2007–08 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship 2007–08
Championship Details
Dates	14 October – 17 March
All Ireland Champions
Winners	Portumna (2nd win)
Captain	Ollie Canning
Manager	Jimmy Heverin
All Ireland Runners-up
Runners-up	Birr
Captain	Brian Whelahan
Manager	Pad Joe Whelahan
Provincial Champions
Munster	Loughmore-Castleiney
Leinster	Birr
Ulster	Dunloy
Connacht	Portumna
Championship Statistics
Matches Played	19
← 2006–07 2008–09 →

The 2007–08 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the 38th club hurling competition since its establishment in 1970–71. The first matches of the season were played on 14 October 2007 and the championship ended on 17 March 2008. Ballyhale Shamrocks went into the 2007–08 championship as defending champions, having won their fourth All-Ireland title the previous year.

The championship culminated with the All-Ireland final, held at Croke Park, Dublin. The match was contested by Birr and Portumna. It was their first meeting in the final. Portumna won the game by 3–19 to 3–9. It was their second All-Ireland title in three years.

Format

The 2007–08 club championship was played on a straight knock-out basis. Each of the eighteen participating counties entered their respective club champions. The format of the competition was as follows:

A total of 18 county club champions participated in the 2008–09 championship:

Leinster: Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford.
Munster: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford.
Connacht: Galway, Mayo, Roscommon
Ulster: Antrim, Derry, Down.

Provincial Championships

The Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster championships were played as usual on a straight knock-out basis. The four respective champions from these provinces advanced directly to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

All-Ireland Series

In the two semi-final matches, the Munster champions played the Connacht champions while the Leinster champions played the Ulster champions. The two winners contested the All-Ireland final.

Participating clubs

Team	County	Most recent success
Team	County	All-Ireland	Provincial	County
Adare	Limerick			2002
Athleague	Roscommon			2006
Ballycran	Down		1993	1995
Ballygunner	Waterford		2001	2005
Ballyhale Shamrocks	Kilkenny	2007	2006	2006
Ballyboden St. Enda's	Dublin
Bir	Offaly	2003	2002	2006
Camross	Laois		1996	1996
Dunloy	Antrim		2003	2003
Erin's Own	Cork			2006
Kevin Lynch's	Derry			2006
James Stephens	Mayo
Lixnaw	Kerry			2005
Loughmore-Castleiney	Tipperary			1988,1997
Mount Leinster Rangers	Carlow			2006
Oulart the Ballagh	Wexford			2005
Portumna	Galway	2006	2005	2005
Tulla	Clare			1933

Fixtures

Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship

James Stephens v Athleague

2007-11-03
Semi-final

James Stephens	0-13 - 2-7	Athleague
	(report)

James Stephens Park, Ballina

Athleague v James Stephens

2007-11-10
Semi-final replay

Athleague	2-10 - 2-12	James Stephens
G Gallon (1-8), D Flaherty (0-1), S McGeeney (1-1).	(report)	T Duffy (0-1); K Barrett (0-1), V O’Hara (0-1); P Reape (0-1), K Healy (0-3), B Walsh (1-0), D Barrett (0-5), J Duffy (1-0).

Athleague

Portumna v James Stephens

2007-11-18
Final

Portumna	6–23 – 0–7	James Stephens
D Hayes 4–1, N Hayes 1–6, A Smith 0–6 (0–1f), K Hayes 1–2, J Canning 0–5 (0–3f, 0–1'65'), E Lynch, C Ryan , C O'Hehir 0–1 each.	(report)	D Barrett 0–3f, K Barrett 0–1f), V O'Hora (0–1), P Reape, A Stenson (f) 0–1 each.

Athleague
Referee: J. McGrath (Westmeath)

Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship

2007-11-04
Quarter-final

Ballyhale Shamrocks	1–14 – 0–12	Mount Leinster Rangers
M Dermody 0–1, É Fitzpatrick 0–1, T.J. Reid 0–7 5f; E Reid 0–2, P Reid 1–1,	(report)	E Coady 0–1; J Hickey 0–1 line-ball, D Murphy 0–5 4f, 65, W Hickey 0–2, D Byrne 0–1, S.M. Murphy 0–1, C O’Byrne 0–1.

Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
Referee: A. Stapleton (Laois)

2007-11-11
Quarter-final

Ballyboden St. Enda's	1–17 – 0–15	Oulart the Ballagh
D Curtin 0–4 (2 65s, 1f), D Sweeney 1–0, C Keaney 0–3, M Griffin, E Kinsella, E Carroll 0–2 each, M Travers, J Doody, S Durkin, S Lambert 0–1 each.	(report)	R Jacob, D Mythen (1f) 0–4 each, N Kirwan 0–2 (2f), D Stamp, P Roche (f), S Doyle, D Nolan, W Whelan 0–1 each.

Parnell Park, Dublin
Referee: J. McGrath (Westmeath)

Ballyboden St. Enda's v Camross

2007-11-18
Semi-final

Ballyboden St. Enda's	2–9 – 1–11	Camross
P Ryan 1–3, D Curtin 0–3, D Sweeney 1–0, B Kennedy, E Carroll, C Keaney 0–1 each.	(report)	Z Keenan 0–7, N Holmes 0–4, J Phelan 1–0.

Parnell Park, Dublin
Referee: J. Kelly (Wexford)

Birr v Ballyhale Shamrocks

2007-11-18
Semi-final

Birr	1–13 – 1–10	Ballyhale Shamrocks
G. Hanniffy 1–2; Brian Whelahan 0–3 frees; K. Nolan 0–2; P. Cleary (free), D. Hayden, S. Whelahan, R. Hanniffy, P. O’Meara and Barry Whelahan 0–1 each.	(report)	B. Costelloe 1–1; T.J. Reid 0–5 (0–1 sideline); M. Fennelly, E. Reid, P. Reid and B. Aylward 0–1 each.

Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
Referee: J. Owens

Birr v Ballyboden St. Enda's

2007-12-02
Final

Birr	1–11 – 0–13	Ballyboden St. Enda's
R Hanniffy (0–2), Barry Whelahan (0–1), Brian Whelahan (0–2 (1f, 1’65’), S Whelahan (0–2), P O’Meara (1–4).	(report)	D Curtin (0–6f), S Lambert (0–1), E Carroll (0–2), C. Keaney (0–1), S. Durkin (0–2).

O'Connor Park, Tullamore
Referee: A Stapleton (Laois)

Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Dunloy v Kevin Lynch's

2007-10-28
Final

Dunloy	2–14 – 2–8	Kevin Lynch's
G O'Kane (0–7, six frees), P Shields (1–2), P Richmond (1–2), C McGuickan (0–1), L Richmond (0–1), D McMullan (0–1).	(report)	G McGonigle (1–3, pen goal, three frees), P McCloskey (1–1), Kevin Hinphey (0–3), P Kelly (0–1).

Casement Park, Belfast
Referee: D Magee (Down)

Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Tulla v Lixnaw

2007-11-04
Quarter-final

Tulla	4–16 – 2–6	Lixnaw
A Lynch 1–-8 (3f), K Brennan 2–0, D O'Halloran 1–1, B Lynch 0–2, P Lynch ('65), B Quinn, M Murphy A Leamy, C Dinan 0–1 each.	(report)	J Flaherty 1–4 (4f), E Galvin 1–0, K Dow-ling, S Power 0–1 each.

Hermitage Park, Lixnaw
Referee: J. Sexton (Limerick)

Loughmore-Castleiney v Erin's Own

2007-11-04
Quarter-final

Loughmore-Castleiney	2–11 – 0–14	Erin's Own
E Connolly 1–3, N McGrath 0–5 (4f), D McGrath 1–0, E Sweeney, M Webster and R Stapleton 0–1 each.	(report)	E Murphy 0–4 (3f), M O'Connor, M Murphy 0–2 each, P Kelly, S Kelly, C Coakley, R Carroll, A Bowen, F Murphy 0–1 each.

Semple Stadium, Thurles
Referee: S. McMahon (Clare)

Loughmore-Castleiney v Adare

2007-11-18
Semi-final

Loughmore-Castleiney	1–15 – 1–10	Adare
E. Sweeney 0–7 (0–4 frees); N. McGrath 0–5 (0–3 frees); M. Webster 1–1; D. McGrath, T. King, 0–1 each.	(report)	D. Sheehan 0–5 (0–2 frees); D. Sexton 0–3; L. Costello 1–0; M. Noonan 0–2.

Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Referee: A. Heagney (Clare)

Tulla v Ballyduff Upper

2007-11-18
Semi-final

Tulla	2–13 – 0–14	Ballyduff Upper
B. Quinn 1–2; D. O’Halloran 0–4; P. Molumphy 1–0 (og); M. Murphy 0–3; A. Lynch, B. Lynch 0–2 each.	(reprt)	B. Hannon 0–10 (0–5 frees, 0–1 65); B. Kearney 0–2; S. Kearney, J. Twomey 0–1 each.

Cusack Park, Ennis
Referee: C. McAlister (Cork)

Loughmore-Castleiney v Tulla

2007-12-02
Final

Loughmore-Castleiney	1–6 – 0–7	Tulla
E. Sweeney 1–2 (0–1 free); R. Stapleton, E. Connolly, T. King, N. McGrath (free), 0–1 each.	(report)	A. Lynch 0–4 (0–4 frees); C. O’Halloran 0–2, E. Torpey 0–1.

Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Referee: C. McAllister (Cork)

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

Portumna v Loughmore-Castleiney

2008-02-24
Semi-final

Portumna	2–13 – 2–9	Loughmore-Castleiney
J. Canning 1–9 (0–6 frees); N. Hayes 1–0; K. Hayes 0–2; D. Hayes 0–1; D. Canning 0–1.	(report)	N. McGrath 1–4 (0–2 frees, 0–1 65); M. Webster 1–0; E. Sweeney 0–3 (0–1 free, 0–1 65); E. Connolly 0–1.

Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Referee: A. Stapleton (Laois)

Birr v Dunloy

2008-02-24
Semi-final

Birr	0–17 – 0–9	Dunloy
S Whelahan (0–5, 0–4 frees), R Hanniffy (0–4), S Ryan (0–2), Brian Whelahan (0–2, 0–1 free), M Dwane (0–1), G Hanniffy (0–1), Barry Whelahan (0–1), P Cleary (0–1 '65).	(report)	G O'Kane (0–5, 0–4 frees), P Richmond (0–1), P Shiels (0–1), D McMullan (0–1), P Doherty (0–1).

St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
Referee: M. Haverty (Galway)

Portumna v Birr

2008-03-17
Final

Portumna	3–19 – 3–9	Birr
J. Canning 0–10 (0–6 frees, 0–1 65, 0–1 s/l); A. Smith 2–2; D. Hayes 1–3; K. Hayes 0–3; L. Smith 0–1.	(report)	S. Whelahan 1–7 (1–6 frees); P. O’Meara 1–0; S. Browne 1–0; R. Hanniffy, Brian Whelahan 0–1 each.

Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: J. Sexton (Cork)


PORTUMNA:
GK	1	Ivan Canning
RCB	2	Michael Gill
FB	3	Eugene McEntee
LCB	4	Ollie Canning
RWB	5	Gareth Heagney
CB	6	Míchéal Ryan
LWB	7	Peter Smyth 57'
M	8	Leo Smith
M	9	Eoin Lynch
RWF	10	Niall Hayes
CF	11	Kevin Hayes
LWF	12	Andrew Smith
RCF	13	Damien Hayes
FF	14	Joe Canning
LCF	15	Davy Canning 59'
Substitutes:
LWB		Aidan O'Donnell 57'
LCF		Ciarán Ryan 59'


BIRR:
GK	1	Brian Mullins
RCB	2	John Paul O'Meara 38'
FB	3	Niall Claffey
LCB	4	Michael Verney
RWB	5	Brian Watkins
CB	6	Paul Cleary
LWB	7	Dylan Hayden 52'
M	8	Barry Whelahan
M	9	Rory Hanniffy
RWF	10	Gary Hanniffy
CF	11	Brian Whelahan (c)
LWF	12	Seán Ryan 30'
RCF	13	Paul O'Meara
FF	14	Simon Whelahan
LCF	15	Stephen Browne
Substitutes:
LWF		Michael Dwane 30'
RCB		Paul Molloy 38'
LWB		Barry Harding 52'

MATCH RULES

60 minutes
Replay if scores level

Championship statistics

Scoring

Widest winning margin: 34 points
- Portumna 6–23 : 0–7 James Stephens (Connacht final)
Most goals in a match: 6
- Portumna 6–23 : 0–7 James Stephens (Connacht final)
- Tulla 4–16 : 2–6 Lixnaw (Munster quarter-final)
- Portumna 3–19 : 3–9 Birr (Connacht final)
Most points in a match: 40
- De La Salle 1–21 : 1–19 Ruairí Óg, Cushendall (All-Ireland semi-final)
Most points in a match: 32
- Ballyboden St. Enda's 1–17 : 0–15 Oulart the Ballagh (Leinster quarter-final)
Most goals by one team in a match: 6
- Portumna 6–23 : 0–7 James Stephens (Connacht final)
Most points by one team in a match: 23
- Portumna 6–23 : 0–7 James Stephens (Connacht final)

Top scorers

Season

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Joe Canning	Portumna	1–24	27	3	9.0
2	Damien Hayes	Portumna	5–5	20	3	6.67
3	Simon Whelahan	Birr	1–15	18	4	4.50
4	Aidan Lynch	Tulla	1–14	17	3	5.67
5	Evan Sweeney	Loughmore-Castleiney	1–13	16	4	4

Single game

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Damien Hayes	Portumna	4–1	13	James Stephens
2	Joe Canning	Portumna	1–9	12	Loughmore-Castleiney
3	Aidan Lynch	Tulla	1–8	11	Lixnaw
4	Joe Canning	Portumna	0–10	10	Birr
4	Simon Whelahan	Birr	1–7	10	Portumna
6	Niall Hayes	Portumna	1–6	9	James Stephens
7	Andrew Smith	Portumna	2–2	8	Birr
8	T. J. Reid	Ballyhale Shamrocks	0–7	7	Mount Leinster Rangers
	Zane Keenan	Camross	0–7	7	Ballyboden St. Enda's
	Gregory O'Kane	Dunloy	0–7	7	Kevin Lynch's
	Evan Sweeney	Loughmore-Castleiney	0–7	7	Adare
	Paul O'Meara	Birr	1–4	7	Ballyboden St. Enda's
	James Flaherty	Lixnaw	1–4	7	Tulla
	Noel McGrath	Loughmore-Castleiney	1–4	7	Portumna

Referees

The following referees were used during the championship:

Name	County	Games
James McGrath	Westmeath	2
Anthony Stapleton	Laois	3
J. Kelly	Wexford	1
James Owens	Wexford	1
Declan Magee	Down	1
John Sexton	Limerick	1
Seán McMahon	Clare	1
Anthony Heagney	Clare	1
Cathal McAllister	Cork	2
John Sexton	Cork	1
Michael Haverty	Galway	1

Preceded by Championship 2006–07	All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship 2007–08	Succeeded by Championship 2008–09