2009 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship

The 2009 Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling All-Ireland Under-21 Championship was the 46th staging of Ireland's hurling knock-out competition for players aged between 18 and 21. Clare won the championship, beating Kilkenny 0-15 to 0-14 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.

The Championship

Overview

The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship of 2009 was run on a provincial basis as usual. It was a knockout tournament with pairings drawn at random in the respective provinces - there were no seeds.

Each match was played as a single leg. If a match was drawn a period of extra time was played, however, if both sides were still level at the end of extra time a replay had to take place.

Format

Leinster Championship

Quarter-finals: (2 matches) These are two lone matches between the first three teams drawn from the province of Leinster and the winners of the provincial 'A' championship. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the two winners advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The two winners of the two quarter-final games join the two remaining Leinster teams, who received a bye to this stage, to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the two winners advance to the final.

Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final.

Munster Championship

Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a single match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Munster. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the lone quarter-final game join the three remaining Munster teams, who received a bye to this stage, to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the two winners advance to the final.

Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final.

Ulster Championship

Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a single match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Ulster. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the lone quarter-final game join the three remaining Ulster teams, who received a bye to this stage, to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the two winners advance to the final.

Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final.

All-Ireland Championship

Semi-finals: (2 matches) The three provincial winners and Galway make up the semi-final pairings. The draw was Munster v Connacht and Leinster v Ulster. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the two winners advance to the final.

Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest the All-Ireland final.

Fixtures

All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship

Clare

Kilkenny

Championship statistics

Miscellaneous

• After losing twleve provincial finals throughout the history of the competition, Clare finally triumph and claim their first Munster title. The team subsequently progresses to claim their first ever All-Ireland title.
• The All-Ireland final is the first ever championship meeting between Clare and Kilkenny.

External links

• Full list of results for the 2009 championship