# 1995 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1995 (known for the first time for sponsorship reasons as the Guinness Hurling Championship 1995) was the 109th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Clare won the championship, beating Offaly 1-13 to 2-8 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin, it was their first All-Ireland win since 1914.

## Pre-championship
### Sponsorship

In 1994 Bank of Ireland became the first ever sponsor of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Following the success of this deal it was decided that the hurling championship could also benefit from sponsorship. The decision, however, to award the sponsorship deal to Guinness was a controversial one, as there were concerns over the Gaelic Athletic Association's association with an alcoholic drinks company. Former President of the GAA, Dr. Mick Loftus, was one of the most vocal critics of the proposed sponsorship deal. At a meeting of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Central Council on 6 May, the decision to make Guinness the sponsor was accepted almost unanimously. The sponsorship deal involved Guinness providing £3 million to the GAA over three years. £500,000 of this money would go to funding the championship, while a similar amount would go to the marketing and promotion of the game.

### Betting

Prior to the opening of the championship former All-Ireland-winning journalists Seán Moran and Tom Humphries gave their predictions for the upcoming championship in The Irish Times. Kilkenny were regarded as the strongest contenders for All-Ireland glory in 1995. They were the reigning National Hurling League champions and had won back-to-back championship titles from three successive final appearances between 1991 and 1993. Offaly, in spite of being reigning All-Ireland champions, were placed second to Kilkenny in the championship stakes. They faced a more difficult passage through the provincial series, however, an anticipated Leinster final meeting with Kilkenny was the only thing stopping the team from making it two-in-a-row. Following the trauma of their All-Ireland defeat the previous year, Limerick were still regarded as the brightest prospect in Munster. They were given the nod to retain their provincial crown and challenge, once again, for the All-Ireland title.

## Team changes
### To Championship

Promoted from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
* London (qualified)

### From Championship

Regraded to the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
* Wicklow

## Teams
### Participating counties

| Province | County | Stadium | Manager | Most recent success | Most recent success | Most recent success | Most recent success |
| Province | County | Stadium | Manager | All-Ireland | Provincial | NHL | Position in 1994 |
| Leinster | Dublin | Parnell Park | Jimmy Gray | 1938 | 1961 | 1938-39 | Beaten by Wexford in Leinster quarter-final replay |
| | Carlow | Dr. Cullen Park | Martin Fitzpatrick | | | | Beaten by Meath in Leinster second-round |
| | Kilkenny | Nowlan Park | Ollie Walsh | 1993 | 1993 | 1994-95 | Beaten by Offaly in Leinster semi-final |
| | Laois | O'Moore Park | Pat Critchley | 1915 | 1949 | | Beaten by Laois in Leinster semi-final |
| | Meath | Páirc Tailteann | John Davis | | | | Beaten by Kilkenny in Leinster quarter-final |
| | Offaly | O'Connor Park | Éamonn Cregan | 1994 | 1994 | 1990-91 | Beat Limerick in All-Ireland final |
| | Westmeath | Cusack Park | Georgie Leahy | | | | Beaten by Westmeath in Leinster first round |
| | Wexford | Wexford Park | Liam Griffin | 1968 | 1977 | 1972-73 | Beaten by Offaly in Leinster final |
| Munster | Clare | Cusack Park | Ger Loughnane | 1914 | 1932 | 1977-78 | Beaten by Limerick in Munster final |
| | Cork | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | Johnny Clifford | 1990 | 1992 | 1992-93 | Beaten by Limerick in Munster quarter-final |
| | Kerry | Austin Stack Park | John Meyler | 1891 | 1891 | | Beaten by Clare in Munster semi-final |
| | Limerick | Gaelic Grounds | Tom Ryan | 1973 | 1994 | 1991-92 | Beaten by Offaly in All-Ireland final |
| | Tipperary | Semple Stadium | Tom Fogarty | 1991 | 1993 | 1993-94 | Beaten by Clare in Munster quarter-final |
| | Waterford | Walsh Park | Joe Carton | 1959 | 1963 | 1962-63 | Beaten by Limerick in Munster semi-final |
| Connacht | Galway | Pearse Stadium | Mattie Murphy | 1988 | 1922 | 1988-89 | Beaten by Offaly in All-Ireland semi-final |
| | Roscommon | Dr. Hyde Park | Michael Kelly | | 1913 | | Beaten by Galway in All-Ireland quarter-final |
| Ulster | Antrim | Casement Park | Dominic McKinley | | 1994 | | Beaten by Limerick in All-Ireland semi-final |
| | Down | Páirc Esler | Seán McGuinness | | 1992 | | Beaten by Antrim in Ulster final |
| Britain | London | Emerald Grounds | | 1901 | | | Did not take part |

### Format
#### Munster Championship

Quarter-final: (2 matches) These are two lone matches between the first four teams drawn from the province of Munster. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the next round.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the two quarter-finals join the other two Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the next round.
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.

