| All Ireland Champions | |
|---|---|
| Winners | Galway (1st win) |
| All Ireland Runners-up | |
| Runners-up | Dublin |
| Provincial Champions | |
| Munster | Tipperary |
| Leinster | Dublin |
| Ulster | Antrim |
| Connacht | Galway |
← 1971 1973 → | |
The 1972 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship was the 9th staging of the All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1964.
Cork were the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Clare in the Munster quarter-final.
On 10 September 1972, Galway won the championship following a 2-9 to 1-10 defeat of Dublin in the All-Ireland final.[1] This was their first All-Ireland title in the under-21 grade.