The 2005 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 119th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament, since its establishment in 1887. The draw for the provincial fixtures took place on 17 October 2004. The championship began on 15 May 2005 and ended on 11 September 2005.
Sylvester Linnane is an Irish retired 3 time All-Star winning hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Galway senior team.
Nicholas J. "Nicky" English is an Irish former hurler who played as a full-forward at senior level for the Tipperary county team.
Gerard Cunningham is an Irish hurling manager and former player who played for Cork Senior Championship club St Finbarr's. He played for the Cork senior hurling team for 20 years, during which time he lined out as a goalkeeper. Unchallenged in the number one position for his entire career, Cunningham is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Ben O'Connor is an Irish hurling coach and former player. He is the current coach of the Charleville intermediate team. O'Connor played for Cork Senior Championship club Newtownshandrum and was a member of the Cork senior hurling team for 14 seasons, during which time he usually lined out as a right wing-forward. Noted for his commanding presence and scoring ability on the wing, he is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.
Oliver Canning is an Irish retired hurler who played as a left corner-back for the Galway senior team.
Joseph Cooney is an Irish former hurler who played as a centre-forward at senior level for the Galway county team.
Anthony "Tony" O'Sullivan is an Irish retired hurler and Gaelic footballer who played as a right wing-forward for the Cork senior hurling team.
Ger Power is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for the Austin Stacks club and at senior level for the Kerry county team between 1973 and 1988. Power captained Kerry to the All-Ireland title in 1980.
Noel Lane is an Irish former hurler who played as a full-forward at senior level for the Galway county team.
Ger Henderson is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s.
John Henderson is an Irish retired hurler who played as a corner-back and as a full-back for the Kilkenny and Wicklow senior teams.
Joseph Patrick Hennessy is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team.
Ger FitzGerald is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right corner-forward for the Cork senior team.
Joseph Canning is an Irish hurler who plays for club side Portumna and previously at inter-county level with the Galway senior hurling team. Often considered one of the greatest players of his generation and widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all time, Canning enjoyed a 14-season career with the Galway senior hurling team, won five All-Stars and was named GAA-GPA Hurler of the Year in 2017. He won seven major trophies in his inter-county career, including one All-Ireland Championship, three Leinster Championships and three National Hurling Leagues. A prolific scorer from play and placed balls, Canning holds the record for most sideline cuts scored (28) and is the championship's all-time top scorer with 27 goals and 486 points. His 62 championship appearances is a Galway record.
Thomas Joseph Reid, known as T. J. Reid, is an Irish hurler who plays for Kilkenny Senior Championship club Ballyhale Shamrocks and at inter-county level with the Kilkenny senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a centre-forward.
Séamus Callanan is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Senior Championship club Drom-Inch and is the captain of the Tipperary senior hurling team. Often considered one of the best players of the current generation, Callanan has been a four-time nominee for Hurler of the Year, winning the award in 2019, and has won four All-Stars. He has won ten major trophies in his inter-county career, including three All-Ireland Championships, six Munster Championships and one National League. A prolific goalscorer, Callanan holds the Tipperary record for most championship goals scored (36) and is the confirmed joint second-highest goalscorer in championship history. He has scored 58 career goals overall in more than 100 league and championship appearances.
Patrick Horgan is an Irish hurler who plays for Cork Senior Championship club Glen Rovers and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a forward.
Aidan Harte is an Irish hurler who plays for Galway Senior Championship Gort and previously at inter-county level with the Galway senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a left wing-back.
Pádraic Mannion is an Irish hurler, he also plays as a right wing-back for club side Ahascragh-Fohenagh and at inter-county level with the Galway senior hurling team. His brother, Cathal, also plays for both teams.
