The 2008–09 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the 39th since the establishment of the competition by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1970–71. The first matches of the season were played on 12 October 2008 and the championship ended on 17 March 2009. Portumna went into the 2008 championship as defending champions, having won their second All-Ireland title the previous year.
The championship culminated with the All-Ireland final, held at Croke Park , Dublin . The match was contested by Portumna and De La Salle . It was their first meeting in the final. Portumna won the game by 2–24 to 1–8. It was their second All-Ireland title in succession and an unprecedented third in four years.
The 2008–09 club championship was played on a straight knock-out basis. Each of the sixteen participating counties enter their respective club champions. The format of the competition was as follows:
Sixteen county club champions participated in the 2008–09 championship. These counties were as follows:
Leinster : Dublin , Kilkenny , Laois , Offaly , Westmeath , Wexford .
Munster : Clare , Cork , Limerick , Tipperary , Waterford .
Connacht : Galway .
Ulster : Antrim , Armagh , Derry , Down .
Provincial Championships
The Leinster , Munster and Ulster championships were played as usual on a straight knock-out basis. The three respective champions from these provinces advanced directly to the All-Ireland semi-finals.
All-Ireland Series
Semi-finals: (2 matches) The Munster champions played the Ulster champions while the Leinster champions played the champions of Galway. The Galway club champions enter the competition at this stage due to the absence of a provincial club championship in Connacht.
Fixtures
2008-10-12 Semi-final
Ballygalget
4–13 – 0–12
Keady Lámh Dhearg
A Dynes (0–1), B Coulter (0–2), G Flynn (0–1), M Og Coulter (2–1), Steven Clarke (2–3, 0–1 free), Paddy Coulter (0–3), E Clarke (0–1, a '65'), J McGrattan (0–1, free).
(report)
F McMullan (0–1), G Enright (0–3, 0–1 free), P McCormack (0–2, 0–1 free), P Breen (0–6, 0–5 frees).
Referee: J. Devlin (Tyrone)
2008-10-12 Semi-final
Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
3–11 – 2–8
Kevin Lynch's
S Delargy (0–4), K McKeegan (0–1), D McNaughton (0–1), P McGill (1–2, 0–1 free), A Delargy (0–1); S McNaughton (2–2, 0–1 sideline cut).
(report)
P Sweeney (0–1), C Herron (1–0, pen), K Hinphey (0–1), F McGuigan (0–1), F Kelly (1–0), R O'Kane (0–3, all frees), G McGonigle (0–1, free)
2008-10-19 Final
Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
1–14 – 1–13
Ballygalget
S Delargy (0–1), P McGill (0–6, 0–4 frees, 0–1 pen), A Delargy (0–1); S McNaughton (0–3), N McManus (0–1), C McCambridge (1–1), B McNaughton (0–1).
(report)
P Monan (0–1, sideline cut), S Clarke (0–2); M Og Coulter (0–10, 0–8 frees), P Coulter (1–0)
Referee: M Mulholland (Derry)
2008-11-02 Quarter-final
Ballyhale Shamrocks
1–18 – 1–11
Rathdowney
J “Cha” Fitzpatrick (0–2, one free), M Fennelly (0–1); H Shefflin (0–8, five frees), TJ Reid (0–5); P Reid (0–1), E Reid (1–0), D Hoyne (0–1).
(report)
B Campion (0–5, four frees, one 65), S Dollard (0–1), E Meagher (0–1, a free), E Holohan (0–1), J Phelan (1–3).
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)
2008-11-08 Quarter-final
Birr
1–17 – 0–8
Ballyboden St. Enda's
S Whelahan (0–6, 0–4 frees), S Brown (1–1, 0–1 free), G Hanniffy (0–3), D Hayden (0–2), B Whelahan (0–2), S Ryan (0–2), B Lonergan (0–1).
(report)
David Curtin (0–3, 0–2 65's & 0–1 free), Paul Ryan (0–2, 0–1 free), Conal Keaney (0–1), Mick Griffin (0–1), Dave O'Connor (0–1).
Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)
2008-11-16 Semi-final
Birr
2–19 – 2–15 AET
St. Martin's
S Whelahan 0-9f, D Molloy, S Ryan 1–0 each, G Hanniffy, P Cleary (0-1f, 0–2 '65s) 0–3 each, R Hanniffy 0–2, B Lonergan, P O'Meara 0–1 each.
(report)
P Kelly 2–0, D Lyng 0–6 (0-4f), B Lambert 0–4, E Quigley, T Waters 0–2 each, C Lyng 0–1.
Referee: D Connolly (Kilkenny)
2008-11-16 Semi-final
Ballyhale Shamrocks
0–26 – 0–9
Raharney
B Aylward (0–1); J 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (0–2), M Fennelly (0–3), H Shefflin (0–10, seven frees), TJ Reid (0–2); E Reid (0–6), D Hoyne (0–1), T Coogan (0–1).
(report)
B Connaughton (0–2 frees); F Boyle (0–1), J Shaw (0–4, 0–3 frees), B Keogh (0–2).
Referee: E Morris (Dublin)
2008-11-30 Final
Ballyhale Shamrocks
2–13 – 0–11
Birr
H. Shefflin 0–7 (0–5 frees); TJ Reid and E. Reid 1–1 each; M. Aylward 0–2; C. Fennelly and M. Fennelly 0–1 each.
(report)
S. Whelahan 0–7 (frees); Brian Whelahan 1–1; P. O’Meara 0–2; D. Hayden 0–1.
2008-11-02 Quarter-final
Sarsfield's
0–26 – 0–10
Clonlara
P Ryan 0–14 (0–11 frees); C McCarthy 0–5 (0–1 pen); E O’Driscoll 0–3; T Óg Murphy, M Cussen 0–2 each.
