First All-Ireland Hurling Championship final

Background. County committees began establishing in 1886, leading to the GAA running its inaugural All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1887. Inter-club contests had drawn huge crowds in 1885 and 1886. The competition was open to affiliated clubs, with county championship winners representing their counties in the All-Ireland series. The inaugural championship used an open draw format, distinct from later provincial series.

Competition Format. The inaugural championship operated on a straight knockout basis, where a first loss eliminated a team. Unlike later years, the 1887 competition did not include provincial series games. Instead, it relied on an open draw format. The final was the culmination of games played during the summer, though the specific venue for the first final was Birr, not the later regular venue of Croke Park.

Final Result. The first championship match occurred on 2 July 1887 between Galway and Wexford. The final itself was contested on 1 April 1888 in Birr, County Offaly. Tipperary defeated Galway in this match to secure the inaugural title. This victory established Tipperary as the first winner of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.