The 1954 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 68th staging of the All-Ireland hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1887. The championship began on 11 April 1954 and ended on 5 September 1954.
Cork were the defending champions and retained their title following a 1–9 to 1–6 victory over Wexford in the final.
Teams
A total of fourteen teams contested the championship, an increase of one on the previous championship. Antrim, who last participated at this level in 1949, re-entered the championship in spite of facing no competition in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship.
Team summaries TeamColoursMost recent successAll-IrelandProvincialLeagueAntrimSaffron and white1946ClareSaffron and blue191419321945–46CorkRed and white195319531952–53DublinBlue and navy193819521938–39GalwayMaroon and white19231950–51KilkennyBlack and amber194719531932–33LaoisBlue and white19151949LimerickGreen and white194019401946–47MeathGreen and goldOffalyGreen, white and goldTipperaryBlue and gold195119511953–54WaterfordWhite and blue19481948WestmeathMaroon and whiteWexfordPurple and gold19101951
Provincial championships Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
First round
Second round
Semi-finals
Final
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
First round
Semi-finals
Final
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
All-Ireland semi-finals
All-Ireland final
Championship statistics Top scorers
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Nicky RackardWexford12–1955413.752Christy RingCork2–182446.003Tim FloodWexford6-052345.754Brian SmythMeath2–131944.755Séamus PowerWaterford5-031829.006Mickey FurlongOffaly4-031535.007Padge KehoeWexford3-051443.508Johnny CliffordCork3-041343.759Paddy KennyTipperary1-081125.5010Paddy BarryCork3-011042.50Willie John DalyCork2-041042.50Tommy ErrityOffaly1-071033.33
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition1Nicky RackardWexford7-0728Antrim2Nicky RackardWexford5-0419Dublin3Séamus PowerWaterford4-0214Cork4Brian SmythMeath1-0710Laois5Tim FloodWexford3-009AntrimTim FloodWexford2-039Kilkenny6Ned RyanTipperary2-028ClareTom DooleyOffaly2-028MeathChristy RingCork1-058Tipperary7Mickey FurlongOffaly2-017WestmeathChristy RingCork1-047Waterford
Scoring
Widest winning margin: 44 points Wexford 12–17 : 2–3 Antrim (All-Ireland semi-final) Most goals in a match: 14 Wexford 12–17 : 2–3 Antrim (All-Ireland semi-final) Most points in a match: 20 Wexford 12–17 : 2–3 Antrim (All-Ireland semi-final) Most goals by one team in a match: 12 Wexford 12–17 : 2–3 Antrim (All-Ireland semi-final) Most goals scored by a losing team: 4 Waterford 4–5 : 7–8 Cork (Munster semi-final) Most points scored by a losing team: 9 Laois 1–9 : 1–10 Meath (Leinster first round)
Miscellaneous
Meath qualified for the Leinster semi-finals for the first time in the history of the championship. Antrim took part in the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time since 1949. It was their last game at this stage of the championship until re-entering the championship in 1984. Wexford's Nicky Rackard scores 7–7 in their All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Antrim. It is believed to be a record score for an All-Ireland semi-final. Cork's Christy Ring wins a record-breaking eighth All-Ireland medal as Cork claim a third successive championship for the third time in their history.
Roll of Honour Cork – 19 (1954) Tipperary – 16 (1951) Kilkenny – 13 (1947) Limerick – 6 (1940) Dublin – 6 (1938) Waterford – 1 (1948) Galway – 1 (1923) Laois – 1 (1915) Clare – 1 (1914) Wexford – 1 (1910) London – 1 (1901) Kerry – 1 (1891)
Player facts Debutantes
The following players made their début in the 1954 championship:
Player Team Date Opposition GamePeter DarbyMeathApril 11LaoisLeinster first roundMick CashmanCorkJune 27WaterfordMunster semi-finalJohnny CliffordCorkJune 27WaterfordMunster semi-finalÉamonn GouldingCorkJune 27WaterfordMunster semi-final
Retirees The following players played their last game in the 1954 championship:
Player Team Last Game Date Opposition DébutTom O'SullivanCorkMunster finalJuly 18Tipperary1953
Sources
Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005). Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005). Horgan, Tim, Christy Ring: Hurling's Greatest (The Collins Press, 2007). Nolan, Pat, Flashbacks: A Half Century of Cork Hurling (The Collins Press, 2000). Sweeney, Éamonn, Munster HUrling Legends (The O'Brien Press, 2002).
References