This article lists players who have captained the Kilkenny county hurling team in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The captain is chosen from the club that has won the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship.

List of captains # Year Player Club National titles Provincial titles2025 John Donnelly Thomastown 2024 Paddy Deegan O'Loughlin GaelsLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2023 Eoin Cody Ballyhale ShamrocksLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2022 Richie Reid Ballyhale ShamrocksLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2021 Adrian Mullen Ballyhale ShamrocksLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2020 Colin Fennelly Ballyhale ShamrocksLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2019 T. J. Reid Ballyhale Shamrocks 2018 Cillian Buckley Dicksboro 2017 Mark Bergin O'Loughlin Gaels 2016 Shane Prendergast ClaraLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2015 Joey Holden Ballyhale ShamrocksAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2014Lester Ryan ClaraAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2013Colin FennellyBallyhale Shamrocks 2012Eoin LarkinJames StephensAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captain 2011Brian HoganO'Loughlin GaelsAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2010T. J. Reid1Ballyhale ShamrocksLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2009Michael Fennelly2Ballyhale ShamrocksAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captain 2008James 'Cha' FitzpatrickBallyhale ShamrocksAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2007Henry ShefflinBallyhale ShamrocksAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2006Jackie TyrellJames StephensAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2005Peter BarryJames StephensLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2004Martin ComerfordO'Loughlin Gaels 2003D.J. CareyYoung IrelandsAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain Charlie CarterYoung Irelands 2002Andy ComerfordO'Loughlin GaelsAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2001Denis ByrneGraigue-BallycallanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 2000Willie O'ConnorGlenmoreAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1999Denis ByrneGraigue-BallycallanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1998Tom HickeyDunnamagginLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1997D.J. CareyYoung Irelands 1996Michael PhelanGlenmore1995Bill HennessyTullaroan1994Michael WalshDicksboro1993Eddie O'ConnorGlenmoreAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1992Liam FennellyBallyhale ShamrocksAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1991Christy HeffernanGlenmoreLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1990Seán FennellyBallyhale Shamrocks1989Kevin FennellyBallyhale Shamrocks1988Liam WalshGlenmore1987Paddy PrendergastClaraLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1986Frank HolohanBallyhale Shamrocks1985Kieran BrennanConahy Shamrocks1984Liam FennellyBallyhale Shamrocks1983Liam FennellyBallyhale ShamrocksAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1982Brian CodyJames StephensAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1981Maurice MasonBallyhale Shamrocks1980Richie ReidBallyhale Shamrocks1979Ger FennellyBallyhale ShamrocksAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1978Ger HendersonFeniansLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1977Liam 'Chunky' O'BrienJames Stephens1976Phil 'Fan' LarkinJames Stephens1975Billy FitzpatrickFeniansAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1974Nicky OrrFeniansAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1973Pat DelaneyFeniansLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1972Noel SkehanBennettsbridgeAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1971Pat HendersonFeniansLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1970Mick CrottyJames Stephens1969Eddie KeherRower-InistiogeAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1968Jim BennettBennettsbridge1967Jim TreacyBennettsbridgeAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1966Jim LynchMooncoinLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1965Paddy MoranBennettsbridge1964Seán BuckleySt. Lachtain's1963Séamus CleereBennettsbridgeAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1962Alfie HickeySt. Lachtain's1961Séamus CleereBennettsbridge1960Mickey KellyBennettsbridge1959Seán ClohessyTullaroanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1958Mick KennyJohn Locke's1957Mickey KellyBennettsbridgeAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1956Paddy BuggyBennettsbridge1955Paddy BuggySlieverue1954Dan KennedyBennettsbridge1953Johnny McGovernBennettsbridge1952Carrickshock1951Dicksboro1950Mick KennyGraigueLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1949Paddy MaloneTullaroan1948Éire Óg1947Dan KennedyThomastownAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1946Jack MulcahyÉire ÓgLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1945Peter BlanchfieldÉire ÓgLeinster Hurling Final winning captain19441943Jimmy WalshCarrickshockLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1942Jimmy WalshCarrickshock19411940Jim LangtonÉire ÓgLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1939Jimmy WalshCarrickshockAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1938Paddy LarkinJames Stephens1937Jack DugganMooncoinLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1936Paddy LarkinJames StephensLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1935Lory MeagherTullaroanAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1934Lory MeagherTullaroanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1933Eddie DoyleMooncoinAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1932Jimmy WalshCarrickshockAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1931Lory MeagherTullaroanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain19301929Wattie DunphyMooncoinLeinster Hurling Final winning captain19281927John RobertsDicksboro1926Dick GraceTullaroanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1925Dick GraceTullaroanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain19241923Wattie DunphyMooncoinLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1922Wattie DunphyMooncoinAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain 1921Dick GraceTullaroan1920Dick GraceTullaroan1919Dick GraceTullaroan19181917Sim WaltonTullaroan1916Sim WaltonTullaroanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain19151914Dick 'Drug' WalshMooncoin1913Dick 'Drug' WalshMooncoinAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1912Sim WaltonTullaroanAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1911Sim WaltonTullaroanAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain19101909Dick 'Drug' WalshMooncoinAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain19081907Dick 'Drug' WalshMooncoinAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1906Dick 'Drug' WalshMooncoin1905D.J. StapletonErin's OwnAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1904Jer DohenyTullaroanAll-Ireland Hurling Final winning captainLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1903Mick DaltonMooncoinLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1902Jer DohenyTullaroan19011900Dick 'Manager' WalshMooncoinLeinster Hurling Final winning captain18991898Ned HennessyThreecastlesLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1897Jackie WalshTullaroanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain1896Joe SweeneyConfederation1895James GraceTullaroanLeinster Hurling Final winning captain18941893Dan WhelanConfederationLeinster Hurling Final winning captain18921891189018891888John QuinnMooncoinLeinster Hurling Final winning captain

Notes Reid was appointed captain although he had not yet nailed down a starting place on the Kilkenny starting fifteen. If he did not line out his brother, Eoin Reid was to act as captain. If neither Reid lined out Henry Shefflin would be the stand-by captain. Fennelly was appointed captain although he had not yet nailed down a place on the Kilkenny starting fifteen. Henry Shefflin was appointed vice-captain and deputised when Fennelly was not playing.

References