1997 Limerick Senior Hurling Championship

1997 Limerick Senior Hurling Championship
Dates	17 April – 21 September 1997
Teams	20
Sponsor	PMG Steel
Champions	Patrickswell (16th title); Pa Carey (captain); Phil Bennis (manager)
Runners-up	Garryspillane; Brendan Bonnar (manager)
Relegated	Blackrock
Tournament statistics
Top scorer(s)	Gary Kirby (7–61)
← 1996 (Previous)	(Next) 1998 →

Annual hurling competition season

The 1997 Limerick Senior Hurling Championship was the 103rd staging of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Limerick County Board in 1887.^[1] The draw for the group stage took place on 11 February 1997. The championship ran from 17 April to 21 September 1997.

Patrickswell entered the championship as the defending champions.^[2]^[3]

The final was played on 21 September 1997 at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, between Patrickswell and Garryspillane, in what was their first ever meeting in the final. Patrickswell won the match by 1–12 to 0–09 to claim their 16th championship title overall and a third title in succession.^[4]

Patrickswell's Gary Kirby was the championship's top scorer with 7–61.

Team changes

To Championship

Promoted from the Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship

Garryspillane^[5]

From Championship

Relegated to the Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship

South Liberties

Format change

There was an increase in the number of teams, with four divisional or amalgamation teams joining the 16 club teams. This meant that each of the four groups increased to five teams, with each team being guaranteed four games.^[6] Eastern Gaels featured players from Caherline, Kilteely-Dromkeen and Fedamore, while Southern Gaels was composed of players from Galbally, Glenroe and Hospital-Herbertstown.^[7] St David's was made up of players fromwest Limerick, while Dromard was another amalgamation.

Group 1

Group 1 table

Knockout stage

Team	Matches				Score			Pts
Team	Pld	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff
Patrickswell	4	4	0	0	90	57	33	8
Kilmallock	4	2	0	2	56	61	−5	4
Ahane	4	2	0	2	53	62	−9	4
Na Piarsaigh	4	2	0	2	79	68	−11	4
Bruree	4	0	0	4	56	86	−30	4

Group 1 results

Kilmallock v Na Piarsaigh

20 April 1997 Round 1	Kilmallock	1–12 – 0–13	Na Piarsaigh	Gaelic Grounds
	B Hanley 1–0, M Houlihan 0–3, P Dowling 0–2, P Tobin 0–2, M Cronin 0–2, K O'Dwyer 0–1, S Barrett 0–1.		D Hennessy 0–5, J Cormack 0–4, D Quigley 0–2, S O'Neill 0–1, A Ryan 0–1.

Patrickswell v Ahane

20 April 1997 Round 1	Patrickswell	2–15 – 1–11	Ahane	FitzGerald Park
	G Kirby 0–9, K Carey 2–1, D O'Grady 0–4, N Carey 0–1.		J O'Grady 1–1, J Moran 0–3, J Mescall 0–3, M Fitzgerald 0–2, O Moran 0–1, T Herbert 0–1.

Ahane v Kilmallock

2 May 1997 Round 2	Ahane	1–12 – 0–06	Kilmallock	Gaelic Grounds
	M Fitzgerald 1–2, P Moran 0–2, P Smith 0–2, T Herbert 0–2, J Meskell 0–2, J Moran 0–1, J O'Grady 0–1.		K O'Dwyer 0–3, M Cronin 0–1, M Houlihan 0–1, P Tobin 0–1.

Patrickswell v Bruree

4 May 1997 Round 2	Patrickswell	4–16 – 1–05	Bruree	Bruff Grounds
	K Carey 2–2, G Kirby 1–5, E Geary 1–0, A Purcell 0–2, A Carmody 0–2, D O'Grady 0–2, N Carey 0–1, B Foley 0–1, P Carey 0–1.		S O'Connell 1–4, S Murphy 0–1.

