The 2007–08 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the 38th club hurling competition since its establishment in 1970–71. The first matches of the season were played on 14 October 2007 and the championship ended on 17 March 2008. Ballyhale Shamrocks went into the 2007–08 championship as defending champions, having won their fourth All-Ireland title the previous year.
The championship culminated with the All-Ireland final, held at Croke Park , Dublin . The match was contested by Birr and Portumna . It was their first meeting in the final. Portumna won the game by 3–19 to 3–9. It was their second All-Ireland title in three years.
The 2007–08 club championship was played on a straight knock-out basis. Each of the eighteen participating counties entered their respective club champions. The format of the competition was as follows:
A total of 18 county club champions participated in the 2008–09 championship:
Leinster : Carlow , Dublin , Kilkenny , Laois , Offaly , Wexford .
Munster : Clare , Cork , Kerry , Limerick , Tipperary , Waterford .
Connacht : Galway , Mayo , Roscommon
Ulster : Antrim , Derry , Down .
Provincial Championships
The Connacht , Leinster , Munster and Ulster championships were played as usual on a straight knock-out basis. The four respective champions from these provinces advanced directly to the All-Ireland semi-finals.
All-Ireland Series
In the two semi-final matches, the Munster champions played the Connacht champions while the Leinster champions played the Ulster champions. The two winners contested the All-Ireland final.
Fixtures
2007-11-03 Semi-final
James Stephens
0-13 - 2-7
Athleague
K Healy 0-5, J Tighe 0-3, K Barrett 0-1, J Duffy 0-1.
(report)
G Fallon 1-3, A Cunniffe 1-1, I Connaughton 0-1, S McGeeney 0-1, J Glennon 0-1.
2007-11-10 Semi-final replay
Athleague
2-10 - 2-12
James Stephens
G Gallon (1-8), D Flaherty (0-1), S McGeeney (1-1).
(report)
T Duffy (0-1); K Barrett (0-1), V O’Hara (0-1); P Reape (0-1), K Healy (0-3), B Walsh (1-0), D Barrett (0-5), J Duffy (1-0).
2007-11-18 Final
Portumna
6–23 – 0–7
James Stephens
D Hayes 4–1, N Hayes 1–6, A Smith 0–6 (0–1f), K Hayes 1–2, J Canning 0–5 (0–3f, 0–1'65'), E Lynch, C Ryan , C O'Hehir 0–1 each.
(report)
D Barrett 0–3f, K Barrett 0–1f), V O'Hora (0–1), P Reape, A Stenson (f) 0–1 each.
Referee: J. McGrath (Westmeath)
2007-11-04 Quarter-final
Ballyhale Shamrocks
1–14 – 0–12
Mount Leinster Rangers
M Dermody 0–1, É Fitzpatrick 0–1, T.J. Reid 0–7 5f; E Reid 0–2, P Reid 1–1,
(report)
E Coady 0–1; J Hickey 0–1 line-ball, D Murphy 0–5 4f, 65, W Hickey 0–2, D Byrne 0–1, S.M. Murphy 0–1, C O’Byrne 0–1.
Referee: A. Stapleton (Laois)
2007-11-11 Quarter-final
Ballyboden St. Enda's
1–17 – 0–15
Oulart the Ballagh
D Curtin 0–4 (2 65s, 1f), D Sweeney 1–0, C Keaney 0–3, M Griffin, E Kinsella, E Carroll 0–2 each, M Travers, J Doody, S Durkin, S Lambert 0–1 each.
(report)
R Jacob, D Mythen (1f) 0–4 each, N Kirwan 0–2 (2f), D Stamp, P Roche (f), S Doyle, D Nolan, W Whelan 0–1 each.
Referee: J. McGrath (Westmeath)
2007-11-18 Semi-final
Referee: J. Kelly (Wexford)
2007-11-18 Semi-final
Birr
1–13 – 1–10
Ballyhale Shamrocks
G. Hanniffy 1–2; Brian Whelahan 0–3 frees; K. Nolan 0–2; P. Cleary (free), D. Hayden, S. Whelahan, R. Hanniffy, P. O’Meara and Barry Whelahan 0–1 each.
(report)
B. Costelloe 1–1; T.J. Reid 0–5 (0–1 sideline); M. Fennelly, E. Reid, P. Reid and B. Aylward 0–1 each.
2007-12-02 Final
Birr
1–11 – 0–13
Ballyboden St. Enda's
R Hanniffy (0–2), Barry Whelahan (0–1), Brian Whelahan (0–2 (1f, 1’65’), S Whelahan (0–2), P O’Meara (1–4).
(report)
D Curtin (0–6f), S Lambert (0–1), E Carroll (0–2), C. Keaney (0–1), S. Durkin (0–2).
Referee: A Stapleton (Laois)
2007-09-14 Semi-final
Dunloy
2–16 – 3-13
Ballycran
G O’Kane 0-6, C McGuckian 1-1, A Elliott 0-3, L Richmond 0-3, G McGhee 1-0, P Richmond 0-2, P Shields 0-1.
J Coyle 2-2, B Ennis 1-2, B McGourty 0-3, S Wilson 0-3, C Woods 0-2, C McManus 0-1
2007-10-21 Semi-final replay
Dunloy
1-19 – 1-13
Ballycran
G O'Kane 0-8 (6f), L Richmond 1-5, C Cunning 0-3, C McGuckian, D Webb, A Elliott 0-1 each.
J Coyle 1-2, C McManus 0-5 (5f), B Ennis 0-2, B McGourty, G Gordon, C Woods (f), C McCarthy 0-1 each.
Referee: G Devlin (Armagh)
2007-10-28 Final
Dunloy
2–14 – 2–8
Kevin Lynch's
G O'Kane (0–7, six frees), P Shields (1–2), P Richmond (1–2), C McGuickan (0–1), L Richmond (0–1), D McMullan (0–1).
