The 2002 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Guinness Hurling Championship 2002) was the 116th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Kilkenny won the championship, beating Clare 2-20 to 0-19 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin. The championship Format Leinster Championship First round: (3 matches) These are three games between six of the 'weaker' teams drawn from the province of Leinster. Three teams are eliminated at this stage while the three winning teams advance to the second round. Second round: (2 matches) The three winners of the first-round games join a fourth Leinster team to make up the second round pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the two winning teams advance to the quarter-final. Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Munster. One team is eliminated from the provincial championship at this stage while the winning team advances to the semi-finals. Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the lone quarter-final join the other three Leinster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated from the provincial championship at this stage while the two winning teams advance to the final. Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest the Leinster final. The runners-up advance to the All-Ireland qualifiers while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final. Munster Championship Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Munster. One team is eliminated from the provincial championship at this stage while the winning team advances to the semi-finals. Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the lone quarter-final join the other three Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated from the provincial championship at this stage while the two winning teams advance to the final. Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest the Munster final. The runners-up advance to the All-Ireland qualifiers while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final. Ulster Championship Quarter-final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Ulster. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winning team advances to the semi-finals. Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the lone quarter-final join the other three Ulster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated