The 1957 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 71st staging of the All-Ireland hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1887. The championship began on 14 April 1957 and ended on 1 September 1957.
Wexford were the defending champions, however, they were defeated in the provincial campaign. Kilkenny won the All-Ireland following a 4–10 to 3–12 defeat of Waterford.
Rule changes
Prior to the start of the championship the Galway county board put down a motion at the Gaelic Athletic Association's (GAA) annual congress seeking immediate entry to the Leinster championship. Since 1922 Galway's hurlers had no competition in the Connacht championship and, as a result, they gained automatic entry to the All-Ireland semi-final every year. This format was seen as hindering the team's chances, however, by being included in the Leinster championship Galway could possibly have more competitive championship games every year. The motion at congress was eventually withdrawn and the existing format remained intact.
Teams
A total of fourteen teams contested the championship, including all of the teams that participated in the 1956 championship. Kerry returned to the championship after a prolonged absence.
Team summaries TeamColoursGroundsMost recent successAll-IrelandProvincialLeagueClareSaffron and blueCusack Park191419321945–46CorkRed and whiteCork Athletic Grounds195419561952–53DublinBlue and navyParnell Park193819521938–39GalwayMaroon and whitePearse Stadium19231950–51KerryGreen and goldAustin Stack Park18911891KilkennyBlack and amberNowlan Park194719531932–33LaoisBlue and whiteO'Moore Park19491949LimerickGreen and whiteGaelic Grounds194019551946–47MeathGreen and yellowPáirc TailteannOffalyGreen, white and goldSt. Brendan's ParkTipperaryBlue and goldSemple Stadium195119511956–57WaterfordWhite and blueWalsh Park19481948WestmeathMaroon and whiteCusack ParkWexfordPurple and goldWexford Park195619561955–56
Provincial championships Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
First round
Second round
Semi-finals
Final
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
First round
Semi-final
Final
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-final
Final
Championship statistics Top scorers
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Mick KennyKilkenny3–192847.002Phil GrimesWaterford1–222546.253Tommy ErrityOffaly4-071936.334Seán ClohessyKilkenny4-041644.005Billy DwyerKilkenny4-031543.756Liam SkellyTipperary4-021427.007Terry KellyCork3-041334.338Paddy BarryCork4-001234.00John KielyWaterford3-031243.009Nicky RackardWexford2-041025.00
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition1Liam SkellyTipperary4-0012KerryTommy ErrityOffaly3-0312Westmeath2Mick KennyKilkenny2-0511Waterford3Paddy BarryCork3-009TipperaryNicky RackardWexford2-039OffalyPhil GrimesWaterford1-069KilkennyPhil GrimesWaterford0-099Galway4Terry KellyCork2-028ClareTheo EnglishTipperary2-028KerryDonal WhelanWaterford2-028Kilkenny
Scoring
Widest winning margin: 19 points Kilkenny 6–9 : 1–5 Wexford (Leinster final, 4 August 1957) Most goals in a match: 9 Waterford 4–12 : 5–5 Limerick (Munster semi-final, 16 June 1957) Most points in a match: 22 Kilkenny 4–10 : 3–12 Waterford (All-Ireland final, 1 September 1957) Most goals by one team in a match: 6 Kilkenny 6–9 : 1–5 Wexford (Leinster final, 4 August 1957) Most goals scored by a losing team: 5 Limerick 5–5 : 4–12 Waterford (Munster semi-final, 16 June 1957) Most points scored by a losing team: 12 Waterford 3–12 : 4–10 Kilkenny (All-Ireland final, 1 September 1957)
Miscellaneous
The English actor John Gregson joined the Kilkenny team during the parade at the start of the All-Ireland final as part of his role as a hurler in the film Rooney. Kerry make their first appearance in the Munster Senior Championship since 1945.
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