The 2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) was the 134th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament, since its establishment in 1887. The competition began on 26 June and ended on 22 August 2021.
Antrim, having won the 2020 Joe McDonagh Cup, returned to the Leinster Championship for the first time since the 2015 competition. Limerick entered the competition as the defending champion.
The final was played on 22 August 2021 at Croke Park in Dublin, between Limerick and Cork, in what was their first ever meeting in a final. Limerick won the match with a display that is regarded by many to be one of the greatest performances by a team in an All-Ireland Final. Limerick showed immense dominance in the first half opening a 13-point gap, the scores 3–18 to 1–11 at the interval. This dominance would continue in the second half in more subdued fashion but Limerick still managed to extend their lead to 16 by the final whistle, the full time score 3–32 to 1–22. This was the first time that Limerick won consecutive editions of this competition, the team's an overall tenth tenth title, as well as a third title in four seasons.
Cork's Patrick Horgan was the championship's top scorer with 0–54.
Limerick captain Declan Hannon became only the second captain after Christy Ring to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup on three occasions.
Format change
In December 2020, a plan by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) was approved by the GAA's management committee. The plan saw the re-introduction of the provincial knock-out/qualifier system, in line with the pre-2018 format, thus resulting in the provincial round robins being temporarily discarded. Relegation to and promotion from the Joe McDonagh Cup was re-introduced. The two beaten Leinster quarter-final teams are due to play a preliminary qualifier round, with the losers dropping to the McDonagh Cup and winners progressing to round 1 of the qualifiers.
Round 1 of the qualifiers will feature the playoff winners playing a Munster quarter-finalist or semi-finalist, and a Leinster semi-finalist playing a Munster quarter-finalist or semi-finalist.
Round 2 of the qualifiers will feature the Round 1 winners playing a Munster or Leinster semi-finalist, with the winners advancing to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
The draws for the hurling championship were delayed until 19 and 20 April 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Qualification and progression Teams entering in this roundTeams advancing from previous roundPreliminary Round (2 teams) Leinster Quarter-Finalists Leinster Quarter-FinalistsRound 1 (4 teams) Leinster Semi-Finalist Munster Semi-Finalist Munster Quarter-Finalist Winner from the preliminary RoundRound 2 (4 Teams) Leinster Semi-Finalist Munster Semi-Finalist 2 Winners from Round 1Quarter-Finals (4 Teams) Leinster Runners-Up Munster Runners-Up 2 Winners from Round 2Semi-Finals (4 teams) Leinster Champions Munster Champions 2 winners from Quarter-FinalsFinal (2 teams) 2 winners from the Semi-Finals
Team changes
To Championship Promoted from the Joe McDonagh Cup
Antrim
From Championship Relegated to the Joe McDonagh Cup
None
Teams
