The 2004 Interprovincial Hurling Championship was the 77th series of the inter-provincial hurling championship, also known as the Railway Cup. Three matches were played between 23 October 2004 and 5 December 2004 to decide the title. It was contested by Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

Leinster entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Munster at the semi-final stage.

On 5 December 2004, Connacht won the Railway Cup after a 1-15 to 0-09 defeat of Munster in the final at Pearse Stadium in Galway. It was their 11th Railway Cup title overall and their first title since 1998.

Connacht's Niall Healy and Munster's Eoin Kelly were the Interprovincial Championship joint top scorers with 0-12 each.

Results

Semi-finals

23 October 2004 Semi-finalUlster2-11 - 2-24ConnachtCasement Park, Belfast
B McFall (1-4, frees), M Herron (1-2), G Johnson (0-3), B McGourty (0-2).N Healy (0-11, five frees), E Tannaghan (2-2), O Fahy (0-3), A Kerins (0-2), D Tierney (0-2); F Healy (0-2), D O'Brien (0-1), D Collins (0-1).Referee: B Gavin (Offaly)
24 October 2004 Semi-finalLeinster0-13 - 1-21MunsterCroke Park, Dublin
J Young (0-5, 65, 3f); E Brennan (0-2), M Jacob (0-2), B Murphy (0-2), J Hoyne (0-1), R Mullally (0-1).N Gilligan (0-6, two 65's), J Deane (1-2), E Kelly (0-5, four frees), O Moran (0-2); E Corcoran (0-2), J Mullane (0-2), T Browne (0-1), D Bennett (0-1).Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim)

Final

5 December 2004 FinalConnacht1-15 - 0-09MunsterPearse Stadium, Galway
M Kerins (0-6, 3 frees), D Donoghue (1-1), O Fahy (0-4), K Broderick (0-2); D Collins (0-1), N Healy (0-1).E Kelly (0-7, frees), N Gilligan (0-2, 1 free, 1 65).Attendance: 815 Referee: É Morris (Dublin)

Top scorers

Overall

RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Niall HealyConnacht0-121226.00
Eoin KellyMunster0-121226.00

Single game

RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalOpposition
1Niall HealyConnacht0-1111Ulster
2Enda TannaghanConnacht2-028Ulster
3Brian McFallUlster1-047Connacht
Eoin KellyMunster0-077Connacht

Sources

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