1997 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

none April 2022 1997 18 May – 14 September 1997 18 Galway Clare Wexford Down 19 border|20px Jamesie O'Connor Clare 3rd Anthony Daly Ger Loughnane Tipperary Conor Gleeson Len Gaynor border|20px D. J. Carey (4–22) 1996 1998 The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1997 (known for sponsorship reasons as the Guinness Hurling Championship 1997) was the 111th staging of Ireland's premier hurling competition. Clare won the championship, beating Tipperary 0–20 to 2–13 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin. Pre-championship The 'back-door' system Since its inception in 1887 the championship had been played on a straight knock-out basis. If any team was defeated at any stage of the provincial or All-Ireland competitions it meant automatic elimination. This system was deemed the fairest as the All-Ireland champions would always be the team who won all of their games. There were some problems with this system. Over the years Galway had become the only credible hurling team in Connacht, thus giving them an automatic pass into the All-Ireland semi-finals every year. Similarly in Ulster there were many problems as hurling was much weaker and confined to a small few counties in the north-east of the province. In 1995 the Hurling Development Committee began investigating a way of improving hurling in general and revamping the championship. Their proposals involved allowing the defeated Munster and Leinster finalists to re-enter the All-Ireland championship. Although the two provincial final winners would automatically qualify for the All-Ireland semi-finals the two defeated provincial teams would join Galway and the Ulster champions in two play-off games or 'quarter-finals'. The two winners from these two games would then qualify for the semi-finals where they would be drawn against the Leinster and Munster champions. Repeat games would be avoided in the All-Ireland semi-final stage. At the start of 1996 these proposals looked unlikely of being introduced, however, a whistle-stop tour undertaken by the committee's secretary Frank Murphy and Pat Daly, the GAA's Games Development Officer, had changed the position. In April 1996 the committee's proposals were accepted at the GAA's annual congress. Most counties supported the new proposals and motion 15 (a) was passed with more than a two-thirds majority. Betting Prior to the opening of the championship former All-Ireland-winning manager Éamonn Cregan gave his predictions for the upcoming championship in the Irish Times. As with the previous three championships the field was wide open. Although they were the reigning champions, Wexford were given little chance of making it two-in-a-row. The departure of manager Liam Griffin and the sheer exertion of winning the previous years' title meant that Wexford's hurlers, it seemed, had reached their peak. Wexford's greatest rivals, Kilkenny, were tipped for success. Having failed to land the provincial title since 1993, former player and current manager Nickey Brennan seemed to have reignited the hunger. Offaly, a team that had reached two out of the last three championship deciders, were regarded as being up there with Kilkenny. One problem was the age profile of some of the team's players, while a lack of strength in depth on the bench also militated against Offaly's chances. The return of Cyril Farrell as manager of the Galway team seemed to give the team a boost. Farrell guided his native county to three All-Ireland titles in the 1980s and seemed to be blessed with a very strong panel at the start of his third