Kilkenny county hurling team

Kilkenny
Sport:Hurling
Irish:Cill Chainnigh
Nickname(s):The Cats
The Stripey Men
The Noresiders
The Black and Amber
County board:Kilkenny GAA
Manager:Derek Lyng
Home venue(s):Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
Recent competitive record
Current All-Ireland status:SF in 2025
Last championship title:2015
Current NHL Division:1A (4th in 2025)
Last league title:2021
First colours
Second colours

The Kilkenny county hurling team represents Kilkenny in hurling and is governed by Kilkenny GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.[1] The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, and the National Hurling League. Historically, Kilkenny is the most successful team at senior level.

Kilkenny's home ground is Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. The team's manager is Derek Lyng.

The team last won the Leinster Senior Championship in 2025, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 2015 and the National League in 2021.

History

Kilkenny is the most successful county team at senior level in the history of the game of hurling. Kilkenny has won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) 36 times and has won the provincial Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) on 75 occasions, as of 2023.[2]

1887–1922: Early years

1922–1947: Beginning of the modern era

Kilkenny won a sixteenth Leinster SHC title in 1922 before meeting Tipperary in the 1922 All-Ireland SHC final. Tipperary had a three-point lead with three minutes remaining, but Kilkenny scored two goals to secure victory. It would be 45 years before Kilkenny would beat Tipperary in the championship again. Further Leinster titles soon followed. Kilkenny faced Cork in the 1926 All-Ireland SHC final at a snow-covered Croke Park, with Cork winning.

The 1930s was one of Kilkenny's most successful decades, book-ended by two of the most famous All-Ireland SHC finals of all-time. The 1930s saw Kilkenny compete with Limerick to become "team of the decade". Kilkenny won the Leinster SHC title, before meeting Cork in the 1931 All-Ireland SHC final. At half-time Cork led. 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 led at half-time. However, Kilkenny fought back to force a second draw. Meagher did not play in the third game and Cork won by seven points.

Kilkenny qualified for the 1932 All-Ireland SHC final. The opponent was Clare, surprise winner of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship (SHC). Kilkenny won by a goal to claim a first championship title in a decade. The following year Kilkenny were in a third successive title decider, this time against Limerick. Once again, the game was a close affair; however, Kilkenny won to seal back-to-back All-Ireland SHC titles.

Kilkenny regained the Leinster SHC title before lining out in the 1935 All-Ireland SHC final, Limerick again the opponent. Kilkenny won a close game by a single point. Kilkenny and Limerick had another match in the 1936 All-Ireland SHC final. Limerick trounced Kilkenny by 5–6 to 1–5. The following year Kilkenny qualified for the 1937 All-Ireland SHC final, a third consecutive decider. The opponent, Tipperary, won by seventeen points. Two years later, Kilkenny qualified for the 1939 All-Ireland SHC final. On the day that the Second World War broke out, Kilkenny played Cork at Croke Park. Both sides were level throughout much of the game, the climax of which was played in a fierce thunderstorm. In the dying seconds, Terry Leahy scored the winning point for Kilkenny. Leahy's team next qualified for the 1940 All-Ireland SHC final, Kilkenny's fifth decider in six years. On this occasion an ageing Limerick team faced an ageing Kilkenny team, but Limerick won.

Forced to withdraw from the championship in the early 1940s because of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the county, Kilkenny regained the Leinster SHC title in 1943, but lost the 1943 All-Ireland SHC semi-final to Antrim, in the biggest hurling shock of all-time. Two years later, Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the 1945 All-Ireland SHC final. The Munster men led by a large margin at half-time; Kilkenny fought back, but it was not enough to deny Tipp.

