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Kilkenny GAA

Irish:	Cill Chainnigh
Province:	Leinster
Nickname(s):	The Cats The Stripey Men The Noresiders The Marble City
County colours:	Black, Amber
Ground(s):	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
Dominant sport:	Hurling
Competitions
NFL:	N/A
NHL:	Division 1A
Hurling Championship:	Liam MacCarthy Cup
Ladies' Gaelic football:	Brendan Martin Cup
Camogie:	O'Duffy Cup
Standard kit
Regular kit

The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Kilkenny GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Coiste Cill Chainnigh) is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams in all codes at all levels. The Kilkenny branch of the Gaelic Athletic Association was founded in 1887.

In hurling, the dominant sport in the county, Kilkenny compete annually in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, which they have won thirty-six times, the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, which they have won seventy one times, and the National Hurling League, which they have won eighteen times. Brian Cody has been manager of the Kilkenny senior hurling team since the 1999 championship. Cillian Buckley is senior hurling captain for the 2018 season. One of the Ballyhale Shamrocks club representatives will become senior hurling captain for the 2019 season.

Hurling

History

Kilkenny is the most successful men's senior county team in the history of the game of hurling. Kilkenny has won the All-Ireland Championship 36 times as of 2015 and has won the provincial Leinster Championship on 71 occasions as of 2016.^[1]

Beginning of the modern era

Kilkenny hurler, c. 1923

In 1922, Kilkenny won its sixteenth Leinster title before later lining out in the All-Ireland final against Tipperary. In an exciting game, Tipperary were winning by three points with three minutes remaining, but Kilkenny fought back to score two goals to secure the victory. It would be forty-five years before Kilkenny would beat Tipperary in the championship again. Further Leinster titles soon followed. In 1926, Kilkenny faced Cork on a snow-covered Croke Park in the All-Ireland final. However, victory on that occasion went to ‘the Rebels’.

Kilkenny hurling team c. 1923

The 1930s proved to be one of Kilkenny’s most successful decades, book-ended by two of the most famous All-Ireland finals of all-time. The 1930s saw ‘the Cats’ battle it out with Limerick for the title of team of the decade. In 1931 Kilkenny were back as Leinster champions before squaring up to Cork in the All-Ireland final. At half-time Cork lead. However, Kilkenny fought back to secure a draw. The replay saw Lory Meagher give one of his most outstanding displays on the hurling field. Once again Cork lead at half-time. However, Kilkenny fought back to force a second draw. In the third game of the thrilling series Kilkenny were without the heroic services of Meagher. On that occasion Cork secured the victory by seven points. 1932 saw Kilkenny back in the All-Ireland final. Clare, surprise winners in Munster, provided the opposition. In an exciting game ‘the Cats’ won by a goal and claimed their first championship in a decade. The following year Kilkenny were back in their third successive championship decider, this time against Limerick. Once again, the game was a close affair; however, Kilkenny won the day to seal back-to-back All-Ireland titles.

In 1935 Kilkenny regained their Leinster crown before lining out in the All-Ireland final. Limerick provided the opposition once again. In a close game Kilkenny beat the Munster men by a single point. 1936 saw an All-Ireland rematch between Kilkenny and Limerick. However, on this occasion Limerick had the measure of ‘the Cats’ and trounced them by 5–6 to 1–5. The following year Kilkenny had a chance to redeem themselves in their third consecutive championship decider. This time Tipperary were the opponent. However, Kilkenny collapsed on the day and gave Tipp a seventeen-point victory. This looked like the end for the great Kilkenny team of the 1930s. However, two years later in 1939 the team was back in the All-Ireland final. On the day that World War II broke out ‘the Cats’ took on Cork at Croke Park. Both sides were level throughout much of the game, the climax of which was played in a fierce thunderstorm. Terry Leahy was the hero for Kilkenny as he scored the winning point in the dying seconds of the game. Kilkenny were back in the championship decider again in 1940, their fifth in six years. On this occasion an ageing Limerick team faced an ageing Kilkenny team, but it was the Munster men who had the upper hand and claimed the victory.