stint as manager. Limerick, the All-Ireland runners-up of the previous year, were again touted as a team that could make the big breakthrough. Two All-Ireland final defeats in three years, however, lead some commentators to question the mental toughness of the team. Clare, the surprise champions of two years earlier, seemed to be in decline and were seen as having reached their zenith in 1995. Tipperary, however, were viewed as the dark horses of the championship. Although the 'big three' were in decline for a number of years, a resurgent John Leahy seemed to give Tipp a half-chance of landing the championship title. Team changes To Championship Promoted from the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship None From Championship Regraded to the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship Carlow London Withdrew from Championship New York The championship Participating counties ProvinceCountyManager(s)Most recent successAll-IrelandProvincialLeinsterDublinMichael O'Grady19381961KilkennyNickey Brennan19931993LaoisMichael 'Babs' Keating19151949MeathTom RyanOffalyJohn McIntyre19941995WestmeathJohn DavisWexfordRory Kinsella19961996MunsterClareGer Loughnane19951995CorkJimmy Barry-Murphy19901992KerryJohn Meyler18911891LimerickTom Ryan19731994TipperaryLen Gaynor19911993WaterfordGerald McCarthy19591963ConnachtGalwayCyril Farrell19881996RoscommonMichael Kelly1913UlsterAntrimDominic McKinley1996DerryHugo Mac OscairDownP. BraniffB. GilmoreG. Lennon1995 Format Connacht Championship Final: (1 match) This is a lone match between the two competing Connacht teams. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final where the play the Leinster runners-up. Leinster Championship Preliminary Round: (1 match) This is a single match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Leinster. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the quarter-finals. Quarter-finals: (2 matches) The winner of the preliminary round game joins three other Leinster teams to make up the two quarter-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the Leinster semi-finals. Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the two quarter-finals join two other Leinster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the Leinster final. Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest this game. The winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final while the runners-up advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final. Munster Championship Quarter-final: (2 matches) These are two lone matches between the first four teams drawn from the province of Munster. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the semi-finals. Semi-finals: (2 matches) The winners of the two quarter-finals join the other two Munster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while two teams advance to the final. Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest this game. The winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-final while the runners-up advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final. Ulster Championship Semi-final: (1 match) This is a single match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Ulster. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the final. Final: (1 match) The winner of the semi-final joins another Ulster team to contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final where that play the Munster runners-up. All-Ireland Championship Quarter-finals: (2 matches) These are two lone matches between the Connacht champions and the Leinster runners-up, and the Ulster champions and the Munster runners-up. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals. Semi-finals: (2 matches) The Munster and Leinster champions play the winners of the two quarter-finals. Two teams are eliminated at this stage, while the two winners advance to the All-Ireland final. Final: (1 match) The two semi-final winners contest the final. Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Bracket no Semi-finals Final border|20px Antrim 0–19 border|20px Down 1–15 border|20px Down 3–14 border|20px Derry 1–10 Semi-finals June 22Semi-Final Down 1–15 – 1–10 Derry M. Coulter (1–2), T. Coulter (0–3), J. McGrattan (0–3), M. Baillie (0–2), N. Sands (0–2), G. Savage (0–1), B. Coulter (0–1), G. McGrattan (0–1). D. Kelly (0–6), M. Collins (1–2), J. Dwyer (0–2). Casement Park, Belfast T. McIntyre 1,500 Ulster Final July 6Final Antrim 0–19 – 3–14 Down J. Carson (0–13), G. O'Kane (0–2), C. McCambridge (0–1), A. Mort (0–1), A. Elliott (0–1), A. Delargy (0–1). N. Sands (1–9), G. McGrattan (1–3), M. Coulter (1–0), M. Mallon (0–1), G. Savage (0–1). Casement Park, Belfast P. Horan (Offaly) Connacht Senior Hurling Championship July 13Final Roscommon 0–5 – 6–24 Galway C. Kelly (0–2), B. Boyle (0–2), R. Mulry (0–1). A. Kerins (3–2), E. Cloonan (1–7), F. Forde (1–2), J. Rabbitte (1–1), J. Campbell (0–4), J. McGrath (0–4), V. Maher (0–2), K. Broderick (0–1), D. Coen (0–1). Athleague 2,500 P. O'Connor (Limerick) Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Bracket Preliminary round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Leinster Final Offaly 3–20 Meath 0–08 Westmeath 2–08 Dublin 5–15 Laois 2–07 Offaly 1–11 Kilkenny 2–20 Dublin 2–13 Wexford 3–12 Offaly 2–12 Kilkenny 1–11 Wexford 2–14 Preliminary round May 18Preliminary Round Offaly 3–20 – 0–8 Meath Johnny Dooley (1–9), Joe Dooley (1–2), K. Farrell (0–4), G. Cahill (1–0), B. Dooley (0–2), J. Pilkington (0–2), P. Mulhaire (0–1). P. Potterton (0–4), M. Cole (0–2), M. Massey (0–1), B. Murray (0–1). Cusack Park, Mullingar P. Neary (Kilkenny) 4,500 May 18Quarter-Final Westmeath 2–8 – 5–15 Dublin S. McLoughlin (1–3), P. Clarke (1–0), R. Galvin (0–2), D. Gallagher (0–1), B. Kennedy (0–1), P. Connaughton (0–1). G. Ennis (3–2), E. Morrissey (1–3), J. Brennan (0–6), B. McMahon (1–0), L. Walsh (0–1), C. McCann (0–1), S. Perkins (0–1), S. Dalton (0–1). Cusack Park, Mullingar P. Dunphy (Kilkenny) 4,500 June 8Quarter-Final Offaly 1–11 – 2–7 Laois Johnny Dooley (0–5), J. Errity (1–0), M. Duignan (0–2), Joe Dooley (0–2), J. Pilkington (0–1), G. Cahill (0–1). P. J. Peacock (1–2), O. Coss (1–0), J. Dollard (0–2), B. Maher (0–1), S. Cuddy (0–1), T. Dunne (0–1). Croke Park, Dublin D. Murphy (Wexford) 25,211 June 22Semi-Final Kilkenny 2–20 – 2–13 Dublin D. J. Carey (1–7), P. J. Delaney (1–0), C. Carter (0–3), J. Costelloe (0–3), P. Larkin (0–2), A. Comerford (0–2), P. Barry (0–1), M. Phelan (0–1), N. Maloney (0–1). J. Brennan (1–8), G. Ennis (1–0), E. Morrissey (0–3), C. McCann (0–2). Croke Park, Dublin P. Aherne (Carlow) 52,079 June 22Semi-Final Wexford 3–12 – 2–12 Offaly G. Laffan (2–0), M. Storey (0–4), T. Dempsey (0–4), L. Dunne (1–0), L. Murphy (0–2), P. Codd (0–1), R. McCarthy (0–1). Johnny Dooley (0–7), J. Pilkington (1–1), B. Dooley (1–0), M. Duignan (0–2), G. Oakley (0–1), C. Cassidy (0–1). Croke Park, Dublin A. Mac Suibhne (Dublin) 52,079 July 13Final Wexford 2–14 – 1–11 Kilkenny B. Byrne (1–2), T. Dempsey (1–1), R. McCarthy (0–4), P. Codd (0–3), G. Laffan (0–2), M. Storey (0–1), L. Murphy (0–1). P. J. Delaney (1–1), C. Carter (0–3), P. Barry (0–3), D. J. Carey (0–1), P. Larkin (0–1), N. Maloney (0–1), A. Comerford (0–1). Croke Park, Dublin A. Mac Suibhne (Dublin) 55,492 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Bracket Quarter-finals Semi-finals All-Ireland final 100 35 20px|border Limerick 2–20 20px|border Waterford 1–17 20px|border Clare 3–24 20px|border Kerry 1–06 20px|border Tipperary 1–20 20px|border Limerick 0–13 20px|border Cork 0–18 20px|border Clare 1–19 20px|border Clare 1–18 20px|border Tipperary 0–18 Quarter-finals May 18Quarter-Final Clare 3–24 – 1–6 Kerry P. J. O'Connell (2–2), J. O'Connor (0–6), N. Gilligan (0–5), C. Clancy (1–2), S. McMahon (0–3), F. Tuohy (0–2), G. O'Loughlin (0–2), B. Murphy (0–1), D. Forde (0–1). J. O'Sullivan (1–0), M. Slattery (0–2), I. Maunsell (0–1), B. O'Mahony (0–1), T. J. Curran (0–1), C. Walsh (0–1). Cusack Park, Ennis V. Wadding (Laois) 8,500 May 25Quarter-Final Limerick 2–20 – 1–17 Waterford B. Foley (2–1), G. Kirby (0–6), M. Galligan (0–4), S. O'Neill (0–4), J. Moran (0–3), T. J. Ryan (0–2). P. Flynn (1–7), B. O'Sullivan (0–4), T. Browne (0–3), K. McGrath (0–2), D. Bennett (0–1). Semple Stadium, Thurles S. McMahon (Clare) 22,105 Semi-finals June 8Semi-Final Clare 1–19 – 0–18 Cork J. O'Connor (0–6), S. McNamara (1–0), G. O'Loughlin (0–3), S. McMahon (0–3), F. Tuohy (0–2), C. Lynch (0–2), A. Daly (0–1), C. Clancy (0–1), D. Forde (0–1). G. Manley (0–6), S. McGrath (0–5), B. Egan (0–2), A. Browne (0–2), J. Deane (0–2), A. Cummins (0–1). Gaelic Grounds, Limerick P. O'Connor (Limerick) 23,105 June 15Semi-Final Tipperary 1–20 – 0–13 Limerick M. Cleary (1–3), T. Dunne (0–5), K. Tucker (0–3), D. Ryan (0–3), J. Leahy (0–3), L. Cahill (0–2), P. O'Dwyer (0–1). G. Kirby (0–4), M. Houlihan (0–2), M. Galligan (0–2), D. Clerkin (0–1), M. Foley (0–1), J. Moran (0–1), B. Foley (0–1), T. J. Ryan (0–1). Semple Stadium, Thurles D. Murphy (Wexford) 49,165 Final 1997 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final July 6Final Clare 1–18 – 0–18 Tipperary J. O'Connor (0–5), D. Forde (1–1), G. O'Loughlin (0–3), S. McMahon (0–3), P. J. O'Connell (0–2), C. Lynch (0–1), F. Tuohy (0–1), S. McNamara (0–1), B. Murphy (0–1). T. Dunne (0–7), D. Ryan (0–4), K. Tucker (0–3), J. Leahy (0–3), M. Cleary (0–1). Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork P. O'Connor (Limerick) 43,560 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Bracket Quarter-finals Semi-finals All-Ireland final 100 35 20px|border Galway 3–16 20px|border Kilkenny 4–15 20px|border Down 3–08 20px|border Tipperary 3–24 20px|border Clare 1–17 20px|border Kilkenny 1–13 20px|border Wexford 0–15 20px|border Tipperary 2–16 20px|border Tipperary 2–13 20px|border Clare 0–20 Quarter-finals July 26Quarter-Final Tipperary 3–24 – 3–8 Down J. Leahy (0–8), A. Ryan (1–2), T. Dunne (0–5), A. Flanagan (1–1), E. O'Neill (1–0), L. McGrath (0–3), B. O'Meara (0–3), L. Cahill (0–1), K. Tucker (0–1). N. Sands (1–4), G. McGrattan (1–1), B. Coulter (1–0), G. Savage (0–2), M. Braniff (0–1). St. Tiernach's Park, Clones 5,726 D. Murphy (Wexford) July 27Quarter-Final Kilkenny 4–15 – 3–16 Galway Report D. J. Carey (2–8), M. Phelan (1–1), K. O'Shea (1–0), A. Comerford (0–3), C. Brennan (0–2), C. Carter (0–1). K. Broderick (1–4), E. Cloonan (0–4), L. Burke (1–0), J. Cooney (1–0), J. Campbell (0–3), F. Forde (0–3), C. Moore (0–1), A. Kerins (0–1). Semple Stadium, Thurles 22,826 P. O'Connor (Limerick) Semi-finals August 10Semi-Final Clare 1–17 – 1–13 Kilkenny J. O'Connor (0–9), G. O'Loughlin (1–1), P. O'Connell (0–2), N. Gilligan (0–2), S. McMahon (0–2), D. Forde (0–1). D. J. Carey (1–6), C. Carter (0–2), P. Barry (0–2), D. BYrne (0–1), P. Larkin (0–1), P. O'Neill (0–1). Croke Park, Dublin 47,961 D. Murphy (Wexford) August 