1997 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1997 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	11 May 1997 – 28 September 1997
Teams	32
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Kerry (31st win)
Captain	Liam Hassett
Manager	Páidí Ó Sé
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Mayo
Captain	Noel Connelly
Manager	John Maughan
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Offaly
Ulster	Cavan
Connacht	Mayo
Championship statistics
Top Scorer	Maurice Fitzgerald (0–28)
Player of the Year	Maurice Fitzgerald
← 1996 1998 →

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.

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

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

Munster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Limerick v Tipperary

11 May 1997Preliminary 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)

Tipperary v Limerick

18 May 1997Preliminary 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

Waterford v Tipperary

1 June 1997Quarter-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

Clare v Cork

22 June 1997Semi-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)

Kerry v Tipperary

29 June 1997Semi-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

Kerry v Clare

20 July 1997Final	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

Leinster Senior Football Championship

First round

Wexford v Westmeath

11 May 1997First 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)

Offaly v Longford

11 May 1997First 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)

Westmeath v Wexford

17 May 1997First 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

Offaly v Westmeath

25 May 1997Second 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)

Westmeath v Offaly

7 June 1997Second 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

Louth v Carlow

1 June 1997Quarter-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)

Laois v Kildare

8 June 1997Quarter-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)

Offaly v Wicklow

15 June 1997Quarter-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

Meath v Dublin

15 June 1997Quarter-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

Offaly v Louth

29 June 1997Semi-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)

Kildare v Meath

6 July 1997Semi-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)

Kildare v Meath

20 July 1997Semi-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)

Meath v Kildare

3 August 1997Semi-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

Offaly v Meath

16 August 1997Final	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

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Galway v Mayo

25 May 1997Quarter-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

London v Leitrim

1 June 1997Quarter-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

Sligo v Roscommon

23 June 1997Semi-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.

Mayo v Leitrim

29 June 1997Semi-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

Mayo v Sligo

3 August 1997Final	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

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Down v Tyrone

18 May 1997Preliminary 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)

Down v Tyrone

25 May 1997Preliminary 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

Donegal v Antrim

25 May 1997Quarter-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

Monaghan v Derry

1 June 1997Quarter-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)

Derry v Monaghan

8 June 1997Quarter-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)

Cavan v Fermanagh

8 June 1997Quarter-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)

Tyrone v Armagh

15 June 1997Quarter-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)

Cavan v Fermanagh

15 June 1997Quarter-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

Cavan v Donegal

22 June 1997Semi-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)

Tyrone v Derry

29 June 1997Semi-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

Cavan v Derry

20 July 1997Final	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)

Main article: 1997 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final

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

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Cavan v Kerry

24 August 1997Semi-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)

Mayo v Offaly

31 August 1997Semi-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

Kerry v Mayo

28 September 1997Final	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)

Main article: 1997 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Top scorers

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

• 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.