#### Leinster Championship

First round: (1 match) This is a single match between two 'weaker' teams drawn from the province of Leinster. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the second round.
Second Round: (1 match) The winner of the first round play another 'weaker' team. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the Leinster quarter-final.
Quarter-finals: (2 matches) The winner of the second-round game joins three other Leinster teams to make up the two quarter-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the Leinster semi-finals.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the two quarter-finals join two other Leinster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the Leinster final.
Final: (1 match) The winner 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

Final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the two competing Ulster teams. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final.

#### Connacht Championship

Final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the two competing Connacht teams. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final where the play the Munster champions.

#### All-Ireland Championship

Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the Ulster champions and the All-Ireland 'B' champions. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final where they play the Leinster champions.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The Munster and Leinster champions will play the winners of the lone quarter-final and the Connacht champions. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while the two winners advance to the All-Ireland final.
Final: (1 match) The two semi-final winners will contest the final.

## Managerial changes
### Pre-championship

| Team | 1995 Manager | 1994 Manager | Reason for leaving | Story/Accomplishments |
| Clare | Ger Loughnane, double National League-winner with Clare. | Len Gaynor | Resigned | Gaynor guided Clare to back-to-back Munster finals, however, they were defeated on both occasions. |

## Provincial championships
### Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

| Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| | | Carlow | 3-14 |
| Meath | 1-13 | Westmeath | 6-06 |
| Carlow | 2-11 | | |
| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Wexford | Wexford | 6-23 | | | | | | |
| Westmeath | Westmeath | 1-07 | Offaly | Offaly | 2-14 | | | |
| | | | Wexford | Wexford | 1-10 | | | |
| | | | | | | Offaly | Offaly | 2-16 |
| | | | | | | Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 2-05 |
| | | | Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 4-13 | | | |
| Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 2-14 | Dublin | Dublin | 2-10 | | | |
| Laois | Laois | 2-12 | | | | | | |

### Munster Senior Hurling Championship

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Kerry | Kerry | 0-12 | | | | | | |
| Cork | Cork | 1-22 | Clare | Clare | 2-13 | | | |
| | | | Cork | Cork | 3-09 | | | |
| | | | | | | Clare | Clare | 1-17 |
| | | | | | | Limerick | Limerick | 0-11 |
| | | | Limerick | Limerick | 0-16 | | | |
| Tipperary | Tipperary | 4-23 | Tipperary | Tipperary | 0-15 | | | |
| Waterford | Waterford | 1-11 | | | | | | |

### Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
## All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
### Bracket

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| London | London | 0-09 | | | | | | |
| Down | Down | 0-16 | Offaly | Offaly | 2-19 | | | |
| | | | Down | Down | 2-08 | | | |
| | | | | | | Offaly | Offaly | 2-08 |
| | | | | | | Clare | Clare | 1-13 |
| | | | Clare | Clare | 3-12 | | | |
| | | | Galway | Galway | 1-13 | | | |

### All-Ireland final
## Championship statistics
### Scoring

* First goal of the championship: John Byrne for Carlow against Meath (Leinster first round)
* Last goal of the championship: Éamonn Taaffe for Clare against Offaly (All-Ireland final)
* Hat-trick heroes:
** First hat-trick of the championship: Seán McLoughlin for Westmeath against Carlow (Leinster first round)
** Second hat-trick of the championship: Billy Byrne for Wexford against Westmeath (Leinster quarter-final)
** Third hat-trick of the championship: Eamon Morrissey for Kilkenny against Dublin (Leinster semi-final)
* Widest winning margin: 31 points
** Wexford 6-23 : 1-7 Westmeath (Leinster quarter-final)
* Most goals in a match: 9
** Carlow 3-14 : 6-6 Westmeath (Leinster first round)
* Most points in a match: 34
** Kerry 0-12 : 1-22 Cork (Munster semi-final)
** Tipperary 4-23 : 1-11 Waterford (Munster semi-final)
* Most goals by one team in a match: 6
** Westmeath 6-6 : 3-14 Carlow (Leinster first round)
* Most goals scored by a losing team: 3
** Carlow 3-14 : 6-6 Westmeath (Leinster first round)
** Cork 3-9 : 2-13 Clare (Munster semi-final)
* Most points scored by a losing team: 14
** Carlow 3-14 : 6-6 Westmeath (Leinster second round)

### Overall

* Most goals scored - Kilkenny (8)
* Most goals conceded - Carlow (7)
* Fewest goals conceded - Tipperary (1)
* Fewest points conceded - Meath (11)
* Fewest goals scored - Meath, Limerick, London (0)
* Fewest points scored - London (9)

### Discipline

* First red card of the championship: Johnny Kavanagh for Carlow against Meath (Leinster first round)

