1991 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1991 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	19 May – 15 September 1991
Teams	32
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Down (4th win)
Captain	Paddy O'Rourke
Manager	Pete McGrath
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Meath
Captain	Liam Hayes
Manager	Seán Boylan
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Meath
Ulster	Down
Connacht	Roscommon
Championship statistics
No. matches played	38
Top Scorer	Brian Stafford (4–62)
Player of the Year	Colm O'Rourke
← 1990 1992 →

The 1991 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 105th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 19 May 1991 and ended on 15 September 1991.

In the Munster semi-final Kerry ended Cork's 2 years as All Ireland champions.

Down defeated Meath in the final by a scoreline of 1–16 to 1–14. The Ulster county's victory was to be the start of four consecutive All-Ireland titles for the province. For Meath, it was their second consecutive defeat in a final, having lost to Cork in the 1990 final.

The Championship was noted for the tie between Dublin and Meath that took three replays to decide.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

London v Mayo

2 June 1991Quarter-final	London	2–9 – 6–14	Mayo	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
	J Landy 0–6, P McIntyre 1–0, J McCormack 1–0, T McDonnell 0–1, R Flaherty 0–1, T McBride 0–1.		N Durkan 3–1, T Morley 2–0, R Dempsey 1–1, L McHale 0–3, C McMenamin 0–2, S Maher 0–2, M Fitzmaurice 0–2, P McStay 0–2, WJ Padden 0–1.	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: J Carney (Roscommon)

Leitrim v Sligo

9 June 1991Quarter-final	Leitrim	1–16 – 0–5	Sligo	Páirc Sheáin Mhic Dhiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
	C Mahon 0–7, S Heslin 1–1, B Breen 0–2, P Kenny 0–2, M Quinn 0–2, M Martin 0–1, P Kieran 0–1.		D McGoldrick 0–2, T Deignan 0–2, D Keaveney 0–1.	Attendance: 8,000 Referee: J Cosgrove (County Mayo)

Semi-finals

Mayo v Galway

23 June 1991Semi-final	Mayo	3–11 – 0–6	Galway	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	M Fitzmaurice 0–6, P McStay 1–2, T Morley 1–0, N Durkan 1–0, R Dempsey 0–3.		F O'Neill 0–3, T Kilcommins 0–1, C O'Dea 0–1, H Blehein 0–1.	Attendance: 18,000 Referee: F Finan (Sligo)

Leitrim v Roscommon

30 June 1991Semi-final	Leitrim	0–8 – 0–12	Roscommon	Páirc Sheáin Mhic Dhiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
	C mahon 0–3, P Kenny 0–2, B Breen 0–2, L Conlon 0–1.		T McManus 0–5, D Duggan 0–3, M Donlon 0–3, T Grehan 0–1.	Attendance: 11,000 Referee: P Egan (Galway)

Finals

Mayo v Roscommon

14 July 1991Final	Mayo	0–14 – 0–14	Roscommon	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	L Mchale 0–2, M Fitzmaurice 0–2, T Morley 0–2, R Dempsey 0–2, P McStay 0–2, WJ Padden 0–1, C McMenamon 0–1, T Tierney 0–1, TJ Kilgallon 0–1.		D Duggan 0–6, P Earley 0–2, T McManus 0–2, P Hickey 0–1, M Reilly 0–1, J Newton 0–1, M Donlon 0–1.	Attendance: 25,000 Referee: P Egan (Galway)

Roscommon v Mayo

28 July 1991Final replay	Roscommon	0–13 – 1–9	Mayo	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	D Duggan 0–8, M Donlon 0–2, J Newton 0–1, T Grehan 0–1, T McManus 0–1.		A Finnerty 1–0, M Fitzmaurice 0–3, P McStay 0–2, T Tierney 0–1, C McMenamon 0–1, L McHale 0–1, WJ Padden 0–1.	Attendance: 24,000 Referee: P Egan (Galway)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

Note for the first time since 1975 there's a full, straightforward or proper open draw: top county teams such as Dublin, Meath or Offaly no longer get byes to the teams to the Quarter-finals.

