1986 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1986 was the 100th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Cork won the championship, beating Galway 4–13 to 2–15 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.

Munster Championship
Participating counties (5): Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford

Quarter-final (1 match): This is a single match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Munster. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals (2 matches): The winner of the lone quarter-final joins the other three Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.

Final (1 match): The winner of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final.

Leinster Championship
Participating counties (6): Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford

Quarter-finals: (2 matches): These are two matches between the first four teams drawn from the province of Leinster. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals (2 matches): The winners of the two quarter-finals join the other two Leinster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.

Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final.

All-Ireland Championship
Quarter-final (1 match): This is a single match between Galway and the winners of the All-Ireland 'B' championship. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-final where they play the Leinster champions.

Semi-finals (2 matches): The winners of the lone quarter-final join the Munster and Leinster champions and Antrim to make up the semi-final pairings. The provincial champions are kept apart in separate semi-finals. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.

Final (1 match): The two winners of the semi-finals contest this game.

To Championship
Qualified from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship


 * Kerry

From Championship
Regraded to the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship


 * London

General information
Fourteen counties will compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: one team from the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, six teams in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, five teams in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, one team from the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship and one team from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship.

Scoring

 * Hat-trick heroes:
 * First hat-trick of the championship: P. J. Cuddy for Laois against Offaly (Leinster semi-final)
 * Second hat-trick of the championship: Noel Lane for Galway against Kerry (All-Ireland quarter-final)
 * Third hat-trick of the championship: Jimmy Barry-Murphy for Cork against Antrim (All-Ireland semi-final)
 * Widest winning margin: 30 points
 * Galway 4–24 : 1–3 Kerry (Leinster quarter-final)
 * Most goals in a match: 8
 * Cork 7–11 : 1–24 Antrim (All-Ireland semi-final)
 * Most points in a match: 39
 * Kilkenny 1–21 : 0–18 Wexford (Leinster quarter-final)
 * Most goals by one team in a match: 7
 * Cork 7–11 : 1–24 Antrim (All-Ireland semi-final)
 * Most goals scored by a losing team: 4
 * Laois 4–9 : 1–23 Offaly (Leinster semi-final)
 * Most points scored by a winning team: 24
 * Galway 4–24 : 1–3 Kerry (Leinster quarter-final)
 * Most points scored by a losing team: 24
 * Antrim 1–24 : 7–11 Cork (All-Ireland semi-final)