The 1979 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 93rd staging of the All-Ireland hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1887. The championship began on 27 May 1979 and ended on 2 September 1978.
Cork entered the championship as defending champions, however, they were beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Kilkenny won the title after defeating Galway by 2–12 to 1–8 in the final.
Teams
A total of eleven teams contested the championship, one of the fewest participants in years. Only four team contested the Leinster series of games. Kildare, Laois and Westmeath withdrew from the provincial campaign, however, Laois did qualify for the All-Ireland series by winning the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship. They did this at Antrim's expense. Kerry withdrew from the Munster championship.
Team summaries
TeamColoursMost recent successAll-IrelandProvincialLeagueClareSaffron and blue191419321977–78CorkRed and white197819781973–74DublinNavy and blue193819611938–39GalwayMaroon and white192319221974–75KilkennyBlack and amber197519781975–76LaoisBlue and white19151949LimerickGreen and white197319741970–71OffalyGreen, white and goldTipperaryBlue and gold197119711978–79WaterfordBlue and white195919631962–63WexfordPurple and gold196819771972–73
Provincial championships Leinster Senior Hurling championship
Munster Senior Hurling championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
All-Ireland quarter-finals
All-Ireland semi-finals
All-Ireland Final
Championship statistics Miscellaneous
Cork capture a record-equalling fifth successive Munster title following a victory over Limerick. It is the second time that Cork have achieved the five-in-a-row, the first since 1905. In the All-Ireland semi-final, Galway defeat Cork for only the second time in the history of the championship. It is Cork's first defeat since the All-Ireland semi-final of 1975 when the same opposition recorded their first win over 'the Rebels'.
Top scorers Season Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1Éamonn CreganLimerick2–172337.662Ned BuggyWexford1–161929.503Mick BrennanKilkenny2–121836.004Joe McKennaLimerick4–51735.665Charlie McCarthyCork1–121535.00Liam O'BrienKilkenny1–121535.00P. J. MolloyGalway1–121535.008Mick CrottyKilkenny2–51133.66Matt RuthKilkenny2–51133.6610Mick HoldenDublin2–3919.00Ray CumminsCork2–3933.00
Single game Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1Éamonn MoroneyClare2–410WaterfordJoe McKennaClare2–410KilkennyLiam 'Chunky' O'BrienClare1–710KilkennyNed BuggyWexford0–1010Offaly5Mick HoldenDublin2–39KilkennyP. J. MolloyGalway1–69CorkNed BuggyWexford1–69Kilkenny8Éamonn CreganLimerick0–88ClareMick 'Cloney' BrennanKilkenny0–88Wexford10Mick CrottyKilkenny1–47DublinJoe McKennaLimerick1–47WaterfordMatt RuthKilkenny1–47WexfordCharlie McCarthyCork1–47Limerick
Broadcasting
The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on RTÉ.
Round RTÉ All-Ireland semi-final Cork vs Galway All-Ireland finalKilkenny vs Galway
Sources
Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005). Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).
References