadium Tom Fogarty 1991 1993 1993-94 Beaten by Clare in Munster quarter-final
Waterford Walsh Park Joe Carton 1959 1963 1962-63 Beaten by Limerick in Munster semi-final
Connacht Galway Pearse Stadium Mattie Murphy 1988 1922 1988-89 Beaten by Offaly in All-Ireland semi-final
Roscommon Dr. Hyde Park Michael Kelly 1913 Beaten by Galway in All-Ireland quarter-final
Ulster Antrim Casement Park Dominic McKinley 1994 Beaten by Limerick in All-Ireland semi-final
Down Páirc Esler Seán McGuinness 1992 Beaten by Antrim in Ulster final
Britain London Emerald Grounds 1901 Did not take part

Munster Championship

Quarter-final: (2 matches) These are two lone matches between the first four teams drawn from the province of Munster. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the next round.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the two quarter-finals join the other two Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the next round.

Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final.

Leinster Championship

First Round: (1 match) This is a single match between two 'weaker' teams drawn from the province of Leinster. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the second round.

Second Round: (1 match) The winner of the first round play another 'weaker' team. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the Leinster quarter-final.

Quarter-finals: (2 matches) The winner of the second-round game joins three other Leinster teams to make up the two quarter-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the Leinster semi-finals.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the two quarter-finals join two other Leinster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the Leinster final.

Final: (1 match) The winner of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final.

Ulster Championship

Final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the two competing Ulster teams. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Connacht Championship

Final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the two competing Connacht teams. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final where the play the Munster champions.

All-Ireland Championship

Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the Ulster champions and the All-Ireland 'B' champions. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final where they play the Leinster champions.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The Munster and Leinster champions will play the winners of the lone quarter-final and the Connacht champions. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while the two winnerss advance to the All-Ireland final.

Final: (1 match) The two semi-final winners will contest the final.

Managerial changes

Pre-championship

Team 1995 Manager 1994 Manager Reason for leaving Story/Accomplishments
Clare Ger Loughnane, double National League-winner with Clare. Len Gaynor Resigned Gaynor guided Clare to back-to-back Munster finals, however, they were defeated on both occasions.

Fixtures

Connacht Senior Hurling Championship

Roscommon2-12 2-21Galway
P. Feeney (1-1), T. Killian (1-0), C. Kelly (0-3), N. Cunniffe (0-2), J. Mannion (0-2), B. Boyle (0-1), R. Dooley (0-1), L. Murray (0-1), A. Kelly (0-1). J. Cooney (1-4), J. Campbell (1-1), F. Forde (0-4), P. Kelly (0-3), M. McGrath (0-2), C. Moran (0-2), J. Rabbitte (0-2), O. Fahy (0-1), B. Keogh (0-1), M. Coleman (0-1),
Referee: P. Delaney (Laois)

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Meath1-13 2-11Carlow
P. Potterton (0-7), D. Martin (1-3), J. Andrews (0-1), B. Murray (0-1), M. Cole (0-1). M. Slye (1-4), J. Byrne (1-0), M. Farrell (0-3), D. Doyle (0-2), B. Hayden (0-1), N. English (0-1).
Referee: P. Horan (Offaly)

Carlow3-14 6-6Westmeath
D. Murphy (1-4), D. Doyle (1-1), J. Byrne (1-1), M. Slye (0-4), T. Murphy (0-1), M. Farrell (0-1), J. English (0-1), B. Hayden (0-1). S. McLoughlin (3-1), B. Kennedy (1-2), D. Kilcoyne (1-1), R. Galvin (1-1), P. Galvin (0-1).
Referee: J. Guinan (Kilkenny)

Wexford6-23 1-7Westmeath
B. Byrne (3-0), L. Murphy (2-2), T. Dempsey (1-3), R. McCarthy (0-5), E. Scallan (0-2), P. Codd (0-2), I. Hassey (0-2), L. Dunne (0-2), M. Storey (0-2), G. O'Connor (0-1). S. Qualter (1-0), R. Galvin (0-3), McLoughlin (0-3), N. Kennedy (0-1).
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: P. Aherne (Carlow)

Kilkenny2-14 2-12Laois
D. Byrne (2-2), A. Ronan (0-4), D. J. Carey (0-3), C. Brennan (0-2), C. Carter (0-1), E. Morrissey (0-1), P. O'Neill (0-1). F. Lalor (1-6), D. Conroy (1-1), F. O'Sullivan (0-2), O. Dowling (0-1), N. Rigney (0-1), J. Dollard (0-1).
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: W. Barrett (Tipperary)

Offaly2-14 1-10Wexford
Johnny Dooley (0-8), J. Troy (1-2), Joe Dooley (1-1), M. Duignan (0-2), J. Pilkington (0-1). L. Dunne (0-5), B. Byrne (1-1), M. Dempsey (0-3), M. Storey (0-1).
Referee: A. Mac Suibhne (Dublin)

Kilkenny4-13 2-10Dublin
E. Morrissey (3-3), D. Byrne (1-2), A. Ronan (0-4), D. J. Carey (0-1), C. Brennan (0-1), P. O'Neill (0-1), D. Gaffney (0-1). J. Twomey (1-4), V. Murphy (0-4), S. Cooke (1-0), G. Harrigton (0-1), S. McDermott (0-1).
Referee: P. Delaney (Laois)

Offaly2-16 2-5Kilkenny
B. Dooley (0-5), P. O'Connor (1-1), D. Regan (1-0), M. Duignan (0-3), Johnny Dooley (0-3), J. Troy (0-2), B. Whelehan (0-1), J. Pilkington (0-1). D. J. Carey (2-0), A. Ronan (0-3), P. J. Delaney (0-1), P. O'Neill (0-1).
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: D. Murphy (Wexford)

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Kerry0-12 1-22Cork
P. O'Connell (0-4), M. Hennessy (0-3), C. Walsh (0-2), P. O'Rourke (0-1), B. O'Mahony (0-1), B. O'Sullivan (0-1). B. Egan (0-7), A. Browne (1-1), D. O'Donoghue (0-4), T. O'Sullivan (0-4), K. Murray (0-3), K. Morrisson (0-2), C. Casey (0-1).
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: J. McDonnell (Tipperary)

Tipperary4-23 1-11Waterford
P. Fox (2-4), M. Cleary (1-4), A. Ryan (1-2), N. English (0-4), D. Ryan (0-4), T. Dunne (0-3), J. Leahy (0-2). G. Harris (1-1), P. Flynn (0-3), G. Gater (0-3), T. Browne (0-1), T. Fives (0-1), B. O'Sullivan (0-1), P. Queally (0-1).
Referee: T. Murray (Limerick)

Clare2-13 3-9Cork
G. O'Loughlin (1-3), O. Baker (1-1), J. O'Connor (0-4), P. J. O'Connell (0-2), F. Hegarty (0-1), C. Clancy (0-1), S. McMahon (0-1). K. Murray (1-2), A. Browne (1-2), G. Manley (1-0), M. Mullins (0-2), B. Egan (0-1), D. O'Donoghue (0-1), K. Morrisson (0-1).
Referee: P. O'Connor (Limerick)

Limerick0-16 0-15Tipperary
G. Kirby (0-12), M. Galligan (0-1), T. J. Ryan (0-1), D. Quigley (0-1), S. O'Neill (0-1). M. Cleary (0-4), B. Ryan (0-2), A. Ryan (0-2), N. English (0-2), J. Leahy (0-2), P. Fox (0-1), A. Crosse (0-1), D. Ryan (0-1).
Attendance: 32,134
Referee: D. Murphy (Wexford)

Clare1-17 0-11Limerick
J. O'Connor (0-6), P. J. Connell (0-4), D. FitzGerald (1-0), C. Clancy (0-2), S. McMahon (0-1), F. Tuohy (0-1), F. Hegarty (0-1), S. McNamara (0-1), G. O'Loughlin (0-1). G. Kirby (0-6), M. Galligan (0-3), P. Heffernan (0-1), F. Carroll (0-1).
Referee: J. McDonnell (Tipperary)

Ulster Senior Hurling Championship

Antrim1-13 3-7Down
G. O'Kane (0-6), J. Boyle (1-0), T. McNaughton (0-2), J. Carson (0-2), P. Donnelly (0-2), S. P. McKillop (0-1). K. Coulter (2-1), H. Gilmore (0-4), D. O'Prey (1-0), M. Blaney (0-1), P. Coulter (0-1).
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: A. Mac Suibhne (Dublin)

Antrim2-10 1-19Down
G. O'Kane (1-5), J. Carson (1-0), T. McNaughton (0-1), A. Elliot (0-1), S. McMullan (0-1), S. P. McKillop (0-1), C. McCambridge (0-1). N. Sands (1-2), J. McCarthy (0-4), H. Gilmore (0-4), K. Coulter (0-3), D. Hughes (0-2), P. Coulter (0-1), C. Arthurs (0-1), M. Mallon (0-1), D. Woods (0-1).

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

London0-9 0-16Down
T. Galway (0-4), M. Cunningham (0-2), D. McKenna (0-1), T. Corbett (0-1), J. Kennedy (0-1). Report K. Coulter (0-4), C. Arthurs (0-3), H. Gilmore (0-3), N. Sands (0-2), M. Mallon (0-1), J. McCarthy (0-1), B. Coulter (0-1), M. Blaney (0-1).
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: J. O'Leary (Cork)

Offaly2-19 2-8Down
Johnny Dooley (0-11), B. Dooley (1-2), M. Duignan (1-1), P. O'Connor (0-1), J. Troy (0-1), Joe Dooley (0-1), B. Whelehan (0-1), J. Pilkington (0-1). Report P. Coulter (1-0), N. Sands (1-0), H. Gilmore (0-3), K. Coulter (0-1), D. Hughes (0-1), J. McCarthy (0-1).
Referee: W. Barrett (Tipperary)

Clare3-12 1-13Galway
G. O'Loughlin (2-1), J. O'Connor (0-7), S. McNamara (1-1), L. Doyle (0-1), F. Tuohy (0-1), P. J. O'Connell (0-1). Report J. Cooney (0-6), F. Forde (1-1), J. Campbell (0-2), O. Fahy (0-2), L. Burke (0-1), M. Coleman (0-1).
Attendance: 54,512
Referee: D. Murphy (Wexford)

Clare1-13 2-8Offaly
F. Tuohy (0-4), E. Taffe (1-0), S. McMahon (0-3), J. O'Connor (0-2), F. Hegarty (0-1), G. O'Loughlin (0-1), O. Baker (0-1), A. Daly (0-1). Report Johnny Dooley (0-5), J. Pilkington (1-0), M. Duignan (1-0), J. Troy (0-1), D. Regan (0-1), B. Dooley (0-1).
Attendance: 65,092
Referee: D. Murphy (Wexford)

Championship statistics

Scoring

Overall

Discipline

  • First red card of the championship: Johnny Kavanagh for Carlow against Meath (Leinster first round)

Miscellaneous

  • Down win the Ulster title for the third time in their history. It is their second provincial title in three years.
  • The All-Ireland semi-final meeting of Clare and Galway is their first championship clash since the 1967 championship.
  • Clare win the Munster title for the first time since the 1932 championship. They later claim the All-Ireland title for the first time since 1914.
  • The meeting of Down and Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final was their first-ever clash in the history of the championship.
  • The meeting of Clare and Offaly in the All-Ireland final was their first-ever clash in the history of the championship.

Top scorers

Season

Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average
1 Johnny Dooley Offaly 0-27 27 4 6.75
2 Jamesie O'Connor Clare 0-19 19 4 4.75
3 Gary Kirby Limerick 0-18 18 2 9.00
4 Tom Galway London 1-15 18 3 6.00
5 Ger O'Loughlin Clare 3-6 15 4 3.75
Kevin Coulter Down 2-9 15 4 3.75
7 Greg O'Kane Antrim 1-11 14 2 7.00
Hugh Gilmore Down 0-14 14 4 3.50
9 Billy Byrne Wexford 4-1 13 2 6.50
Denis Byrne Kilkenny 3-4 13 3 4.33
Eamon Morrissey Kilkenny 3-4 13 3 4.33
Seán McLoughlin Westmeath 3-4 13 2 6.50

Single game

Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition
1 Eamon Morrissey Kilkenny 3-3 12 Dublin
Gary Kirby Limerick 0-12 12 Tipperary
3 Johnny Dooley Offaly 0-11 11 Down
4 Seán McLoughlin Westmeath 3-1 10 Carlow
Pat Fox Tipperary 2-4 10 Waterford
6 Tom Galway London 1-06 9 New York
Billy Byrne Wexford 3-0 9 Westmeath
Fintan Lalor Laois 1-6 9 Kilkenny
9 Larry Murphy Wexford 2-2 8 Westmeath
Denis Byrne Kilkenny 2-2 8 Laois
Johnny Dooley Offaly 0-8 8 Wexford
Gary O'Kane Antrim 1-5 8 Down

Player facts

Debutantes

The following players made their début in the 1995 championship:

Player Team Date Opposition Game
Alan Browne Cork May 20 Kerry Munster quarter-final
Pat Kenneally Cork May 20 Kerry Munster quarter-final
Fergal McCormack Cork May 20 Kerry Munster quarter-final
Kieran Morrison Cork May 20 Kerry Munster quarter-final
John O'Driscoll Cork May 20 Kerry Munster quarter-final
Darren Ronan Cork May 20 Kerry Munster quarter-final
Peter Smith Cork May 20 Kerry Munster quarter-final
Brendan Cummins Tipperary May 21 Waterford Munster quarter-final
Tom Feeney Waterford May 21 Tipperary Munster quarter-final
Fergal Ryan Cork June 4 Clare Munster semi-final
Ollie Baker Clare June 4 Cork Munster semi-final
Conor Clancy Clare June 4 Cork Munster semi-final
Fergal Hegarty Clare June 4 Cork Munster semi-final
Frank Lohan Clare June 4 Cork Munster semi-final
Stephen McNamara Clare June 4 Cork Munster semi-final
Michael O'Halloran Clare June 4 Cork Munster semi-final
Éamonn Taaffe Clare September 3 Offaly All-Ireland final

Retirees

The following players played their last game in the 1995 championship:

Player Team Date Opposition Game Début
Tony O'Sullivan Cork May 20 Kerry Munster quarter-final 1982
John Chaplin Clare June 4 Cork Munster semi-final 1991
Stephen Sheedy Clare June 4 Cork Munster semi-final 1993
P. J. Martin Offaly June 22 Wexford Leinster semi-final 1988
Jim McInerney Clare August 6 Galway All-Ireland semi-final 1985
Cyril Lyons Clare September 3 Offaly All-Ireland final 1983
Alan Neville Clare September 3 Offaly All-Ireland final 1992
Brendan Kelly Offaly September 3 Clare All-Ireland final 1990

Bibliography

  • Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).
  • Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).
  • Sweeney, Éamonn, Munster Hurling Legends (The O'Brien Press, 2002).

See also

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