1971 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1971 was the 85th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Tipperary won the championship, beating Kilkenny 5–17 to 5–14 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.

1971 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Championship details
Dates	16 May - 5 September 1971
Teams	15
All-Ireland champions
Winning team	Tipperary (22nd win)
Captain	Tadhg O'Connor
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Kilkenny
Captain	Pat Henderson
Provincial champions
Munster	Tipperary
Leinster	Kilkenny
Ulster	Not Played
Connacht	Not Played
Championship statistics
No. matches played	14
Top Scorer	Eddie Keher (4-43)
Player of the Year	Michael 'Babs' Keating
All-Star Team	See here
← 1970 1972 →

The championship

Participating counties

Province	County	Most recent success
		All-Ireland	Provincial
Leinster	Dublin	1938	1961
	Kildare
	Kilkenny	1969	1969
	Laois	1915	1949
	Offaly
	Westmeath
	Wexford	1968	1970
Munster	Clare	1914	1932
	Cork	1970	1970
	Limerick	1940	1955
	Tipperary	1965	1968
	Waterford	1959	1963
Connacht	Galway	1923	1922
Ulster	Antrim		1946
Britain	London	1901

Format

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1971 was run on a provincial basis as usual. It was a knockout tournament with pairings drawn at random in the respective provinces - there were no seeds.

Each match was played as a single leg. If a match was drawn there was a replay. If both sides were still level at the end of that game another replay had to take place.

Munster Championship

Quarter-final: (1 match) This was a single match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Munster.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winner of the lone quarter-final joined the other three Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings.

Final: (1 match) The winner of the two semi-finals contested this game.

Leinster Championship

First round: (1 match) This was a single match between two of the 'weaker' teams drawn from the province of Leinster.

Quarter-finals: (2 matches) The winner of the first-round game joined three other Leinster teams to make up the two quarter-final pairings.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the two quarter-finals joined Kilkenny and Wexford, who received a bye to this stage, to make up the semi-final pairings.

Final: (1 match) The winner of the two semi-finals contested this game.

All-Ireland Championship

Quarter-final: (1 match) This was a single match between Antrim and Galway, two teams who faced no competition in their respective provinces.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winner of the lone quarter-final joined London and the Munster and Leinster champions to make up the semi-final pairings. The provincial champions were drawn in opposite semi-finals.

Final: (1 match) The winner of the two semi-finals contested this game.

Provincial championships

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

First round

16 May 1971
First round

Westmeath	3-9 – 1-10	Kildare
T. Ring (2-1), Pete Loughlin (1-1), J. Keary (0-3), W. Shanley (0-2), Mick Flanagan (0-2).		J. Walsh (1-9), T. Carew (0-1).

O'Connor Park, Tullamore

Referee: D. Kirwan (Offaly)

Quarter-finals

16 May 1971
Quarter-final

Dublin	2-14 – 1-11	Laois
M. Bermingham (0-5), W. Pierce (1-0), F. Murphy (1-0), J. Kenny (0-3), H. Dalton (0-2), P. Pierce (0-2), B. Cooney (0-1), G. O'Driscoll (0-1).		P. Dowling (1-3), P. Bates (0-4), B. Delaney (0-3), F. Bates (0-1).

O'Connor Park, Tullamore

Referee: M. Spain (Offaly)

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6 June 1971
Quarter-final

Offaly	1-20 – 1-15	Westmeath
B. Moylan (0-8), Barry (0-4), J. Flaherty (0-4), P. J. Whelehan (1-0), A. Hanniffy (0-2), M. Cleere (0-2).		T. Ring (0-10), C. Gavin (1-0), M. Flanagan (0-2), J. Keary (0-1), Fanning (0-1), L. Maher (0-1).

St. Brendan's Park, Birr

Referee: C. Foley (Dublin)

Semi-finals

20 June 1971
Semi-final

Kilkenny	3-14 – 1-13	Dublin
E. Keher (2-7), M. Brennan (0-4), K. Purcell (1-0), P. Delaney (0-2), N. Byrne (0-1).		J. Kenny (0-4), M. Bermingham (0-4), B. Cooney (1-0), P. Pierce (0-2), D. Rheinisch (0-1), G. O'Driscoll (0-1), H. Dalton (0-1).

Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow

Attendance: 5,000

Referee: J. Kirwan (Offaly)

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27 June 1971
Semi-final

Wexford	2-14 – 2-6	Offaly
T. Doran (2-1), T. Byrne (0-4), C. Dowdall (0-3), D. Bernie (0-3),C. Kehoe (0-3).		P. Molloy (1-3), J. Kirwan (1-0), J. Flaherty (0-2), M. Cleare (0-1).

Croke Park, Dublin

Attendance: 5,000

Referee: J. Rankins (Laois)

Final

11 July 1971
Final

Kilkenny	6-16 – 3-16	Wexford
E. Keher (0-11), M. Murphy (2-2), P. Delaney (2-0), M. Coogan (1-0), N. Byrne (1-0), K. Purcell (0-1), P. Cullen (0-1), M. Brennan (0-1).		C. Kehoe (1-7), T. Doran (1-1), T. Byrne (1-0), J. Quigley (0-3), D. Bernie (0-3), M. Quigley (0-1), C. Doran (0-1).

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: J. Rankins (Laois)

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Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Quarter-finals

30 May 1971
Quarter-final

Limerick	3-10 – 2-8	Waterford
R. Bennis (1-5), M. Cregan (1-1), É. Cregan (1-1), É. Grimes (0-2), J. O'Donnell (0-1).		P. Enright (0-5), M. Ormond (1-1), S. Greene (1-0), A. Heffernan (0-1), J. Kirwan (0-1).

Cork Athletic Grounds, Cork

Referee: F. Murphy (Cork)

Semi-finals

4 July 1971
Semi-final

Limerick	2-16 – 2-14	Cork
R. Bennis (1-8), D. Flynn (1-1), J. Foley (0-2), É. Grimes (0-2), M. Graham (0-1), É. Cregan (0-1), J. O'Donnell (0-1).		C. Kelly (0-7), R. Cummins (2-0), J. Horgan (0-2), C. Roche (0-1), S. Looney (0-1), P. Hegarty (0-1), M. Malone (0-1), J. McCarthy (0-1).

Semple Stadium, Thurles

Attendance: 32,000

Referee: J. Maloney (Tipperary)

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11 July 1971
Semi-final

Tipperary	1-15 – 3-4	Clare
M. Keating (1-3), L. Gaynor (0-3), S. Hogan (0-3), J. Flanagan (0-2), N, O'Dwyer (0-1), P. J. Ryan (0-1), F. Loughnane (0-1), T. O'Connor (0-1).		J. Rochford (1-1), M. Moroney (1-0), N. Casey (1-0), T. Ryan (0-1), P. Russell (0-1), M. Pewter (0-1).

Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

Attendance: 13,000

Referee: S. O'Connor (Limerick)

Final

25 July 1971
Final

Tipperary	4-16 – 3-18	Limerick
M. Keating (3-4), J. Flanagan (0-5), P. J. Ryan (1-0), F. Loughnane (0-3), L. Gaynor (0-2), J. Doyle (0-1), N. O'Dwyer (0-1)		R. Bennis (0-12), É. Cregan (1-2), É. Grimes (1-1), D. Flynn (1-0), M. Graham (0-2), B. Hartigan (0-1)

FitzGerald Stadium, Killarney

Attendance: 31,118

Referee: F. Murphy (Cork)

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All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

All-Ireland quarter-finals

25 July 1971
Quarter-final

Galway	7-24 – 1-8	Antrim
D. Coen (3-4), T. Ryan (1-7), J. Lane (2-1), P. Ryan (1-1), J. Connolly (0-4), P. Fahy (0-3), P. Mitchell (0-2), C. Muldoon (0-1), T. Murphy (0-1).		S. Burns (1-2), A. McAllin (0-4), S. Collins (0-2).

McHale Park, Castlebar

Referee: J. Rankins (Laois)

All-Ireland semi-finals

15 August 1971
Semi-final

Kilkenny	2-23 – 2-8	London
E. Keher (0-14), P. Delaney (1-2), M. Murphy (1-1), M. Brennan (0-4), F. Cummins (0-1), K. Purcell (0-1).		F. Canning (1-4), N. Power, (1-0), L. Corless (0-2), T. Connolly (0-2).

