The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1984 was the 98th series of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Cork won the championship, beating Offaly 3–16 to 1–12 in the centenary year final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Centenary year
1984 was a special year in the annals of Gaelic games as it was the centenary of the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Because of this a series of events celebrating the occasion were planned to take place throughout the year. The festivities were officially launched on 18 March at the Michael Cusack cottage in Carron, County Clare. Ash trees were planted to mark the occasion and a plaque was also unveiled in memory of the founder of the association. The Railway Cup finals were later played in Cusack Park, Ennis.
A £100,000 film was also commissioned by the centenary committee. Made by Louis Marcus the film was designed to be a portrait rather than a chronological history of the GAA.
One of the biggest events during the centenary celebrations was the staging of the All-Ireland final in Semple Stadium, Thurles. It was the first time since 1937 that the championship decider did not take place in Croke Park. The staging of the game in Thurles was a gesture to the cradle-town of the GAA and to the county regarded as 'the home of hurling'.
Pre-championship
Prior to the opening of the championship Kilkenny were installed as the favourites to retain the All-Ireland title for a third consecutive year. The last time they achieved this was in 1913, however, no final took place that year and Kilkenny were awarded the title as Limerick refused to play. Since then they failed to capture the 'three-in-a-row', in spite of having the opportunity in 1933 and again in 1976. Cork, the defeated All-Ireland finalists in 1982 and 1983, were regarded as the biggest threat to Kilkenny's ambitions. 1984 also provided Cork with the dubious honour of becoming the first team to lose three All-Ireland finals in-a-row. National League champions Limerick and newcomers Offaly were also regarded as teams that would make life difficult for the reigning champions.
Team changes
To Championship Promoted from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
None
From Championship Relegated to the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
Kerry
Note: Westmeath regraded to Senior B championship but won the championship and re-qualified for the All-Ireland championship.
Teams
A total of thirteen teams contested the championship, a reduction of one team from the 1983 championship and one new entrant.
The Leinster championship was reduced to five teams as Westmeath declined to take part and instead decided to field a team in the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship. 'The Lakelanders' went on to win that championship and qualified for the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Once again the five traditional hurling teams contested the Munster championship.
Antrim and Galway, two teams who faced no competition in their respective provinces, entered the championship at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.
General information Thirteen counties will compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: one team from the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, five teams in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, five teams in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, one team from the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship and one team from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship. CountyLast provincial titleLast championship titlePosition in 1983 ChampionshipCurrent championship Antrim1946—Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Clare19321914Munster Senior Hurling Championship Cork19831978Munster Senior Hurling Championship Dublin19611938Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Galway19221980Connacht Senior Hurling Championship Kilkenny19831983Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Laois19491915Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Limerick19811973Munster Senior Hurling Championship Offaly19811981Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Tipperary19711971Munster Senior Hurling Championship Waterford19631959Munster Senior Hurling Championship Westmeath——All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship Wexford19771968Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Stadia and locations TeamGroundsAntrimCasement ParkClareCusack ParkCorkCork Athletic GroundsDublinParnell ParkGalwayPearse StadiumKilkennyNowlan ParkLaoisO'Moore ParkLimerickGaelic GroundsOffalySt. Brendan's ParkTipperarySemple StadiumWaterfordWalsh ParkWestmeathCusack ParkWexfordWexford Park
Format Munster Championship
Quarter-final: (1 match) This was a lone match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Munster. One team was eliminated at this stage, while the winners advanced to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the lone quarter-final joined the other three Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams were eliminated at this stage, while two teams advanced to the final.
Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contested this game. One team was eliminated at this stage, while the winners advanced to the All-Ireland semi-final.
Leinster Championship
Quarter-final: (1 match) This was a lone match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Leinster. One team was eliminated at this stage, while the winners advanced to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the lone quarter-final joined the other three Leinster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams were eliminated at this stage, while two teams advanced to the final.
Final: (1 match) The winner of the two semi-finals contested this game. One team was eliminated at this stage, while the winners advanced to the All-Ireland semi-final.
All-Ireland Championship
Quarter-final: (1 match) This was a lone match between Galway and the All-Ireland 'B' champions. One team was eliminated at this stage, while the winners advanced to the All-Ireland semi-final where they played the Leinster champions.
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the lone quarter-final joined the Leinster and Munster champions and Antrim to make up the semi-final pairings. The Munster and Leinster champions were on opposite sides of the draw. Two teams were eliminated at this stage, while two teams advanced to the final.
Final: (1 match) The two semi-final winners contested the final.
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
Championship statistics Scoring
Widest winning margin: 24 points Cork 3–16 : Antrim 2–5 (All-Ireland-final, 5 August 1984) Most goals in a match: 7 Cork 4–15 : Tipperary 3–14 (Munster final, 15 July 1984) Most points in a match: 31 Kilkenny 4–15 : Laois 1–16 (Leinster quarter-final, 27 May 1984) Cork 3–16 : Antrim 2–5 (All-Ireland-final, 5 August 1984)
Top scorers
Overall
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1John FentonCork1–333649.002Seánie O'LearyCork4–31535.003Pádraig HoranOffaly3–51443.50Séamus PowerTipperary1–111427.00Billy FitzpatrickKilkenny1–111427.006Cyril LyonsClare0-131326.507Jimmy Barry-MurphyCork3-31243.00Kevin HennessyCork2-61243.00Tony O'SullivanCork1-91234.00Billy BohaneLaois0-1212112.00
Single game
Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1John FentonCork0–1212AntrimBilly BohaneLaois0–1212Kilkenny3John FentonCork1–710Limerick4Billy FitzpatrickKilkenny1–69LaoisSéamus PowerTipperary1–69CorkMartin FitzhenryWexford2–39KilkennyJoe DooleyOffaly2–39Galway8Cyril LyonsClare0–88WaterfordDavid KilcoyneWestmeath2–28GalwayPádraig HoranOffaly2–28Galway
Broadcasting
The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on RTÉ.
Round RTÉ All-Ireland semi-finalOffaly vs Galway All-Ireland finalOffaly vs Cork
Sources
Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005). Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005). Nolan, Pat, Flashbacks: A Half Century of Cork Hurling (The Collins Press, 2000).
External links Cork GAA website Offaly GAA website Gaelic Athletic Association website
See also