The championship was won by Waterford who secured the title following a 3–12 to 1–10 defeat of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.[1] This was their second All-Ireland title, their first in eleven championship seasons. It remains their last All-Ireland triumph.
Due to a lack of competition in their own province, the Galway County Board proposed a regrading to junior status in January 1958. This led to a wider debate regarding the structure of the championship. The abolition of the provincial system and the introduction of an open draw was rejected. Galway put forward their own proposal for the creation of a new "province" consisting of Galway, Clare, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath, however, this was also rejected. The possibility of starting the National Hurling League in April in an effort to give Galway some game time before the start of the championship was also discussed. At a meeting of the Munster Council on 10 January 1959 it was decided to invite Galway to participate in all grades of hurling in Munster on a temporary basis. This decision was later ratified at the GAA Congress.
In the Munster semi-final Waterford led All-Ireland champions Tipperary by 8–2 to 0–0 at half-time. Sports broadcaster Michael O'Hehir, who was commentating on another game, read the half-time result live on the radio but advised listeners not to pay any heed as he believed it to be a hoax.
Waterford qualified for a third consecutive Munster final for the first time in their history.
The All-Ireland final went to a replay for the first time since 1934. It held the record as the last replayed championship decider until 2012.
Phil Grimes became the first and only Waterford player to win two All-Ireland medals. He did not play in his county's first championship triumph in 1948, however, he played in the opening round of the championship and was entitled to a winners' medal.
Player facts
Debutantes
The following players made their début in the 1959 championship:
