The 1978 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship was the 15th staging of the All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1964. The championship ran from 19 April to 29 October 1978.
Kilkenny were the defending champions, however, they were beaten by Laois in the Leinster semi-finals.
The All-Ireland final, a replay, was played on 29 October 1978 at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, between Galway and Tipperary, in what was their fifth championship meeting overall and their first meeting in the final in 11 years. Galway won the match by 3–15 to 2–08 to claim their second championship title overall and a first championship title in six years.
Tipperary's Séamus Bourke was the championship's top scorer with 8-21.
Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship Leinster quarter-finals
Leinster semi-finals
Leinster final
Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship Munster first round
Munster semi-finals
Munster final
Munster final replay
Ulster Under-21 Hurling Championship Ulster final
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship All-Ireland semi-finals
All-Ireland final
All-Ireland final replay
Championship statistics
Top scorers
Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Séamus BourkeTipperary8-214567.502Paddy KirwanOffaly7-072847.003Conleth WallLaois2-142036.664Matty ConneelyGalway5-031836.005Danny BuckleyCork4-051744.25
Miscellaneous
Offaly won the Leinster U21HC title for the first time in their history.
References