2023 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship

2023 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship
Dates23 September - 29 October 2023
Teams12
SponsorSt. Canice's Credit Union
Champions O'Loughlin Gaels (5th title)
Mark Bergin (captain)
Brian Hogan (manager)
Runners-up Ballyhale Shamrocks
Evan Shefflin (captain)
Pat Hoban (manager)
Relegated Danesfort
Tournament statistics
Matches played12
Goals scored33 (2.75 per match)
Points scored380 (31.67 per match)
Top scorer(s) T. J. Reid (3-30)
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The 2023 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 129th staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1887. The opening-round fixtures were confirmed on 9 September 2023.[1] The championship ran from 23 September to 29 October 2023.

Ballyhale Shamrocks entered the championship as the defending champions in search of a record sixth consecutive title.[2] Danesfort were relegated after just one year of top flight hurling.

The final was played on 29 October 2023 at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, between Ballyhale Shamrocks and O'Loughlin Gaels, in what was their fourth meeting in the final overall and a first final meeting in two years.[3] O'Loughlin Gaels won the match by 0-20 to 0-19 to claim their fifth championship title overall and a first title in seven years.[4]

T. J. Reid was the championship's top scorer with 3-30.

Team changes

To Championship

Promoted from the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship

From Championship

Relegated to the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship

Results

First round

23 September 2023 First round Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-16 - 0-14 Danesfort John Locke Park
TJ Reid (2-5, 0-5 frees), A Mullen (0-3), N Shortall, E Cody, S Barron (0-2 each), C Fennelly, E Shefflin (0-1 each) Report R Hogan (0-7, 0-5 frees and 0-1 ‘65), P Hogan (0-3, 0-3 frees), P Hickey, C Phelan, R Walsh, C Kearney (0-1 each). Referee: M Flynn (Mooncoin)
24 September 2023 First round Tullaroan 3-10 - 5-12 Bennettsbridge UPMC Nowlan Park
S Walsh (0-7, 0-6 frees); B Gaffney (1-1); M Keoghan, T Walsh (Mountgale) (1-0 each); J Keoghan, B Walton (0-1 each). Report L Blanchfield (4-2); J Hughes (1-3); N Cleere (0-3, 0-2 frees); S Morrissey (0-2); C Brennan, D Blanchfield (0-1 each). Referee: O Beehan
24 September 2023 First round Graigue-Ballycallan 1-18 - 1-14 Clara UPMC Nowlan Park
S Ryan (0-7, 0-6 frees), C Prendiville (1-0), B Ryan, A McEvoy, T Ronan (0-3 each), B O’Neill, T Dunphy (0-1 each) Report D Glynn (0-4, 0-3 frees and 0-1 ‘65), J Murphy (0-4), OG (1-0), P Cody (0-3), M O’Connell (0-2), M Kenny (0-1, 0-1 free) Referee: J Kennedy (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
24 September 2023 First round Mullinavat 4-11 - 0-10 Erin's Own Danesfort Grounds
J Walsh (1-5, 0-4 frees); L Fennelly, O Knox (1-1 each), W O’Dwyer (1-1, 0-1 free); J Gahan (0-2); A Mansfield (0-1). Report J Buggy (0-4, frees); M Brennan, J Brennan (0-2 each); J Holohan, J Dowd (0-1 each). Referee: D Hughes

Relegation playoff

7 October 2023 Relegation playoff Erin's Own 1-17 - 1-15 Danesfort Páirc Lachtain
J Buggy (0-10, 0-9 frees); C Fogarty (1-0); J Dowd, M Boran, C McMahon, M Brennan, A Moran, J Holohan, S Coogan (0-1 each). Report R Hogan (1-6, 0-5 frees, 1-0 pen); P Hickey (0-2); P Hogan (0-1, free); C Kearney, R Walsh, B Whitty, P Cooney, D O’Neill, D Dunne (0-1 each).

Quarter-finals

30 September 2023 Quarter-final O'Loughlin Gaels 0-18 - 2-10 Mullinavat Thomastown Grounds
M Bergin (0-9, 0-6 frees); D Fogarty, P Butler, S Bolger (0-2 each); M Butler, S Murphy (free), J Molloy 0-1 each). Report J Walsh (0-7, 0-4 frees and 0-2 65s); O Knox (2-1); G Malone, J Gahan (0-1 each).
30 September 2023 Quarter-final Glenmore 0-17 - 3-14 Bennettsbridge Clara Grounds
A Murphy (0-8, 0-7 frees); C Beirne (0-3); I Byrne, B Reid (0-2 each); E Murphy, G Aylward (0-1 each). Report L Blanchfield (1-2); C Brennan (1-1); N Cleere (0-4, 0-3 frees and 0-1 ‘65); J Campion (1-0); J Cleere, K Blanchfield (0-3 each); E Cleere (0-1, 0-1 free).
1 October 2023 Quarter-final Dicksboro 0-21 - 1-20 Ballyhale Shamrocks UPMC Nowlan Park
A Gaffney (0-13, 0-10 frees and 0-1 ‘65); H Shine, L Moore (0-2 each); C Hackett, C Buckley, B Sheehan (0-1 each) [1] TJ Reid (0-10, 0-6 frees and 0-1 ‘65); A Mullen (1-4); E Cody (0-3); C Fennelly; E Shefflin; C Walsh (0-1 each).
1 October 2023 Quarter-final James Stephens 1-18 - 0-15 Graigue-Ballycallan UPMC Nowlan Park
L Scanlon (0-5), N Brassil (1-2, 0-1 free); E Guilfoyle (0-3, 0-2 frees); R Whelan, Sean Manogue, W Spencer (0-2 each); Stephen Manogue (0-2, 0-1 free). Report S Ryan (0-5, 0-5 frees); J Roberts (0-5); A McEvoy, T Ronan, J Neary, B O’Neill, C Murphy (0-1 each).

Semi-finals

15 October 2023 Semi-final O'Loughlin Gaels 3-16 - 0-22 Bennettsbridge UPMC Nowlan Park
M Bergin (0-8, 4f), O Wall (2-0), C Kelly (1-1), D Fogarty and C Heary (0-2 each), P Deegan, J Molloy and P Butler (0-1 each). Report N Cleere (0-11, 9f and 2 '65's), D Blanchfield (0-3), H O'Neill (0-2), J Cleere, S Morrissey, B Hughes, J Hughes, D Murphy and J Campion (0-1 each). Referee: C Everard (Graigue-Ballycallan)
15 October 2023 Semi-final James Stephens 0-14 - 5-19 Ballyhale Shamrocks UPMC Nowlan Park
E Guilfoyle (0-4, 4f), N Brassil (0-2, 2f), C Kenny (0-2, 1f), A Parsons and L Scanlon (0-2 each), Stephen Manogue (0-1, 1f), R Whelan (0-1) Report TJ Reid (1-6, 2f), C Fennelly (2-0), A Mullen (1-3), E Cody (1-1), N Shortall, E Kenneally, L Barron and P Mullen (0-2 each), S Barron (0-1) Referee: P O'Reilly (Barrow Rangers)

Final

29 October 2023 Final Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-19 - 0-20 O'Loughlin Gaels UPMC Nowlan Park
TJ Reid (0-9, 0-6f); E Cody (0-3); A Mullen and C Fennelly (both 0-2); E Shefflin, C Walsh, E Kenneally (all 0-1). Report M Bergin (0-10, 0-6f and 0-1 ‘65’); P Deegan and J Nolan (both 0-2); D Fogarty, C Heary, O Wall, S Bolger, C Kelly and L Hogan (all 0-1). Attendance: 7,015
Referee: P Burke (Emeralds)

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall
Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average
1 T. J. Reid Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-30 39 4 9.75
4 Mark Bergin O'Loughlin Gaels 0-27 27 3 9.00
2 Liam Blanchfield Bennettsbridge 5-04 19 3 6.33
3 Adrian Mullen Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-12 18 4 4.50
Nicky Cleere Bennettsbridge 0-18 18 3 6.00
5 Richie Hogan Danesfort 1-13 16 2 8.00
7 John Walsh Mullinavat 1-12 15 2 7.50
8 Jack Buggy Erin's Own 0-14 14 2 7.00
9 Andrew Gaffney Dicksboro 0-13 13 1 13.00
10 Eoin Cody Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-09 12 4 3.00
Seán Ryan Graigue-Ballycallan 0-12 12 2 6.00
In a single game
Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition
1 Liam Blanchfield Bennettsbridge 4-02 14 Tullaroan
2 Andrew Gaffney Dicksboro 0-13 13 Ballyhale Shamrocks
3 T. J. Reid Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-05 11 Danesfort
Nicky Cleere Bennettsbridge 0-11 11 O'Loughlin Gaels
5 Jack Buggy Danesfort 0-10 10 Erin's Own
Mark Bergin O'Loughlin Gaels 0-10 10 Ballyhale Shamrocks
T. J. Reid Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-10 10 Dicksboro
8 Richie Hogan Danesfort 1-06 9 Erin's Own
T. J. Reid Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-06 9 James Stephens
T. J. Reid Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-09 9 O'Loughlin Gaels
Mark Bergin O'Loughlin Gaels 0-09 9 Mullinavat

References

  1. ^ "Relegation semi-final, Championship first round and league and shield final fixtures confirmed for Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship". Score Line. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. ^ "TJ Reid leads 14-man Ballyhale Shamrocks to historic Kilkenny five-in-a-row". Irish Independent. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  3. ^ Keys, Colm (7 November 2021). "Quickfire goals send Ballyhale on their way to pulsating victory over O'Loughlin Gaels". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. ^ O'Brien, Brendan (29 October 2023). "O'Loughlin Gaels end Ballyhale's dominance in epic Kilkenny final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Danesfort overcome Thomastown in dramatic Intermediate decider". Kilkenny Live. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Graigue Ballycallan perform when it matters most to defeat 14-man Lisdowney in Kilkenny senior relegation final". Scoreline website. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2023.