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

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:

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
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

2007-11-03
Semi-final
James Stephens 0-13 - 2-7 Athleague
(report)
James Stephens Park, Ballina

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).

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)

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)

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

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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)

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)

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

Championship statistics

Scoring

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
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