17Semi-Final Tipperary 2–16 – 0–15 Wexford J. Leahy (1–4), B. O'Meara (1–1), T. Dunne (0–4), M. Cleary (0–3), D. Ryan (0–1), L. Cahill (0–1), C. Gleeson (0–1), L. McGrath (0–1). P. Codd (0–8), M. Storey (0–3), T. Dempsey (0–1), M. Jordan (0–1), L. Murphy (0–1), L. Dunne (0–1). Croke Park, Dublin 62,142 J. O'Leary (Cork) All-Ireland final 1997 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final September 14Final Clare 0–20 – 2–13 Tipperary J. O'Connor (0–7), N. Gilligan (0–3), O. Baker (0–2), C. Lynch (0–2), D. Forde (0–2), S. McMahon (0–1), G. O'Loughlin (0–1), C. Clancy (0–1), L. Doyle (0–1). T. Dunne (0–5), E. O'Neill (1–1), J. Leahy (0–4), L. Cahill (1–0), M. Cleary (0–1), C. Gleeson (0–1), B. O'Meara (0–1). Croke Park, Dublin 65,575 D. Murphy (Wexford) _bluehorizontal ffff00 ffff00 ffff00 0000ff 0000ff Clare _yellowhorizontal 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff FFFFFF 0000ff Tipperary Championship statistics Scoring First goal of the championship: Eamon Morrissey for Dublin against Westmeath (Leinster quarter-final) Last goal of the championship: Eugene O'Neill for Tipperary against Clare (All-Ireland final) Hat-trick heroes: First hat-trick of the championship: Ger Ennis for Dublin against Westmeath (Leinster quarter-final) Second hat-trick of the championship: Alan Kerins for Galway against Roscommon (Connacht final) Widest winning margin: 37 points Galway 6–24 : 0–5 Roscommon (Connacht final) Most goals in a match: 7 Dublin 5–15 : 2–8 Westmeath (Leinster quarter-final) Kilkenny 4–15 : 3–16 Galway (All-Ireland quarter-final) Most points in a match: 37 Limerick 2–20 : 1–17 Waterford (Munster quarter-final) Clare 1–19 : 0–18 Cork (Munster semi-final) Most goals by one team in a match: 6 Galway 6–24 : 0–5 Roscommon (Connacht final) Most goals scored by a losing team: 3 Galway 3–16 : 4–15 Kilkenny (All-Ireland quarter-final) Down 3–8 : 3–24 Tipperary (All-Ireland quarter-final) Most points scored by a losing team: 18 Cork 0–18 : 1–19 Clare(Munster semi-final) Tipperary 0–18 : 1–18 Clare(Munster final) Discipline First yellow card of the championship: Alfie Devine for Westmeath against Dublin (Leinster quarter-final) Last yellow card of the championship: Brian O'Meara for Tipperary against Clare (All-Ireland final) Top scorers Season Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1D. J. CareyKilkenny4–223448.502Jamesie O'ConnorClare0–333356.603Tommy DunneTipperary0–303056.004John LeahyTipperary1–222555.005Johnny DooleyOffaly1–212438.006Noel SandsDown2–152137.007Jamesie BrennanDublin1–141728.508Ger EnnisDublin4–21427.00Eugene CloonanGalway1–111427.0010Ger O'LoughlinClare1–101352.60Jackie CarsonAntrim0–1313113.00 Single game Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1D. J. CareyKilkenny2–814Galway2Jackie CarsonAntrim0–1313Down3Noel SandsDown1–912AntrimJohnny DooleyOffaly1–912Meath5Ger EnnisDublin3–211WestmeathAlan KerinsGalway3–211RoscommonJamesie BrennanDublin1–811Kilkenny8Eugene CloonanGalway1–710RoscommonD. J. CareyKilkenny1–710DublinPaul FlynnWaterford1–710Limerick Miscellaneous The meeting of Clare and Tipperary in the All-Ireland final was the first time that two teams from the same province met in the championship decider. See also 1997 All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship References Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005). Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005). Sweeney, Éamonn, Munster Hurling Legends (The O'Brien Press, 2002). External links All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1997 Results 1997 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship