1997 National Hurling League

The 1997 National Hurling League (known as the Church & General National Hurling League for sponsorship reasons) was the 66th season of the National Hurling League.

1997 National Hurling League

League details
Dates	9 March – 5 October 1997
Teams	32
League champions
Winners	Limerick (11th win)
Other division winners
Division 2	Dublin
← 1995–96 1998 →

Structural changes

At a meeting of Central Council on 18 May 1996, the GAA decided to scrap winter league hurling for a two-year trial period. It was also decided, by a margin of 23 votes to 15, to complete the National Hurling League within the calendar year. After further negotiations the GAA decided to run the league on a March to October basis. Other provisions included the playing of three matches in March, two in April and one each in May and June. The league final was to be played in October. Play-offs to determine the standings of teams within the divisions were also abandoned in favour of using scoring averages.

Division 1

National Hurling League Division 1

Season	1997
Champions	Limerick 11th National League title Captain: Gary Kirby Manager: Tom Ryan
Relegated	Clare, Laois, Wexford
Matches played	33
Top goalscorer	D. J. Carey (5-43)
Biggest home win	Limerick 2-14 - 0-2 Laois (27 April 1997)
Biggest away win	Tipperary 1-23 - 2-9 Laois (23 March 1997)
Highest scoring	Laois 3-9 - 3-16 Wexford (13 April 1997)
← 1995-96 1998 → All statistics correct as of 2 April 2017.

Galway came into the season as defending champions of the 1995-96 season. Laois, Limerick and Wexford joined Division 1 as the promoted teams.

On 5 October 1997, Limerick won the title after a 1-12 to 1-9 win over Galway in the final. It was their 11th league title overall and their first since 1991-92.^[1]

Clare, Laois and Wexford were relegated.

Kilkenny's D. J. Carey was the Division 1 top scorer with 5-43.

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Kilkenny	7	5	0	2	10
2	Limerick	7	4	2	1	10	Division 1 champions
3	Galway	7	5	0	2	10	Division 1 runners-up
4	Tipperary	7	4	1	2	9
5	Offaly	7	4	0	3	8
6	Clare	7	2	1	4	5	Relegated to Division 2
7	Wexford	7	2	0	5	4	Relegated to Division 2
8	Laois	7	0	0	7	0	Relegated to Division 2

Group stage

Kilkenny v Limerick

9 March 1997	Kilkenny	2-10 - 3-8	Limerick	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	N Moloney 2-2, DJ Carey 0-5, C Carter 0-1, P O'Neill 0-1, K O'Shea 0-1.		G Kirby 1-2, D Hennessy 1-1, M Galligan 1-0, O O'Neill 0-2, TJ Ryan 0-1, B Tobin 0-1, S O'Neill 0-1.	Referee: P Aherne (Carlow)

Clare v Laois

9 March 1997	Clare	2-19 - 2-9	Laois	Cusack Park, Ennis
	E Taaffe 1-3, J O'Connor 0-6, N Gilligan 0-5, C Clancy 1-0, S McMahon 0-2, C Lynch 0-1, F Tuohy 0-1, D Forde 0-1.		D Cuddy 0-7, O COss 2-0, N Rigney 0-2.	Referee: J Cooney (Galway)

Wexford v Galway

9 March 1997	Wexford	0-7 - 0-14	Galway	Wexford Park, Wexford
	E Scallan 0-2, T Dempsey 0-2, A Fenlon 0-1, L Dunne 0-1, L O'Gorman 0-1.		K Broderick 0-4, L Burke 0-3, O Fahy 0-2, R Gantley 0-1, V Maher 0-1, A Kerins 0-1, M Coleman 0-1, J Cooney 0-1.	Referee: A Mac Suibhne (Dublin)

Tipperary v Offaly

9 March 1997	Tipperary	1-15 - 2-14	Offaly	MacDonagh Park, Nenagh
	A Flanagan 0-7, D Ryan 1-2, B Gaynor 0-1, C Bonnar 0-1, L McGrath 0-1, J Enright 0-1, T Dunne 0-1.		M Duignan 2-0, Johnny Dooley 0-6, J Troy 0-3, B Whelehan 0-2, B Dooley 0-1, G Hanniffy 0-1, Joe Dooley 0-1.	Referee: G Harrington (Cork)

Galway v Kilkenny

23 March 1997	Galway	2-11 - 3-11	Kilkenny	Duggan Park, Ballinasloe
	R Gantley 0-5, J Cooney 1-0, F Healy 1-0, O Fahy 0-2, J Campbell 0-1, L Burke 0-1, M Coleman 0-1, A Kerins 0-1.		DJ Carey 2-9, D Byrne 1-1, A Ronan 0-1.	Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick)

Laois v Tipperary

23 March 1997	Laois	2-9 - 1-23	Tipperary	Kelly Daly Park, Rathdowney
	O Dowling 1-1, N Rigney 1-0, D Cuddy 0-2, J Dollard 0-2, T Kenna 0-1, J Taylor 0-1, D Rooney 0-1, P Cuddy 0-1.		B O'Meara 1-2, A Flanagan 0-4, T Dunne 0-4, D Ryan 0-3, L Cahill 0-3, L McGrath 0-3, A Butler 0-2, L Sheedy 0-2.	Referee: J O'Leary (Cork)

Offaly v Wexford

23 March 1997	Offaly	1-18 - 1-13	Wexford	St. Brendan's Park, Birr
	Johnny Dooley 0-8, G Hanniffy 1-2, Joe Dooley 0-3, J Troy 0-3, J Pilkington 0-1, B Dooley 0-1.		E Scallan 0-6, L Murphy 1-0, P Codd 0-2, T Dempsey 0-2, A Fenlon 0-2, M Storey 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Limerick v Clare

23 March 1997	Limerick	1-10 - 0-13	Clare	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	D Hennessy 1-1, M Houlihan 0-4, J Moran 0-2, B Foley 0-2, TJ Ryan 0-1.		S McMahon 0-3, J O'Connor 0-3, D Forde 0-2, F Hegarty 0-2, R O'Hara 0-1, N Gilligan 0-1, PJ O'Connell 0-1.	Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary)

Clare v Offaly

30 March 1997	Clare	2-11 - 1-6	Offaly	Cusack Park, Ennis
	B Murphy 1-3, C Clancy 1-1, C Lynch 0-3, S McMahon 0-2, J O'Connor 0-1, E Taaffe 0-1.		S Óg Farrell 1-1, Johnny Dooley 0-2, J Troy 0-1, D Regan 0-1, G Hanniffy 0-1.	Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick)

Wexford v Limerick

30 March 1997	Wexford	0-16 - 0-18	Limerick	Bellefield Park, Enniscorthy
	T Dempsey 0-11, M Storey 0-3, R McCarthy 0-1, R Guiney 0-1.		G Kirby 0-9, M Houlihan 0-4, D Hennessy 0-2, O O'Neill 0-1, B Foley 0-1, TJ Ryan 0-1.	Referee: S MacMahon (Clare)

Tipperary v Galway

30 March 1997	Tipperary	0-17 - 1-16	Galway	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	A Flanagan 0-5, T Dunne 0-4, L Cahill 0-2, B O'Meara 0-2, J Leahy 0-1, L Sheedy 0-1, L McGrath 0-1, A Moloney 0-1.		D Coen 0-8, O Fahy 1-2, K Broderick 0-3, J Campbell 0-2, M Coleman 0-1.	Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)

Kilkenny v Laois

30 March 1997	Kilkenny	1-14 - 0-10	Laois	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	DJ Carey 0-6, N Moloney 1-1, B McEvoy 0-2, A Comerford 0-1, A Ronan 0-1, D Byrne 0-1, C Carter 0-1, L Keoghan 0-1.		D Cuddy 0-5, D Conroy 0-1, O Dowling 0-1, P Cuddy 0-1, F O'Sullivan 0-1, T Dunne 0-1.	Referee: A Mac Suibhne (Dublin)

Limerick v Tipperary

13 April 1997	Limerick	1-12 - 1-12	Tipperary	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	S O'Neill 1-0, G Kirby 0-3, M Houlihan 0-2, O Moran 0-2, B Foley 0-2, M Foley 0-1, B Tobin 0-1, P Tobin 0-1.		L Cahill 1-2, A Flanagan 0-3, T Dunne 0-2, K Tucker 0-2, B O'Meara 0-1, D Ryan 0-1, R Ryan 0-1.

Galway v Clare

13 April 1997	Galway	5-5 - 1-11	Clare	Kenny Park, Athenry
	O Fahy 2-1, J Rabbitte 1-2, D Coen 1-0, K Broderick 1-0, M Coleman 0-1, A Kerins 0-1.		N Gilligan 1-2, J O'Connor 0-4, C Lynch 0-1, R O'Hara 0-1, E taaffe 0-1, D Forde 0-1, PJ O'Connell 0-1.	Referee: P Delaney (Laois)

Offaly v Kilkenny

13 April 1997	Offaly	2-10 - 1-15	Kilkenny	St. Brendan's Park, Birr
	Johnny Dooley 0-5, J Pilkington 1-0, G Hanniffy 1-0, J Troy 0-2, G Cahill 0-2, J Ryan 0-1.		N Moloney 1-2, DJ Carey 0-5, C Carter 0-4, P Barry 0-1, P O'Neill 0-1, B McEvoy 0-1, D Byrne 0-1.	Referee: P. Aherne (Carlow)

Laois v Wexford

13 April 1997	Laois	3-9 - 3-16	Wexford	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	T Kenna 2-0, D Cuddy 1-3, D Conroy 0-3, N Rigney 0-1, F O'Sullivan 0-1, B McEvoy 0-1.		E Scallan 0-10, L Murphy 1-1, G Laffan 1-0, B Byrne 1-0, M Jordan 0-2, P Finn 0-1, L O'Gorman 0-1, P Codd 0-1.	Referee: P Horan (Offaly)

Kilkenny v Clare

27 April 1997	Kilkenny	2-10 - 1-8	Clare	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	DJ Carey 1-4, M Phelan 1-0, A Comerford 0-2, P O'Neill 0-1, N Moloney 0-1, D Byrne 0-1, B McEvoy 0-1.		N Gilligan 1-1, J O'Connor 0-4, S McMahon 0-1, C Lynch 0-1, PJ O'Connell 0-1.	Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick)

Tipperary v Wexford

27 April 1997	Tipperary	2-12 - 1-8	Wexford	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	A Flanagan 1-8, L Cahill 1-0, M Cleary 0-2, K Tucker 0-1, T Dunne 0-1.		M Storey 1-1, T Dempsey 0-3, E Scallan 0-2, G Laffan 0-1, P Codd 0-1.	Referee: A Mac Suibhne (Dublin)

Offaly v Galway

27 April 1997	Offaly	0-18 - 1-14	Galway	St. Brendan's Park, Birr
	Johnny Dooley 0-11, G Cahill 0-3, P Mulhare 0-2, J Pilkington 0-1, G Hanniffy 0-1.		D Coen 0-8, A Kerins 1-0, F Healy 0-2, J Rabbitte 0-1, O Fahy 0-1, N Shaughnessy 0-1, C Moore 0-1.	Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)

Limerick v Laois

27 April 1997	Limerick	2-14 - 0-2	Laois	FitzGerald Park, Kilmallock
	G Kirby 2-7, D Hennessy 0-3, TJ Ryan 0-2, B Foley 0-1, S O'Neill 0-1.		P Delaney 0-2.	Referee: J Cooney (Galway)

Wexford v Kilkenny

10 May 1997	Wexford	2-10 - 2-11	Kilkenny	O'Kennedy Park, New Ross
	E Scallan 0-5, M Storey 1-1, G Laffan 1-0, T Dempsey 0-2, M Jordan 0-1, L Murphy 0-1.		DJ Carey 0-6, C Brennan 1-2, C Carter 1-1, A Comerford 0-1, P Larkin 0-1.	Referee: J O'Leary (Cork)

Offaly v Laois

10 May 1997	Offaly	0-15 - 2-6	Laois	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	P Mulhare 0-3, G Cahill 0-3, K Farrell 0-3, Johnny Dooley 0-2, B Whelehan 0-1, Joe Dooley 0-1, J Ryan 0-1, G Oakley 0-1.		O Coss 2-0, T Kenna 0-2, F Sullivan 0-2, N Rigney 0-1, R Cashin 0-1.	Referee: G Harrington (Cork)

Clare v Tipperary

10 May 1997	Clare	0-12 - 1-10	Tipperary	Cusack Park, Ennis
	J O'Connor 0-6, N Gilligan 0-3, B Murphy 0-2, D Fitzgerald 0-1.		T Dunne 1-1, K Tucker 0-2, M Cleary 0-2, J Leahy 0-2, R Ryan 0-1, A Flanagan 0-1, D Ryan 0-1.	Referee: P Horan (Offaly)

Galway v Limerick

10 May 1997	Galway	1-24 - 1-10	Limerick	Kenny Park, Athenry
	D Coen 0-7, F Forde 1-2, K Broderick 0-5, L Burke 0-3, V Maher 0-2, J Rabbitte 0-2, J McGrath 0-2, O Fahy 0-1.		G Kirby 1-4, M Galligan 0-2, TJ Ryan 0-2, Shane O'Neill 0-1, P Heffernan 0-1.	Referee: L Barrett (Tipperary)

Galway v Laois

24 May 1997	Galway	3-16 - 1-10	Laois	Kenny Park, Athenry
	R Gantley 2-5, J Campbell 1-1, K Broderick 0-4, J McGrath 0-3, L Burke 0-2, F Forde 0-1.		D Cuddy 0-4, N Delaney 1-0, D Conroy 0-3, O Coss 0-1, N Rigney 0-1, PJ Peacock 0-1.

Tipperary v Kilkenny

31 May 1997	Tipperary	3-19 - 3-11	Kilkenny	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	M Cleary 3-0, L Cahill 0-5, P O'Dwyer 0-4, T Dunne 0-4, K Tucker 0-3, A Butler 0-1, B Carroll 0-1, D Ryan 0-1.		DJ Carey 2-4, K O'Shea 1-2, L Keoghan 0-1, B McEvoy 0-1, A Comerford 0-1, D Byrne 0-1, D Cleere 0-1.	Referee: J O'Leary (Cork)

Clare v Wexford

31 May 1997	Clare	0-16 - 3-14	Wexford	Cusack Park, Ennis
	A Whelan 0-4, S McNamara 0-4, A Neville 0-2, O Baker 0-2, P O'Rourke 0-2, B Murphy 0-1, Martin Conlon 0-1.		T Dempsey 1-5, L Murphy 1-1, B Byrne 1-0, M Storey 0-2, M Jordan 0-2, A Fenlon 0-2, G Laffan 0-1, L Dunne 0-1.	Referee: P Delaney (Laois)

Offaly v Limerick

31 May 1997	Offaly	0-16 - 1-16	Limerick	St. Brendan's Park, Birr
	G Cahill 0-4, K Farrell 0-3, B Dooley 0-2, C Cassidy 0-2, M Duignan 0-1, J Errity 0-1, Joe Dooley 0-1, G Hanniffy 0-1, J Troy 0-1.		O Moran 0-4, F Carroll 0-4, James Moran 1-0, P Heffernan 0-3, Shane O'Neill 0-2, D Hennessy 0-1, M Foley 0-1, M Galligan 0-1.	Referee: P Aherne (Carlow)

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

Tipperary v Dublin

12 July 1997 Quarter-final	Tipperary	0-14 - 0-8	Dublin	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	B O'Meara 0-3, J Leahy 0-3, K Tucker 0-2, M Cleary 0-2, L McGrath 0-2, T Dunne 0-1, L Cahill 0-1.		J Brennan 0-4, A O'Grady 0-2, S Perkins 0-1, E Morrissey 0-1.	Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)

