View source for 1978 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Hurling All-Ireland
| year         = 1978
| image        = 
| dates        = 30 April – 3 September 1978
| teams        = 15
| connacht     = 
| munster      = Cork
| leinster     = Kilkenny
| ulster       = 
| matches      = 14
| poty         = [[John Horgan (hurler)|John Horgan]]
| team         = Cork
| titles       = 24th
| captain      = [[Charlie McCarthy (hurler)|Charlie McCarthy]]
| manager      = [[Bertie Troy|Fr. Bertie Troy]]
| team2        = Kilkenny
| captain2     = [[Ger Henderson]]
| manager2     = [[Tommy Maher|Fr. Tommy Maher]]
| totalgoals   = 64 (4.5 per game)
| totalpoints  = 340 (24.2 per game)
| topscorer    = [[Liam O'Brien (hurler)|Liam O'Brien]] (1-23)
| previous     = [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1977|1977]]
| next         = [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1979|1979]]
}}
The '''1978 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship''' was the 92nd staging of the All-Ireland [[hurling]] championship since its establishment by the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] in 1887. The championship began on 30 April 1978 and ended on 3 September 1978.

[[Cork GAA|Cork]] entered the championship as [[1977 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|defending champions]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-06 |title=Flashback: Nine of the best action shots from All-Ireland hurling final clashes in the 1970s |url=https://www.independent.ie/archives/flashback-nine-of-the-best-action-shots-from-all-ireland-hurling-final-clashes-in-the-1970s/34775885.html |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref>

On 3 September 1978, Cork won the championship following a 1–15 to 2–8 defeat of [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] in the All-Ireland final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=108922|title=Cork's three-in-a-row 70s hurling teams honoured|publisher=Hogan Stand website|date=23 March 2009|access-date=31 October 2013}}</ref> This was their 24th All-Ireland title, their third championship in succession.

Kilkenny's [[Liam O'Brien (hurler)|Liam "Chunky" O'Brien]] was the championship's top scorer with 1-23. Cork's [[John Horgan (hurler)|John Horgan]] was the choice for Hurler of the Year.

==Team summaries==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Colours
!colspan="3"|Most recent success
|-
!All-Ireland
!Provincial
!League
|-
|[[Antrim GAA|Antrim]]
|Saffron and white
|
|[[1946 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Ulster Senior Hurling Championship|1946]]
|
|-
|[[Clare GAA|Clare]]
|Saffron and blue
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1914|1914]]
|[[1932 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Munster Senior Hurling Championship|1932]]
|[[National Hurling League 1977-78|1977-78]]
|-
|[[Cork GAA|Cork]]
|Red and white
|[[1977 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|1977]]
|[[1977 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Munster Senior Hurling Championship|1977]]
|[[National Hurling League 1973-74|1973-74]]
|-
|[[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
|Navy and blue
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1938|1938]]
|[[1961 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|1961]]
|[[National Hurling League 1938-39|1938-39]]
|-
|[[Galway GAA|Galway]]
|Maroon and white
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1923|1923]]
|[[1922 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Connacht Senior Hurling Championship|1922]]
|[[National Hurling League 1974-75|1974-75]]
|-
|[[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]
|Green and gold
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1891|1891]]
|[[1891 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Munster Senior Hurling Championship|1891]]
|
|-
|[[Kildare GAA|Kildare]]
|White
|
|
|
|-
|[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
|Black and amber
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1975|1975]]
|[[1975 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|1975]]
|[[National Hurling League 1975-76|1975-76]]
|-
|[[Laois GAA|Laois]]
|Blue and white
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1915|1915]]
|[[1915 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|1915]]
|
|-
|[[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]
|Green and white
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1973|1973]]
|[[1974 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Munster Senior Hurling Championship|1974]]
|[[National Hurling League 1970-71|1970-71]]
|-
|[[Offaly GAA|Offaly]]
|Green, white and gold
|
|
|
|-
|[[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]]
|Blue and gold
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1971|1971]]
|[[1971 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Munster Senior Hurling Championship|1971]]
|[[National Hurling League 1967-68|1967-68]]
|-
|[[Waterford GAA|Waterford]]
|Blue and white
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1959|1959]]
|[[1963 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Munster Senior Hurling Championship|1963]]
|[[National Hurling League 1962-63|1962-63]]
|-
|[[Westmeath GAA|Westmeath]]
|Maroon and white
|
|
|
|-
|[[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
|Purple and gold
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1968|1968]]
|[[1977 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|1977]]
|[[National Hurling League 1972-73|1972-73]]
|}

==Provincial championships==

===[[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship]]===

'''First round'''

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 30 April 1978
| round      = First round
| team1      = [[Laois GAA|Laois]]
| score      = 2-8 - 2-7
| team2      = [[Westmeath GAA|Westmeath]]
| goals1     = F Keenan 0-4, J Mahon 1-0, M Bolger 1-0, M Cuddy 0-3, M Walsh 0-2. 
| goals2     = M Ryan 2-1, D McCormack 0-3, J Kilcoyne 0-2, G Whelan 0-1.
| referee    = O Moylan (Offaly)
| stadium    = [[O'Connor Park]]
}}

'''Quarter-final'''

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 4 June 1978
| round      = Quarter-final
| team1      = [[Laois GAA|Laois]]
| score      = 2-10 - 2-13
| team2      = [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| goals1     = P Keenan 1-7, M Cuddy 1-0, P Kelly 0-1, L Shaughnessy 0-1, P Dunphy 0-1.
| goals2     = L Hennebry 1-3, D Itbeinlarh 1-0, V Holden 0-4, M Holden 0-4, S Cullen 0-1, J Towell 0-1.
| referee    = G Kirwan (Offaly)
| stadium    = [[O'Connor Park]]
}}
{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 11 June 1978
| round      = Quarter-final
| team1      = [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]]
| score      = 3-19 – 2-10
| team2      = [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]]
| goals1     = 
| goals2     = 
| referee    = 
| stadium    = [[O'Moore Park]]
}}

'''Semi-finals'''

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 18 June 1978
| round      = Semi-final
| team1      = [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| score      = 4-13 - 5-16
| team2      = [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
| goals1     = J Towell 2-0, V Holden 1-3, M Holden 1-3, L Hennebry 0-4, T Quinn 0-1, P Carton 0-1, D Murphy 0-1.
| goals2     = S Kinsella 3-1, N Buggy 0-8, C Keogh 1-0, M Quigley 1-0, J Quigley 0-2, M Butler 0-2, T Doran 0-1, C Doran 0-1, M Casey 0-1.
| referee    = J Murphy (Kilkenny)
| stadium    = [[Dr. Cullen Park]]
}}
{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 25 June 1978
| round      = Semi-final
| team1      = [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| score      = 2-17 – 1-4
| team2      = [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]]
| goals1     = L O'Brien 0-11, B Cody 1-3, M Malone 1-0, B Fitzpatrick 0-2, M Brennan 0-2.
| goals2     = P Horgan 1-0, K Mooney 0-2, P Delaney 0-1, B Bermingham 0-1.
| referee    = J Rankins (Laois)
| stadium    = [[O'Moore Park]]
}}

'''Final'''

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 16 July 1978
| round      = Final
| team1      = [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| score      = 2-16 – 1-16
| team2      = [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
| goals1     = M Ruth 1-3, B Fitzpatrick 1-2, L O'Brien 0-5, M Brennan 0-4, B Cody 0-1, F Cummins 0-1.
| goals2     = N Buggy 1-7, J Murphy 0-4, M Quigley 0-2, S Kinsella 0-1, D Bernie 0-1, R Kinsella 0-1.
| referee    = J Rankins (Laois)
| stadium    = [[Croke Park]]
}}

===[[Munster Senior Hurling Championship]]===

'''Quarter-finals'''

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 4 June 1978
| round      = Quarter-final
| team1      = [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]]
| score      = 5-13 - 0-11
| team2      = [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]
| goals1     = M Walsh 0-7, P Kelly 2-0, J Greene 1-2, M Hickey 1-1, J Galvin 1-1, P McGrath 0-1, M Whelan 0-1.
| goals2     = P Moriarty 0-5, C Nolan 0-3, J O'Grady 0-1, J Hourihane 0-1, J McElligott 0-1.
| referee    = K Ryan (Tipperary)
| stadium    = [[Fraher Field]]
}}
{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 11 June 1978
| round      = Quarter-final
| team1      = [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]
| score      = 1-14 - 0-9
| team2      = [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]]
| goals1     = L O'Donoghue 0-5, É Grimes 0-4, W Fitzmaurice 1-0, S Condon 0-2, F Nolan 0-1, S Foley 0-1.
| goals2     = T Butler 0-3, P O'Neill 0-2, S Burke 0-1, P Fanning 0-1, N O'Dwyer 0-1.
| referee    = F Murphy (Cork)
| stadium    = [[Páirc Uí Chaoimh]]
}}

'''Semi-finals'''

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 25 June 1978
| round      = Semi-final
| team1      = [[Cork GAA|Cork]]
| score      = 3-17 – 2-8
| team2      = [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]]
| goals1     = J Barry-Murphy 1-3, T Cashman 1-2, R Cummins 1-1, S O'Leary 0-3, J Horgan 0-3, C McCarthy 0-2, G McCarthy 0-2, T Crowley 0-1.
| goals2     = J Greene 1-1, J Galvin 1-0, M Walsh 0-3, D Fitzpatrick 0-2, P Kelly 0-1, J Dalton 0-1.
| referee    = J Moloney (Tipperary)
| stadium    = [[Semple Stadium]]
}}
{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 2 July 1978
| round      = Semi-final
| team1      = [[Clare GAA|Clare]]
| score      = 4-12 – 3-8
| team2      = [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]
| goals1     = C Honan 0-9, P O'Connor 1-1, B Gilligan 1-0, M McKeogh 1-0, S O'Connor 1-0, M Moroney 0-2. 
| goals2     = W Fitzmaurice 3-0, É Grimes 0-4, S Foley 0-2, F Nolan 0-1, É Cregan 0-1.
| referee    = J Moloney (Tipperary)
| stadium    = [[Semple Stadium]]
}}

'''Final'''

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 30 July 1978
| round      = Final 
| team1      = [[Cork GAA|Cork]]
| score      = 0-13 – 0-11
| team2      = [[Clare GAA|Clare]]
| goals1     = C McCarthy 0-5, J Horgan 0-4, R Cummins 0-2, T Cashman 0-1, T Crowley 0-1.
| goals2     = C Honan 0-6, E O'Connor 0-1, G Loughnane 0-1, M Moroney 0-1, J Callinan 0-1, N Casey 0-1.
| referee    = J Moloney (Tipperary)
| stadium    = [[Semple Stadium]]
}}
==All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship==

{{8TeamBracket-Compact-NoSeeds-Byes|RD1=Quarter-finals|RD2=Semi-finals|RD3=Final|team-width=|score-width=|RD1-team1=[[File:Colours of Galway.svg|border|20px]] '''[[Galway GAA|Galway]]'''|RD1-score1='''4-19'''|RD1-team2=[[File:Colours of Antrim.svg|border|20px]] [[Antrim GAA|Antrim]]|RD1-score2=3-10|RD1-team7=|RD1-score7=|RD1-team8=|RD1-score8=|RD2-team1=[[File:Colours of Kilkenny.svg|border|20px]] '''[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]'''|RD2-score1='''4-20'''|RD2-team2=[[File:Colours of Galway.svg|border|20px]] [[Galway GAA|Galway]]|RD2-score2=4-13|RD2-team3=|RD2-score3=|RD2-team4=|RD2-score4=|RD3-team1=[[File:Colours of Kilkenny.svg|border|20px]] [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]|RD3-score1=2-08|RD3-team2=[[File:Colours of Cork.svg|border|20px]] '''[[Cork GAA|Cork]]'''|RD3-score2='''1-15'''}}

===All-Ireland quarter-finals===

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 23 July 1978
| round      = Quarter-final
| team1      = [[Galway GAA|Galway]]
| score      = 4-19 – 3-10
| team2      = [[Antrim GAA|Antrim]]
| goals1     = Joe Connolly 3-1, M Connolly 0-5, F Burke 1-0, F Gantley 0-3, PJ Molloy 0-3, S Silke 0-3, John Connolly 0-2, M Barrett 0-1, I Clarke 0-1.
| goals2     = R McDonnell 3-1, J Fagan 0-4, S Boyle 0-2, J Crossey 0-1, D Donnelly 0-1, P Boyle 0-1.
| referee    = C Foley (Dublin)
| stadium    = [[Croke Park]]
}}

===All-Ireland semi-finals===

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 6 August 1978
| round      = Semi-final
| team1      = [[Galway GAA|Galway]]
| score      = 4-13 – 4-20
| team2      = [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| goals2     = M Ruth 2-1, L O'Brien 1-3, B Cody 1-2, B Fitzpatrick 0-5, K Fennelly 0-3, M Crotty 0-2, F Cummins 0-2, J Hennessy 0-2. 
| goals1     = PJ Molloy 1-3, N Lane 1-1, F Burke 1-0, John Connolly 1-0, F Gantley 0-3, M Connolly 0-2, I Clarke 0-2, Joe Connolly 0-2. 
| referee    = J Moloney (Tipperary)
| attendance = 16,299
| stadium    = [[Croke Park]]
}}

===All-Ireland Final===

{{football box collapsible 
| date       = 3 September 1978
| round      = Final
| team1      = [[Cork GAA|Cork]]
| score      = 1-15 – 2-8
| team2      = [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| goals1     = C McCarthy 0-7, J Barry-Murphy 1-1, G McCarthy 0-2, T Crowley 0-2, R Cummins 0-1, S O'Leary 0-1, T Cashman 0-1.
| goals2     = B Fitzpatrick 1-1, L O'Brien 0-4, K Fennelly 1-0, M Brennan 0-2, J Hennessy 0-1.
| stadium    = [[Croke Park]]
|attendance  = 64,155
|referee     = J Rankin (Laois)
}}

==Top scorers==

;Overall
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Player
! County
! Tally
! Total
! Matches
! Average
|-
|rowspan=1 align=center|1
|[[Liam O'Brien (hurler)|Liam O'Brien]]
|[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
|align=center|1-23
|align=center|26
|align=center|4
|align=center|6.50
|-
|rowspan=1 align=center|2
|[[Ned Buggy]]
|[[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
|align=center|1-15
|align=center|18
|align=center|2
|align=center|9.00
|-
|rowspan=1 align=center|3
|[[Billy Fitzpatrick]]
|[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
|align=center|2-10
|align=center|16
|align=center|4
|align=center|4.0
|-
|rowspan=1 align=center|4
|[[Colm Honan]]
|[[Clare GAA|Clare]]
|align=center|0-15
|align=center|15
|align=center|2
|align=center|7.50
|-
|rowspan=1 align=center|5
|[[Charlie McCarthy (hurler)|Charlie McCarthy]]
|[[Cork GAA|Cork]]
|align=center|0-14
|align=center|14
|align=center|3
|align=center|4.66
|-
|rowspan=2 align=center|6
|[[Willie Fitzmaurice]]
|[[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]
|align=center|4-0
|align=center|12
|align=center|2
|align=center|6.00
|-
|[[Joe Connolly (hurler)|Joe Connolly]]
|[[Galway GAA|Galway]]
|align=center|3-3
|align=center|12
|align=center|2
|align=center|6.00
|-
|rowspan=1 align=center|8
|[[Seánie Kinsella]]
|[[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
|align=center|3-2
|align=center|11
|align=center|2
|align=center|5.50
|}

;Single game

{| class="wikitable"  
|-
! Rank
! Player
! County
! Tally
! Total
! Opposition
|-
|rowspan=1 align=center|1
|[[Liam O'Brien (hurler)|Liam O'Brien]]
|[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
|align=center|0-11
|align=center|11
|[[Offaly GAA|Offaly]]
|-
|rowspan=5 align=center|2
|[[Joe Connolly (hurler)|Joe Connolly]]
|[[Galway GAA|Galway]]
|align=center|3-1
|align=center|10
|[[Antrim GAA|Antrim]]
|-
|[[Randall McDonnell]]
|[[Antrim GAA|Antrim]]
|align=center|3-1
|align=center|10
|[[Galway GAA|Galway]]
|-
|[[Seánie Kinsella]]
|[[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
|align=center|3-1
|align=center|10
|[[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
|-
|[[Ned Buggy]]
|[[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
|align=center|1-7
|align=center|10
|[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
|-
|[[Frank Keenan (hurler)|Frank Keenan]]
|[[Laois GAA|Laois]]
|align=center|1-7
|align=center|10
|[[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
|-
|rowspan=2 align=center|7
|[[Willie Fitzmaurice]]
|[[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]
|align=center|3-0
|align=center|9
|[[Clare GAA|Clare]]
|-
|[[Colm Honan]]
|[[Clare GAA|Clare]]
|align=center|0-9
|align=center|9
|[[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]
|-
|rowspan=1 align=center|9
|[[Ned Buggy]]
|[[Wexford]]
|align=center|0-8
|align=center|8
|[[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
|-
|rowspan=4 align=center|10
|[[Mick Ryan (Westmeath hurler)|Mick Ryan]]
|[[Westmeath GAA|Westmeath]]
|align=center|2-1
|align=center|7
|[[Laois GAA|Laois]]
|-
|[[Matt Ruth]]
|[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
|align=center|2-1
|align=center|7
|[[Galway GAA|Galway]]
|-
|[[Mossie Walsh]]
|[[Waterford GAA|Waterford]]
|align=center|0-7
|align=center|7
|[[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]
|-
|[[Charlie McCarthy (hurler)|Charlie McCarthy]]
|[[Cork GAA|Cork]]
|align=center|0-7
|align=center|7
|[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
|}

==Championship statistics==

===Miscellaneous===

* Cork retain the All-Ireland title for a third successive season. It is the fourth time in their history that they have achieved this feat and the first time since Cork in 1954 that a team has won three championships in succession.
* Kerry return to the Munster Senior Hurling Championship for the first time since 1958.

==Broadcasting==

The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on [[RTÉ]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Round
! RTÉ
|-
| All-Ireland semi-final 
|[[#Kilkenny v Galway|Kilkenny vs Galway]]
|-
| All-Ireland final
|[[#Cork v Kilkenny|Cork vs Kilkenny]]
|}

==Sources==

* 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).

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Hurling All-Irelands}}

[[Category:1978 in hurling|All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]]