1997 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 1997 Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 111th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 11 May 1997 and ended on 28 September 1997.

1997 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Championship details
Dates11 May 1997 – 28 September 1997
Teams32
All-Ireland Champions
Winning teamKerry (31st win)
CaptainLiam Hassett
ManagerPáidí Ó Sé
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing teamMayo
CaptainNoel Connelly
ManagerJohn Maughan
Provincial Champions
MunsterKerry
LeinsterOffaly
UlsterCavan
ConnachtMayo
Championship statistics
Top Scorer Maurice Fitzgerald (0-28)
Player of the Year Maurice Fitzgerald
1996
1998

Meath entered the championship as the defending champions; however, they were defeated by Offaly in the Leinster final.

On 28 September 1997 Kerry, the most successful county in Gaelic football history, claimed their 31st All-Ireland title - and their first since 1986 - with a 0–13 to 1–7 victory over Mayo.

This year also saw Ulster's most successful county, Cavan, win their first provincial title since 1969.

Munster Championship format change

edit

A new 2 year system was introduced in Munster meaning that Kerry, Cork & Clare would have straight access to the Munster semi-finals for Limerick, Tipperary & Waterford would play in a Preliminary Round and the bye team in a lone Quarter final involved.

Fixtures and results

edit

Preliminary round

11 May 1997 Preliminary round Limerick 1-13 - 0-16 Tipperary Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
D Ryan 0-5, J Quane 1-1, M Galvin 0-3, Damien Reidy 0-2, D Fitzgibbon 0-1, N Frewen 0-1. D Browne 0-7, P Lambert 0-4, D Foley 0-3, S Owens 0-1, B Burke 0-1. Referee: N Barrett (Cork)
18 May 1997 Preliminary round replay Tipperary 1-17 - 2-8 Limerick Ned Hall Park, Clonmel
B Cummins 0-8, J Owens 1-1, D Browne 0-2, D Foley 0-2, B Burke 0-1, M Sheehan 0-1, J Williams 0-1, S Maher 0-1. Damien Reidy 1-1, J Quane 1-0, P Galvin 0-3, I Walsh 0-2, D Rayn 0-1, N frewen 0-1. Referee: N Barrett (Cork)

Quarter-final

1 June 1997 Quarter-final Waterford 1-5 - 2-7 Tipperary Fraher Field, Dungarvan
G Keane 1-2, O Costelloe 0-2, S Bergin 0-1. B Cummins 1-2, D Foley 1-0, M Sheehan 0-1, B Burke 0-1, J Williams 0-1, J Owens 0-1, D O'Connor 0-1. Referee: W O'Mahony (Limerick)

Semi-finals

22 June 1997 Semi-final Clare 1-14 - 1-13 Cork Cusack Park, Ennis
G Keane 0-8, M Daly 1-3, M Hynes 0-1, B Keating 0-1, C Shannon 0-1. C Corkery 0-4, S O'Brien 1-0, F Collins 0-3, A Dorgan 0-2, J Kavanagh 0-2, B Corcoran 0-1, B Murphy 0-1. Referee: M Curley (Galway)
29 June 1997 Semi-final Kerry 2-12 - 1-10 Tipperary Austin Stack Park, Tralee
M Fitzgerald 0-7, J Crowley 1-1, D O'Dwyer 1-0, L Hassett 0-2, D Ó Sé 0-1, K Burns 0-1. D Browne 1-1, B Cummins 0-3, D Foley 0-2, S Maher 0-1, B Burke 0-1, D Lyons 0-1, M Sheehan 0-1. Referee: K Walsh (Clare)

Final

20 July 1997 Final Kerry 1-13 - 0-11 Clare Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
P Laide 1-2, M Fitzgerald 0-5, D Ó Cinnéide 0-2, D Dwyer 0-1, B Clarke 0-1, MF Russell 0-1, J Crowley 0-1. M Daly 0-5, G Keane 0-4, F Lohan 0-1, J Enright 0-1. Referee: N Barrett (Cork)
Preliminary Round Quarter-final Semi-finals Final
Limerick 1-13
2-08
Tipperary 0-16
1-17
Tipperary 2-7
Waterford 1-5
Kerry 2-12
Tipperary 1-10
Kerry 1-13
Clare 0-11
Clare 2-13
Cork 1-14

First round

11 May 1997 First round Wexford 2-5 - 0-11 Westmeath O'Kennedy Park, New Ross
J Lawlor 1-1, M Mahon 1-0, L O'Brien 0-3, B Kirwan 0-1. K Lyons 0-3, M Flanagan 0-3, T Cleary 0-3, O Keating 0-1, G Heavin 0-1. Attendance: 2,000
Referee: S McCormack (Meath)
11 May 1997 First round Offaly 5-17 - 0-13 Longford O'Connor Park, Tullamore
A Kelly 1-3, R Malone 1-2, C McManus 1-2, V Claffey 1-1, C Quinn 1-0, P Brady 0-3, F Cullen 0-2, S Grennan 0-1, R Mooney 0-1, J Grennan 0-1, V Mooney 0-1. D Barr 0-6, E Barden 0-3, E McCormack 0-3, T Smullen 0-1. Attendance: 18,000
Referee: A Walsh (Dublin)
17 May 1997 First round replay Westmeath 2-17 - 1-15 Wexford Cusack Park, Mullingar
M Staunton 1-2, T Cleary 0-4, P Conway 1-0, G Heavin 0-3, S Colleary 0-2, M Treanor 0-2, J Murray 0-2, M Flanagan 0-1, J Cooney 0-1. J Byrne 0-8, S Dolan 1-1, Lawlor 0-4, Doran 0-1, Guinan 0-1.

Second round

25 May 1997 Second round Offaly 0-8 - 0-8 Westmeath O'Connor Park, Tullamore
V Claffey 0-4, P Brady 0-2, R Mooney 0-1, C McManus 0-1. T Cleary 0-7, J Cooney 0-1. Attendance: 11,000
Referee: P O'Toole (Longford)
7 June 1997 Second round replay Westmeath 0-7 - 1-14 Offaly Cusack Park, Mullingar
T Cleary 0-5, P Conway 0-1, G Heavin 0-1. D Reynolds 0-6, P Brady 1-2, V Claffey 0-2, C McManus 0-1, J Kenny 0-1, R Mooney 0-1, M Daly 0-1. Attendance: 11,000
Referee: P O'Toole (Longford)

Quarter-finals

1 June 1997 Quarter-final Louth 1-13 - 1-10 Carlow St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge
C Kelly 0-6, C O'Hanlon 1-0, A Rooney 0-2, A Hoey 0-2, O McDonnell 0-1, R Rooney 0-1, S O'Hanlon 0-1. A Keating 0-5, W Quinlan 1-0, P Nolan 0-2, J Nevin 0-2, S Kavanagh 0-1. Attendance: 8,000
Referee: J Bannon (Longford)
8 June 1997 Quarter-final Laois 1-7 - 1-11 Kildare Croke Park, Dublin
T Bowe 1-1, I Fitzgerald 0-3, T Maher 0-1, D Sweeney 0-1, L Turley 0-1. P Graven 0-8, G Ryan 1-2, N Buckley 0-1. Attendance: 25,211
Referee: P Casserly (Westmeath)
15 June 1997 Quarter-final Offaly 1-17 - 1-8 Wicklow Croke Park, Dublin
D Reynolds 0-7, P Brady 1-3, S Grennan 0-3, V Claffey 0-2, C McManus 0-1, M Daly 0-1. K O'Brien 1-0, C Daye 0-3, D McMahon 0-2, J Behan 0-1, S Miley 0-1, S O'Neill 0-1. Attendance: 62,342
Referee: P McGann
15 June 1997 Quarter-final Meath 1-13 - 1-10 Dublin Croke Park, Dublin
O Murphy 1-1, T Giles 0-3, J McDermott 0-2, T Dowd 0-2, B Reilly 0-2, J McGuinness 0-1, G Geraghty 0-1, E Kelly 0-1. C Redmond 0-4, K Barr 1-0, B Stynes 0-2, P Curran 0-1, E Heery 0-1, J Gavin 0-1, P Ward 0-1. Attendance: 62,342
Referee: B White (Wexford)