Preliminary round

Carlow v Wexford

19 May 1991Preliminary round	Carlow	2–7 – 3–14	Wexford	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	L Molloy 1–2, J Nevin 1–0, M Nolan 0–2, J Murphy 0–2, A Callinan 0–1.		L Rafter 1–3, M Stafford 1–2, M Fleming 1–1, M Hendrick 0–3, J Harrington 0–2, J Power 0–1, C Javans 0–1, G Watters 0–1.	Referee: A Maher (Laois)

Louth v Longford

26 May 1991Preliminary round	Louth	2–13 – 2–12	Longford	Drogheda Park, Drogheda
	J McDonnell 1–2, C O'Hanlon 1–2, P Butterly 0–5, B Kerins 0–3, D Reilly 0–1.		D Barry 0–6, C Fox 1–1, C Bawle 1–0, B O'Connor 0–2, R Culhane 0–1, G Fox 0–1, P Victory 0–1.	Referee: V Lynch (Meath)

Dublin v Meath

2 June 1991Preliminary round	Dublin	1–12 – 1–12	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	C Redmond 0–7, M Galvin 1–0, P Curran 0–2, T Carr 0–1, J Sheedy 0–1, V Murphy 0–1.		B Stafford 1–4, B Flynn 0–3, T Dowd 0–2, PJ Gillic 0–2, S Kelly 0–1.	Attendance: 51,144 Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Dublin v Meath

9 June 1991Preliminary round replay	Dublin	1–11 – 1–11 (aet)	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Rock 0–8, J Sheedy 1–0, E Heery 0–1, P Clarke 0–1, K Duff 0–1.		B Stafford 0–5, D Beggy 1–1, PJ Gillic 0–2, S Kelly 0–1, C O'Rourke 0–1, B Flynn 0–1.	Attendance: 60,960 Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Dublin v Meath

23 June 1991Preliminary round second replay	Dublin	1–14 – 2–11 (aet)	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	P Clark 1–1, B Rock 0–3, N Guiden 0–3, J Sheedy 0–2, J Nally 0–2, P Bealin 0–1, D Sheehan 0–1, P Curran 0–1.		B Stafford 0–10, B Flynn 1–1, C Coyle 1–0.	Attendance: 62,736 Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Dublin v Meath

6 July 1991Preliminary round third replay	Dublin	0–15 – 2–10	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	C Redmond 0–5, N Guiden 0–4, P Curran 0–2, D Sheehan 0–2, M Galvin 0–2.	Report	B Stafford 1–6, K Foley 1–0, B Flynn 0–2, M McCabe 0–1, D Beggy 0–1.	Attendance: 61,543 Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Quarter-finals

Laois v Westmeath

9 June 1991Quarter-final	Laois	1–17 – 0–6	Westmeath	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
				Referee: N Whelan (Wexford)

Louth v Kildare

16 June 1991Quarter-final	Louth	2–11 – 2–10	Kildare	Drogheda Park, Drogheda
	S White 2–4, P Butterly 0–4, B Kerins 0–2, F Murphy 0–1.		P McLoughlin 0–6, D Kerrigan 1–1, J Gilroy 1–0, J McDonald 0–2, B Donovan 0–1.	Attendance: 15,000 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Wexford v Offaly

16 June 1991Quarter-final	Wexford	0–7 – 1–7	Offaly	Wexford Park, Wexford
	B Dodd 0–3, M Stafford 0–1, J Harrington 0–1, M Hanrick 0–1, M Fleming 0–1.		B Lowry 1–2, P Brady 0–3, D Claffey 0–1, V Claffey 0–1.	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: D Guerin (Dublin)

Meath v Wicklow

14 July 1991Quarter-final	Meath	1–9 – 0–12	Wicklow	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 1–6, M McCabe 0–2, C O'Rourke 0–1.		C Daye 0–4, K O'Brien 0–3, P Baker 0–1, M Murtagh 0–1, F Daly 0–1, B Kenny 0–1, P O'Byrne 0–1.	Attendance: 35,123 Referee: N Whelan (Wexford)

Meath v Wicklow

21 July 1991Quarter-final replay	Meath	1–12 – 1–9	Wicklow	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 0–6, B Flynn 1–2, M O'Connell 0–1, L Hayes 0–1, D Beggy 0–1, C O'Rourke 0–1.		P Baker 1–4, F Daly 0–2, P Byrne 0–1, C Daye 0–1, A O'Sullivan 0–1.	Attendance: 41,215 Referee: N Whelan (Wexford)

Semi-finals

Laois v Louth

7 July 1991Semi-final	Laois	1–10 – 2–7	Louth	Croke Park, Dublin
	M Turley 0–6, L Turley 1–0, C Maher 0–2, T Maher 0–1, M Lawlor 0–1.		C O'Hanlon 1–1, P Butterly 1–1, S White 0–3, B Kearns 0–2.	Attendance: 16,441 Referee: P Whelan (Wicklow)

Laois v Louth

14 July 1991Semi-final replay	Laois	2–14 – 0–12	Louth	Croke Park, Dublin
	M Lawlor 2–3, M Turley 0–6, N Roe 0–2, C Maher 0–1, T Maher 0–1, P Roe 0–1.		P Butterly 0–4, B Kerins 0–2, N Browne 0–2, F Murphy 0–1, S O'Hanlon 0–1, L McGuigan 0–1, S White 0–1.

Meath v Offaly

28 July 1991Semi-final	Meath	2–13 – 0–7	Offaly	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 1–6, J McDermott 1–0, C Coyle 0–2, B Flynn 0–2, PJ Gillic 0–1, T Dowd 0–1, C O'Rourke 0–1.		D Reynolds 0–2, V Claffey 0–2, P Brady 0–1, B Lowry 0–1, Derek Claffey 0–1.	Attendance: 22,038 Referee: J Woods (Dublin)

Final

Meath v Laois

10 August 1991Final	Meath	1–11 – 0–8	Laois	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 0–5, D Beggy 1–0, B Flynn 0–3, C Coyle 0–2, C O'Rourke 0–1.		M Turley 0–4, L Turley 0–2, P Roe 0–1.	Attendance: 28,157 Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Munster Senior Football Championship

In 1991, for the first time in years, the Munster Championship got rid of its seeded draw system and moved to an open draw. With the exception of Tipperary in 1935, Kerry or Cork had won every Munster title since 1923. The open draw was expected to weaken Kerry and Cork, and improve Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. Since 1947, Cork vs Kerry was the most common Munster final until 1990, but less common from then on.

Quarter-finals

Clare v Kerry

26 May 1991Quarter-final	Clare	2–12 – 5–16	Kerry	Cusack Park, Ennis
	G Killeen 1–1, S Keane 1–1, M Flynn 0–4, F McInerney 0–3, MJ Thynne 0–2, P Vaughan 0–1.		D Farrell 2–1, M Fitzgerald 0–7, J O'Shea 0–4, P Dennehy 1–0, W Maher 0–3, C Murphy 1–0, T Fleming 0–1.	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: R Moloney (Limerick)

Limerick v Tipperary

26 May 1991Quarter-final	Limerick	0–14 – 2–7	Tipperary	Páirc na nGael, Askeaton
	T Cummins 0–4, J Donovan 0–3, L Long 0–2, D Larkin 0–2, E Sheehan 0–1, S Kelly 0–1, P Danaher 0–1.		J Dunne 1–0, D Hogan 1–0, P Lambert 0–3, D Hahesay 0–1, J O'Meara 0–1, C McGrath 0–1, J Costello 0–1.	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: T Sugrue (Kerry)

Semi-finals

Kerry v Cork

16 June 1991Semi-final	Kerry	1–10 – 0–11	Cork	Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
	M Fitzgerald 0–5, J Cronin 1–1, T Fleming 0–1, A O'Donovan 0–1, J O'Shea 0–1, P Dennehy 0–1.		L Tompkins 0–2, J O'Driscoll 0–2, D Culloty 0–2, D Barry 0–1, M Slocum 0–1, S Fahy 0–1, P McGrath 0–1, M McCarthy 0–1.	Attendance: 41,334 Referee: P Russell (Tipperary)

Waterford v Limerick

23 June 1991Semi-final	Waterford	0–11 – 0–13	Limerick	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	E O'Brien 0–3, P Whyte 0–2, P Ferncombe 0–1, M McGrath 0–1, P Queally 0–1, P Hynes 0–1, L Dalton 0–1, L O'Connor 0–1.		D Fitzgibbon 0–2, T Cummins 0–2, D Fitzgerald 0–2, J O'Donovan 0–2, E Sheehan 0–1, L Long 0–1, D Larkin 0–1, J Reddington 0–1, J Quane 0–1.	Referee: J O'Leary (Cork)

