The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1977 was the 91st staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Cork won the championship, beating Wexford 1–17 to 3–8 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.
The championship Format
Munster Championship
First round: (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 winner of the first round joins the other three Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the 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.
Leinster Championship
First round: (2 matches) These are two matches between the first four teams drawn from the province of Leinster. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the two first-round games join the other two Leinster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the 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 final.
All-Ireland Championship
Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a single match between Galway and the winners of the All-Ireland 'B' championship. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-final.
Semi-final: (1 match) This is a single match between the Munster champions and the winners of the quarter-final. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.
Final: (1 match) The winners of the semi-final and the Leinster champions contest this game.
Provincial championships Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship All-Ireland quarter-finals
All-Ireland semi-finals
All-Ireland final
Cork Team 1 Martin Coleman 2 Brian Murphy 3 Martin O'Doherty 4 John Horgan 5 Dermot MacCurtain 6 Johnny Crowley 7 Denis Coughlan 8 Tom Cashman 9 Tim Crowley 10 Mick Malone 11 Gerald McCarthy 12 Jimmy Barry Murphy 13 Charlie McCarthy 14 Ray Cummins 15 Seanie O'Leary Substitutes Pat Moylan for Mick Malone Tadhg Murphy for Gerald McCarthy Unused Substitutes Jerry Cronin, Pat McDonnell, Denis Burns, Teddy O'Brien, Pat Horgan Coach Fr Bertie Troy Trainer Kevin Kehilly Selectors Frank Murphy, Jimmy Brohan, Christy Ring, Denis Murphy, Johnny Clifford
Championship statistics Miscellaneous
At the Munster final between Cork and Clare, three armed men entered the unguarded room, held up the Munster Council treasurer, Tadhg Crowley, and his assistants, and got away with £24,520. A dispute in manning levels resulted in two RTÉ cameramen refusing to film the Leinster final between Wexford and Kilkenny.
Player facts Debutantes The following players made their début in the 1977 championship:
Player Team Date Opposition GameTom CashmanCorkJune 19WaterfordMunster semi-finalDermot Mac CurtainCorkJune 19WaterfordMunster semi-final
Retirees The following players played their last game in the 1977 championship:
Player Team Date Opposition Game DébutEddie KeherKilkennyJuly 24WexfordLeinster final1959
Top scorers Season Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1Charlie McCarthyCork2–172345.75Ned BuggyWexford2–172337.663Seánie O'LearyCork4–51744.25Tony DoranWexford4–51735.66Colm HonanClare1–141744.256Jimmy Barry-MurphyKilkenny3–31243.00Johnny WalshKildare0–121226.008P. J. MolloyGalway0–111125.509Noel CaseyClare3–11042.5010Matt RuthKilkenny3–11025.00Eddie KeherKilkenny2–41025.00Liam O'BrienKilkenny1–71025.00Mick MoroneyClare0–101042.50Michael CosgroveWestmeath1–710110.00
Single game Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1Michael CosgroveWestmeath1–710KildareLiam O'BrienKilkenny1–710Dublin3Matt RuthKilkenny3–09DublinÉamonn CreganLimerick1–69Clare5Ned BuggyWexford1–58KilkennyCharlie McCarthyCork1–58WaterfordColm HonanClare1–58CorkNed BuggyWexford0–88Kildare9G. FrayneKildare2–17WestmeathTony DoranWexford2–17KilkennyTony DoranWexford1–47KildareEddie KeherKilkenny1–47WexfordNed BuggyWexford1–47CorkMick CleereOffaly0–77DublinJohnny WalshKildare0–77WexfordP. J. MolloyGalway0–77Cork
Broadcasting
The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on RTÉ.
Round RTÉ All-Ireland semi-final Cork vs Galway All-Ireland finalCork vs Wexford
References