### Top scorers
#### Season

| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Johnny Dooley | Offaly | 0-27 | 27 | 4 | 6.75 |
| 2 | Jamesie O'Connor | Clare | 0-19 | 19 | 4 | 4.75 |
| 3 | Gary Kirby | Limerick | 0-18 | 18 | 2 | 9.00 |
| 4 | Tom Galway | London | 1-15 | 18 | 3 | 6.00 |
| 5 | Ger O'Loughlin | Clare | 3-6 | 15 | 4 | 3.75 |
| 5 | Kevin Coulter | Down | 2-9 | 15 | 4 | 3.75 |
| 7 | Greg O'Kane | Antrim | 1-11 | 14 | 2 | 7.00 |
| 7 | Hugh Gilmore | Down | 0-14 | 14 | 4 | 3.50 |
| 9 | Billy Byrne | Wexford | 4-1 | 13 | 2 | 6.50 |
| 9 | Denis Byrne | Kilkenny | 3-4 | 13 | 3 | 4.33 |
| 9 | Eamon Morrissey | Kilkenny | 3-4 | 13 | 3 | 4.33 |
| 9 | Seán McLoughlin | Westmeath | 3-4 | 13 | 2 | 6.50 |

#### Single game

| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Eamon Morrissey | Kilkenny | 3-3 | 12 | Dublin |
| 1 | Gary Kirby | Limerick | 0-12 | 12 | Tipperary |
| 3 | Johnny Dooley | Offaly | 0-11 | 11 | Down |
| 4 | Seán McLoughlin | Westmeath | 3-1 | 10 | Carlow |
| 4 | Pat Fox | Tipperary | 2-4 | 10 | Waterford |
| 6 | Tom Galway | London | 1-06 | 9 | New York |
| 6 | Billy Byrne | Wexford | 3-0 | 9 | Westmeath |
| 6 | Fintan Lalor | Laois | 1-6 | 9 | Kilkenny |
| 9 | Larry Murphy | Wexford | 2-2 | 8 | Westmeath |
| 9 | Denis Byrne | Kilkenny | 2-2 | 8 | Laois |
| 9 | Johnny Dooley | Offaly | 0-8 | 8 | Wexford |
| 9 | Gary O'Kane | Antrim | 1-5 | 8 | Down |

## Miscellaneous

* Down win the Ulster title for the third time in their history. It is their second provincial title in three years.
* The All-Ireland semi-final meeting of Clare and Galway is their first championship clash since the 1967 championship.
* Clare win the Munster title for the first time since the 1932 championship. They later claim the All-Ireland title for the first time since 1914.
* The meeting of Down and Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final was their first-ever clash in the history of the championship.
* The meeting of Clare and Offaly in the All-Ireland final was their first-ever clash in the history of the championship.

### Debutantes

The following players made their début in the 1995 championship:
| Player | Team | Date | Opposition | Game |
| Alan Browne | Cork | May 20 | Kerry | Munster quarter-final |
| Pat Kenneally | Cork | May 20 | Kerry | Munster quarter-final |
| Fergal McCormack | Cork | May 20 | Kerry | Munster quarter-final |
| Kieran Morrison | Cork | May 20 | Kerry | Munster quarter-final |
| John O'Driscoll | Cork | May 20 | Kerry | Munster quarter-final |
| Darren Ronan | Cork | May 20 | Kerry | Munster quarter-final |
| Peter Smith | Cork | May 20 | Kerry | Munster quarter-final |
| Brendan Cummins | Tipperary | May 21 | Waterford | Munster quarter-final |
| Tom Feeney | Waterford | May 21 | Tipperary | Munster quarter-final |
| Fergal Ryan | Cork | June 4 | Clare | Munster semi-final |
| Ollie Baker | Clare | June 4 | Cork | Munster semi-final |
| Conor Clancy | Clare | June 4 | Cork | Munster semi-final |
| Fergal Hegarty | Clare | June 4 | Cork | Munster semi-final |
| Frank Lohan | Clare | June 4 | Cork | Munster semi-final |
| Stephen McNamara | Clare | June 4 | Cork | Munster semi-final |
| Michael O'Halloran | Clare | June 4 | Cork | Munster semi-final |
| Éamonn Taaffe | Clare | September 3 | Offaly | All-Ireland final |

### Retirees

The following players played their last game in the 1995 championship:
| Player | Team | Date | Opposition | Game | Début |
| Tony O'Sullivan | Cork | May 20 | Kerry | Munster quarter-final | 1982 |
| John Chaplin | Clare | June 4 | Cork | Munster semi-final | 1991 |
| Stephen Sheedy | Clare | June 4 | Cork | Munster semi-final | 1993 |
| P. J. Martin | Offaly | June 22 | Wexford | Leinster semi-final | 1988 |
| Jim McInerney | Clare | August 6 | Galway | All-Ireland semi-final | 1985 |
| Cyril Lyons | Clare | September 3 | Offaly | All-Ireland final | 1983 |
| Alan Neville | Clare | September 3 | Offaly | All-Ireland final | 1992 |
| Brendan Kelly | Offaly | September 3 | Clare | All-Ireland final | 1990 |