Na Piarsaigh v Ahane

22 June 1997 Round 3	Na Piarsaigh	1–19 – 0–10	Ahane	Bruff Grounds
	D Hennessy 1–3, S O'Neill 0–6, J Cormack 0–3, D Quigley 0–3, S Laffan 0–2, P Beary 0–1, B Hartnett 0–1.		J O'Grady 0–3, D O'Neill 0–2, J Mescall 0–2, O Moran 0–1, T Mescall 0–1, P Smith 0–1.

Kilmallock v Bruree

29 June 1997 Round 3	Kilmallock	1–18 – 1–11	Bruree	Gaelic Grounds
	L Neenan 1–12, M Cronin 0–2, P Tobin 0–2, S Fitzgerald 0–1, B Hanley 0–1.		E Potter 0–8 J Potter 1–0, J O'Brien 0–1, M Sexton 0–1, S McDonagh 0–1.

Patrickswell v Kilmallock

13 July 1997 Round 4	Patrickswell	2–13 – 3–05	Kilmallock	Gaelic Grounds
	G Kirby 2–7, B Foley 0–1, D O'Grady 0–1, A Purcell 0–1, J McDermott 0–1, K Carey 0–1, E Geary 0–1.		D Clarke 1–1, L Neenan 0–4, P Tobin 1–0, J Fitzgerald 1–0.

Na Piarsaigh v Bruree

13 July 1997 Round 4	Na Piarsaigh	4–11 – 4–09	Bruree	Gaelic Grounds
	A Ryan 1–2, B Hartnett 1–2, S Laffan 1–1, C Bonnar 1–0, D Hennessy 0–3, S O'Neill 0–2, P Beary 0–1.		S Halloran 1–2, P Sexton 1–1, S O'Connell 0–4, E Potter 1–0, M Sexton 1–0, D McCarthy 0–1, S McDonagh 0–1.

Patrickswell v Na Piarsaigh

20 July 1997 Round 5	Patrickswell	2–16 – 2–15	Na Piarsaigh	Gaelic Grounds
	G Kirby 2–12, N Carey 0–1, T O'Brien 0–1, A Carmody 0–1, D O'Grady 0–1.		B Hartnett 0–6, P Beary 1–2, S O'Neill 0–4, C Bonnar 1–0, D Hickey 0–1, E Moriarty 0–1, C Minihan 0–1.

Ahane v Bruree

20 July 1997 Round 5	Ahane	1–11 – 0–13	Bruree	Bruff Grounds
	M Fitzgerald 0–5, T Meskell 1–0, J Moran 0–3, J O'Grady 0–2, TJ Collins 0–1.		S O'Connell 0–9, S McDonagh 0–1, S Murphy 0–1, S O'Halloran 0–1, E Potter 0–1.

Group 1 playoffs

Ahane v Na Piarsaigh

2 August 1997 Playoff	Ahane	1–15 – 0–06	Na Piarsaigh	Brufg Grounds
	M Fitzgerald 0–6, T Meskell 1–0, C Smith 0–2, T Herbert 0–2, J O'Grady 0–2, A Smith 0–1, TJ Collins 0–1, P Smith 0–1.		B Hartnett 0–5, P Beary 0–1.

Kilmallock v Ahane

8 August 1997 Playoff	Kilmallock	3–10 – 0–13	Ahane	Gaelic Grounds
	P Tobin 3–2, M Cronin 0–3, L Neenan 0–2, J Connery 0–2, D Clarke 0–1.		M Fitzgerald 0–5, J Meskell 0–2, T Meskell 0–2, G Mulcahy 0–1, P Smith 0–1, C Smith 0–1, N Smith 0–1.

Kilmallock qualified for the quarter-finals.

Group 2

Group 2 table

Knockout stage

Team	Matches				Score			Pts
Team	Pld	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff
Killeedy	4	3	0	1	46	36	10	6
Doon	3	2	1	0	60	31	29	5

Group 2 results

Southern Gaels v Killeedy

20 April 1997 Round 1	Southern Gaels	2–06 – 2–15	Killeedy	Gaelic Grounds
	PJ Garvey 2–0, L Garvey 0–3, M Meade 0–1, K Begley 0–1, M O'Brien 0–1.		J Hayes 1–4, G Kelly 1–2, D Cremin 0–3, T Maguire 0–1, T Magner 0–1, J Magner 0–1, J O'Connor 0–1, R Hayes 0–1, K Kelly 0–1.

St David's v Dromard

20 April 1997 Round 1

St David's

0–16 – 1–04

Dromard

Páirc Mhic Chárthaigh

Doon v Southern Gaels

4 May 1997 Round 2	Doon	4–20 – 0–08	Southern Gaels	Bruff Grounds
	G McGrath 1–4, D Ryan 1–4, P Coleman 0–6, B Treacy 1–1, J Stokes 1–1, D Anderson 0–4, K McGrath 0–1.		J Kiely 0–5, K Begley 0–1, D Coffey 0–1, L Garvey 0–1.

Killeedy v St David's

4 May 1997 Round 2	Killeedy	2–08 – 2–02	St David's	Páirc Mhic Chárthaigh
	J Hayes 1–2, R Hayes 1–0, J Magner 0–2, T Magner 0–1, K Kelly 0–1, D Cremin 0–1, J Kelleher 0–1.		C O'Brien 1–0, J Quaid 1–0, L Murphy 0–2.

Killeedy v Dromard

8 June 1997 Round 3

Killeedy

w/o – scr.

Dromard

Páirc Mhic Chárthaigh

Doon v St David's

22 June 1997 Round 3	Doon	0–12 – 1–09	St David's	Gaelic Grounds
	J Donovan 0–5, D Anderson 0–3, D Ryan 0–2, J Stokes 0–1, K McGrath 0–1.		W Keane 1–2, L Murphy 0–4, J Haugh 0–1, P Quaid 0–1, M Doody 0–1.

Southern Gaels v St David's

13 July 1997 Round 4

Southern Gaels

v

St David's

FitzGerald Park

Killeedy v Doon

13 July 1997 Round 4	Killeedy	1–08 – 1–13	Doon	FitzGerald Park
	G Kelly 1–3, D Cremin 0–1, J O'Connor 0–1, J Hayes 0–1, J Magnier 0–1, R Hayes 0–1.		D Anderson 0–5, J Donovan 1–0, T Hayes 0–3, D Stapelton 0–2, D Ryan 0–2, G McGrath 0–1.

Group 3

Group 3 table

Knockout stage

Team	Matches				Score			Pts
Team	Pld	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff
Claughaun	4	3	1	0	57	43	14	7
Garryspillane	4	3	0	1	67	57	10	6
Bruff	4	2	0	2	56	60	−24	4
Old Christians	4	0	2	2	58	68	−10	2
Pallasgreen	4	0	1	3	51	61	−10	1

Group 3 results

Garryspillane v Old Christians

17 April 1997 Round 1	Garryspillane	5–07 – 2–13	Old Christians	FitzGerald Park
	Donie Ryan 3–0, R English 1–1, J O'Keeffe 1–0, F Carroll 0–3, David Ryan 0–2, TJ Ryan 0–1.		P Howard 0–9, A Maher 1–1, J Power 1–0, G Hegarty 0–3.

Claughaun v Bruff

20 April 1997 Round 1	Claughaun	0–13 – 0–10	Bruff	FitzGerald Park
	M Galligan 0–9, T McGarry 0–2, A Browne 0–1, D Holmes 0–1.		I Hogan 0–5, F O'Dwyer 0–3, S Hogan 0–1, M Reale 0–1.

Claughaun v Old Christians

4 May 1997 Round 2	Claughaun	0–06 – 0–06	Old Christians	Gaelic Grounds
	G Ryan 0–3, L O'Connor 0–2, M Ryan 0–1.		G Hegarty 0–3, T Phayer 0–1, P Foley 0–1, J Power 0–1.

Garryspillane v Pallasgreen

4 May 1997 Round 2	Garryspillane	1–08 – 1–05	Pallasgreen	Fr Hayes Memorial Park
	F Carroll 1–0, TJ Ryan 0–3, P Tobin 0–2, M O'Dea 0–1, R Sampson 0–1, Donie Ryan 0–1.		C O'Brien 1–0, G O'Connor 0–2, J McMahon 0–2, G Gammell 0–1.

Bruff v Old Christians

15 June 1997 Round 3	Bruff	3–13 – 3–06	Old Christians	Cappamore Grounds
	JA Moran 2–3, I Hogan 0–4, T Coleman 1–0, F O'Dwyer 0–2, M Reale 0–2, J Mulqueen 0–1, J Hogan 0–1.		P Howard 3–4, T Sheehan 0–1, J Brosnahan 0–1.

Pallasgreen v Claughaun

22 June 1997 Round 3	Pallasgreen	2–08 – 1–14	Claughaun	Fr Hayes Memorial Park
	P Cosgrave 2–0, N Gammell 0–6, M Kirby 0–1, J Carr 0–1.		M Galligan 1–9, J Ryan 0–2, L O'Connor 0–1, A Browne 0–1, A Fitzgerald 0–1.

Bruff v Pallasgreen

13 July 1997 Round 4	Bruff	1–12 – 1–08	Pallasgreen	Gaelic Grounds
	I Hogan 0–4, J Hogan 1–0, JA Moran 0–3, T Coleman 0–2, A Burke 0–2, F O'Dwyer 0–1.		N Gammell 1–1, J Carr 0–3, P Cosgrave 0–2, G Gammell 0–1, M Kirby 0–1.

Claughaun v Garryspillane

13 July 1997 Round 4	Claughaun	3–12 – 1–10	Garryspillane	Fr Hayes Memorial Park
	M Galligan 0–8, D Fitzgerald 1–1, L O'Connor 1–0, M Ryan 1–0, G Ryan 0–3.		F Carroll 0–7, R Sampson 1–0, David Ryan 0–1, Donie Ryan 0–1, J Murnane 0–1.

Old Christians v Pallasgreen

27 July 1997 Round 5

Old Christians

4–06 – 2–12

Pallasgreen

Fr Hayes Memorial Park

Garryspillane v Bruff

27 July 1997 Round 5	Garryspillane	2–15 – 0–09	Bruff	FitzGerald Park
	F Carroll 1–8, Donie Ryan 1–0, R Sampson 0–3, R English 0–2, David Ryan 0–1, TJ Ryan 0–1.		I Hogan 0–7, J Hogan 0–1, F O'Dwyer 0–1.

Group 4

Group 4 table

Knockout stage

Team	Matches				Score			Pts
Team	Pld	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff
Ballybrown	4	4	0	0	72	43	29	8
Adare	4	3	0	1	67	41	26	6
Eastern Gaels	4	2	0	2	46	52	−6	4
Cappamore	4	0	1	3	58	77	−19	1
Blackrock	4	0	1	3	33	63	−30	1

Group 4 results

Cappamore v Eastern Gaels

20 April 1997 Round 1	Cappamore	0–14 – 3–09	Eastern Gaels	Harty Park
	T Mulcahy 0–1, S O'Dwyer 0–1, M Gleeson 0–1, S Ryan 0–1.		F Stokes 1–1, M Hederman 1–0, S Roche 1–0.

Blackrock v Ballybrown

20 April 1997 Round 1	Blackrock	0–03 – 3–11	Ballybrown	Fr Hayes Memorial Park
	P Heffernan 0–2, D Danagher 0–1.		P Hartigan 0–5, P McCarthy 1–1, L O'Gorman 1–0, P Mulqueen 1–0, O O'Connor 0–3, C Coughlan 0–2.

Adare v Eastern Gaels

4 May 1997 Round 2	Adare	1–10 – 2–05	Eastern Gaels	Gaelic Grounds
	S Fitzgibbon 1–4, T Houlihan 0–4, C Murphy 0–1, J Foley 0–1.		M Murnane 1–2, M Clohessy 1–1, S Roche 0–1, I O'Callaghan 0–1.

Ballybrown v Cappamore

4 May 1997 Round 2	Ballybrown	2–08 – 1–10	Cappamore	Fr Hayes Memorial Park
	O O'Connor 2–1, P Hartigan 0–6, N Doolin 0–1.		T Mulcahy 1–2, M Gleeson 0–4, L Hammersley 0–4.

Ballybrown v Adare

22 June 1997 Round 3	Ballybrown	1–10 – 0–10	Adare	Bruff Grounds
	P Mulqueen 1–0, C Coughlan 0–3, O O'Connor 0–2, N Doolin 0–1, P Hartigan 0–1, T Hall 0–1, P O'Connor 0–1, S Adams 0–1.		C Murphy 0–4, B Heffernan 0–2, M Foley 0–2, S Fitzgerald 0–1, J Barrett 0–1.

Blackrock v Cappamore

22 June 1997 Round 3	Blackrock	4–10 – 2–16	Cappamore	Gaelic Grounds
	P McCarthy 3–2, P Heffernan 0–5, J Quilty 1–0, P McGrath 0–2, G O'Brien 0–1.		P Gleeson 0–10, M Gleeson 1–0, M Doherty 1–0, D O'Donnell 0–2, T Mulcahy 0–2, K Hickey 0–1, L Hammersley 0–1.

Ballybrown v Eastern Gaels

5 July 1997 Round 4	Ballybrown	2–19 – 3–08	Eastern Gaels	Bruff Grounds
	N Doolin 1–3, S Adams 1–2, C Coughlan 0–5, L O'Gorman 0–4, O O'Connor 0–2, O O'Connor 0–2, J O'Connor 0–1.		M Murnane 1–4, M Hedderman 1–1, S Roche 1–0, C Hickey 0–2, M Carroll 0–1.

Adare v Blackrock

6 July 1997 Round 4	Adare	1–18 – 1–05	Blackrock	Ballyagran Grounds
	S Fitzgibbon 1–5, T Healy 0–4, M Foley 0–4, M Alfred 0–3, M Giltenane 0–1, B Heffernan 0–1.		J O'Neill 1–0, D Quilty 0–2, P McCarthy 0–2, A Fitzgerald 0–1.

Adare v Cappamore

20 July 1997 Round 5	Adare	3–14 – 2–03	Cappamore	FitzGerald Park
	S Fitzgibbon 1–6, D Butler 1–1, B Foley 1–0, M Alfred 0–2, A O'Rahilly 0–1, M Giltenane 0–1, J Barrett 0–1, B Heffernan 0–1, C Murphy 0–1.		T Mulcahy 1–2, P Gleeson 1–0, S Ryan 0–1.

Eastern Gaels v Blackrock

20 July 1997 Round 5

Eastern Gaels

w/o – scr

Blackrock

Bruff Grounds

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

Adare v Claughaun

9 August 1997 Quarter-final	Adare	4–09 – 1–17	Claughaun	Bruff Grounds
	S Fitzgibbon 1–0, T Healy 1–0, B Heffernan 1–0, C Murphy 0–3, M Alfred 0–2, B Foley 0–2, J Barrett 0–2.		M Galligan 0–8, D Holmes 1–1, L O'Connor 0–3, G Ryan 0–3, D Fitzgerald 0–2.

Patrickswell v KIlleedy

10 August 1997 Quarter-final	Patrickswell	1–15 – 1–11	KIlleedy	FitzGerald Park
	G Kirby 0–7, B Foley 1–0, A Purcell 0–3, K Carey 0–2, P Carey 0–1, A Carmody 0–1, N Carey 0–1.		R Hayes 0–7, J Magner 1–0, J O'Connor 0–2, J Kelleher 0–1, J Hayes 0–1.

Garryspillane v Ballybrown

10 August 1997 Quarter-final	Garryspillane	2–10 – 2–10	Ballybrown	Bruff Grounds
	F Carroll 0–7, Donie Ryan 1–1, TJ Ryan 1–1, J O'Keeffe 0–1.		P Hartigan 0–5, S Adams 1–0, C Coughlan 1–0, L O'Gorman 0–2, N Doolin 0–2, P Davoren 0–1.

Kilmallock v Doon

15 August 1997 Quarter-final	Kilmallock	0–13 – 2–05	Doon	Gaelic Grounds
	M Cronin 0–5, L Neenan 0–3, D Clarke 0–3, M Houlihan 0–1, J Fitzgerald 0–1.		J Donovan 1–2, G McGrath 1–0, D Anderson 0–2, D Ryan 0–1.

Garryspillane v Ballybrown

17 August 1997 Quarter-final replay	Garryspillane	4–13 – 2–10	Ballybrown	Bruff Grounds
	F Carroll 1–6, Donie Ryan 2–2, J O'Keeffe 1–0, R English 0–3, TJ Ryan 0–1, M O'Brien 0–1.		S Adams 2–0, L O'Gorman 0–4, P Hartigan 0–3, N Doolin 0–1, C Coughlan 0–1, P Davoren 0–1.

Semi-finals

Garryspillane v Kilmallock

6 September 1997 Semi-final	Garryspillane	1–14 – 1–10	Kilmallock	Bruff Grounds
	F Carroll 1–4, D Ryan 0–4, R English 0–3, TJ Ryan 0–1, M O'Dea 0–1, J O'Keeffe 0–1.		L Neenan 0–4, P Tobin 1–0, M Houlihan 0–3, M Cronin 0–2, M Nelligan 0–1.

Patrickswell v Adare

6 September 1997 Semi-final	Patrickswell	2–20 – 1–05	Adare	Bruff Grounds
	G Kirby 1–11, E Geary 1–2, B Foley 0–4, N Carey 0–1, A Purcell 0–1, K Carey 0–1.		B Foley 1–1, S Fitzgibbon 0–3, E Fitzgerald 0–1.

Final

Patrickswell v Garryspillane

21 September 1997 Final	Patrickswell	1–12 – 0–09	Garryspillane	Gaelic Grounds
	G Kirby 1–8, A Purcell 0–2, K Carey 0–1, B Foley 0–1.		F Carroll 0–6, TJ Ryan 0–2, J O'Keeffe 0–1.

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Gary Kirby	Patrickswell	7–61	82	7	11.71
2	Frankie Carroll	Garryspillane	4–41	53	8	6.62
3	Mike Galligan	Claughaun	1–34	37	4	9.25
4	Donie Ryan	Garryspillane	7–09	30	8	3.75
4	Shane Fitzgibbon	Adare	4–18	30	6	5.00

References

^ "Club titles – Limerick". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
^ "History". Patrickswell GAA website. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
^ "Reeling in the Years: Limerick GAA's 1996". Sporting Limerick. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
^ "Reeling in the Years: Limerick GAA's 1997". Sporting Limerick. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 October 2004). "Garryspillane gunning to 'put new name on that cup'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
^ "UL to compete in local championship". Limerick Leader. 15 February 1997. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
^ "Early start to hurling championship will suit some sides". Limerick Leader. 19 April 1997. Retrieved 18 June 2025.

[1] "Club titles – Limerick". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 15 October 2018.

[2] "History". Patrickswell GAA website. Retrieved 21 October 2024.

[3] "Reeling in the Years: Limerick GAA's 1996". Sporting Limerick. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2024.

[4] "Reeling in the Years: Limerick GAA's 1997". Sporting Limerick. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2024.

[5] O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 October 2004). "Garryspillane gunning to 'put new name on that cup'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 October 2024.

[6] "UL to compete in local championship". Limerick Leader. 15 February 1997. Retrieved 18 June 2025.

[7] "Early start to hurling championship will suit some sides". Limerick Leader. 19 April 1997. Retrieved 18 June 2025.