On 3 September 2006, Kilkenny won the championship after a 1–16 to 1–13 defeat of Cork in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park.[3] This was their 29th All-Ireland title overall and their first title since 2003.[4]
Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin was the championship's top scorer with 2–47.
Twelve teams participated in hurling's top tier in 2006.
For the first time since 1983, the Ulster champions were not represented in the wider All-Ireland series of games. Antrim, in spite of being Ulster champions in 2005, subsequently lost all of their All-Ireland qualifier games and were relegated to the Christy Ring Cup after being beaten by Offaly and Laois in the relegation play-offs.[5]
H. Shefflin 1–7 (0–5 frees); M. Comerford 0–4; R. Power 0–3; E. Brennan and J. Fitzpatrick 0–2 each; R. Mullally, D. Lyng, J. Tyrrell, M. Rice and M. Fennelly 0–1 each.
A. Kerins 4–2; R. Murray 2–1; D. Hayes 1–2; G. Farragher 0–4 (0–1 free, 0–1 65); F. Healy 0–3; A. Keary 0–2; C. Connolly 0–2; D. Forde, K. Burke, 0–1 each.
D. Bennett (0–7, 0–5 f)); K. McGrath (1–3, 1–1 f)); J. Mullane (1–2); D. Shanahan (1–2); S. O’Sullivan (0–3); E. McGrath (0–2); T. Browne, M. Walsh and J. Kennedy (0–1 each).
D Bennett (0–7, 0–6 frees); E Kelly (0–4); J Mullane (0–4); K McGrath (0–4, 0–3 65s); P Flynn (1–0, f); M Walsh (0- 2); D Shanahan (0–2); S O’Sullivan, T Browne (0–1) each.
T. Griffin 1–5; D. O’Rourke 1–3; N. Gilligan 0–4 (0–1 free); J. Clancy 0–3; B. Nugent 0–2; F. Lynch, D. Quinn (free), B. O’Connell, A. Markham, 0–1 each.
J. Bergin 2–1 (1–0 free); B. Carroll 0–7 (0–6 frees); D. Hoctor 0–3; G. Hanniffy 0–2; B. Murphy 0–2; P. Cleary (free), K. Brady (65), D. Tanner, B. Whelehan, 0–1 each.
B. Foley 1–7 (0–3 frees 0–1 65); A. O’Shaughnessy 0–7 (0–3 frees); B. Begley 0–5; N. Moran 0–4; M. Foley 0–3 (frees); D. Ryan 1–0; M. O’Brien 0–2; C. Fitzgerald 0–1.
N. Gilligan 0–6 (0–2 frees); T. Carmody (0–5); T. Griffin 0–4; D. McMahon 1–1; A. Markham 0–3; S. McMahon 0–3 (frees); D. O’Connell 0–2; F. Lynch, B. Nugent, D. Quinn, 0–1 each.