1969 Railway Cup Hurling Championship

The 1969 Railway Cup Hurling Championship was the 43rd series of the hurling Railway Cup. Four matches were played between 23 February and 6 April 1969. It was contested by Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

1969 Railway Cup

Dates	23 February – 6 April 1969
Teams	Connacht Leinster Munster Ulster
Champions	Munster (31st title)
Tournament statistics
Matches played	4
Goals scored	20 (5 per match)
Points scored	69 (17.25 per match)
← 1968 (Previous) (Next) 1970 →

Munster were the winners for the second year in-a-row and for the 31st occasion overall.

Format

Preliminary round: (1 match) This was a single match between Connacht and Ulster, generally regarded as the two 'weakest' teams in the championship. One team was eliminated at this stage while the winning team advanced to the semi-final.

Semi-final: (1 match) This was a single match between the winners of the preliminary round and Leinster. One team was eliminated at this stage while the winning team advanced to the final.

Final: (1 match) This winners of the semi-final and Munster, who received a bye to this stage, contested this game.

Results

Railway Cup

February 23
Preliminary round

Ulster	3–8 – 3–9	Connacht
M. Stafford (0–5), B. McGarry (1–0), B. Faloone (1–0), A. Hamill (1–0), N. Wheeler (0–1), S. Burns (0–1), P. Braniff (0–1).		B. Mitchell (3–1), P. Fahy (0–3), B. O'Connor (0–3), J. Connolly (0–2).

Casement Park, Belfast

Referee: C. Foley (Dublin)

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March 2
Semi-final

Connacht	1–11 – 2–6	Leinster
B. O'Connor (1–1), J. Connolly (0–4), P. Mitchell (0–2), D. Coen (0–2), M. O'Connor (0–1), W. Murphy (0–1).		J. Berry (1–1), T. Doran (1–0), E. Keher (0–2), P. J. Whelahan (0–2), P. Molloy (0–1).

Duggan Park, Ballinasloe

Referee: E. O'Brien (Westmeath)

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March 17
Final

Munster	2–9 – 2–9	Connacht
J. Doyle (0–5), É. Cregan (1–1), J. Callinan (1–0), J. Flanagan (0–2), J. McCarthy (0–1).		B. O'Connor (1–1), D. Coen (1–0), J. Connolly (0–3), M. O'Connor (0–2), P. Fahy (0–1), W. Murphy (0–1), S. Stanley (0–1).

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: C. Foley (Dublin)

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April 6
Final Replay

Connacht	4–4 – 3–13	Munster
P. Fahy (3–1), B. O'Connor (1–0), J. Connolly (0–2), W. Murphy (0–1).		J. Doyle (1–7), N. O'Dwyer (1–1), C. Cullinane (1–0), É. Cregan (0–2), J. McCarthy (0–1), L. Gaynor (0–1), P. J. Ryan (0–1).

Pearse Stadium, Galway

Referee: C. Foley (Dublin)

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Top scorers

Season

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Jimmy Doyle	Munster	1–12	15	2	7.50
2	Paddy Fahy	Connacht	3–5	14	3	4.66
	Bernie O'Connor	Connacht	3–5	14	3	4.66

Sources

• Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).