1978 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The 1978 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 92nd staging of the All-Ireland hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1887. The championship began on 30 April 1978 and ended on 3 September 1978.
Cork entered the championship as defending champions.
On 3 September 1978, Cork won the championship following a 1–15 to 2–8 defeat of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. This was their 24th All-Ireland title, their third championship in succession.
Kilkenny's Liam "Chunky" O'Brien was the championship's top scorer with 1–23. Cork's John Horgan was the choice for Hurler of the Year.
Provincial championships
[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship]
First roundQuarter-final
Semi-finals
'''Final'''
[Munster Senior Hurling Championship]
Quarter-finalsSemi-finals
'''Final'''
Top scorers
;Overall| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Liam O'Brien | Kilkenny | 1–23 | 26 | 4 | 6.50 |
| 2 | Ned Buggy | Wexford | 1–15 | 18 | 2 | 9.00 |
| 3 | Billy Fitzpatrick | Kilkenny | 2–10 | 16 | 4 | 4.0 |
| 4 | Colm Honan | Clare | 0–15 | 15 | 2 | 7.50 |
| 5 | Charlie McCarthy | Cork | 0–14 | 14 | 3 | 4.66 |
| 6 | Willie Fitzmaurice | Limerick | 4–0 | 12 | 2 | 6.00 |
| 6 | Joe Connolly | Galway | 3–3 | 12 | 2 | 6.00 |
| 8 | Seánie Kinsella | Wexford | 3–2 | 11 | 2 | 5.50 |
;Single game
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Liam O'Brien | Kilkenny | 0–11 | 11 | Offaly |
| 2 | Joe Connolly | Galway | 3–1 | 10 | Antrim |
| 2 | Randall McDonnell | Antrim | 3–1 | 10 | Galway |
| 2 | Seánie Kinsella | Wexford | 3–1 | 10 | Dublin |
| 2 | Ned Buggy | Wexford | 1–7 | 10 | Kilkenny |
| 2 | Frank Keenan | Laois | 1–7 | 10 | Dublin |
| 7 | Willie Fitzmaurice | Limerick | 3–0 | 9 | Clare |
| 7 | Colm Honan | Clare | 0–9 | 9 | Limerick |
| 9 | Ned Buggy | Wexford | 0–8 | 8 | Dublin |
| 10 | Mick Ryan | Westmeath | 2–1 | 7 | Laois |
| 10 | Matt Ruth | Kilkenny | 2–1 | 7 | Galway |
| 10 | Mossie Walsh | Waterford | 0–7 | 7 | Kerry |
| 10 | Charlie McCarthy | Cork | 0–7 | 7 | Kilkenny |
Championship statistics
Miscellaneous
- Cork retain the All-Ireland title for a third successive season. It is the fourth time in their history that they have achieved this feat and the first time since Cork in 1954 that a team has won three championships in succession.
- Kerry return to the Munster Senior Hurling Championship for the first time since 1958.
Broadcasting
The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on RTÉ.| Round | RTÉ |
| All-Ireland semi-final | Kilkenny vs Galway |
| All-Ireland final | Cork vs Kilkenny |