2003 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship

2003 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship

Dates	25 July 2003 – 2 November 2003
Teams	12
Sponsor	St. Canice's Credit Union
Champions	O'Loughlin Gaels (2nd title) Andy Comerford (captain) Michael Nolan (manager)
Runners-up	Young Irelands Jack Carey (captain) John Brennan (manager)
Relegated	Mullinavat
Tournament statistics
Matches played	14
Goals scored	40 (2.86 per match)
Points scored	360 (25.71 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Nigel Skehan (5-22)
← 2002 (Previous) (Next) 2004 →

The 2003 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 109th staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1887. The championship began on 25 July 2003 and ended on 2 November 2003.

Young Irelands were the defending champions. ^[1]

On 2 November 2003, O'Loughlin Gaels won the title after a 2–12 to 2–10 defeat of Young Irelands in a final replay at Nowlan Park. ^{[2] [3]} It was their second championship title overall and their first title in two championship seasons.

Team changes

To Championship

Promoted from the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship

• St. Martin's

From Championship

Relegated to the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship

• Erin's Own

Results

First round

Fenians v St. Martin's

First round	Fenians	4-13 - 1-14	St. Martin's
	B Power 2-3, P Quinlan 2-2, K Power 0-3, L Ryan 0-2, S Grehan 0-1, B Ryan 0-1, E Behan 0-1.		D Lawlor 1-9, P Maher 0-3, J Dooley 0-1, N Moloney 0-1.

James Stephens v Dunnamaggin

First round	James Stephens	0-23 - 0-14	Dunnamaggin
	J Murray 0-7, B McEvoy 0-3, E McCormack 0-3, L O'Connor 0-3, D Cody 0-3, P Barry 0-1, G Whelan 0-1, T O'Dowd 0-1, E Larkin 0-1.		R Cahill 0-5, S O'Neill 0-3, E Kennedy 0-2, S Ryan 0-2, D Lahart 0-1, K O'Shea 0-1.

Dicksboro v Mullinavat

First round	Dicksboro	2-14 - 2-14	Mullinavat
	E O'Donoghue 1-9, S Morrissey 1-1, C O'Loughlin 0-2, B Dalton 0-1, A Barry 0-1.		M Murphy 0-8, W O'Dwyer 1-4, J Walsh 1-0, S Holden 0-1, A McGovern 0-1.

Tullaroan v Glenmore

First round	Tullaroan	2-24 - 1-18	Glenmore
	M Walsh 1-2, T Walsh 0-5, B Teehan 0-5, L Keoghan 1-1, J Coogan 0-4, T Fitzgerald 0-3, P Doheny 0-2, N Sweeney 0-2.		M Phelan 0-10, M Murphy 1-0, J Phelan 0-3, P Mullally 0-1, W O'Connor 0-1, MT Phelan 0-1, P Murphy 0-1, W Fitzgerald 0-1.

Dicksboro v Mullinavat

First round replay	Dicksboro	2-09 - 0-09	Mullinavat
	J O'Gorman 2-0, E O'Donoghue 0-6, S Morrissey 0-2, D O'Neill 0-1.		M Murphy 0-4, J Roughan 0-2, C Conway 0-2, A McGovern 0-1.

Relegation play-off

Dunnamaggin v Mullinavat

4 October 2003Play-off

Dunnamaggin

3-11 - 1-09

Mullinavat

Quarter-finals

Graigue-Ballycallan v Dicksboro

Quarter-final	Graigue-Ballycallan	1-13 - 0-03	Dicksboro
	E Brennan 0-7, J Hoyne 1-0, G Cleere 0-2, A Ronan 0-2, E O'Dwyer 0-1, K Cleere 0-1.		S Morrissey 0-1, S Prendergast 0-1, D O'Neill 0-1.

James Stephens v Ballyhale Shamrocks

Quarter-final	James Stephens	0-18 - 1-14	Ballyhale Shamrocks
	J Murray 0-12, E McCormack 0-2, G Whelan 0-1, B McEvoy 0-1, P O'Brien 0-1, J Tyrrell 0-1.		H Shefflin 0-8, E Reid 1-2, J Fitzpatrick 0-3, B Aylward 0-1.

Young Irelands v Fenians

Quarter-final	Young Irelands	1-17 - 2-09	Fenians
	C Carter 0-7, DJ Carey 1-2, D Carter 0-5, D Carroll 0-2, J Fitzgerald 0-1.		K Power 1-6, L Ryan 1-2, P Quinlan 0-1.

O'Loughlin Gaels v Tullaroan

Quarter-final	O'Loughlin Gaels	1-10 - 0-12	Tullaroan
	N Skehan 1-7, B Dowling 0-3.		J Coogan 0-7, M Walsh 0-2, T Walsh 0-1, S Hennessy 0-1, T Fitzgerald 0-1.

Semi-finals

Young Irelands v Graigue-Ballycallan

Semi-final	Young Irelands	2-18 - 1-06	Graigue-Ballycallan	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	D Carter 1-5, DJ Carey 0-6, J Carey 1-0, D Carroll 0-3, O Carter 0-2, C Carter 0-2.		A Ronan 0-4, D Cleere 1-0, E O'Dwyer 0-1, J Hoyne 0-1.

O'Loughlin Gaels v James Stephens

Semi-final	O'Loughlin Gaels	2-13 - 2-12	James Stephens	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	N Skehan 1-5, J Comerford 1-0, S Dowling 0-2, A Geoghegan 0-2, B Kelly 0-1, S Cummins 0-1, M Comerford 0-1, B Dowling 0-1.		J Murray 0-6, E McCormack 0-4, R Hayes 1-0, E Larkin 1-0, P O'Brien 0-1, B McEvoy 0-1.

Final

O'Loughlin Gaels v Young Irelands

26 October 2003Final	O'Loughlin Gaels	3-09 - 2-12	Young Irelands	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	N Skehan 2-3 (1-2 frees), B Dowling 1-2, M Nolan 0-2, M Comerford and N Bergin 0-1 each.		DJ Carey 1-3 (0-3 frees), C Carter 0-4, J Carey 1-1, J Fitzgerald, O Carter, J McDermott and D Carroll 0-1 each.	Referee: D o'Sullivan (Callan)

O'Loughlin Gaels v Young Irelands

2 November 2003Final replay	O'Loughlin Gaels	2-12 - 2-10	Young Irelands	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	N Skehan (1-7); S Cummins (1-0), A Geoghegan (0-2); A Comerford (0-1), S Dowling (0-1); B Dowling (0-1).		DJ Carey (1-7), D Carroll (1-1), C Carter (0-2).	Referee: P Dunphy (Carrigeen)

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Nigel Skehan	O'Loughlin Gaels	5-22	37	4	9.25
2	D. J. Carey	Young Irelands	3-18	27	4	6.75
3	Joe Murray	James Stephens	0-25	25	3	8.33

References

1. Breheny, Martin (28 October 2002). "DJ's magical melody leaves Dunnamaggin in his wake". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
2. "Skehan's late strike halts Gowran charge". Irish Independent. 27 October 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
3. "Cummins snatches victory for Gaels". Irish Times. 3 November 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2018.