Semi-finals

29 June 1997 Semi-final Offaly 1-10 - 0-11 Louth Páirc Tailteann, Navan
D Reynolds 0-7, S Grennan 1-0, R Malone 0-2, V Claffey 0-1. C O'Hanlon 0-3, C Kelly 0-2, O McDonnell 0-2, S White 0-2, B Kerin 0-1, S Melia 0-1. Attendance: 18,000
Referee: J Bannon (Longford)
6 July 1997 Semi-final Kildare 1-9 - 0-12 Meath Croke Park, Dublin
M Lynch 1-0, P Graven 0-3, D Kerrigan 0-2, W McCreery 0-1, N Buckley 0-1, E McCormack 0-1, A Rainbow 0-1. T Giles 0-4, G Geraghty 0-3, J McGuinness 0-2, T Dowd 0-1, B Reilly 0-1, O Murphy 0-1. Attendance: 46,595
Referee: C Buckley (Offaly)
20 July 1997 Semi-final replay Kildare 3-17 - 2-20
(aet)
Meath Croke Park, Dublin
P Graven 0-6, P McCormack 0-4, N Buckley 0-4, T Harris 1-0, B Murphy 1-0, W McCreery 1-0, M Lynch 0-1, D Earley 0-1, P McCormack 0-1. T Giles 2-8, J Devine 0-4, B Reilly 0-3, T Dowd 0-2, O Murphy 0-2, G Geraghty 0-1. Attendance: 54,290
Referee: P O'Toole (Longford)
3 August 1997 Semi-final second replay Meath 1-12 - 1-10 Kildare Croke Park, Dublin
O Murphy 1-4, B Reilly 0-2, T Giles 0-2, J McDermott 0-1, C Coyle 0-1, J McGuinness 0-1, T Dowd 0-1. N Buckley 0-5, D Kerrigan 1-0, P Graven 0-3, M Lynch 0-1, E McCormack 0-1. Attendance: 55,572
Referee: P O'Toole (Longford)

Final

16 August 1997 Final Offaly 3-17 - 1-15 Meath Croke Park, Dublin
V Claffey 1-5, R Malone 2-0, C Cunn 0-4, P Brady 0-3, D Reynolds 0-3, C McManus 0-1, R Mooney 0-1. B Reilly 0-7, J McGuinness 1-2, O Murphy 0-3, T Giles 0-3. Attendance: 46,047
Referee: B White (Wexford)
2nd Round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Offaly 0-08
1-14
Westmeath 0-08
0-07
Offaly 1-17
Wicklow 1-08
Offaly 1-10
Louth 0-11
Louth 1-13
Carlow 1-10
Offaly 3-17
Meath 1-15
Laois 1-07
Kildare 1-11
Meath 0-12
2-20
1-12
Kildare 1-09
3-17
1-10
Meath 1-13
Dublin 1-10

Quarter-finals

25 May 1997 Quarter-final Galway 0-15 - 1-16 Mayo Tuam Stadium, Tuam
N Finnegan 0-9, J Donnellan 0-3, S Óg de Paor 0-1, D Meehan 0-1, V Daly 0-1. M Sheridan 0-8, PJ Loftus 1-0, D Nestor 0-2, L McHale 0-2, K McDonald 0-2, P Fallon 0-1, J Casey 0-1. Attendance: 18,500
1 June 1997 Quarter-final London 1-13 - 2-18
(aet)
Leitrim Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
P Hehir 0-6, T Maguire 0-5, F Hussey 1-0, S Hehir 0-2. D Darcy 2-11, F McBrien 0-3, P McLoughlin 0-2, G Flanagan 0-1, B Guckian 0-1.

Semi-finals

23 June 1997 Semi-final Sligo 1-14 - 1-11 Roscommon Markievicz Park, Sligo
P Taylor 0-8, D Sloyane 1-2, P Neary 0-3, E O'Hara 0-1. T Ryan 1-1, L Dolan 0-4, N Dinneen 0-2, D Duggan 0-1, A Nolan 0-1, T Connellan 0-1, N O'Donoghue 0-1.
29 June 1997 Semi-final Mayo 0-18 - 0-11 Leitrim MacHale Park, Castlebar
M Sheridan 0-7, K McDonald 0-4, D Byrne 0-2, P Holmes 0-1, K Mortimer 0-1, J Horan 0-1, J Casey 0-1, PJ Loftus 0-1. D Darcy 0-8, K McLoughlin 0-1, A Cullen 0-1, F McBrien 0-1.

Final

3 August 1997 Final Mayo 0-11 - 1-7 Sligo Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
M Sheridan 0-6, C McDonald 0-2, J Horan 0-1, D Nestor 0-1, R Golding 0-1. B Walsh 1-1, P Taylor 0-3, D Sloynane 0-1, K Killeen 0-1, P Durcan 0-1. Attendance: 22,000
Referee: M Curley (Galway)
Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Mayo 1-16
Galway 0-15 Mayo 0-18
Leitrim 2-18 Leitrim 0-11
London 1-13 Mayo 0-11
Sligo 1-07
Roscommon 1-11
Sligo 1-14

Preliminary round

18 May 1997 Preliminary round Down 2-9 - 0-15 Tyrone St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
J Treanor 0-5, G Mason 1-1, G Deegan 1-1, M Linden 0-2. A Cush 0-5, Peter Canavan 0-4, S Lawn 0-2, N Donnelly 0-1, C McBride 0-1, B Dooher 0-1. Referee: M McGrath (Donegal)
25 May 1997 Preliminary round replay Down 1-11 - 3-8 Tyrone St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
C McCabe 1-1, J Treanor 0-4, M Linden 0-3, C Deegan 0-1, G Deegan 0-1, F Caulfield 0-1. A Cush 0-5, Peter Canavan 1-1, S Lawn 1-0, M McGleenan 1-0, S McCallan 0-1, E Kilpatrick 0-1. Attendance: 24,622
Referee: M McGrath (Donegal)

Quarter-finals

25 May 1997 Quarter-final Donegal 2-12 - 1-13 Antrim MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
B Murray 1-1, T Boyle 1-1, M Boyle 0-4, N Hegarty 0-2, D Bonner 0-2, B McGowan 0-1, B McLaughlin 0-1. K Madden 1-2, P Derby 0-3, F Wilson 0-2, J Wilson 0-2, P McCann 0-2, M Mulholland 0-1, D Smyth 0-1. Attendance: 10,000
1 June 1997 Quarter-final Monaghan 2-8 - 1-11 Derry St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
S McGinnity 0-5, P Duffy 1-1, N Marron 1-0, D McArdle 0-1, D McKiernan 0-1. J Brolly 1-3, J Cassidy 0-3, A Tohill 0-2, F McCusker 0-1. Attendance: 10,340
Referee: M McBrien (Fermanagh)
8 June 1997 Quarter-final replay Derry 2-15 - 0-10 Monaghan Celtic Park, Derry
J Brolly 1-4, D Dougan 1-0, S Downey 0-3, J Cassidy 0-2, F McCusker 0-2, D Heaney 0-1, R Rocks 0-1, SM Lockhart 0-1, K McKeever 0-1. D Smith 0-5, D McKiernan 0-2, P Duffy 0-2, N Marron 0-1. Attendance: 10,500
Referee: M McBrien (Fermanagh)
8 June 1997 Quarter-final Cavan 1-12 - 1-12 Fermanagh St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
P Reilly 0-5, D McCabe 1-1, R Cunningham 0-3, M Graham 0-2, A Forde 0-1. R Gallagher 1-7, L McBarron 0-2, S King 0-1, C Curran 0-1, K Donnelly 0-1. Attendance: 14,783
Referee: J Curran (County Tyrone)
15 June 1997 Quarter-final Tyrone 1-12 - 0-12 Armagh Healy Park, Omagh
M McGleenan 1-2, Peter Canavan 0-5, A Cush 0-2, G Cavlan 0-1, B Dooher 0-1, C McBride 0-1. O McConville 0-8, M Toye 0-1, G Houlahan 0-1, K McGeeney 0-1, J Rafferty 0-1. Attendance: 22,000
Referee: P McEneaney (Monaghan)
15 June 1997 Quarter-final replay Cavan 0-14 - 0-11 Fermanagh St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
P Reilly 0-3, F Cahill 0-3, M Graham 0-2, A Forde 0-1, C Brady 0-1, D Brady 0-1, R Carolan 0-1, J Reilly 0-1. R Gallagher 0-5, S King 0-3, C Curran 0-2, M Gallagher 0-1. Attendance: 17,752
Referee: J Curran (County Tyrone)

Semi-finals

22 June 1997 Semi-final Cavan 2-16 - 2-10 Donegal St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
R Carolan 1-7, P Reilly 1-2, L Reilly 0-4, S King 0-1, D Reilly 0-1, R Cunningham 0-1. T Boyle 1-1, M Boyle 0-4, B McLaughlin 1-0, B Roper 0-2, D Bonner 0-2, N Hegarty 0-1. Attendance: 20,493
Referee: J Curran (County Tyrone)
29 June 1997 Semi-final Tyrone 2-3 - 2-15 Derry St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
N Donnelly 1-0, M McGleenan 1-0, Peter Canavan 0-2, A Cush 0-1. J Brolly 1-4, J Cassidy 0-4, S Downey 1-0, G Coleman 0-2, A Tohill 0-2, SM Lockhart 0-1, D Heaney 0-1, F McCusker 0-1. Attendance: 25,271
Referee: P McEneaney (Monaghan)