(report)
G McGonigle (1–3, pen goal, three frees), P McCloskey (1–1), Kevin Hinphey (0–3), P Kelly (0–1).
2007-11-04 Quarter-final
Tulla
4–16 – 2–6
Lixnaw
A Lynch 1–-8 (3f), K Brennan 2–0, D O'Halloran 1–1, B Lynch 0–2, P Lynch ('65), B Quinn, M Murphy A Leamy, C Dinan 0–1 each.
(report)
J Flaherty 1–4 (4f), E Galvin 1–0, K Dow-ling, S Power 0–1 each.
Referee: J. Sexton (Limerick)
2007-11-04 Quarter-final
Loughmore-Castleiney
2–11 – 0–14
Erin's Own
E Connolly 1–3, N McGrath 0–5 (4f), D McGrath 1–0, E Sweeney, M Webster and R Stapleton 0–1 each.
(report)
E Murphy 0–4 (3f), M O'Connor, M Murphy 0–2 each, P Kelly, S Kelly, C Coakley, R Carroll, A Bowen, F Murphy 0–1 each.
Referee: S. McMahon (Clare)
2007-11-18 Semi-final
Loughmore-Castleiney
1–15 – 1–10
Adare
E. Sweeney 0–7 (0–4 frees); N. McGrath 0–5 (0–3 frees); M. Webster 1–1; D. McGrath, T. King, 0–1 each.
(report)
D. Sheehan 0–5 (0–2 frees); D. Sexton 0–3; L. Costello 1–0; M. Noonan 0–2.
Referee: A. Heagney (Clare)
2007-11-18 Semi-final
Tulla
2–13 – 0–14
Ballyduff Upper
B. Quinn 1–2; D. O’Halloran 0–4; P. Molumphy 1–0 (og); M. Murphy 0–3; A. Lynch, B. Lynch 0–2 each.
(report)
B. Hannon 0–10 (0–5 frees, 0–1 65); B. Kearney 0–2; S. Kearney, J. Twomey 0–1 each.
Referee: C. McAlister (Cork)
2007-12-02 Final
Loughmore-Castleiney
1–6 – 0–7
Tulla
E. Sweeney 1–2 (0–1 free); R. Stapleton, E. Connolly, T. King, N. McGrath (free), 0–1 each.
(report)
A. Lynch 0–4 (0–4 frees); C. O’Halloran 0–2, E. Torpey 0–1.
Referee: C. McAllister (Cork)
2008-02-24 Semi-final
Portumna
2–13 – 2–9
Loughmore-Castleiney
J. Canning 1–9 (0–6 frees); N. Hayes 1–0; K. Hayes 0–2; D. Hayes 0–1; D. Canning 0–1.
(report)
N. McGrath 1–4 (0–2 frees, 0–1 65); M. Webster 1–0; E. Sweeney 0–3 (0–1 free, 0–1 65); E. Connolly 0–1.
Referee: A. Stapleton (Laois)
2008-02-24 Semi-final
Birr
0–17 – 0–9
Dunloy
S Whelahan (0–5, 0–4 frees), R Hanniffy (0–4), S Ryan (0–2), Brian Whelahan (0–2, 0–1 free), M Dwane (0–1), G Hanniffy (0–1), Barry Whelahan (0–1), P Cleary (0–1 '65).
(report)
G O'Kane (0–5, 0–4 frees), P Richmond (0–1), P Shiels (0–1), D McMullan (0–1), P Doherty (0–1).
Referee: M. Haverty (Galway)
2008-03-17 Final
Portumna
3–19 – 3–9
Birr
J. Canning 0–10 (0–6 frees, 0–1 65, 0–1 s/l); A. Smith 2–2; D. Hayes 1–3; K. Hayes 0–3; L. Smith 0–1.
(report)
S. Whelahan 1–7 (1–6 frees); P. O’Meara 1–0; S. Browne 1–0; R. Hanniffy, Brian Whelahan 0–1 each.
Referee: J. Sexton (Cork)
PORTUMNA:
GK 1 Ivan Canning
RCB 2 Michael Gill
FB 3 Eugene McEntee
LCB 4 Ollie Canning
RWB 5 Gareth Heagney
CB 6 Míchéal Ryan
LWB 7 Peter Smyth 57'
M 8 Leo Smith
M 9 Eoin Lynch
RWF 10 Niall Hayes
CF 11 Kevin Hayes
LWF 12 Andrew Smith
RCF 13 Damien Hayes
FF 14 Joe Canning
LCF 15 Davy Canning 59'
Substitutes:
LWB Aidan O'Donnell 57'
LCF Ciarán Ryan 59'
BIRR:
GK 1 Brian Mullins
RCB 2 John Paul O'Meara 38'
FB 3 Niall Claffey
LCB 4 Michael Verney
RWB 5 Brian Watkins
CB 6 Paul Cleary
LWB 7 Dylan Hayden 52'
M 8 Barry Whelahan
M 9 Rory Hanniffy
RWF 10 Gary Hanniffy
CF 11 Brian Whelahan (c)
LWF 12 Seán Ryan 30'
RCF 13 Paul O'Meara
FF 14 Simon Whelahan
LCF 15 Stephen Browne
Substitutes:
LWF Michael Dwane 30'
RCB Paul Molloy 38'
LWB Barry Harding 52'
MATCH RULES
60 minutes
Replay if scores level
Championship statistics
Scoring
Widest winning margin: 34 points
Most goals in a match: 6
Most points in a match: 40
Most points in a match: 32
Most goals by one team in a match: 6
Most points by one team in a match: 23
Referees
The following referees were used during the championship: