1974 Croke Cup
{{short description|Irish hurling competition}}
{{Infobox hurling championship
|name=1974 Croke Cup
|image=
|imagesize=
|caption=
|dates= 7–28 April 1974
|teams=3
|sponsor=
|champions= File:Colours of Antrim.svg St Finbarr's College
|count= 4
|champions captain= Tadhg Murphy
|champions manager= Michael O'Brien
|runners-up= File:Colours of Sligo.svg St Kieran's College
|runners-up captain=
|runners-up manager=
|promoted=
|relegated=
|matches= 2
|goals= 9
|points= 39
|top scorer= File:Colours of Antrim.svg Brendan Fennelly (2-15)
|previous year=1973
|previous tournament=1973 Croke Cup
|next year=1975
|next tournament= 1975 Croke Cup
}}
The 1974 Croke Cup was the 23rd staging of the Croke Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1944. The competition ran from 7 April to 28 April 1974.
St Peter's College were the defending champions, however, they were beaten by St Kieran's College in the Leinster final.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/sport/gaa/st-peters-college-to-celebrate-bringing-1973-all-ireland-hurling-title-home-to-wexford/a460637434.html|title=St Peter’s College to celebrate bringing 1973 All-Ireland hurling title home to Wexford|publisher=Wexford People|date=10 May 2023|access-date=26 June 2023|first=Alan|last=Aherne}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/sport/gaa/st-peters-college-in-wexford-to-honour-1973-all-ireland-winning-senior-hurling-team/a156760152.html|title=St Peter’s College in Wexford to honour 1973 All-Ireland winning Senior hurling team|publisher=Wexford People|date=3 May 2023|access-date=26 June 2023|first=|last=}}
The final was played on 28 April 1974 at Fraher Field in Dungarvan, between St Finbarr's College and St Kieran's College, in what was their fourth meeting in the final and a first meeting in two years.{{cite web|url=https://galwaybayfm.ie/sports/pres-athenry-defeats-kilkenny-cbs-croke-cup-hurling-semi-final/|title=Pres Athenry Defeats Kilkenny CBS In Croke Cup Hurling Semi-Final|publisher=Galway Bay FM|date=19 March 2018|access-date=26 June 2023|first=|last=}} St Finbarr's College won the match by 2–11 to 1–12 to claim a fourth Croke Cup title overall and a first title in two years.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20298110.html|title=Cork says farewell to the mighty Canon|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=17 November 2014|access-date=26 June 2023|first=Jim|last=O'Sullivan}}{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/canon-obrien-death-1781779-Nov2014/|title=Cork All-Ireland winning boss 'Canon' Michael O'Brien has died|publisher=The 42|date=15 November 2014|access-date=26 June 2023|first=|last=}}
Brendan Fennelly was the top scorer wit 2-15.
Qualification
Results
=Semi-final=
{{footballbox collapsible
| date = 7 April 1974
| round = Semi-final
| team1 = St Kieran's College
| score = 5-12 - 1-04
| team2 = Our Lady's College
| report =
| goals1 = B Fennelly 2-5, J Prendergast 1-2, K Brennan 1-2, T Doheny 1-1, D Reid 0-1, S Brennan 0-1.
| goals2 = GP Fahy 1-1, P Gill 0-2, P O'Connor 0-1.
| stadium = MacDonagh Park
| referee =
}}
=Final=
{{footballbox collapsible
| date = 28 April 1974
| round = Final
| team1 = St Finbarr's College
| score = 2-11 - 1-12
| team2 = St Kieran's College
| report =
| goals1 = J Higgins 1-4, T Murphy 1-2, G McEvoy 0-1, F Tobin 0-1, T Hourihane 0-1, S Collins 0-1, J Crowley 0-1.
| goals2 = B Fennelly 0-10, S Brennan 1-1, K Brennan 0-1.
| stadium = Fraher Field
| referee =
}}
Statistics
=Top scorers=
;Overall
| class="wikitable" |
| Rank
! Player ! County ! Tally ! Total ! Matches ! Average |
|---|
| rowspan=1 align=center|1
|align=center|2-15 |align=center|21 |align=center|2 |align=center|10.50 |
| rowspan=1 align=center|2
|John Higgins |align=center|1-04 |align=center|7 |align=center|1 |align=center|7.00 |
| rowspan=1 align=center|3
|align=center|1-03 |align=center|6 |align=center|2 |align=center|3.00 |