2021–22 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship Explained

Type:Senior Club
Year:2021–22
Dates:27 November 2021 - 12 February 2022
Teams:16
Munster:Ballygunner
Leinster:Ballyhale Shamrocks
Ulster:Slaughtneil
Team:Ballygunner
Titles:1st
Captain:Barry Coughlan
Manager:Darragh O'Sullivan
Team2:Ballyhale Shamrocks
Captain2:Colin Fennelly
Manager2:James O'Connor
Matches:14
Totalgoals:38 (2.71 per game)
Totalpoints:445 (31.78 per game)
Topscorer: T. J. Reid (2-31)
Previous:2019-20
Next:2022-23

The 2021–22 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the 51st staging of the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county club hurling tournament. It was the first club championship to be completed in two years as the 2020–21 Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The championship began on 27 November 2021 and ended on 12 February 2022.[1] [2] [3]

Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny were the defending champions.[4]

The All-Ireland final was played on 12 February 2022 at Croke Park in Dublin, between Ballygunner of Waterford and Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny, in what was their first ever meeting in a final. Ballygunner won the match by 2-17 to 1-19 to claim their first ever All-Ireland title.[5] [6]

Ballyhale's T. J. Reid was the championship's top scorer with 2-31.

Competition format

County Championships

The top hurling teams in Ireland's counties compete in their senior club championship. Each county decides the format for determining their county champions – it can be knockout, double-elimination, league, etc or a combination.

Only single club teams are allowed to enter the All-Ireland Club championship. If a team which is an amalgamation of two or more clubs, a divisional team or a university team wins a county's championship, a single club team will represent that county in the provincial championship as determined by that county's championship rules. Normally it is the club team that exited the county championship at the highest stage.

Provincial Championships

Leinster, Munster and Ulster organise a provincial championship for their participating county champions. Connacht discontinued their senior club championship after 2007 but they do organise intermediate and junior championships. The Galway champions represent Connacht in the All-Ireland senior club semi-finals as Galway club hurling is at higher level than the hurling in the other four Connacht counties.

Some Leinster, Munster and Ulster counties enter their senior champions in the All-Ireland intermediate club championship (tier 2) as it is recognised that club hurling is weak in those counties.

All matches are knock-out. Two ten minute periods of extra time are played each way if it's a draw at the end of normal time in all matches including the final. If the score is still level after extra time the match is replayed.

All-Ireland

The Leinster, Munster and Ulster champions and the Galway county champions compete in two semi-finals. The All-Ireland final takes place on 13 February 2022 - traditionally the All-Ireland final was played on St. Patrick's Day, the 17th of March but this has been discontinued.

All matches are knock-out. Two ten minute periods of extra time are played each way if it's a draw at the end of normal time in the semi-finals or final. If the score is still level after extra time the match is replayed.

Team Summaries

TeamCountyCaptainManager(s)Most recent success
All-IrelandProvincialCounty
DownLiam SavageJamie Fowler
James Henry Hughes
19932019[7]
ClareJack BrowneRobbie Hogan20162018[8]
WaterfordBarry CoughlanDarragh O'Sullivan20182020[9]
KilkennyColin FennellyJames O'Connor202020192020[10]
LaoisStephen MaherDeclan Laffan2020[11]
AntrimPaul ShielsGregory O'Kane20092020[12]
DublinCaolan ConwayKieran Dowling
Donal McGovern
2014[13]
LimerickPhilip O'LoughlinTony Considine20142014[14]
TipperaryNoel McGrathFrankie McGrath20072013[15]
CorkConor LehaneGer FitzGerald198819872013[16]
CarlowMichael DoyleConor Phelan20132020[17]
WestmeathSeán QuinnBrendan McKeogh2016[18]
WexfordKevin FoleyDeclan Ruth1978[19]
DerryCormac O'DohertyMichael McShane20192020[20]
OffalyConor ClancyKen Hogan19932020[21]
GalwayConor CooneyKenneth Burke20132020[22]

Provincial championships

Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Final

Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Final

Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Final

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

Final

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1T. J. ReidBallyhale Shamrocks2-313757.40
2Eoin CodyBallyhale Shamrocks3-172655.20
Stephen MaherClough/Ballacolla2-202638.66
Pauric MahonyBallygunner0-262655.20
5Billy O'KeeffeBallygunner5-102555.00
6Dessie HutchinsonBallygunner2-172354.60
7Cormac O'DohertySlaughtneil0-212137.00
8Ronan HayesKilmacud Crokes2-111728.50
9Brendan RogersSlaughtneil2-091535.00
Adrian MullenBallyhale Shamrocks1-121553.00
In a single game
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalOpposition
1Ronan HayesKilmacud Crokes2-0612Raharney
Stephen MaherClough/Ballacolla1-0912Rapparees Starlights
Denis MurphyMount Leinster Rangers0-1212Ballyhale Shamrocks
4T. J. ReidBallyhale Shamrocks2-0511St. Thomas's
Stephen MaherClough/Ballacolla1-0811Kilmacud Crokes
Luke O'ConnorSt. Rynagh's1-0811Ballyhale Shamrocks
Conor CooneySt. Thomas's0-1111Ballyhale Shamrocks
Micheál HoulihanKilmallock0-1111Midleton
9Killian DoyleRaharney0-1010Kilmacud Crokes
10Eoin CodyBallyhale Shamrocks2-039St. Rynagh's
Billy O'KeeffeBallygunner2-039Slaughtneil
Eoin CodyBallyhale Shamrocks1-069Clough/Ballacolla

Miscellaneous

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Draws made for 2021 AIB Ulster Football and Hurling Club Championships. 9 August 2021. Ulster GAA website. 6 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Munster club hurling and football championship draws made. 24 September 2021. Hogan Stand. 6 October 2021.
  3. Web site: Leinster club hurling draws 2021. 6 October 2021. Hogan Stand. 6 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Ballyhale retain All-Ireland club title for first time with win over battling Borris-Ileigh. 18 January 2020. The 42. 18 January 2020. Fintan. O'Toole.
  5. Web site: Ballygunner are All-Ireland champions for first time following sensational last-gasp victory over Ballyhale. Irish Independent. 13 February 2022. 13 February 2022.
  6. Web site: Last gasp goal secures first All-Ireland club title for Ballygunner. 12 February 2022. Irish Examiner. 15 February 2022.
  7. Web site: Ballycran edge thriller to take the Down SHC crown off Portaferry. Down GAA website. 1 November 2021. 7 November 2021.
  8. Web site: Ballyea save their best till last to clinch Clare hurling title against Inagh/Kilnamona. The 42. 14 November 2021. 15 November 2021.
  9. Web site: Eight is great for Ballygunner as they continue Déise domination. The 42. 3 October 2021. 3 October 2021.
  10. Web site: Quickfire goals send Ballyhale on their way to pulsating victory over O’Loughlin Gaels. Irish Independent. 7 November 2021. 7 November 2021. Colm. Keys.
  11. Web site: Clough-Ballacolla seal back-to-back Laois SHC titles with stunning second-half comeback. Hogan Stand. 7 November 2021. 7 November 2021.
  12. Web site: Classy Dunloy make it three-in-a-row in Antrim. RTÉ Sport. 10 October 2020. 10 October 2020.
  13. Web site: Kilmacud Crokes claim sixth Dublin Senior Hurling Championship title after dramatic final win over Na Fianna. Irish Independent. 13 November 2021. 14 November 2021. Seán. McGoldrick.
  14. Web site: Limerick SHC: Micheal Houlihan hits 0-11 as Kilmallock secure deserved title win. Irish Examiner. 24 October 2021. 24 October 2021. Michael. Moynihan.
  15. Web site: John McGrath the hero once again as Loughmore-Castleiney clinch Tipperary championship double. RTÉ Sport. 28 November 2021. 5 December 2021.
  16. Web site: Premier SHC final: Midleton are the county champions again. Echo Live. 21 November 2021. 21 November 2021. Denis. Hurley.
  17. Web site: Mt Leinster Rangers dispatch St Mullins to complete back-to-back titles in Carlow. RTÉ News. 19 September 2021. 19 September 2021.
  18. Web site: Raharney win 14th Westmeath SHC title. Hogan Stand. 7 November 2021. 7 November 2021.
  19. Web site: Goal-hungry Rapparees make hay after hitting St Anne’s for six to end 43-year famine. Irish Independent. 19 September 2021. 19 September 2021. Michael. Verney.
  20. Web site: Slaughtneil make it nine consecutive Derry SHC titles. Hogan Stand. 24 October 2021. 24 October 2021.
  21. Web site: Injury-time goal sees St Rynagh's complete Offaly SHC three-in-a-row. Hogan Stand. 21 November 2021. 21 November 2021.
  22. Web site: Cooney fires St Thomas' to fourth Galway SHC crown in-a-row. Hogan Stand. 5 December 2021. 5 December 2021.