1954 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

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.

Provincial championships

[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship]

First round
Second round
Semi-finals
'''Final'''

[Munster Senior Hurling Championship]

First round
Semi-finals
'''Final'''

Championship statistics

Top scorers

;Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Nicky Rackard	Wexford	12–19	55	4	13.75
2	Christy Ring	Cork	2–18	24	4	6.00
3	Tim Flood	Wexford	6-05	23	4	5.75
4	Brian Smyth	Meath	2–13	19	4	4.75
5	Séamus Power	Waterford	5-03	18	2	9.00
6	Mickey Furlong	Offaly	4-03	15	3	5.00
7	Padge Kehoe	Wexford	3-05	14	4	3.50
8	Johnny Clifford	Cork	3-04	13	4	3.75
9	Paddy Kenny	Tipperary	1-08	11	2	5.50
10	Paddy Barry	Cork	3-01	10	4	2.50
10	Willie John Daly	Cork	2-04	10	4	2.50
10	Tommy Errity	Offaly	1-07	10	3	3.33

;Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Nicky Rackard	Wexford	7-07	28	Antrim
2	Nicky Rackard	Wexford	5-04	19	Dublin
3	Séamus Power	Waterford	4-02	14	Cork
4	Brian Smyth	Meath	1-07	10	Laois
5	Tim Flood	Wexford	3-00	9	Antrim
5	Tim Flood	Wexford	2-03	9	Kilkenny
6	Ned Ryan	Tipperary	2-02	8	Clare
6	Tom Dooley	Offaly	2-02	8	Meath
6	Christy Ring	Cork	1-05	8	Tipperary
7	Mickey Furlong	Offaly	2-01	7	Westmeath
7	Christy Ring	Cork	1-04	7	Waterford

Scoring

Widest winning margin: 44 points
*Wexford 12–17 : 2–3 Antrim
Most goals in a match: 14
*Wexford 12–17 : 2–3 Antrim
Most points in a match: 20
*Wexford 12–17 : 2–3 Antrim
Most goals by one team in a match: 12
*Wexford 12–17 : 2–3 Antrim
Most goals scored by a losing team: 4
*Waterford 4–5 : 7–8 Cork
Most points scored by a losing team: 9
*Laois 1–9 : 1–10 Meath

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
Tipperary – 16
Kilkenny – 13
Limerick – 6
Dublin – 6
Waterford – 1
Galway – 1
Laois – 1
Clare – 1
Wexford – 1
London – 1
Kerry – 1

Player facts

Debutantes

The following players made their début in the 1954 championship:

Player	Team	Date	Opposition	Game
Peter Darby	Meath	April 11	Laois	Leinster first round
Mick Cashman	Cork	June 27	Waterford	Munster semi-final
Johnny Clifford	Cork	June 27	Waterford	Munster semi-final
Éamonn Goulding	Cork	June 27	Waterford	Munster semi-final

Retirees

The following players played their last game in the 1954 championship:

Player	Team	Last Game	Date	Opposition	Début
Tom O'Sullivan	Cork	Munster final	July 18	Tipperary	1953