The early 1940s saw Kilkenny forced to withdraw from the championship because of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the county. They regained the Leinster title in 1943, but Antrim pulled off the biggest hurling shock of all-time by defeating ‘the Cats’ in the All-Ireland semi-final. Two years later in 1945, Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland final. The Munster men led by a large margin at half-time; Kilkenny fought back but it wasn’t enough to deny Tipp. In 1946 Kilkenny were back in the championship decider, this time taking on Cork. The first-half saw both sides trade the lead on several occasions. However, in the second half Cork scored five goals to deny Kilkenny for the second consecutive occasion. The Cork-Kilkenny rematch took place in the 1947 All-Ireland final, a game many describe as the greatest championship decider of all time. Cork were aiming to win a sixth All-Ireland title in seven years, while Kilkenny were hoping to avoid being the first team in history to lose three All-Ireland finals in-a-row. ‘The Cats’ were leading for much of the game. However, Cork scored two late goals to nearly win the match. Terry Leahy scored the winning point once again for Kilkenny to give the county its thirteenth All-Ireland title.

Lean years

The All-Ireland victory in 1947 ushered in a lean period in Kilkenny hurling that lasted for over a decade. 1950 saw ‘the Cats’ win back the Leinster title. However, they were later beaten by Tipperary in the championship decider as the Munster men completed the second leg of a famous three-in-a-row. Three years later in 1953 Kilkenny were Leinster champions again. However, Galway accounted for them in the All-Ireland semi-final. Four years later in 1957 Kilkenny were provincial masters once again. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw ‘the Cats’ take on Waterford for the first time in the history of the championship. The men from the Deise led with fifteen minutes left in the match. However, Kilkenny fought back to win by 4–10 to 3–12.

Kilkenny retained the Leinster Cup in 1958. However, in a change to the format of the championship, they were beaten by Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. A third consecutive Leinster title was captured in 1959. However, the All-Ireland final against Waterford ended in a draw. The replay saw a young Eddie Keher make his debut. However, victory went to Waterford. A National League victory in 1962 gave Kilkenny the impetus to recapture the provincial trophy in 1963. In the All-Ireland final Waterford fought back from being 11-points down. However, ‘the Cats’ won by two points. Victory in the Leinster final in 1964 allowed Kilkenny a straight passage into the All-Ireland final where they were hot favourites to retain the title. Tipp. However, had other ideas and captured the title with a fourteen-point victory. Two years later in 1966 Kilkenny won the National League once again. This was later followed by another provincial title and an appearance in the championship decider. Once again, Kilkenny were red hot favourites over a youthful Cork side. However, youth trumped experience as Cork emerged as the victors. 1967 saw Kilkenny win another Leinster title before lining out in their fourth All-Ireland final of the decade. An ageing Tipp team provided the opposition; however, Kilkenny got goals at vital times and secured a famous victory. It was Kilkenny’s first triumph over Tipp in the championship since 1923.

Greatest team of all time?

Many supporters^[who?] of Kilkenny hurling regard the Kilkenny teams from 1969 until 1975 as being the greatest of all-time^{[citation needed]}. That team featured such star players as Eddie Keher, Dick O'Hara, Ollie Walsh, Noel Skehan, Frank Cummins, Fan Larkin and Pat Henderson to name but a few. 1969 saw Kilkenny wrest the Leinster title back from Wexford and qualify for an All-Ireland final appearance against Cork. After the surprise defeat in 1966 Kilkenny were out for revenge. The game ended in ‘the Cats’ favour on a score line of 2–15 to 2–9. Wexford recaptured the Leinster title in 1970. However, Kilkenny bounced back with a fantastic team, that captured five provincial titles in-a-row between 1971 and 1975. The team also made five consecutive All-Ireland final appearances during those years, a record which stood till 2011.

In 1971 Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the championship decider. In the first final broadcast in colour by RTÉ, Eddie Keher scored a record 2 goals and 11 points; however, he still ended up on the losing side as Tipp won on a score line of 5–17 to 5–14. 1972 saw the only 80-minute final between Kilkenny and Cork. Cork were in firm control in the second half and were eight points ahead. However, Kilkenny upped the ante and won the game by seven points. It was a remarkable fifteen-point turnaround in one of the all-time classic games. In 1973 Kilkenny squared up to Limerick in the championship decider for the first time since 1940. Injury, illness and emigration saw a depleted Kilkenny team take on the Munster champions and lose their status as All-Ireland champions. 1974 saw a Kilkenny-Limerick rematch. Limerick stormed into an early lead. However, ‘the Cats’ goalpower secured a 12-point win. In 1975 Kilkenny took on a Galway side that had stunned Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. Galway led at half-time. However, the Kilkenny men fought back and secured a 12-point victory once again.

By the time the team won their next Leinster title in 1978, the great team of the early 1970s was breaking up. Kilkenny played Cork in that year’s All-Ireland final. However, the Munster champions were too good for an ageing Kilkenny side and duly captured their third championship in-a-row. 1979 saw an injection of new blood into the team as Kilkenny won their seventh provincial title of the decade. The side later took on and defeated Galway in one of the least memorable finals of the decade.

However it is worth mentioning Stephen Murphy (O'Loughlin Gaels), in this section as he is said to be one of the finest goalkeepers to have ever graced Nowlan Park. It was suggested at a recent committee meeting to rename the home ground in his honour (Mephen Smurphy Ground) after his facebook user account!

1980s and 1990s

The early 1980s saw the great Kilkenny team of the 1970s break up as Offaly GAA emerged as a new force in Leinster. ‘The Cats’ fought back in 1982 by capturing the National League and the Leinster title. Christy Heffernan’s two goals in a forty-second spell gave Kilkenny a victory over Cork GAA in the subsequent All-Ireland final. In 1983 Kilkenny completed what they call ‘the double-double’ as they captured back-to-back League, Leinster and All-Ireland honours. Cork were defeated once again in the championship decider. Kilkenny’s hopes of capturing the three-in-a-row were dashed in the provincial championship of 1984.

Two years later in 1986 ‘the Cats’ captured the National League before reclaiming the Leinster championship title from Offaly, although the team were defeated by Galway GAA in the All-Ireland semi-final. 1987 saw Kilkenny retain their Leinster crown before lining out in another All-Ireland final. An in-form Galway side defeated Kilkenny in a low-scoring encounter. The next three years saw Kilkenny once again cast out into the hurling wilderness. However, the legendary goalkeeper Ollie Walsh took over as manager at the turn of the decade. A National League title in 1990 was followed by a Leinster title and an All-Ireland final appearance in 1991. Unfortunately, Tipperary GAA defeated Kilkenny for the first time in twenty years to win the final. In 1992 Kilkenny retained their Leinster crown before lining out in the All-Ireland championship decider against Cork. The team played into a strong wind in the first-half. However, they emerged as the victors on a scoreline of 3–10 to 1–12. A third consecutive Leinster title was collected in 1993 before ‘the Cats’ made a third consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. On that occasion Kilkenny retained the Liam MacCarthy Cup by a margin of five points.

Offaly and Wexford GAA reigned supreme in Leinster for the next four years. However, Kilkenny won another National League title in 1995.

The Brian Cody era

Cillian Buckley in action in a National Hurling League game against Galway in Pearse Stadium

Nickey Brennan guided the Kilkenny senior hurlers for two seasons in the mid-1990s. However, he had little success. His successor, Kevin Fennelly, brought the county back to their winning ways by capturing a Leinster title in 1998^[2] at the expense of Offaly GAA. Offaly later gained their revenge by defeating ‘the Cats’ in the All-Ireland final.^[3] Fennelly, in turn, was succeeded by Brian Cody, one of the most successful managers of the modern era, much of his success due to skill, organisation, work-rate and a never say die attitude.

1999-2003

In 1999, Cody guided Kilkenny to a second consecutive Leinster title^[4] and a second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. Cork GAA^[5] provided the opposition on that occasion. However, in atrocious weather conditions, Kilkenny were denied once again.^[6] In 2000 Kilkenny eased to another Leinster title^[7] and a third successive All-Ireland final. The prospect of becoming the first side in history to lose three successive championship deciders was a huge motivating factor. In the end Kilkenny trounced Offaly to take the title.^[8] Another Leinster title was added to the collection in 2001^[9] before ‘the Cats’ annexed a National Hurling League title in 2002.^[10] As Kilkenny began to assert their dominance on the hurling world the team later captured another set of Leinster and All-Ireland titles. In 2003 Kilkenny completed what they call ‘the double-double’ as they captured back-to-back League, Leinster and All-Ireland honours.^[11]

2004-2005

In 2004, Kilkenny were aiming to capture an elusive third All-Ireland title in-a-row. The plan came unstuck in the Leinster championship when Wexford GAA brought Kilkenny’s provincial championship run of success to an end.^[12] ‘The Cats’ later reached the All-Ireland final; however, Cork pounced and defeated their arch-rivals. 2005 started well with Cody’s side winning National League and Leinster honours. However, their season ended with a defeat by Galway GAA in the All-Ireland semi-final.

2006-2011

The following year Kilkenny retained their National League and Leinster titles before reaching the championship decider yet again. Cork, who were attempting to capture their own three-in-a-row, provided the opposition; however, victory went to a superior Kilkenny side. In 2007 ‘the Cats’ won an unprecedented ninth Leinster title from ten campaigns. They later reached the All-Ireland final where they defeated Limerick GAA to win their thirtieth championship title. In 2008 they won the Leinster title before defeating Waterford in the All-Ireland final. This team has been called the best team ever to play the sport. Later in the year Kilkenny went on to win the All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship. Combined with the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship title, the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship title (which is broadly a competition for the second string county teams) and of course the senior title: this marks a quadruple. The achievement was unique and marks a high point in the dominance of hurling by Kilkenny teams. In 2009, Kilkenny's dominance was lessened and it was suggested that they were entering a decline. They saw off an emerging Dublin side in the Leinster final thanks to two goals from Martin Comerford.^[13] Nevertheless, they reached the final and secured a four-in-a-row with a five-point win over old rivals, Tipperary who mounted a formidable challenge to their crown in an absorbing final which made up for the mis-matches of the two previous years when only token resistance was presented by Limerick and Waterford. Kilkenny became the first team since Cork in the 1940s to do the four in a row.

In 2010, Kilkenny defeated Galway to claim their twelfth Leinster title. They later reached the All-Ireland final where they faced last year's opponents Tipperary. However, it was different from 2009 as Kilkenny suffered their first defeat in the hurling championship in five years. It was also Kilkenny's third defeat in an All-Ireland final under Cody.

In 2011 Kilkenny faced Tipperary for the third final in a row. Kilkenny regained the All Ireland title defeating Tipperary 2-17 to 1-16.

2012-2013

In the 2012 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final Kilkenny was defeated by Galway. Kilkenny bounced back beating Limerick and winning over Tipperary by double scores 4-24 to 1-15. Kilkenny then met Galway in the All Ireland Final, and when Joe Canning scored the last point of the game, he forced a replay (the first since 1959). However Kilkenny showed great character during the replayed All Ireland Final and won on a scoreline of 3-22 to 3-11, their ninth success in thirteen championship seasons.

Kilkenny got off to a good start in 2013, winning their 17th National Hurling League title beating Tipperary in the final. In the 2013 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Kilkenny succumbed to defeat by an improving Dublin side in the semi-final. Dublin were eventual winners in Leinster defeating Galway in the 2013 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final. Kilkenny were drawn against their fierce rivals Tipperary in the second round of the qualifiers. This game was a unique occasion as it marked the first time since the 1937 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final that the two sides had met outside Croke Park in the Championship. The hot summer weather added to the electric atmosphere at Nowlan Park as Kilkenny went on to beat Tipperary. This would prove to be the highlight for Kilkenny's season as they scraped a victory over Waterford after extra time and were beaten by old foes Cork at the quarter final stage in Semple Stadium. This was the first time Kilkenny failed to make the semi final stage since the 1996 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship with many signaling an end to Kilkenny's dominance.

2014-present

Kilkenny bounced back with style in 2014. Many had doubts over the team following a change in the guard in 2013. However, Kilkenny went on to claim the 2014 Walsh Cup, the 2014 National Hurling League, the 2014 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and their 35th 2014 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Brian Cody became the first manager in GAA history to win 10 Senior All-Ireland titles while Henry Shefflin became the first player in GAA history to win 10 Senior All-Ireland titles. The year was topped of when Richie Hogan picked up the GPA Hurler of the Year award.

The 2015 season saw Kilkenny claim both the Leinster and All-Ireland title once again. Kilkenny pulled off a fantastic second half performance in the All-Ireland Final to see off Galway. It was Kilkenny's 36th All-Ireland win and the 11th under manager Brian Cody. The achievement was even more significant following a number of high-profile retirements at the end of the previous season.

In 2016, Kilkenny were beaten by Tipperary in the All Ireland Final with a score line of 2-29 to 2-20. Tipperary scoring 2-29 (35 points) is the highest score scored against Kilkenny while Brian Cody has been in charge.

The 2017 season began promising for Kilkenny by claiming the 2017 Walsh Cup, Davy Fitzgerald's Wexford ended Kilkennys participation in the National League at the Quarter final stage and when the teams met in the Leinster Championship semi final it was Wexfords first championship victory over Kilkenny since 2004. Waterford met Kilkenny in the second round of the All-Ireland Qualifiers and after a period of extra time it was Waterford who pushed on to victory. This was Waterfords first championship win over Kilkenny since the 1959 All-Ireland Final Replay.

The 2018 Season began very interesting with a 2018 Walsh Cup final appearance with Wexford ending in a first ever free scoring competition narrowly won by the Model county. Attentions turned to the National Hurling league soon after and after a shaky start Kilkenny went from strength to strength and defeated Tipperary in a pulsating final contest by 2-23 to 2-17. The newly formed round robin Leinster Championship proved to be hugely successful and Kilkenny qualified for a meeting with rivals Galway in the Leinster Final. The Tribesmens getting the better of the Cats after a replay in Semple Stadium, Thurles. The following week Kilkenny were pitted against the soon to be All-Ireland Champions Limerick in a titanic battle with Eoin Murphy on goal keeping the Cats hopes alive with outstanding blocking skills and after a Richie Hogan goal late in the second half looked to have turned the tide for Kilkenny it was Limericks young talent who finished the game strongly on a scoreline of 0-27 to 1-22. An exciting and busy Championship 2018 ended for Kilkenny in a determined and hopeful fashion with the 2019 season already promising an ever improving and interesting prospect.

Honours

• 
  All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: 36
  
  • 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1922, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1939, 1947, 1957, 1963, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
  
  


• 
  All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship: 5
  
  • 1973, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2017^[14]
    
  
  


• 
  All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championships: 11
  
  • 1974, 1975, 1977, 1984, 1990, 1994, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008
  
  


• 
  All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship: 21
  
  • 1931, 1935, 1936, 1950, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2014
  
  


• 
  All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championships: 9
  
  • 1928, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995
  
  


• 
  All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championships: 8
  
  • 1963, 1973, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1989, 1991
  
  


• 
  National Hurling League: 18
  
  • 1933, 1962, 1966, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018
  
  


• 
  Leinster Senior Hurling Championships: 71
  
  • 1888, 1893, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1900, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1916, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016
  
  


• 
  Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championships: 25
  
  • 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2017^[15]
    
  
  


• 
  Leinster Minor Hurling Championships: 56
  
  • 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1942, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014,^[16] 2015,^[17] 2017^[18]
    
  
  


• 
  Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championships: 17
  
  • 1967, 1973, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017^[19]
    
  
  


• 
  Leinster Junior Hurling Championships: 25
  
  • 1909, 1911, 1913, 1916, 1928, 1930, 1935, 1939, 1941, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1956, 1958, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2002
  
  


• 
  Kehoe Cup: 1
  
  • 1980
  
  


• 
  Walsh Cup: 20
  
  • 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017
  
  


• 
  Cú Chulainn Awards: 22
  
  • 1963 (3), 1964 (7), 1965 (1), 1966 (4), 1967 (7)
  
  


• 
  GAA All Stars Awards: 184
  
  • 1971 (4), 1972 (6), 1973 (7), 1974 (7), 1975 (6), 1976 (3), 1978 (3), 1979 (4), 1982 (8), 1983 (9), 1984 (2), 1985 (1), 1986 (1), 1987 (3), 1990 (1), 1991 (2), 1992 (7), 1993 (6), 1994 (1), 1995 (1), 1997 (3), 1998 (2), 1999 (4), 2000 (9), 2001 (1), 2002 (7), 2003 (8), 2004 (3), 2005 (2), 2006 (6), 2007 (6), 2008 (9), 2009 (6), 2010 (5), 2011 (8), 2012 (5), 2014 (6), 2015 (7), 2016 (4), 2018 (1)
  
  

Records

• 
  Most All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Titles: 36


• 
  Most All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship Titles: 11 [tied Cork]


• 
  Most All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Titles: 21


• 
  Most Provincial Senior Hurling Championship Titles: 71


• 
  Most Provincial U21 Hurling Championship Titles: 25


• 
  Most Provincial Minor Hurling Championship Titles: 56


• 
  Most Provincial Intermediate Hurling Championship Titles: 17


• 
  Longest Unbeaten Hurling Championship Run: 21 Games


• 
  All-time top scorer All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: Henry Shefflin – 28–485 (569pts)


• 
  Highest score in All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final: 3–30 (2008 v Waterford) [tied Cork 1970]

Current panel

• 
  Manager: Brian Cody (James Stephens)


• 
  Selectors: Mick Dempsey, Derek Lyng (Emeralds), James McGarry (Bennettsbridge)

Squad as per Kilkenny v Limerick, 2018 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final, 15 July 2018

Notable managers

Notable players

For a more detailed list of Kilkenny Hurlers

Players records

Camogie

Kilkenny's Camogie breakthrough came with their first Leinster title in 1972 and All-Ireland title in 1974.^[20] They have enjoyed two periods of ascendancy in the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, winning 13 titles in all, three titles in four years 1974–77, another in 1981, seven in a row between 1984 and 1991 then 1994 and the latest victory coming in 2016. They won a National Camogie League four-in-a-row 1987–90 and nine titles in all by 1993, adding five more in 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. They dominated the under-18 minor grade in the four years after its introduction winning the championships of 2006–9.^[21][22][23]

Five Kilkenny clubs have won the All-Ireland Senior Club Championship, St Paul’s (8), St Lachtain’s (3), and Lisdowney (1994). There is one Kilkenny club so far to have won the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship, that is Piltown in (2015).

Notable players include a player acknowledged as probably the greatest in Camogie history Angela Downey and her sisters Ann and Marina Downey, team of the century members Liz Neary and Bridie Martin, player of the year recipients Mary Connery, Ann Dalton, Claire Hanrahan, Breda Holmes, Helena O’Neill and Biddy O’Sullivan, All Star award winners^[24]Elaine Aylward. Jacqui Frisby. Imelda Kennedy, Sinéad Millea, Aoife Neary and Katie Power, young players of the year Denise Gaule and Marie Dargan, and All Ireland final stars Teresa O’Neill Ursula Grace Ann Carroll

Under Camogie's National Development Plan 2010–2015, "Our Game, Our Passion,"^[25] five new camogie clubs are to be established in the county by 2015.^[26]

Honours

Gaelic football

In the GAA's early years, Kilkenny had some success at football. Between 1888 and 1911 Kilkenny contested 7 Leinster finals, winning 3. They won the first ever Leinster Senior Football Championship that was played in 1888 with a victory over Wexford. However, the rest of the championship was abandoned due to the players tour of America, known as the US invasion. Further success in Leinster followed in 1900 against Louth 12 points to no score. Kilkenny went on beat Tipperary in the 1900 All-Ireland semi final, 1-7 to 0-8. The game was refixed following an objection by Tipperary, Kilkenny refused to play, so the match was awarded to Tipperary. Tipperary went on to win the All Ireland final beating Galway 2-20 to 0-1. The 1911 Leinster final between Kilkenny and Meath the match awarded to Meath because Kilkenny were late. Kilkenny objected and had won by 2–4 to 1–1 on the field of play. In 1914, the young team mascot, Peter Dunne, had to line out to complete their team. Kilkenny county footballers have not won a senior championship match since 1929 when they defeated Louth by 0–10 to 0–4. Their best championship result since was a 3–8 to 3–4 defeat against Kildare in 1961. 1982 was their last championship campaign. In the league their 1970–71 league campaign yielded four victories and they won three games in a row in early 1988 League and O'Byrne Cup games.

Kilkenny is unique among the 32 Irish county associations in not participating in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. They played in the Tommy Murphy Cup a second tier competition for weaker footballing counties for four of the five years it was played. However, even in this competition they lost every game they played. Kilkenny entered the National Football League for the first time in years in 2008, and have not had any success losing every game bar one up to, and including, the 2011 competition. Kilkenny compete in the Leinster Junior Football Championship, their most notifiable win came in 2011, defeating Wexford 3-5 to 0-13. There is an excellent underage and adult club football structure in Kilkenny. Glenmore, Mullinavat, Railyard and Muckalee are the football strongholds. However the lure of county and club hurling championships deprives Kilkenny of its best footballers.

In 2015 Kilkenny won the All-Britain Football Championship, defeating Scotland in the final.^[27]

Honours

• 
  Leinster Senior Football Championships: 3
  
  • 1888, 1900, 1911
  
  


• 
  All-Britain Football Championships: 3
  
  • 2015, 2017, 2018
  
  

Ladies' Gaelic football

Kilkenny won the 2007 All Ireland Ladies' Junior Football Championship, defeating London by 3–5 to 2–5 in Croke Park.
Chairman – John Gorey
Secretary – Trish Dempsey
Treasurer – Richie Windle
PRO – Noelle Curran

Honours

• 
  All Ireland Ladies' Under-16 Finalists: 1
  
  • 1975
  
  


• 
  All-Ireland Junior Ladies' Football Championship: 1
  
  • 2007
  
  

See also

• Kilkenny Senior Club Hurling Championship


• Kilkenny Senior Club Football Championship


• 2015 National Hurling League


• Galway rivalry


• Tipperary rivalry

References

External links

• Brian Cody autobiography available now


• Kilkenny on Hoganstand.com


• National and provincial titles won by Kilkenny teams


• Club championship winners


• Official Kilkenny GAA site


• KilkennyCats.com GAA fans forum site


• The Stripey Men GAA fans site


• Kilkenny Hurling