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.
| Dates | 23 September - 29 October 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 12 | ||
| Sponsor | St. 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 played | 12 | ||
| Goals scored | 33 (2.75 per match) | ||
| Points scored | 380 (31.67 per match) | ||
| Top scorer(s) | T. J. Reid (3-30) | ||
| |||
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
editTo Championship
editPromoted from the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship
From Championship
editRelegated to the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship
Results
editFirst round
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
editTop scorers
edit- 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
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "TJ Reid leads 14-man Ballyhale Shamrocks to historic Kilkenny five-in-a-row". Irish Independent. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ O'Brien, Brendan (29 October 2023). "O'Loughlin Gaels end Ballyhale's dominance in epic Kilkenny final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Danesfort overcome Thomastown in dramatic Intermediate decider". Kilkenny Live. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "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.