title: 1996 All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
text: # 1996 All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
  
  The 1996 All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was the 75th staging of the All-Ireland Junior Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1912. The championship began on 26 May 1996 and ended on 14 September 1996.
  
  Kilkenny entered the championship as the defending champions
  
  The All-Ireland final was played on 14 September 1996 at O'Connor Park in Tullamore, between Galway and Kilkenny, in what was their first meeting in the final in 12 years. Galway won the match by 1-14 to 2-09 to claim their second championship title overall and a first title since 1939.
  
  Cork's Jimmy Smiddy was the championship's top scorer with 4-15.
  
  ## Championship statistics
  
  ### Top scorers
  
  **Top scorers overall**
  
  | Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Jimmy Smiddy | Cork | 4-25 | 27 | 5 | 5.40 |
  | 2 | Pat O'Grady | Kilkenny | 0-20 | 20 | 3 | 6.66 |
  | 3 | Brian O'Driscoll | Cork | 3-07 | 16 | 5 | 3.20 |
  | 3 | Dan O'Connell | Cork | 2-10 | 16 | 5 | 3.20 |
  | 5 | Michael Connolly | Galway | 0-15 | 15 | 3 | 5.00 |
  
  **Top scorers in a single game**
  
  | Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Robert Shortall | Kilkenny | 3-03 | 12 | Laois |
  | 1 | Jimmy Smiddy | Cork | 2-06 | 12 | Limerick |
  | 3 | Pat O'Grady | Kilkenny | 0-08 | 8 | Laois |
  | 4 | John Ryan | Tipperary | 1-04 | 7 | Cork |
  | 4 | Dan O'Connell | Cork | 1-04 | 7 | Clare |
  | 4 | Séamus Byrne | Wexford | 1-04 | 7 | Offaly |
  | 4 | Timmy Dooley | Offaly | 1-04 | 7 | Wexford |
  | 4 | Pat O'Grady | Kilkenny | 0-07 | 7 | Wexford |
  | 4 | Michael Connolly | Galway | 0-07 | 7 | Cork |
  | 4 | Michael Connolly | Galway | 0-07 | 7 | Kilkenny |
  