The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1969 was the 83rd staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Kilkenny won the championship, beating Cork 2-15 to 2-9 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.
First round: (1 match) This is a single match between two of the weaker teams drawn from the province of Leinster. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the quarter-final.
Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a single match between the winner of the first round and another team drawn from the province of Leinster. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the quarter-final join three 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 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.
Munster Championship[edit]
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 semi-finals.
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 final.
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 final.
All-Ireland Championship[edit]
Semi-final: (1 match) This is a lone match between London and the Leinster champions. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winner advances to the All-Ireland final.
Final: (1 match) The semi-final winner and the Munser champions contest the final.
Fixtures[edit]
Munster Senior Hurling Championship[edit]
Waterford
1-12 – 3-18
Tipperary
T. Walsh (0-9), M. Hickey (2-1), P. Enright (0-1), D. Mahon (0-1).
J. Doyle (1-8), M. Keating (1-5), J. Flanagan (1-1), M. Roche (0-2), S. McLoughlin (0-1), F. Loughnane (0-1).
Walsh Park Waterford
Referee: M. Slattery (Clare)
Cork
3-8 – 1-4
Clare
C. McCarthy (3-1), E. O'Brien (0-3), P. Hegarty (0-2), C. Cullinane (0-1), W. Walsh (0-1).
T. Ryan (0-4), L. Danaher (1-0).
Thurles Sportsfield, Thurles
Attendance: 21,200
Referee: S. O'Connor (Limerick)
Tipperary
0-14 – 2-5
Limerick
J. Doyle (0-5), M. Keating (0-4), F. Loughnane (0-3), D. Nealon (0-1), J. Flanagan (0-1).
T. Bluett (2-0), E. Cregan (0-3), M. Dowling (0-1), A. Dunworth (0-1).
Cork Athletic Grounds Cork
Referee: M. Slattery (Clare)
Cork
3-15 – 1-10
Galway
C. McCarthy (1-5), C. Cullinane (1-2), W. Walsh (1-2), P. Hegarty (0-3), G. McCarthy (0-2), D. Coughlan (0-1).
J. Connolly (0-4), B. O'Connor (1-0), P. Mitchell (0-2), D. Coen (0-2), M. O'Connor (0-1), P. Fahy (0-1).
Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: G. Fitzgerald (Limerick)
Cork
4-6 – 0-9
Tipperary
W. Walsh (3-0), C. McCarthy (1-1), P. Hegarty (0-2), D. Coughlan (0-2), T. Ryan (0-1).
J. Doyle (0-5), J. Flanagan (0-1), S. McLoughlin (0-1), N. O'Dwyer (0-1), P. J. Ryan (0-1).
Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Attendance: 43,569
Referee: S. O'Connor (Limerick)
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship[edit]
Laois
5-12 – 0-1
Westmeath
P. Bates (2-4), J. Cuddy (1-1), G. Conroy (1-1), T. Keenan (1-1), J. Lyons (0-2), J. Dooley (0-1), P. Dowling (0-1), E. Jones (0-1).
P. Bradley (0-1).
O'Connor Park, Tullamore
Referee: J. Dowling (Offaly)
Laois
2-5 – 8-10
Offaly
C. O'Brien (2-0), P. Bates (0-3), P. Dowling (0-2).
P. Molloy (5-4), T. Dooley (2-0), W. Gorman (1-1), J. Healion (0-3), G. Burke (0-1), P. Mulhaire (0-1).
O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
Referee: P. Johnston (Kilkenny)
Kilkenny
2-20 – 2-6
Dublin
E. Keher (1-10), P. Moran (1-0), M. Lawlor (0-3), P. Lawlor (0-3), J. Kinsella (0-2), J. Millea (0-1), P. Delaney (0-1).
J. Dolan (1-1), N. Kinsella (1-0), E. Flynn (0-3), A. Loughnane (0-1), D. Foley (0-1).
Wexford Park, Wexford
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: B. Stack (Laois)
Offaly
5-10 – 3-11
Wexford
P. Molloy (3-4), J. Flaherty (1-3), W. Gorman (1-1), G. Burke (0-1), P. J. Whelehan (0-1).
T. Doran (2-3), M. Botler (1-1), P. Lynch (0-3), C. Jacob (0-2), W. Murphy (0-1), P. Sinnott (0-1).
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: J. Rankin (Laois)
Kilkenny
3-9 – 0-16
Offaly
P. Delaney (3-0), E. Keher (0-5), M. Brennan (0-2), J. Millea (0-1), J. Lynch (0-1).
P. Molloy (0-8), J. Flaherty (0-3), D. Hanniffy (0-2), P. Mulhaire (0-1), J. Kirwan (0-1), J. Healion (0-1).
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: J. Gray (Dublin)
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship[edit]
Kilkenny
3-22 – 1-10
London
Fr. T. Murphy (3-1), E. Keher (0-12), P. Kavanagh (0-3), P. Delaney (0-2), F. Cummins (0-1), S. Buckley (0-1), J. Millea (0-1), S. Cleere (0-1).
J. Bennett (0-5), T. Connolly (1-0), B. Barry (0-3), N. Power (0-1), P. Fahy (0-1).
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: A. Higgins (Galway)
Kilkenny
2-15 – 2-9
Cork
E. Keher (0-8), M. Brennan (1-1), J. Millea (1-0), M. Coogan (0-3), P. Kavanagh (0-1), P. Moran (0-1), M. Lawler (0-1).
C. McCarthy (1-6), P. Hegarty (1-1), E. O'Brien (0-1), G. McCarthy (0-1).
Croke Park, Dublin
Attendance: 66,844
Referee: S. O'Connor (Limerick)
Kilkenny
Cork
Championship statistics[edit]
Scoring[edit]
Hat-trick heroes:
First hat-trick of the championship: Charlie McCarthy for Cork against Clare (Munster quarter-final)
Second hat-trick of the championship: Paddy Molloy for Offaly against Laois (Leinster quarter-final)
Third hat-trick of the championship: Paddy Molloy for Offaly against Wexford (Leinster semi-final)
Fourth hat-trick of the championship: Willie Walsh for Cork against Tipperary (Munster final)
Fifth hat-trick of the championship:Fr. Tom Walsh for Kilkenny against Cork (All-Ireland semi-final)
Widest winning margin: 26 points
Laois 5-12 : 0-1 Westmeath (Leinster first round)
Most goals in a match: 10
Offaly 8-10 : 2-5 Laois (Leinster quarter-final)
Most points in a match: 32
Kilkenny 3-22 : 1-10 London (All-Ireland semi-final)
Offaly reach the Leinster final for the first time since 1928.
Kilkenny's 2-15 to 2-9 victory over Cork in the All-Ireland final was their biggest triumph over their archrivals since the 1905 All-Ireland final. The score on that occasion was 7-7 to 2-9.
Top scorers[edit]
Season[edit]
Rank
Player
County
Tally
Total
Matches
Average
1
Paddy Molloy
Offaly
8-18
42
3
14.00
2
Eddie Keher
Kilkenny
1-35
38
4
9.50
3
Charlie McCarthy
Cork
6-13
31
4
7.75
4
Jimmy Doyle
Tipperary
1-18
21
3
7.00
5
Willie Walsh
Cork
4-03
15
4
3.75
6
Paddy Bates
Laois
2-07
13
2
6.50
7
Pat Delaney
Kilkenny
3-03
12
4
3.00
Michael Keating
Tipperary
1-09
12
3
4.00
8
Pat Hegarty
Cork
1-08
11
4
2.75
9
Tom Murphy
Kilkenny
3-01
10
2
5.00
Single game[edit]
Rank
Player
County
Tally
Total
Opposition
1
Paddy Molloy
Offaly
5-05
19
Laois
2
Paddy Molloy
Offaly
3-04
13
Wexford
Eddie Keher
Kilkenny
1-10
13
Dublin
4
Eddie Keher
Kilkenny
0-12
12
London
5
Jimmy Doyle
Tipperary
1-08
11
Waterford
6
Charlie McCarthy
Tipperary
3-01
10
Clare
Tom Murphy
Kilkenny
3-01
10
London
Paddy Bates
Laois
2-04
10
Westmeath
9
Willie Walsh
Cork
3-00
9
Tipperary
Pat Delaney
Kilkenny
3-00
9
Offaly
Tony Doran
Wexford
2-03
9
Offaly
Charlie McCarthy
Cork
1-06
9
Kilkenny
Tom Walsh
Waterford
0-09
9
Tipperary
Debutantes[edit]
The following players made their début in the 1969 championship:
Player
Team
Date
Opposition
Game
Paschal Russell
Clare
June 15
Cork
Munster quarter-final
Dónal Clifford
Cork
June 15
Clare
Munster quarter-final
Charlie Cullinane
Cork
June 15
Clare
Munster quarter-final
Pat Hegarty
Cork
June 15
Clare
Munster quarter-final
Tony Maher
Cork
June 15
Clare
Munster quarter-final
Roger Tuohy
Cork
June 15
Clare
Munster quarter-final
Willie Walsh
Cork
June 15
Clare
Munster quarter-final
Pat Delaney
Kilkenny
June 22
Dublin
Leinster semi-final
Mick Lawler
Kilkenny
June 22
Dublin
Leinster semi-final
Joe Millea
Kilkenny
June 22
Dublin
Leinster semi-final
Ray Cummins
Cork
July 27
Tipperary
Munster final
Séamus Looney
Cork
September 7
Kilkenny
All-Ireland final
Joe Murphy
Cork
September 7
Kilkenny
All-Ireland final
Retirees[edit]
The following players played their last game in the 1969 championship:
Player
Team
Last Game
Date
Opposition
Début
Naoise Jordan
Clare
Leinster final
June 15
Cork
1958
Éamonn Russell
Clare
Leinster final
June 15
Cork
1962
Tom Ryan
Clare
Leinster final
June 15
Cork
1958
Éamonn Fox
Offaly
Leinster final
July 20
Kilkenny
1963
Mick Burns
Tipperary
Munster final
July 27
Cork
1958
Seán McLoughlin
Tipperary
Munster final
July 27
Cork
1958
Donie Nealon
Tipperary
Munster final
July 27
Cork
1958
Noel O'Gorman
Tipperary
Munster final
July 27
Cork
1965
Denis Murphy
Cork
All-Ireland final
September 7
Kilkenny
1960
Joe Murphy
Cork
All-Ireland final
September 7
Kilkenny
1969
Tom Murphy
Kilkenny
All-Ireland final
September 7
Cork
1963
References[edit]
Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).
Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).
Nolan, Pat, Flashbacks: A Half Century of Cork Hurling (The Collins Press, 2000).