Kilkenny qualified for 1946 All-Ireland SHC final, with Cork the opponent. Both sides traded the lead several times during the first half; however, in the second half Cork scored five goals to deny Kilkenny for a second consecutive decider. A Cork–Kilkenny rematch took place in the 1947 All-Ireland SHC final, a game many describe as the greatest championship decider of all time. Cork aimed to win a sixth All-Ireland SHC title in seven years, while Kilkenny wanted to avoid becoming the first team to lose three consecutive All-Ireland SHC finals. While Kilkenny led for much of the game, Cork scored two late goals that nearly won the match. Terry Leahy again scored the winning point for Kilkenny, to give the county its thirteenth All-Ireland SHC title.

1947–1969: Lean years

The 1947 All-Ireland SHC title ushered in a lean period for Kilkenny hurling that lasted for over a decade. Kilkenny did not win another Leinster SHC title until 1950, losing to Tipperary in the 1950 All-Ireland SHC final, as the Munster men completed the second leg of a famous three-in-a-row. Three years later, Kilkenny won the 1953 Leinster SHC title. However, Galway won the 1953 All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Four years later, Kilkenny won the 1957 Leinster SHC title. The subsequent All-Ireland SHC final was the first meeting between Kilkenny and Waterford in championship history. The men from the Déise 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, but – in a change to the format of the championship – lost to Tipperary in the 1958 All-Ireland SHC semi-final. A third consecutive Leinster SHC title followed in 1959. However, the 1958 All-Ireland SHC final against Waterford ended in a draw. The replay saw a young Eddie Keher make his debut, though Waterford won the game. Victory in the 1961–62 National Hurling League gave Kilkenny the impetus to win another Leinster SHC title in 1963. Waterford fought back from an 11-point deficit in the 1963 All-Ireland SHC final, but Kilkenny won by two points. Victory in the 1964 Leinster SHC final allowed Kilkenny a straight passage to the 1964 All-Ireland SHC final, with the team ranked as favourite to retain the title. However, Tipperary hammered Kilkenny off the field with a fourteen-point victory. Two years later, Kilkenny won the 1965–66 National Hurling League. This was followed by another Leinster SHC title and an appearance in the 1966 All-Ireland SHC final. Kilkenny, favourite again, faced a youthful Cork side, and lost. Kilkenny won the 1967 Leinster SHC title before lining out in the 1967 All-Ireland SHC final, a fourth decider of the decade. An ageing Tipperary team provided the opposition; however, Kilkenny scored goals at vital times and won the game. This was Kilkenny's first championship victory against Tipperary since 1923.

1969–1979: Team of Keher, Larkin, Skehan...

The Kilkenny hurling teams from 1969 until 1975 featured such players as Eddie Keher, Dick O'Hara, Ollie Walsh, Noel Skehan, Frank Cummins, Fan Larkin and Pat Henderson. Kilkenny wrested the Leinster SHC title back from Wexford in 1969 and qualified for the All-Ireland SHC decider against Cork. After 1966's unexpected defeat the Leinster men sought revenge, with the game ending in Kilkenny's favour by a scoreline of 2–15 to 2–9. Wexford recaptured the Leinster SHC title in 1970. However, Kilkenny bounced back, with a team that won five consecutive Leinster SHC titles between 1971 and 1975. The team also made five consecutive All-Ireland SHC final appearances during those years, a record which stood until 2011.

Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the 1971 All-Ireland SHC final, the first decider broadcast in colour by RTÉ. Eddie Keher scored a record 2 goals and 11 points; however, he ended on the losing side, Tipperary winning by a scoreline of 5–17 to 5–14. The 1972 All-Ireland SHC final was the only 80-minute decider between Kilkenny and Cork. Cork – having been in firm control of the second half and eight points ahead – lost the game by seven points, a fifteen-point turnaround. Kilkenny qualified for the 1973 All-Ireland SHC final, meeting Limerick at that stage for the first time since 1940. Injury, illness and emigration saw a depleted Kilkenny team lose its status as the All-Ireland SHC title holder. A rematch in the 1974 All-Ireland SHC final led to a Kilkenny win. Limerick acquired an early lead, but Kilkenny's goal power secured a 12-point win. In the 1975 All-Ireland SHC final, Kilkenny met a Galway side that had defeated Cork in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Galway led at half-time; the Kilkenny men fought back and secured another 12-point victory.

By the time Kilkenny won its next Leinster SHC title in 1978, the great team of the early 1970s was breaking up. An ageing Kilkenny side was unable to compete in the 1978 All-Ireland SHC final with a Cork team that won its third consecutive title. 1979 saw an injection of new blood into the team, and Kilkenny won a seventh Leinster SHC title of the decade. Kilkenny then met – and defeated – Galway in the 1979 All-Ireland SHC final, one of the least memorable finals of the decade.

1979–1998: The 'double-double'

The early 1980s saw Offaly emerge as a new force in Leinster. Kilkenny fought back by winning the 1981–82 National Hurling League and 1982 Leinster SHC titles. Christy Heffernan's two goals in a 40-second spell gave Kilkenny a victory over Cork in the subsequent All-Ireland SHC final. In 1983, Kilkenny completed what they call 'the double-double', winning back-to-back League, Leinster and All-Ireland SHC honours. Kilkenny once again defeated Cork in the 1983 All-Ireland SHC final. But expectations of winning three consecutive titles were dashed in the 1984 Leinster SHC.

Two years later, Kilkenny won the 1985–86 National Hurling League, before reclaiming the 1986 Leinster SHC title from Offaly, although the team lost to Galway in the 1986 All-Ireland SHC semi-final. 1987 saw Kilkenny retain the Leinster SHC title, before lining out in that year's All-Ireland SHC decider, where Galway won a low-scoring encounter. The next three years saw Kilkenny once again cast out into the hurling wilderness. Former goalkeeper Ollie Walsh took over as manager at the turn of the decade. The 1989–90 National Hurling League title was followed by the 1990 Leinster SHC title and an appearance in the 1991 All-Ireland SHC final, Tipperary defeating Kilkenny, twenty years on from their previous meeting, to win the title. Kilkenny retained the Leinster SHC title in 1992, before lining out against Cork in the 1992 All-Ireland SHC final. Though playing into a strong wind in the first half, the team emerged as winner by a scoreline of 3–10 to 1–12. A third consecutive Leinster SHC title followed in 1993, before 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 dominated the Leinster SHC for the next four years, though Kilkenny won the 1994–95 National Hurling League title.

Nickey Brennan managed the Kilkenny senior hurlers for two seasons in the mid-1990s. His successor Kevin Fennelly led his team to a Leinster SHC title in 1998,[3] at the expense of Offaly. But Offaly then defeated Kilkenny in the 1998 All-Ireland SHC final.[4]

1998–2022: Cody era

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: Another 'double-double'

In 1999, Cody guided Kilkenny to a second consecutive Leinster SHC title[5] and a second consecutive All-Ireland SHC final appearance. The opponent was Cork; in atrocious weather conditions, Kilkenny lost.[6] In 2000, Kilkenny eased to another Leinster SHC title[7] and a third successive All-Ireland SHC final. Becoming the first side to lose three successive All-Ireland SHC deciders was again a possibility. Kilkenny ultimately trounced Offaly to take the title.[8] Kilkenny added another Leinster SHC title in 2001,[9] before winning the 2002 National Hurling League title.[10] As Kilkenny began to assert their dominance on the hurling world the team later captured another set of Leinster and All-Ireland SHC titles. In 2003, Kilkenny completed what they call 'the double-double', by winning back-to-back League, Leinster and All-Ireland SHC honours.[11]

2004–2005: Attempt at three successive All-Ireland SHC titles

In 2004, Kilkenny aimed to win an elusive third consecutive All-Ireland SHC title. That plan came unstuck in the Leinster SHC when Wexford brought Kilkenny's provincial championship run of success to an end.[12] Kilkenny still advanced to the 2004 All-Ireland SHC final, though Cork won. Cody's team won the 2005 National Hurling League and Leinster SHC titles. However, Galway ended Kilkenny's season with victory in the 2005 All-Ireland SHC semi-final.

2006–2011: "Drive for five"

Kilkenny won the 2006 National Hurling League and Leinster SHC titles, retaining both from the previous year. The team then advanced to the 2006 All-Ireland SHC final. Cork – aiming to win three consecutive titles – provided the opposition; Kilkenny won.

In 2007, Kilkenny won an unprecedented ninth Leinster SHC title from ten campaigns. The team qualified for the 2007 All-Ireland SHC final, defeating Limerick to win a thirtieth championship title.

In 2008, Kilkenny won the Leinster SHC title before defeating Waterford in the 2008 All-Ireland SHC final. Later in the year Kilkenny won the All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship. The senior and under-21 titles, combined with the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship title and the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship title (which is broadly a competition for the second string county teams) marked a quadruple. This achievement was unique and was a high point in the dominance of hurling by Kilkenny teams.

In 2009, Kilkenny saw off an emerging Dublin side in the Leinster SHC final thanks to two goals from Martin Comerford.[13] Kilkenny advanced to the 2009 All-Ireland SHC final against Tipperary, a game towards the end of which a controversial penalty was awarded, but Kilkenny won by five points to secure a four-in-a-row. Tipperary mounted a formidable challenge in this final, a contrast to the mis-matches of the previous two years when only token resistance was presented by Limerick and Waterford. Kilkenny became the first team since Cork in the 1940s to complete a four-in-a-row of All-Ireland SHC titles.

The "drive for five" (consecutive All-Ireland SHC titles) got underway in 2010.[14] In 2010, Kilkenny defeated Galway to claim a twelfth Leinster SHC title. Kilkenny advanced to the 2010 All-Ireland SHC final – a rematch with the opponent from the previous year, Tipperary. Lar Corbett bypassed Kilkenny's full-back line with a hat-trick of goals to prevent a fifth consecutive title and a unique piece of hurling championship history. This was Kilkenny's third defeat in an All-Ireland SHC final under Cody's management and Kilkenny's 12th loss in total to Tipperary in the decider.

Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the 2011 All-Ireland SHC final, the third consecutive year this pairing occurred. Kilkenny defeated Tipperary by a scoreline of 2–17 to 1–16.

2012–2013

Galway defeated Kilkenny in the 2012 Leinster SHC final. Kilkenny then defeated Limerick, followed by Tipperary by double scores of 4–24 to 1–15. Kilkenny then met Galway in the 2012 All-Ireland SHC final, and – when Joe Canning scored the last point of the game – he forced a replay (the first since 1959). Kilkenny won the replay by a scoreline of 3–22 to 3–11, a ninth All-Ireland SHC title in 13 seasons.

Kilkenny defeated Tipperary in the 2013 National Hurling League final to secure a 17th title. Kilkenny lost to eventual title winner Dublin in the 2013 Leinster SHC semi-final. The second round of the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers saw Kilkenny paired with Tipperary. This was the first time since the 1937 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final for the teams to play a championshio game outside Croke Park. The hot summer weather contributed to the atmosphere at Nowlan Park, as Kilkenny emerged as the winner. Kilkenny then scraped a victory after extra time against Waterford, before losing to Cork in an All-Ireland SHC quarter-final at Semple Stadium. This was the first time Kilkenny did not play in an All-Ireland SHC semi-final since 1996.

2014–2018

Kilkenny won the 2014 Walsh Cup, the 2014 National Hurling League title, the 2014 Leinster SHC title and a 35th All-Ireland SHC title, with victory in the 2014 All-Ireland SHC final. 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. Richie Hogan received 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 Kilkenny's participation in the National League at the quarter-final stage and when the teams met in the Leinster Championship semi final it was Wexford's 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 Waterford's 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 Tribesmen' got 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.

2019–2022

Kilkenny failed to reach the knockout stages of the National Hurling League. They finished top of the Leinster Championship round robin earning them a Leinster Final spot with Wexford. They were defeated by Wexford by 1–23 to 0–23 in the final. Kilkenny then had wins over Cork and All Ireland Champions Limerick in the quarter and semi finals respectively. These results earned them an All-Ireland Final spot against great rivals Tipperary and their returning 2010 management team who went on to win the title, hammering Kilkenny on a scoreline of 3–25 to 0-20.

Kilkenny qualified for the 2022 All-Ireland SHC final but lost, giving Limerick three consecutive All-Ireland SHC titles.

On the afternoon of 23 July 2022, Cody's resignation as manager was announced. He had been in the role for 24 years.[15]

2022–: After Cody

The Kilkenny County Board ratified Derek Lyng as Kilkenny senior hurling team manager on the night of 4 August 2022.[16]

The Kilkenny team bus driver was involved in an altercation with a traffic warden before a 2025 National Hurling League game away to Wexford. Though it was reported at the time that the driver had been issued with a parking ticket during the incident on Abbey Street in Wexford, the deputy chief executive of Wexford County Council clarified more than a month afterwards – amid strong criticism of the traffic warden – that no ticket had been given.[17][18]

Rivalries

Panel

Team as per Kilkenny vs Clare in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final, July 2024

No. Player Position Club
1 Eoin Murphy Goalkeeper Glenmore
2 Tommy Walsh Right corner-back Tullaroan
3 Huw Lawlor Full-back O'Loughlin Gaels
4 Paddy Deegan Left corner-back O'Loughlin Gaels
5 Mikey Butler Right half-back O'Loughlin Gaels
6 David Blanchfield Centre-back Bennettsbridge
7 Michael Carey Left half-back Young Irelands
8 Cian Kenny Midfield James Stephens
9 Richie Reid Midfield Ballyhale Shamrocks
10 Adrian Mullen Right half-forward Ballyhale Shamrocks
11 John Donnelly (c) Centre-forward Thomastown
12 Billy Ryan Left half-forward Graigue-Ballycallan
13 Eoin Cody Right corner-forward Ballyhale Shamrocks
14 T. J. Reid Full-forward Ballyhale Shamrocks
15 Martin Keoghan Left corner-forward Tullaroan
No. Player Position Club
16 Aidan Tallis Substitute Lisdowney
17 Shane Murphy Substitute Glenmore
18 Jordan Molloy Substitute O'Loughlin Gaels
19 Conor Delaney Substitute Erin's Own
20 Cillian Buckley Substitute Dicksboro
21 Conor Fogarty Substitute Erin's Own
22 Tom Phelan Substitute Conahy Shamrocks
23 Walter Walsh Substitute Tullogher-Rosbercon
24 Owen Wall Substitute O'Loughlin Gaels
25 Conor Heary Substitute O'Loughlin Gaels
26 Gearóid Dunne Substitute Tullaroan

INJ Player has had an injury which has affected recent involvement with the county team.
RET Player has since retired from the county team.
WD Player has since withdrawn from the county team due to a non-injury issue.


2022 new Kilkenny players

2023 new Kilkenny players

2025 new Kilkenny players

Management team

Managerial history

Kilkenny — like Cork and Tipperary — traditionally appoints managers from inside, rather than seeking a "foreign" appointment.[22]

Dates Name Origin Provincial titles National titles
1957–1978 Fr Tommy Maher Castle Rovers,

Thomastown

14 7
1978–1980 Pat Henderson Fenians, Johnstown 1 1
Eddie Keher Rower-Inistioge
1980–1981 Phil Larkin Clann na nGael,

James Stephens

1981–1987 Pat Henderson (2) Fenians, Johnstown 3 2
1987–1988 Eddie Keher (2) Rower-Inistioge
1988–1990 Dermot Healy Clann na nGael, James Stephens
1990–1995 Ollie Walsh Thomastown 1991 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship,
1992 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship,
1993 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
1992 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship,
1993 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
1995–1997 Nickey Brennan Conahy
1997–1998 Kevin Fennelly Ballyhale 1998 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
1998–2022[23] Brian Cody James Stephens 18 11
2022– Derek Lyng Emeralds 2023 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Players

Notable players

Records

Most appearances

Top scorers

Most All-Ireland SHC medals

All-Ireland SHC winners
Medals Players
10
Henry Shefflin
9
J. J. Delaney (1 as a sub), Noel Hickey (1 as a sub), Tommy Walsh (2 as a sub), Jackie Tyrrell (2 as a sub), Noel Skehan (3 as a sub)
8
Eddie Brennan, Eoin Larkin, Richie Power Jnr, Frank Cummins (1 as a sub), Michael Kavanagh (1 as a sub), Michael Fennelly (2 as a sub), Aidan Fogarty (3 as a sub)
7
Dick Doyle, Jack Rochford, Dick Walsh, Sim Walton, T.J. Reid (1 as a sub), Richie Hogan (2 as a sub), Brian Hogan (2 as a sub), P. J. Ryan (4 as a sub)
6
Martin Comerford, Ned Doyle, Paddy Lanigan, Matt Gargan, Eddie Keher, Jimmy Kelly, Dan Kennedy, Derek Lyng, James McGarry (1 as a sub), John Tennyson (3 as a sub), James Ryall (4 as a sub)
5
D. J. Carey, Dick Doherty, Mick Doyle, Dick Grace, Pat Henderson, Jack Keoghan, Phil 'Fan' Larkin, Matty Power (1 w/ Dublin), Richie Mullally (2 as a sub), James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (2 as a sub), Nickey Brennan (3 as a sub), David Herity (3 as a sub), Billy Fitzpatrick
4
J. J. Brennan, Martin Coogan, Mick Crotty, Christy Heffernan, Paddy Larkin, Paddy Moran, Liam 'Chunky' O'Brien, Paddy Phelan, John Power, John T. Power, Jim Treacy, Jimmy Walsh, Ollie Walsh, Paul Murphy, Colin Fennelly

All Stars

Kilkenny has 198 All Stars, as of 16 November 2023.

  • Cú Chulainn Awards 22
    • 1963 (3), 1964 (7), 1965 (1), 1966 (4), 1967 (7)
  • GAA All Stars Awards 198
    • 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), 2019 (3), 2020 (1), 2021 (1), 2022 (4), 2023 (5)
All Star winners
Awards Players
11
Henry Shefflin
9
Tommy Walsh, D. J. Carey, Eddie Keher (5 All Star, 4 Cú Chulainn)
7
T. J. Reid, J. J. Delaney, Noel Skehan
5
Joe Hennessy, Ger Henderson
4
Phil 'Fan' Larkin, Liam 'Chunky' O'Brien, Frank Cummins, Liam Fennelly, Willie O'Connor, Michael Kavanagh, Eddie Brennan, Jackie Tyrrell, Paul Murphy, Richie Hogan, Eoin Murphy
Hurler of the Year winners
Award Players
Séamus Cleere (1963), Ollie Walsh (1967), Ted Carroll (1969), Eddie Keher (1972), Pat Henderson (1974), Liam 'Chunky' O'Brien (1975), Ger Henderson (1979), Noel Skehan (1982), Frank Cummins (1983), D. J. Carey (1993, 2000), Henry Shefflin (2002, 2006, 2012), J. J. Delaney (2003), Eoin Larkin (2008), Tommy Walsh (2009), Michael Fennelly (2011)
D. J. Carey – 2000, Henry Shefflin – 2002, J. J. Delaney – 2003, Henry Shefflin – 2006, Eoin Larkin – 2008, Tommy Walsh – 2009,

Michael Fennelly - 2011, Henry Shefflin - 2012, Richie Hogan - 2014, T. J. Reid - 2015

Team of the Century

From 2000:

Team records

Honours

National

Provincial

  • Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
    • Winners (77): 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, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
    • Runners-up (31): 1896, 1902, 1906, 1908, 1914, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1927, 1934, 1938, 1941, 1942, 1949, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2012, 2018, 2019
  • Kehoe Cup:
    • Winners (1): 1980
  • Walsh Cup
    • Winners (20): 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017
  • Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship
    • Winners (17): 1967, 1973, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017[26]
  • Leinster Junior Hurling Championship
    • Winners (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
  • Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship
    • Winners (28): 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,[27] 2019, 2022, 2025
  • Leinster Minor Hurling Championship
    • Winners (61): 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, 2013, 2014,[28] 2015,[29] 2017,[30] 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025

Other

References

  1. ^ "Kilkenny GAA". Kilkenny GAA. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Cats dominate depleted Dubs to retain Leinster Hurling Championship crown". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  3. ^ Duggan, Keith. "Leinster Hurling Final 1998". The Irish Times.
  4. ^ Moran, Sean. "All Ireland Hurling Final 1998". The Irish Times.
  5. ^ Moran, Sean. "Leinster Hurling Final 1999". The Irish Times.
  6. ^ Moran, Sean. "All Ireland Hurling final 1999vv". The Irish Times.
  7. ^ Moran, Sean. "Leinster Hurling Final 2000". The Irish Times.
  8. ^ Moran, Sean. "All Ireland Hurling Final 2000". The Irish Times.
  9. ^ Moran, Se┴N. "Leinster Hurling Final 2001". The Irish Times.
  10. ^ "NHL Final 2002". The Irish Times.
  11. ^ "All Ireland Hurling Final 2003". The Irish Times.
  12. ^ O'Riordan, Ian. "Jacob leaves Kilkenny in Purple haze". The Irish Times.
  13. ^ Humphries, Tom. "Leinster Hurling Final 2009". The Irish Times.
  14. ^ Kane, Conor (6 September 2010). "Kilkenny come to end of the road in 'drive for five'". Irish Independent.
  15. ^ "End of an era as Brian Cody steps down from Kilkenny". RTÉ. 23 July 2022.
  16. ^ Fitzgerald, Paul (4 August 2022). "Statement from Kilkenny County Board: Manager Ratification". Kilkenny GAA. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Kilkenny team bus gets parking ticket in Wexford". Hogan Stand. 11 February 2025.
  18. ^ Byrne, Pádraig (18 March 2025). "Wexford council official defends traffic warden from 'nasty' commentary after incident with Kilkenny team bus". Wexford People.
  19. ^ "Statement from Kilkenny County Board". Kilkenny GAA. 4 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Derek Lyng succeeds Brian Cody as Kilkenny manager". RTÉ. 4 August 2022.
  21. ^ a b c "Rice and Barry added to Kilkenny backroom team". RTÉ. 16 August 2022.
  22. ^ Breheny, Martin (24 November 2012). "The import and export business". Irish Independent.
  23. ^ Cody to get Kilkenny post Archived 2009-10-25 at the Wayback Machine Irish Examiner, Retrieved on 4 November 2009
  24. ^ "It's hard to believe now but the use of head and facial protection was once frowned upon". Sunday Independent. 22 April 2018.
  25. ^ "McCormack hails team effort as Cats retain title". Irish independent. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  26. ^ "Leinster IHC final: Cats crush Model". Hogan Stand. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Eddie Brennan leads Kilkenny to first Leinster U21 crown since 2012 as Cats rout Wexford". Hogan Stand. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  28. ^ "Hoban delights in revenge after seeing players 'ridiculed' within own county". Irish Examiner. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  29. ^ "Proud Hoban hails bench as Cats finish with a flourish". Irish Examiner. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  30. ^ "Mullen magic fires Kilkenny minors to victory". Irish Independent. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  31. ^ "Limerick reach New York Hurling Classic final but suffer defeat to Kilkenny". Limerick Leader. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.