General information Eleven counties will compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: six teams in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and five teams in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. CountyLast provincial titleLast championship titlePosition in 2020 championshipCurrent championship Antrim2017 —Champions (Joe McDonagh Cup)Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Clare19982013Quarter-finalsMunster Senior Hurling Championship Cork20182005Round 2Munster Senior Hurling Championship Dublin20131938Round 1Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Galway20182017Semi-finalsLeinster Senior Hurling Championship Kilkenny20202015Semi-finalsLeinster Senior Hurling Championship Laois19491915Round 1Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Limerick20202020ChampionsMunster Senior Hurling Championship Tipperary20162019Quarter-finalsMunster Senior Hurling Championship Waterford20101959Runners-upMunster Senior Hurling Championship Wexford20191996Round 2Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Personnel and kits TeamManagerCaptain(s)Sponsor AntrimDarren GleesonConor McCann, Paddy Burke ClareBrian LohanJohn ConlonPat O’Donnell CorkKieran KingstonPatrick HorganSports Direct DublinMattie KennyDanny Sutcliffe GalwayShane O'NeillPádraic Mannion KilkennyBrian CodyAdrian Mullen, Richie Reid LaoisSéamus PlunkettEnda Rowland LimerickJohn KielyDeclan Hannon TipperaryLiam SheedySéamus Callanan, Noel McGrath WaterfordLiam CahillConor Prunty, Jamie Barron (v), Stephen Bennett (v) WexfordDavy FitzgeraldLee Chin, Matthew O'Hanlon (v)
Summary
Championships Level on PyramidCompetitionChampionsRunners-upTier 12021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Limerick Cork2021 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Kilkenny Dublin2021 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Limerick TipperaryTier 22021 Joe McDonagh Cup Westmeath KerryTier 32021 Christy Ring Cup Offaly DerryTier 42021 Nicky Rackard Cup Mayo TyroneTier 52021 Lory Meagher Cup Fermanagh Cavan
2021 County Ranking (Championship) PosTeamPositionNotes1 LimerickAll-Ireland ChampionsMunster champions2 CorkAll-Ireland Runners-Up3 KilkennySemi-FinalsLeinster champions4 WaterfordSemi-Finals5 DublinQuarter-FinalsLeinster Runners-Up6 TipperaryQuarter-FinalsMunster Runners-Up7 ClareRound 28 GalwayRound 2Highest Ranked Connacht County9 WexfordRound 110 LaoisRound 111 AntrimPreliminary RoundHighest Ranked Ulster County, Relegated12 WestmeathJoe McDonagh Cup championsPromoted13 Kerry2nd (Joe McDonagh)14 Down3rd (Joe McDonagh)15 Carlow4th (Joe McDonagh)16 Meath5th (Joe McDonagh)17 Kildare6th (Joe McDonagh)Relegated18 OffalyChristy Ring Cup championsPromoted19 Derry2nd (Christy Ring)20 Sligo3rd (Christy Ring)21 Wicklow4th (Christy Ring)22 Roscommon5th (Christy Ring)Relegated 23 London –Did not enter24 MayoNicky Rackard Cup championsPromoted25 Tyrone2nd (Nicky Rackard)26 Armagh3rd (Nicky Rackard)27 Donegal4th (Nicky Rackard)28 Leitrim5th (Nicky Rackard)Relegated 29 Warwickshire –Did not enter30 FermanaghLory Meagher Cup ChampionsPromoted31 Cavan2nd (Lory Meagher)32 Longford3rd (Lory Meagher)33 Louth4th (Lory Meagher)34 Monaghan5th (Lory Meagher)35 Lancashire –Did not enter
Provincial championships
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Leinster quarter-finals
Leinster semi-finals
Leinster final
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Munster quarter-final
Munster semi-finals
Munster final
Cup competitions
Joe McDonagh Cup (Tier 2)
Christy Ring Cup (Tier 3)
Nicky Rackard Cup (Tier 4)
Lory Meagher Cup (Tier 5)
All-Ireland Qualifiers
Bracket
Qualifiers preliminary round
The two teams beaten in the Leinster quarter-finals met in the preliminary round on 10 July with the winners going into the round 1 draw which was held on 12 July. Antrim were relegated to the 2022 Joe McDonagh Cup as a result of losing this match.
Qualifiers round 1
Qualifiers round 2
Bracket
Quarter-finals
The beaten Leinster and Munster finalists played the two winners of round two of the qualifiers. The draw was made on 26 July.
Semi-finals
Final
Statistics
Top scorers
Top scorer overall
Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Patrick HorganCork0–5454510.802Tony KellyClare3–4150412.503Stephen BennettWaterford2–404659.204T. J. ReidKilkenny1–3942314.005Donal BurkeDublin0–4040410.006Lee ChinWexford2–2834311.33Jason FordeTipperary1–3134311.338Aaron GillaneLimerick2–232947.259P. J. ScullyLaois0–272739.0010Shane KingstonCork4-092154.20
In a single game
Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition1T. J. ReidKilkenny0–1616Wexford2Tony KellyClare1–1215WaterfordLee ChinWexford1–1215ClarePatrick HorganCork0–1515Kilkenny5Tony KellyClare1–1114CorkLee ChinWexford0–1414Kilkenny7T. J. ReidKilkenny1–1013DublinT. J. ReidKilkenny0–1313CorkDonal BurkeDublin0–1313Cork10Tony KellyClare1-0912TipperaryPatrick HorganCork0–1212LimerickJason FordeTipperary0–1212WaterfordStephen BennettWaterford0–1212ClarePatrick HorganCork0–1212Dublin
Miscellaneous
Limerick won a Munster Senior Hurling Championship three-in-a-row for the first time since 1934–1935–1936. Kilkenny's sixth year in a row without an All-Ireland senior title, equalling their title drought of 1994–1999. Cork's sixteenth year in a row without an All-Ireland senior title, surpassing their title drought of 1904–1918. It was the first ever All-Ireland final between Cork and Limerick. It was the first Munster final between Limerick and Tipperary since 2019. It was the first Leinster final between Dublin and Kilkenny since 2014. It was the first Joe McDonagh Cup final between Antrim and Kerry since 2020. Limerick scored 3–32 (41 points) in the All-Ireland final, the highest ever score in a final. It is the first time since Kilkenny in 2014–2015 that a county team won back-to-back All Ireland Hurling Championship titles. Limerick retained the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship for the first time in their history. This was their tenth title, making them the first county outside the Big Three to reach double figures. Limerick became the 6th county in history to win back-to-back All-Ireland hurling titles after Kilkenny, Cork, Tipperary, Galway and Wexford. Cork reached the final for the first time since 2013. Two new scoring feats were achieved on 24 July. Joe Canning surpassed Henry Shefflin's record haul to become the all-time top championship scorer. Patrick Horgan became the third player, after Canning and Shefflin, to have broken the 500-point barrier. Limerick played against Tipperary, Waterford and Cork twice (Munster Semi-final and All-Ireland Final) to retain the Liam MacCarthy cup, the first time — and only time, to date — that any county won a championship playing only teams from a single province, in this case all Munster opposition. Limerick had eleven players represented on The Sunday Game team of the year, a first for any male intercounty team in both Hurling and Gaelic Football, beating the previous record of nine representatives held by both Limerick in 2020 and Kilkenny in 2008.
Awards Sunday Game Team of the Year The Sunday Game team of the year was picked 22 August on the night of the final. The panel consisting of Jackie Tyrrell, Brendan Cummins, Shane Dowling and Ursula Jacob chose Cian Lynch as the Sunday game player of the year.
Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny) Sean Finn (Limerick) Conor Prunty (Waterford) Barry Nash (Limerick) Diarmuid Byrnes (Limerick) Declan Hannon (Limerick) Kyle Hayes (Limerick) William O’Donoghue (Limerick) Tony Kelly (Clare) Jack O’Connor (Cork) Cian Lynch (Limerick) Tom Morrissey (Limerick) Aaron Gillane (Limerick) Seamus Flanagan (Limerick) Peter Casey (Limerick)
All Star Team of the Year On 9 December, the All-Stars winners were announced with Limerick having a record twelve players named on the team. Its the first time that a county has reached double figures in the final 15. On 10 December during a televised special on RTÉ, Cian Lynch was named as the All Stars Hurler of the Year with Eoin Cody named the All Stars Young Hurler of the Year.
Pos.PlayerTeamAppearances GK Eoin Murphy Kilkenny3 RCB Seán Finn Limerick4 FB Conor Prunty Waterford1 LCB Barry Nash Limerick1 RWB Diarmaid Byrnes Limerick2 CB Declan Hannon Limerick2 LWB Kyle Hayes Limerick2 MD William O'Donoghue Limerick1 MD Darragh O'Donovan Limerick1 RWF Gearóid Hegarty Limerick2 CF Cian LynchHOTY Limerick3 LWF Tom Morrissey Limerick2 RCF Tony Kelly Clare3 FF Séamus Flanagan Limerick1 LCF Peter Casey Limerick1
References