(report)
D Madden 0–6 (0–5 frees); C O’Donovan, T O’Donovan, J Conlon, T Lynch 0–1 each.
Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary)
2008-11-16 Semi-final
De La Salle
0–18 – 0–16
Sarsfield's
J. Mullane 0–5; B. Phelan 0–5 (0–2 frees, 0–1 ‘65); J. Quirke 0–4 frees; C. Watt 0–2; D. Twomey and P. Nevin 0–1 each.
(report)
P. Ryan 0–6 frees; M. Cussen 0–4; K. Murphy 0–3; R. Murphy, D. Kearney and D. Roche 0–1 each.
Referee: D. O’Driscoll (Limerick)
2008-11-16 Semi-final
Adare
1–11 – 0–10
Toomevara
C. Fitzgerald 0–6 (0–4 frees, 0–1 65); L. Costello 1–0; D. Sheehan 0–2; D. Sexton 0–2; M. Foley 0–1.
(report)
K. Dunne 0–3 (all frees); W. Ryan 0–2; F. Devanney 0–2; J. McLoughney 0–2 (0–1 free, 0–1 65); J. O’Brien 0–1.
Referee: D. Kirwan (Cork)
2008-11-30 Final
De La Salle
1–9 – 0–10
Adare
J. Mullane 1–2; B. Phelan 0–3 (0–2 frees); J. Quirke 0–3 (all frees); S. Prendergast 0–1.
(report)
L. Costello 0–3; C. Fitzgerald 0–3 (all frees); A. O’Connell 0–2; D. Sexton, D. Sheehan, 0–1 each.
Referee: J. Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla)
2009-02-22 Semi-final 14:30 BST
De La Salle
1–21 – 1–19 AET
Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
B Phelan 0–6 (4f, 2 sideline); J Mullane 0–5; D Twomey 1–0; L Hayes 0–3; P Nevin 0–2; J Quirke, D McGrath, S Daniels D Greene & B Farrell 0–1 each.
(report)
K McKeegan 0–5 (5f); C McCambridge (1f) and N McManus, 0–4 each; S McNaughton 1–1; A Delargy 0–3; A Graffin & S Delargy 0–1 each.
Referee: E Morris (Dublin)
2009-02-22 Semi-final 14:30 BST
Ballyhale Shamrocks
1–16 – 5–11
Portumna
H. Shefflin 0–10 (0–7 frees, 0–2 65’s); E. Reid 1–0; M. Aylward 0–2; C. Fennelly 0–2; TJ Reid (s/l), D. Hoyne, 0–1 each.
(report)
J. Canning 2–5 (1–0 pen., 0–2 65’s, 0–1 free, 0–1 s/l); D. Hayes 2–1; C. Ryan 1–0; K. Hayes 0–2; A. Smith, N. Hayes, L. Smith, 0–1 each.
Attendance: 10,726
Referee: J. Ryan (Tipperary)
Portumna
2–24 – 1–8
De La Salle
D Hayes 2–2; J Canning 0–9 (0–7 frees, 0–1 s/l); N Hayes 0–5; K Hayes 0–2; A Smith 0–2; D Canning, M Ryan, E Lynch, L Smith, 0–1 each
(report)
P Nevin 1–0; B Phelan 0–2 (frees); T Kearney 0–2; S Brenner (pen), J Mullane, D Russell, J Quirke (free), 0–1 each
Attendance: 32,000
Referee: J. McGrath (Westmeath)
PORTUMNA:
GK 1 Ivan Canning
RCB 2 Martin Dolphin
FB 3 Eugene McEntee 60'
LCB 4 Ollie Canning (c)
RWB 5 Gareth Heagney 59'
CB 6 Míchéal Ryan
LWB 7 Aidan Donnelly 60'
M 8 Eoin Lynch
M 9 Leo Smith 59'
RWF 10 Niall Hayes
CF 11 Kevin Hayes
LWF 12 Andrew Smith
RCF 13 Damien Hayes
FF 14 Joe Canning
LCF 15 Ciarán Ryan 56'
Substitutes:
LCF Davy Canning 56'
RWB Michael Gill 59'
MD Peter Smith 59'
LCB John O'Flaherty 60'
LWB Pierce Treacy 60'
DE LA SALLE:
GK 1 Stephen Brenner
RCB 2 Alan Kelly
FB 3 Ian Flynn
LCB 4 Michael Doherty
RWB 5 Darren Russell
CB 6 Kevin Moran
LWB 7 Stephen Daniels
M 8 Bryan Phelan
M 9 Conor Watt 57'
RWF 10 Paudie Nevin
CF 11 Derek McGrath 18'
LWF 12 Lee Hayes 11'
RCF 13 Dean Twomey 57'
FF 14 John Mullane (c)
LCF 15 David Greene
Substitutes:
RCF Brian Farrell 11' 30'
CF Thomas Kearney 18'
RCF James Quirke 30'
MD Alan O'Neill 57'
RCF Dermot Dooley 57'
MATCH RULES
60 minutes
Replay if scores level
Maximum of 5 substitutions
Championship statistics
Scoring
Widest winning margin: 26 points
Most goals in a match: 6
Most points in a match: 40
Most goals by one team in a match: 5
Most points by one team in a match: 26
Referees
The following referees were used during the championship:
Stadia
The following stadia were used during the championship: