| Championship details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1 June – 7 September 1986 |
| Teams | 14 |
| All-Ireland champions | |
| Winning team | Cork (26th win) |
| Captain | Tom Cashman |
| Manager | Johnny Clifford |
| All-Ireland Finalists | |
| Losing team | Galway |
| Captain | Noel Lane |
| Manager | Cyril Farrell |
| Provincial champions | |
| Munster | Cork |
| Leinster | Kilkenny |
| Ulster | Not Played |
| Connacht | Not Played |
| Championship statistics | |
| No. matches played | 13 |
| Top Scorer |
Jimmy Barry-Murphy (5–5) Kevin Hennessy (5–5) |
| Player of the Year | Ger Cunningham |
| All-Star Team | See here |
|
← 1985
1987 →
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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
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
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.