2003–04 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

The 2003–04 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the 34th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament for senior clubs. The championship began on 18 October 2003 and ended on 17 March 2004.

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship 2003–04

Championship Details
Dates	18 October 2003 – 17 March 2004
Teams	28
All Ireland Champions
Winners	Newtownshandrum (1st win)
Captain	John McCarthy
Manager	Ger Cunningham
All Ireland Runners-up
Runners-up	Dunloy
Captain	Malachy Molloy
Manager	Seán McLean
Provincial Champions
Munster	Newtownshandrum
Leinster	O'Loughlin Gaels
Ulster	Dunloy
Connacht	Portumna
Championship Statistics
Matches Played	29
Top Scorer	Ben O'Connor (0-47)
← 2002–03 2004–05 →

Birr were the defending champions but were defeated by O'Loughlin Gaels in the Leinster final.

On 17 March 2004, Newtownshandrum won the championship following a 0-17 to 1-6 defeat of Dunloy in the All-Ireland final. This was their first All-Ireland title.

Newtownshandrum's Ben O'Connor was the championship's top scorer with 0-47.

Pre-championship

The build-up to the opening of the championship was dominated by Birr and the possibility that they would become the first club to win three All-Ireland titles in-a-row, and a record-breaking fifth championship title over all. Having secured their fifth successive county title, Birr were favourites to retain their provincial title for a third year-in-a-row. This would leave them only two wins away from hurling immortality.

The championship

Participating counties

Team	County	Most recent success
		All-Ireland	Provincial	County
Athleague	Roscommon			1978
Ballygalget	Down		1998	1999
Birr	Offaly	2003	2002	2002
Castlepollard	Westmeath			1997
Castletown	Laois			2002
Clarecastle	Clare		1997	1997
Clonguish	Longford
Coill Dubh	Kildare			2000
Craobh Chiaráin	Dublin			2001
Dunloy	Antrim		2002	2002
Fr. Murphy's	London			2001
Glenealy	Wicklow			1996
Keady Lámh Dhearg	Armagh			2002
Kevin Lynch's	Derry			1998
Kilmessan	Meath			1996
Kilmoyley	Kerry			2002
Knockbridge	Louth			2001
Mount Sion	Waterford		2002	2002
Naomh Eoin	Carlow			1998
Newtownshandrum	Cork
O'Loughlin Gaels	Kilkenny			2001
Patrickswell	Limerick		1990	2000
Portumna	Galway
Rathnure	Wexford		1998	2002
St. Mary's	Leitrim			2002
Toomevara	Tipperary		1993	2001
Tooreen	Mayo			1999
Tubbercurry	Sligo			2002

Fixtures

Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship

Quarter-finals

Tooreen v Tubbercurry

18 October 2003 Quarter-final	Tooreen	0–12 – 1–7	Tubbercurry	Castlerea
	A Hession 0–5 (0-1f), A freeman 0-3f, S Hunt 0–2, M Devanney and R Robinson 0–1 each.		P Severs 1–6 (1-4f), D Severs 0–1.

St. Mary's v Athleague

26 October 2003 Quarter-final	St. Mary's	1–8 – 0–12	Athleague	Páirc Sheáin Mhic Dhiarmada, Carrick
	C Cunniffe 0-6, J Beirne 1-0, J Goldrick 0-1, T McLoughin 0-1.		K Regan 0-4, P Cuddy 0-3, T Reddington 0-2, M Connaughton 0-2, T Farrell 0-1.

Semi-final

Athleague v Tooreen

1 November 2003 Semi-final	Athleague	0–12 – 1–8	Tooreen	Castlerea
	K Regan 0–6, P Cuddy 0–4, M Connaughton 0–3, S Regan 1–0, A Cunniffe 0–2.	(report)	A Freeman 0–4, D Greally and A Hession 1–0 each, M French 0–2, S Ganley, S Hunt and R Robinson 0–1 each.

Final

Portumna v Athleague

16 November 2003 Final	Portumna	0–17 – 0–5	Athleague	Athleague Sportsfield, Athleague
	F Canning 0–5, N Hayes 0–4, D Canning 0–4, D Hayes 0–2, I Muldoon 0–1, A Smith 0–1.	(report)	T Reddington 0–2, P Cuddy 0–1, A Cuniffe 0–1, K Regan 0–1.	Referee: M Carroll (Roscommon)

Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship

First round

Glenealy v Castletown

19 October 2003 First round	Glenealy	0-6 – 2-11	Castletown	Aughrim Park, Aughrim
	W O'Gorman 0-2, E Glynn 0-2, M McDonald, K Snell 0-1.	Report	P Phelan 2-4, D Cuddy 0-2, J Hoban 0-2, P Cuddy, O Dooley, B McKelvey 0-1 each.	Referee: J Kelly (Wexford)

Naomh Eoin v Knockbridge

19 October 2003 First round	Naomh Eoin	1–10 – 2–7	Knockbridge	Pairc an Chuinnigh, Knockbridge
	J Quirke (1-1), D Murphy (0-3, 3 frees), S Smithers (0-2), S Kavanagh, A Curry, K Nolan (free), R Foley (0-1 each).	Report	P Dunne (1-2, 3 frees), P Kieran (1-0), S Byrne (0-3, 1 free), D Dunne, R Byrne (0-1 each).	Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath)

Clonguish v Coill Dubh

19 October 2003 First round	Clonguish	1–6 – 5–13	Coill Dubh	Pearse Park, Longford
	P Barden 1-1, J Minnock (f), B Burke, T Prunty, D Corcoran, C Finnucane 0-1 each.	Report	A McAndrew 3-4, D Hughes 2-1, T Carew 0-3 (3f), N O'Callaghan 0-2, Chris Byrne, Colm Byrne (f), D Doyle 0-1 each.

Castlepollard v Kilmessan

19 October 2003 First round	Castlepollard	1-11 – 0-16	Kilmessan	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	D McCormack 1-2, A Devine 0-4 (2f 1 '65', 1 sideline cut), K Brazil, B Kennedy 0-2 each, D Devine 0-1.	Report	N Horan (0-11) (7f, 1 '65'), J Keena 0-2, L Maguire, M Reilly, S Clynch 0-1 each.

Naomh Eoin v Knockbridge

27 October 2003 First round replay	Naomh Eoin	6–10 – 2–5	Knockbridge	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	D Murphy (2–3), B Murphy (2–1), R Foley (2–0), D Roberts (0–2), Kevin Nolan (0–1), A Curry (0–1), S Kavanagh (0–1).		P Kiernan (1–0), S Kerrigan (1–0), S Byrne (0–3), D Dunne (0–1), P Dunne (0–1).	Referee: B Gavin (Offaly)

Quarter-finals

Castletown v Craobh Chiaráin

2 November 2003 Quarter-final	Castletown	0–14 – 1–9	Craobh Chiaráin	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	P Phelan 0–5 (1f); Paul Cuddy 0–3 (1 '65, 2fs); Pauric Cuddy, J Hooban, D Cuddy, F O'Sullivan, J O'Sullivan, B McKelvey 0–1 each.	(report)	C Ring 0–6 (3fs); A McCrabbe 1–0; S Mulhall 0–2; D Kirwan 0–1.	Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)

Kilmessan v Rathnure

2 November 2003 Quarter-final	Kilmessan	1–9 – 4–12	Rathnure	Páirc Tailteann, Navan
	N Horan 1–3; G O'Neill, S Clynch, M Reilly, L Maguire, J Keena J Horan 0–1 each.	(report)	R Flynn 1–5; R Codd 1–4; S O'Neill 1–1; B O'Leary 1–0; J O'Connor 0–2.	Referee: E Morris (Dublin)

Naomh Eoin v Birr

2 November 2003 Quarter-final	Naomh Eoin	2–7 – 0–17	Birr	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	R Foley (1–2), P Quirke (1–0), J Watters (0–2), D Murphy (0–2 frees), S Kavanagh (0–1 free).	(report)	R Hanniffy (0–7, 5 frees), S Browne (0–4), P Molloy (0–3), D Hayden (0–2), P O'Meara (0–1).	Referee: S Whelan (Wexford)

Coill Dubh v O'Loughlin Gaels

9 November 2003 Quarter-final	Coill Dubh	0–12 – 0–21	O'Loughlin Gaels	Seán Tierney Park, Allenwood
	Tom Carew (0–5, 4 frees), Colm Byrne (0–3, 3 frees), A McAndrew (0–2), D Doyle (0–1), J Byrne (0–1).	(report)	B Dowling (0–5), M Nolan (0–5), A Geoghegan (0–3), N Skehan (0–3, 1 free), S Cummins (0–2), M Comerford (0–2), J Comerford (0–1).	Referee: F Smith (Meath)

Semi-finals

Birr v Castletown

16 November 2003 Semi-final	Birr	4–17 – 1–9	Castletown	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	M Dwane 2–0; D Hayden 0–5 (1f); D Pilkington 1–1; P O'Meara 0–3; J Pilkington 1–0; R Hanniffy and G Hanniffy 0–2 each; Brian Whelahan 0–2 (1f); S Browne and N Rodgers 0–1 each.	(report)	P Phelan 1–2 (2f); JR Kingston 0–3; Paul Cuddy 0–2 (1f); C Cuddy and D Cuddy 0–1 each.	Referee: E Morris (Dublin)

O'Loughlin Gaels v Rathnure

16 November 2003 Semi-final	O'Loughlin Gaels	0–20 – 2–11	Rathnure	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	N Skehan 0–10 (0–7 frees); M Comerford 0–3; B Dowling, M Nolan and J Comerford 0–2 each; C Furlong 0–1.		P Codd 1–4 (1–2 frees); N Higgins 1–1; M Byrne and B O'Leary 0–2 each; T Hogan and R Codd 0–1 each.	Referee: P Aherne (Carlow)

Final

O'Loughlin Gaels v Birr

30 November 2003	O'Loughlin Gaels	0–15 – 0–9	Birr	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	N Skehan 0–8 (0–7 frees, 0–1 seventy); B Dowling 0–2; M Comerford, A Geoghegan, N Bergin, M Nolan and C Furlong 0–1 each.		R Hanniffy 0–5 (0–4 frees); J Pilkington 0–2; P Carroll and Brian Whelahan (free) 0–1 each.	Referee: J Kelly (Wexford)

Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Quarter-finals

Toomevara v Kilmoyley

26 October 2003 Quarter-final	Toomevara	3–18 – 2–11	Kilmoyley	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	W Ryan (2–1), K Dunne (0–7), J O’Brien (1–2), P O’Brien (0–4), T Dunne (0–1), F Devaney (0–1), M Bevans (0–1), K Cummins (0–1).		C Walsh (1–3), S Brick (0–5), P O’Sullivan (1–0), J McCarthy (0–1), B Brick (0–1), M Murnane (0–1).	Referee: D Richardson (Limerick)

Clarecastle v Patrickswell

26 October 2003 Quarter-final	Clarecastle	1–14 – 2–13	Patrickswell	Cusack Park, Ennis
	K Ralph 0–8 (0–5 frees); A O’Loughlin 1–2; S Moloney 0–2; A Daly 0–1 (65); D Quinn 0–1.		D O’Grady 1–4; E Foley 1–2; P O’Grady 0–5 (0–4 frees); A Carmody, J McDermott 0–1.	Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary)

Semi-finals

Toomevara v Newtownshandrum

9 November 2003 Semi-final	Toomevara	1–9 – 0–15	Newtownshandrum	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	W Ryan 1–2; K Dunne 0–3 (frees); P O’Brien 0–2 (0–1 free); M Bevans, B Dunne, 0–1 each.		B O’Connor 0–7 (0–3 frees); John O’Connor 0–3; Jerry O’Connor 0–2; M Farrell 0–2; JP King 0–1.	Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)

Patrickswell v Mount Sion

16 November 2003 Semi-final	Patrickswell	0–16 – 1–11	Mount Sion	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	P O'Grady (0–9, 0–5 frees, 0–3 65s); J McDermott (0–2); K Carey (0–2); P O'Reilly, D O'Grady, E Foley (0–1) each.		K McGrath (0–5, frees); E Kelly (0–4, 0–2 frees); B Browne (1–0); M White, E McGrath (0–1) each.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Final

Newtownshandrum v Patrickswell

30 November 2003 Final	Newtownshandrum	2–18 – 2–9	Patrickswell	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	J Bowles 2–3; JP King 0–4; Jerry O'Connor 0–4; B O'Connor 0–3 (0–2 frees); AT O'Brien, John O'Connor, D Mulcahy, M Morrissey, 0–1 each.		D O'Grady 2–2; E Foley 0–3; P O'Grady 0–3 (frees); G Kirby 0–1 (free).	Referee: S McMahon (Clare)

Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Semi-finals

Dunloy v Ballygalget

26 October 2003 Semi-final	Dunloy	1–23 – 0–8	Ballygalget	Casement Park, Belfast
	Greg O'Kane 0-7, A Elliott 0-6, F Quinn 1-2, P Richmond 0-2, N Elliott 0-2, M Curry 0-1, C McGuckian 0-1, D McMullan 0-1, Gary O'Kane 0-1.	(report)	J McGrattan 0-4, P Monan 0-2, M Coulter 0-2.	Referee: G Devlin (Armagh)

Kevin Lynch's v Keady Lámh Dhearg

2 November 2003 Semi-final	Kevin Lynch's	3–13 – 1–10	Keady Lámh Dhearg	O'Neill Park, Dungannon
	G McGonigle (1–10), R McCloskey (1–0), O Farren (0–1), K Hinphey (0–1), P Farren (0–1).	(report)	G Enright (1–6), P McCormack (0–1), K Hatzer (0–1), B McCormack (0–1), P McBrien (0–1).	Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim)

Final

Dunloy v Kevin Lynch's

9 November 2003 Final	Dunloy	3–19 – 0–9	Kevin Lynch's
	D Quinn (2–1), Greg O'Kane (0–7, five frees), P Richmond (1–1), A Elliott (0–4), Colm Cunning (0–2), C McGuckian (0–1), Conor Cunning (0–1), L Richmond (0–1), Gary O'Kane (0–1, a 65).	(report)	G McGonigle (0–8, all frees), B Kelly (0–1).

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

Quarter-final

Fr. Murphy's v Newtownshandrum

6 December 2003 Quarter-final	Fr. Murphy's	1–5 – 1–14	Newtownshandrum	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
	R Devlin (1–0), S Byrne (0–2), E Kinlon (0–2), JP Byrne (0–1).	(report)	B O'Connor (0–9), J Bowles (1–0), P Noonan (0–2), M Farrell (0–1), G O'Connor (0–1), I Kelleher (0–1).	Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim)

Semi-finals

Dunloy v Portumna

15 February 2004 Semi-final	Dunloy	2–13 – 2–10	Portumna	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	P Richmond (1–3), C McGuckian (1–2), Greg O'Kane (0–3), D Quinn (0–1), Gary O'Kane (0–1), C Cunning (0–1), G McGhee (0–1), P McMullan (0–1).	(report)	D Hayes (1–1), K Hayes (1–1), F Canning (0–3), A Smith (0–2), D Canning (0–2), O Canning (0–1).	Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)

Newtownshandrum v O'Loughlin Gaels

15 February 2004 Semi-final	Newtownshandrum	1–16 – 0–19	O'Loughlin Gaels	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	B. O'Connor 0–10 (0–7 frees); D. O'Riordan 1–0; J. Bowles 0–2; D. Mulcahy, P. Mulcahy, A.T. O'Brien, Jerry O'Connor, 0–1 each.	(report)	N. Skehan 0–11 (0–9 frees); M. Nolan 0–4; B. Dowling 0–2; M. Comerford 0–2.	Referee: S Roche (Tipperary)

Newtownshandrum v O'Loughlin Gaels

21 February 2004 Semi-final replay	Newtownshandrum	0–14 – 1–8	O'Loughlin Gaels	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	B. O'Connor 0–8 (0–5 frees); JP King 0–3; J. O'Connor 0–2; D. O'Riordan 0–1.	(report)	M. Nolan 1–1; B. Dowling 0–2; N. Skehan 0–2 (frees); N. Bergin, J. Comerford, C. Furlong, 0–1 each.	Referee: P Horan (Offaly)

Final

Newtownshandrum v Dunloy

17 March 2004 Final	Newtownshandrum	0–17 – 1–6	Dunloy	Croke Park, Dublin
	B O'Connor 0–10 (0–6 frees); AT O'Brien 0–3; Jerry O'Connor, J Bowles, I Kelleher, M Morrissey 0–1 each.	(report)	G McGhee 1–0 (pen.); L Richmond 0–2; P Richmond 0–2; C McGuckian, A Elliott 0–1 each.	Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)

Main article: 2004 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship Final

Scoring statistics

Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Ben O'Connor	Newtownshandrum	0-47	47	6	7.83
2	Nigel Skehan	O'Loughlin Gaels	0-34	34	5	8.80
3	Geoffrey McGonagle	Kevin Lynch's	1-18	21	2	10.50
4	Patrick Phelan	Castletown	3-11	20	3	6.66
5	Nicky Horan	Kilmessan	1-14	17	2	8.50
	Gregory O'Kane	Dunloy	0-17	17	3	5.66
	Paul O'Grady	Patrickswell	0-17	17	3	5.66
6	Maurice Nolan	O'Loughlin Gaels	1-13	16	5	3.20
	Declan O'Grady	Patrickswell	0-17	17	3	5.66
7	Adrian McAndrew	Coill Dubh	3-06	15	2	7.50
	James Bowles	Newtownshandrum	3-06	15	6	2.50

Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Adrian McAndrew	Coill Dubh	3-04	13	Clonguish
	Geoffrey McGonagle	Kevin Lynch's	1-10	13	Keady Lámh Dhearg
2	Nicky Horan	Kilmessan	0-11	11	Castlepollard
	Nigel Skehan	O'Loughlin Gaels	0-11	11	Newtownshandrum
3	Patrick Phelan	Castletown	2-04	10	Glenealy
	Nigel Skehan	O'Loughlin Gaels	0-10	10	Rathnure
	Ben O'Connor	Newtownshandrum	0-10	10	O'Loughlin Gaels
	Ben O'Connor	Newtownshandrum	0-10	10	Dunloy
4	Des Murphy	Naomh Eoin	2-03	9	Knockbridge
	James Bowles	Newtownshandrum	2-03	9	Patrickswell
	Paul Seavers	Tubbercurry	1-06	9	Tooreen
	Gerard Enright	Keady Lámh Dhearg	1-06	9	Kevin Lynch's
	Paul O'Grady	Patrickswell	0-09	9	Mount Sion
	Ben O'Connor	Newtownshandrum	0-09	9	Fr. Murphy's