Final

Kerry v Limerick

21 July 1991Final	Kerry	0–23 – 3–12	Limerick	Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
	M Fitzgerald 0–12, J Cronin 0–3, J O'Shea 0–3, P Dennehy 0–2, P Spillane 0–2, A O'Donovan 0–1.		S Kelly 2–1, J O'Donovan 1–2, D Fitzgerald 0–4, F Ryan 0–2, T Browne 0–1, J Quane 0–1, PJ Garvey 0–1.	Attendance: 25,900 Referee: P Russell (Tipperary)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Tyrone v Derry

19 May 1991Preliminary round	Tyrone	1–8 – 1–9	Derry	Healy Park, Omagh
	A Cush 1–3, P Donaghy 0–2, D O'Hagan 0–1, K McCabe 0–1, D McGleenan 0–1.		D cassidy 1–1, E Burns 0–4, E Gormley 0–2, D McNicholl 0–1, F McCusker 0–1.	Referee: D Campbell (Fermanagh)

Quarter-finals

Antrim v Fermanagh

26 May 1991Quarter-final	Antrim	1–8 – 3–12	Fermanagh	Casement Park, Belfast
	J Kennedy 1–3, T Connolly 0–2, B McCann 0–1, J McAleese 0–1, D Armstrong 0–1.		P Coyle 1–3, S Bradley 1–2, M Gallagher 1–1, M O'Rourke 0–3, C Curran 0–1, J Leonard 0–1, J Rehill 0–1.	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: T McDermott (Cavan)

Donegal v Cavan

2 June 1991Quarter-final	Donegal	2–14 – 0–12	Cavan	MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
	M Boyle 0–5, A Molloy 1–1, M Gallagher 1–0, B Cunningham 0–2, C Mulgrew 0–2, D Reid 0–2, M Gavigan 0–1, B Murray 0–1.		R Carolan 0–4, P Lynch 0–2, S King 0–2, L Bardy 0–1, J Reilly 0–1, N O'Donnell 0–1, D Brady 0–1.	Referee: J Curran (Tyrone)

Down v Armagh

9 June 1991Quarter-final	Down	1–7 – 0–8	Armagh	Páirc Esler, Newry
	M Linden 1–0, G Mason 0–3, R Carr 0–2, DJ Kane 0–1, L Austin 0–1.		J Toner 0–5, M Grimley 0–1, B O'Kane 0–1, M Toye 0–1.	Attendance: 17,000 Referee: M Greenan (Cavan)

Derry v Monaghan

16 June 1991Quarter-final	Derry	0–13 – 0–8	Monaghan	Celtic Park, Derry
	E Gormley 0–5, E Burns 0–3, D McNicholl 0–2, J McGurk 0–1, D Heaney 0–1, D Cassidy 0–1.		R McCarron 0–3, E McEneaney 0–2, D Byrne 0–1, G McGuirk 0–1, E Murphy 0–1.	Attendance: 10,000 Referee: G McClorey (Antrim)

Semi-finals

Donegal v Fermanagh

23 June 1991Semi-final	Donegal	1–18 – 0–13	Fermanagh	Healy Park, Omagh
	D Bonnar 0–6, T Boyle 1–2, M Boyle 0–3, M McHugh 0–2, B Murray 0–2, B McGowan 0–2, J McMullan 0–1.		P Coyle 0–5, J Reilhill 0–2, B Brewster 0–2, S Bradley 0–2, M Gallagher 0–1, M O'Rourke 0–1.	Attendance: 10,000 Referee: M Cranney (Down)

Down v Derry

30 June 1991Semi-final	Down	0–13 – 1–10	Derry	Athletic Grounds, Armagh
	R Carr 0–9, M Linden 0–1, J McCartan 0–1, G Blaney 0–1, DJ Kane 0–1.		E Burns 1–5, F McCusker 0–1, D McNicholl 0–1, D Barton 0–1, J Brolly 0–1, A Tohill 0–1.	Attendance: 12,000 Referee: M Greenan (Cavan)

Down v Derry

14 July 1991Semi-final replay	Down	0–14 – 0–9	Derry	Athletic Grounds, Armagh
	R Carr 0–9, M Linden 0–2, P McCartan 0–1, G Blaney 0–1, G Mason 0–1.		E Gormley 0–3, J Brolly 0–2, EBurns 0–1, C McGuirk 0–1, A Tohill 0–1, D McNicholl 0–1.	Attendance: 12,000 Referee: M Greenan (Cavan)

Final

Down v Donegal

28 July 1991Final	Down	1–15 – 0–10	Donegal	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	M Linden 1–1, R Carr 0–3, G Blaney 0–3, G Mason 0–3, J McCartan 0–2, P Higgins 0–1, DJ Kane 0–1, B Breen 0–1.		D Bonnar 0–4, T Boyle 0–3, N Boyle 0–2, P Brogan 0–1.	Attendance: 22,000 Referee: D Campbell (Fermanagh)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Down v Kerry

11 August 1991Semi-final	Down	2–9 – 0–8	Kerry	Croke Park, Dublin
	P Withnail 2–1, R Carr 0–4, G Mason 0–2, M Linden 0–2.		M Fitzgerald 0–5, P Spillane 0–2, A O'Donovan 0–1.	Attendance: 40,166 Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Meath v Roscommon

18 August 1991Semi-final	Meath	0–15 – 1–11	Roscommon	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 0–9, T Dowd 0–2, PJ Gillic 0–1, D Beggy 0–1, M O'Connell 0–1, B Flynn 0–1.		D Duggan 1–8, E McManus 0–3.	Referee: D Campbell (Fermanagh)

Final

Down v Meath

15 September 1991Final	Down	1–16 – 1–14	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	R Carr 0–5, G Mason 0–4, B Breen 1–0, J McCartan 0–3, E Burns 0–2, M Linden 0–1, G Blaney 0–1.		B Flynn 0–6, B Stafford 0–5, L Hayes 1–1, C O'Rourke 0–1, D Beggy 0–1.	Attendance: 64,500 Referee: S Prior (Leitrim)

Main article: 1991 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Scoring

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Brian Stafford	Meath	4–62	74	10	7.40
2	Ross Carr	Down	0–30	30	6	5.00
3	Maurice Fitzgerald	Kerry	0–29	29	4	7.25
4	Derek Duggan	Roscommon	1–25	28	4	7.00
5	Bernard Flynn	Meath	0–27	27	10	2.70

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Maurice Fitzgerald	Kerry	0–12	12	Limerick
2	Derek Duggan	Roscommon	1–8	11	Meath
3	Noel Durkin	Mayo	3–1	10	London
	Stefan White	Louth	2–4	10	Kildare
	Brian Stafford	Meath	0–10	10	Dublin
6	Mick Lawlor	Laois	2–3	9	Louth
	Brian Stafford	Meath	1–6	9	Dublin
	Brian Stafford	Meath	1–6	9	Wicklow
	Brian Stafford	Meath	1–6	9	Offaly
	Ross Carr	Down	0–9	9	Derry
	Brian Stafford	Meath	0–9	9	Roscommon
	Ross Carr	Down	0–9	9	Derry

Miscellaneous

• Seeding is abolished in the Leinster and Munster championships meaning an open draw in Leinster for the first time since 1974 or Munster for the first time in 40 years.
• Fermanagh's 3–12 to 1–8 defeat of Antrim in the Ulster quarter-final is their first victory in the championship since 1983.
• The 1991 championship became famous for the four-game saga between Meath and Dublin in the preliminary round of the Leinster Championship. The four games comprised three draws, with two still ending level even after extra time. Meath eventually triumphed by a single point. A combined total of just under 237,000 people attended the four games in what was a major windfall for the Leinster Council.
• The Meath-Dublin saga was the first SFC tie since Carlow-Wexford (1941) to be played four times in one season.
• While in the Quarter-final stage of the Leinster championship Meath played Wicklow twice and in the semi-final game between Laois and Louth also ended in a draw and went to replay making it the largest Leinster championship ever (15) and was not equalled until 2000.
• Limerick reached their first Munster final since 1965 but lost it to Kerry, since 1947 all Munster finals expect for Cork vs Clare 1949, Cork vs Waterford 1957, Kerry vs Waterford 1960 and Kerry vs Limerick in 1965 the rest were all Kerry vs Cork deciders.
• Meath and Laois meet in the Leinster final for the first time since 1951.
• Meath became the first side since Kildare (1903) to play 10 senior football championship matches in one season.
• Down win the All Ireland final for the first time in 23 years and were first Ulster county since 1968 to win and also first not from Munster/Leinster of course.