Croke Park, Dublin

Attendance: 2,000

Referee: C. Foley (Dublin)

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15 August 1971
Semi-final

Tipperary	3-26 – 6-8	Galway
M. Keating (2-12), F. Loughnane (0-7), J. Flanagan (1-2), N. O'Dwyer (0-3), S. Hogan (0-1), J. Ryan (0-1).		P. Fahy (2-3), P. Ryan (2-0), B. O'Connor (1-1), P. Mitchell (1-1), J. Connolly (0-2), D. Coen (0-1).

St. Brendan's Park, Birr

Attendance: 15,022

Referee: J. Rankins (Laois)

All-Ireland Final

See also: 1971 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final

5 September 1971

Final

Tipperary	5-17 – 5-14	Kilkenny
M. Keating (0-7), R. Ryan (2-0), J. Flanagan (1-2), D. Ryan (1-1), F. Loughnane (0-4), N. O'Dwyer (1-0), P.J. Ryan (0-2), P. Byrne (0-1).		E. Keher (2-11), M. Murphy (1-1), K. Purcell (1-0), N. Byrne (1-0), F. Cummins (0-2).

Croke Park, Dublin

Attendance: 61,393

Referee: F. Murphy (Cork)

Tipperary

Kilkenny

Championship statistics

Scoring

• Widest winning margin: 34 points
  • Galway 7-24 : 1-8 Antrim (All-Ireland quarter-final)
• Most goals in a match: 10
  • Tipperary 5-17 : 5-14 Kilkenny (All-Ireland final)
• Most points in a match: 34
  • Tipperary 3-26 : 6-8 Galway (All-Ireland semi-final)
• Most goals by one team in a match: 7
  • Galway 7-24 : 1-8 Antrim (All-Ireland quarter-final)
• Most goals scored by a losing team: 6
  • Galway 6-8 : 3-26 Tipperary (All-Ireland semi-final)
• Most points scored by a losing team: 18
  • Limerick 3-18 : 4-16 Tipperary (Munster final)

Miscellaneous

• The All-Ireland final between Tipperary and Kilkenny was the first championship decider to be broadcast in colour by Telefís Éireann. Some years later, it was revealed that RTÉ had recorded over its only copy of archive footage of the game, due to a shortage of blank cassette tape.
• Kilkenny's Eddie Keher set a new scoring record in an All-Ireland final. He scored 2-11 of his team's total of 5-14 yet, remarkably, ended up on the losing team.

Top scorers

Season

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Eddie Keher	Kilkenny	4-43	55	4	13.75
2	Michael 'Babs' Keating	Tipperary	6-26	44	4	11.00
3	Richie Bennis	Limerick	2-25	31	3	10.33
4	Tommy Ring	Westmeath	2-11	17	2	8.50
5	Francis Loughnane	Tipperary	0-15	15	4	3.75
6	Des Coen	Galway	3-05	14	2	7.00

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Michael 'Babs' Keating	Tipperary	2-12	18	Galway
2	Eddie Keher	Kilkenny	2-11	17	Tipperary
3	Eddie Keher	Kilkenny	0-14	14	London
4	Michael 'Babs' Keating	Tipperary	3-04	13	Limerick
	Des Coen	Galway	3-04	13	Antrim
	Eddie Keher	Kilkenny	2-07	13	Dublin
5	Johnny Walsh	Kildare	1-09	12	Westmeath
	Richie Bennis	Limerick	0-12	12	Tipperary
6	Richie Bennis	Limerick	1-08	11	Cork
	Eddie Keher	Kilkenny	0-11	11	Wexford

Player facts

Debutantes

The following players made their début in the 1971 championship:

Player	Team	Date	Opposition	Game
Seánie O'Leary	Cork	July 4	Limerick	Munster semi-final

Retirees

The following players played their last game in the 1971 championship:

Player	Team	Date	Opposition	Game	Début
Ollie Walsh	Kilkenny	September 5	Tipperary	All-Ireland final	1956

External links

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1971 Results

See also