The 1970 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 84th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament. The championship began on 3 May 1970 and ended on 6 September 1970.

Kilkenny were the defending champions but were defeated by Wexford in the Leinster final. Kildare, who won the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship in 1969, were promoted to the senior championship after a long absence. New York sought entry to the All-Ireland series but their request was denied. Galway left the Munster Championship after ten years of participation and reverted to the old system whereby they enter the championship at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.

The All-Ireland final was played at Croke Park in Dublin on 6 September 1970 between Cork and Wexford, in what was their fourth meeting in the All-Ireland final overall and a first meeting in 14 years. Cork won the match by 6–21 to 5–10 to claim their 21st All-Ireland title overall and a first title in four years.

Cork's Charlie McCarthy was the championship's top scorer with 1–23. Cork's Pat McDonnell was the choice for Texaco Hurler of the Year.

Rule change

As a result of a decision taken at the Gaelic Athletic Association's (GAA) annual congress the previous year, as of 1970 all provincial finals, All-Ireland semi-finals and the All-Ireland final itself were extended to 80 minutes playing time. Prior to this all championship matches were sixty minutes in duration. Lasted until 1974.

Teams

A total of fourteen teams contested the championship, including thirteen teams from the 1969 championship and one new entrant.

The Leinster championship was extended to seven teams as Kildare entered the provincial series of games. They had won the All-Ireland title at intermediate level in 1969 and decided to make the step up to the senior grade.

Galway left the Munster championship where they had been playing since the 1959 championship and returned to the old system whereby they entered the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Team summaries TeamColoursGroundsMost recent successAll-IrelandProvincialLeagueClareSaffron and blueCusack Park191419321945–46CorkRed and whiteCork Athletic Grounds196619691969–70DublinBlue and navyParnell Park193819611938–39GalwayMaroon and whitePearse Stadium19231950–51KildareWhiteSt. Conleth's ParkKilkennyBlack and amberNowlan Park196919691965–66LaoisBlue and whiteO'Moore Park19491949LimerickGreen and whiteGaelic Grounds194019551946–47LondonBlue and greenEmerald GAA Grounds1901OffalyGreen, white and goldSt. Brendan's ParkTipperaryBlue and goldSemple Stadium196519681967–68WaterfordWhite and blueWalsh Park195919631962–63WestmeathMaroon and whiteCusack ParkWexfordPurple and goldWexford Park196819681957–58

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Leinster first round

Leinster second round

Leinster semi-finals

Leinster final

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Munster first round

Munster semi-finals

Munster final

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship All-Ireland semi-finals

All-Ireland final

Championship statistics Scoring

Widest winning margin: 19 points Wexford 4–17 : 2–4 Dublin (Leinster semi-final) Most goals in a match: 11 Cork 6–21 : 5–10 Wexford (All-Ireland final) Most points in a match: 31 Cork 6–21 : 5–10 Wexford (All-Ireland final) Most goals by one team in a match: 6 Cork 6–21 : 5–10 Wexford (All-Ireland final) Most goals scored by a losing team: 5 Wexford 5–10 : 6–21 Cork (All-Ireland final) Galway 5–9 : 3–17 Wexford (All-Ireland semi-final) Most points scored by a losing team: 14 Kilkenny 3–14 : 4–16 Wexford (Leinster final)

Miscellaneous

The Leinster final between Kilkenny and Wexford was the first championship game to be played over the course of 80 minutes.

Top scorers Season Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1Charlie McCarthyCork1–232646.502Tony DoranWexford7–12245.503Eddie O'BrienCork6–11944.754Ned BuggyWexford1–151844.505Willie WalshCork4–41644.00Eddie KeherGalway1–121527.50Tomás RyanCork1–121535.008Tom RyanGalway3–514114.009Mick ButlerWexford0–121226.0010Ray CumminsCork2–51142.75Richie BennisLimerick0–111133.66

Single game Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1Tom RyanGalway3–514Wexford2Charlie McCarthyCork1–912Wexford3Pat CroninClare1–811Limerick4Ned BuggyWexford1–710DublinEddie O'BrienCork3–110Wexford6Eddie KeherKilkenny0–99DublinTommy RingWestmeath2–39DublinMick ButlerWexford0–99Galway9Ned BuggyWexford0–88KilkennyTomás RyanCork1–58London

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Galway Wexford 5–9 : 3–17 Cork Wexford 6–21 : 5–10

Player facts Debutantes

The following players made their début in the 1970 championship:

Player Team Date Opposition GamePaul ByrneTipperaryJune 21WaterfordMunster semi-finalRoger RyanTipperaryJune 21WaterfordMunster semi-finalJohn HorganCorkJune 28LimerickMunster semi-finalPat McDonnellCorkJune 28LimerickMunster semi-finalDinny RyanTipperaryJuly 19CorkMunster finalMartin ColemanCorkAugust 16LondonAll-Ireland semi-finalTom Byrne Wexford August 15 Galway All-Ireland semi-final

Awards Annual awards Texaco Hurler of the Year The Texaco Hurler of the Year was awarded to Pat McDonnell of Cork.

References