Final

20 July 1997 Final Cavan 1-14 - 0-16 Derry St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
R Carolan 0-6, J O'Reilly 1-0, P Reilly 0-3, L Reilly 0-2, F Cahill 0-1, R Cunningham 0-1, D McCabe 0-1. A Tohill 0-4, J Brolly 0-3, G Coleman 0-2, G McGill 0-2, J Cassidy 0-1, J McBride 0-1, F McCusker 0-1, K McKeever 0-1, D Dougan 0-1. Attendance: 34,349
Referee: P McEneaney (Monaghan)
Preliminary Round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Cavan 1-12
0-14
Fermanagh 1-12
0-11
Cavan 2-16
Donegal 2-10
Donegal 2-12
Antrim 1-13
Cavan 1-14
Derry 0-16
Monaghan 2-08
0-10
Derry 1-11
2-15
Tyrone 2-03
Derry 2-15
Tyrone 1-12
Down 2-09
0-11
Armagh 0-12
Tyrone 0-15
3-08

Semi-finals

24 August 1997 Semi-final Cavan 1-10 - 1-17 Kerry Croke Park, Dublin
F Cahill 1-1, R Carolan 0-4, D McCabe 0-2, P Reilly 0-1, L Reilly 0-1, D O'Reilly 0-1. M Fitzgerald 0-7, MF Russell 1-1, Billy O'Shea 0-2, E Breen 0-1, D Ó Sé 0-1, P Laide 0-1, L Hassett 0-1, D O'Dwyer 0-1, D Ó Cinnéide 0-1, B Clarke 0-1. Attendance: 60,072
Referee: P Casserly (Westmeath)
31 August 1997 Semi-final Mayo 0-13 - 0-7 Offaly Croke Park, Dublin
M Sheridan 0-4, K McDonald 0-3, D Nestor 0-2, F Costello 0-1, L McHale 0-1, K O'Neill 0-1, P Fallon 0-1. D Reynolds 0-4, C Quinn 0-1, P Brady 0-1, J Grennan 0-1. Attendance: 56,369
Referee: P Russell (Tipperary)

Final

28 September 1997 Final Kerry 0-13 - 1-7 Mayo Croke Park, Dublin
M Fitzgerald 0-9, P Laide 0-2, D Ó Sé 0-1, J Crowley 0-1. C McDonald 1-1, M Sheridan 0-3, J Horan 0-2, C McManamon 0-1. Attendance: 65,601
Referee: B White (Wexford)

Championship statistics

edit

Top scorers

edit
Overall
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average
1 Maurice Fitzgerald Kerry 0-28 28 4 7.00
2 Maurice Sheridan Mayo 0-27 27 5 5.20
David Reynolds Offaly 0-27 27 5 5.20
4 Declan Darcy Leitrim 2-19 25 2 12.50
5 Trevor Giles Meath 2-18 24 5 4.80
6 Joe Brolly Derry 3-14 23 4 5.75
7 Vinny Claffey Offaly 2-15 21 7 3.00
Ronan Carolan Cavan 1-18 21 5 4.25
9 Peter Brady Offaly 2-14 20 7 2.83
Pádraig Graven Kildare 0-20 20 4 5.00
Single game
Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition
1 Declan Darcy Leitrim 2-11 17 London
2 Trevor Giles Meath 2-8 14 Kildare
3 Raymond Gallagher Fermanagh 1-7 10 Cavan
Ronan Carolan Cavan 1-7 10 Fermanagh
5 Niall Finnegan Galway 0-9 9 Mayo
Maurice Fitzgerald Kerry 0-9 9 Mayo
7 Vinny Claffey Offaly 1-5 8 Meath
Brendan Cummins Tipperary 0-8 8 Limerick
Ger Keane Clare 0-8 8 Cork
Jim Byrne Wexford 0-8 8 Westmeath
Pádraig Graven Kildare 0-8 8 Laois
Maurice Sheridan Mayo 0-8 8 Galway
Paul Taylor Sligo 0-8 8 Roscommon
Declan Darcy Leitrim 0-8 8 Mayo
Oisín McConville Armagh 0-8 8 Tyrone

Miscellaneous

edit
  • On 11 May 1997, O'Kennedy Park, New Ross hosted its 1st game for 53 years it was the drawn game between Wexford vs Westmeath.
  • Clare record their first win over Cork since 1941.
  • Cavan win their first Ulster title since 1969 and last until 2020.
  • Offaly won their first Leinster title since 1982.
  • All Ireland semi-final Mayo vs Offaly was the first championship meeting between them.
  • Kerry end their longest drought as All Ireland Champions of 11 years.