Leinster Senior Hurling Championship - Leinster Championship Moments

Leinster Championship Moments

• Dublin 3-5 : 2-2 Kilkenny (26 August 1934 at O'Moore Park) – In a replay characterised by close hurling, Dublin showed "a collective excellence". The game began with Kilkenny scooping the sliotar from the throw-in, and drove towards their forwards. J.A. Walsh intercepted, and set the ball flying wide from 80 yards out to Daniels, who drove to Muldowney, who passed to Hegarty. Hegarty flashed in a goal. Barely a minute later, Treacy pointed from 70 feet, and Hegarty scored another point. Excellent hurling ensued, the outstanding feature being the terrier tackling of Daniels and Wade. A free to Kilkenny gave Lowry Meagher his chance, but Forde saved miraculously. The danger to Dublin ensued, but it was averted by Bannon, Murphy, Walsh and McMahon. Larkin was the outstanding Kilkenny man. Tom Treacy pointed from a free for Dublin,, this time scoring a major. Just before the interval O’Connell scored a point, leaving the score at Dublin 3-3 : Kilkenny Nil. Within five minutes of resuming play, Duggan scored a goal and Power a point. Dublin fought back and Wade and Muldowney each scored points. "Then a rare achievement was witnessed, when Lory Meagher scored a goal from a 70 yards puck". The scoring finished with a point by Meagher. Dublin showed superior speed, pertinacious tackling and a will-to-win spirit. The teams were: Dublin C. Forde, A. Murphy, J. Bannon, C. McMahon, James Andrew Walsh (hurler), D. Canniffe, P. Roche, E. Wade, Mick Daniels, S. Hegarty, T. Treacy, S. Muldowney, C. Boland, D. O’Neill, J. O’Connell. Kilkenny Jim Dermody, Paddy Larkin, P. O’Reilly, P. Kealy, Paddy Phelan, P. Byrne, T. Leahy, Lory Meagher, J. Duggan, Jimmy Walsh (Kilkenny hurler), Locky Byrne, M. Power, J. Fitzpatrick, M. Dunne, Matty Power. Referee Sean Robbins.

• Wexford 5–6 : 3–9 Kilkenny (31 July 1955 at Croke Park) – After a 2–7 apiece draw a fortnight earlier, both sides met in an historic replay. Wexford, the reigning provincial champions, were the favourites for both games, however, they had never beaten Kilkenny in a Leinster final. At half-time both sides were still level, however, immediately after the restart the key score came. Nicky Rackard gained possession sixty yards out and sent a speculative shot goalwards. The sliotar bounced on the hard Croke Park surface, hopped again, deceived the Kilkenny 'keeper and ended up just inside the white goal-line. Wexford later emerged victorious and broke the Kilkenny hoodoo.

• Offaly 3–17 : 5–10 Kilkenny (13 July 1980 at Croke Park) – Undoubtedley regarded as one of the most significant days in the history of Offaly hurling. Offaly were only appearing in their sixth Leinster final ever and were looking for their first success, while Kilkenny were looking for a third consecutive provincial title. After a high-scoring first-half, Kilkenny only had a 3–6 to 1–10 lead. The game really heated up in the final ten minutes as both sides swapped the lead several times. In the end, the Leinster final roll of honour had a new name as Offaly won the game by a point.

• Offaly 2–16 : 3–9 Kilkenny (26 June 1994 at Croke Park) – Regarded as one of the greatest games in the long history of the Leinster Championship. This provincial semi-final saw Kilkenny on the road to a fourth successive Leinster title, as well as a third consecutive All-Ireland title. The day belonged to Offaly, with Brian Whelehan putting in a great performance at right half-back which would later see him being named Hurler of the Year. The three Dooley brothers – Billy, Joe and Johnny – combined to score 2–10 of Offaly's total, giving 'the Faithful County' to impetus to go on and challenge for the Leinster title.

• Wexford 2–15 : 1–16 Kilkenny (13 June 2004 at Croke Park) – Kilkenny were the red-hot favourites coming into this provincial semi-final. They were on the trail of a record-breaking seventh consecutive Leinster title and a third consecutive All-Ireland title. The game was going Kilkenny's way until the very last puck of the game. Wexford had tested the champions but with time nearly up 'the Cats' still had a one-point lead. A Kilkenny clearance fell staright to Michael Jacob who made no mistake ins ending the sliotar into the net. With that the referee sounded the long whistle and Kilkenny's great run was at an end.

• Galway 2-21 : 2-11 Kilkenny (8 July 2012 at Croke Park) – Galway kept Kilkenny scoreless for twenty minutes in this Leinster Final. The half-time score was Galway 2-12 Kilkenny 0-4. Kilkenny rallied in the second half but were never able to come close to Galway who won their first ever Leinster title in the most unexpected of circumstances.