Cork v Kilkenny

19 July 1997 Quarter-final	Cork	1-10 - 3-12	Kilkenny	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
	F McCormack 1-0, B Egan 0-3, A Browne 0-2, K Murray 0-2, B Corcoran 0-2, M Daly 0-1.		M Phelan 2-2, C Carter 1-4, C Brennan 0-3, DJ Carey 0-1, P Barry 0-1, A Comerford 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Semi-finals

Galway v Tipperary

23 August 1997 Semi-final	Galway	1-14 - 0-6	Tipperary	Cusack Park, Ennis
	L Burke 1-1, O Fahy 0-4, E Cloonan 0-3, J Campbell 0-3, K Broderick 0-2, N Shaughnessy 0-1.		A Flanagan 0-2, L McGrath 0-1, R Ryan 0-1, D Hogan 0-1, K Tucker 0-1.	Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick)

Kilkenny v Limerick

24 August 1997 Semi-final	Kilkenny	0-10 - 1-17	Limerick	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	DJ Carey 0-3, B McEvoy 0-2, A Comerford 0-1, M Phelan 0-1, J Costelloe 0-1, N Moloney 0-1, PJ Delaney 0-1.		M Galligan 1-5, C Carey 0-3, B Foley 0-3, G Kirby 0-2, D Hennessy 0-1, O Moran 0-1, J Moran 0-1, F Carroll 0-1.	Referee: P Horan (Offaly)

Final

Limerick v Galway

5 October 1997 Final	Limerick	1-12 - 1-9	Galway	Cusack Park, Ennis
	M Galligan 1-1, G Kirby 0-4, M Foley 0-2, J Moran 0-2, S O'Neill 0-1, B Foley 0-1, O Moran 0-1.		D Coen 0-6, O Fahy 1-0, J Campbell 0-1, M Coleman 0-1, J Rabbitte 0-1.	Referee: P Aherne (Carlow)

Top scorers

Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	D. J. Carey	Kilkenny	5-43	58	9	6.44
2	Gary Kirby	Limerick	4-31	43	7	6.14
3	Johnny Dooley	Offaly	0-34	34	7	4.85
4	Aidan Flanagan	Tipperary	1-30	33	8	4.12
5	Darragh Coen	Galway	1-29	32	5	6.40
6	Tom Dempsey	Wexford	1-25	28	6	4.16
7	Éamonn Scallan	Wexford	0-25	25	5	5.00
8	David Cuddy	Laois	1-21	24	7	3.42
	Jamesie O'Connor	Clare	0-24	24	6	4.00
10	Tommy Dunne	Tipperary	1-18	21	8	2.62

Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	D. J. Carey	Kilkenny	2-09	15	Galway
2	Gary Kirby	Limerick	2-07	13	Laois
3	Rory Gantley	Galway	2-05	11	Laois
	Aidan Flanagan	Tipperary	1-08	11	Wexford
	Johnny Dooley	Offaly	0-11	11	Galway
	Tom Dempsey	Wexford	0-11	11	Limerick
7	D. J. Carey	Kilkenny	2-04	10	Tipperary
	Éamonn Scallan	Wexford	0-10	10	Laois
9	Michael Cleary	Tipperary	3-00	9	Kilkenny
	Gary Kirby	Limerick	0-09	9	Wexford

Division 2

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Dublin	7	7	0	0	14	Promoted to Division 1
2	Cork	7	6	0	1	12	Promoted to Division 1
3	Waterford	7	5	0	2	10	Promoted to Division 1
4	Antrim	7	3	0	4	6
5	Meath	7	3	0	4	6
6	London	7	2	0	5	4
7	Westmeath	7	1	0	6	2
8	Kerry	7	1	0	6	2

Group stage

London v Waterford

9 March 1997	London	0-09 - 1-13	Waterford	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
	T Moloney 0-6, K Grogan 0-1, A Heaney 0-1, J Kennedy 0-1.		P Flynn 0-7, B O'Sullivan 1-1, L O'Connor 0-1, B Walsh 0-1, P Queally 0-1, K McGrath 0-1, T Browne 0-1.

Kerry v Dublin

9 March 1997	Kerry	0-11 - 1-10	Dublin	Austin Stack Park, Tralee
	B O'Sullivan 0-7, B O'Mahony 0-2, J O'Sullivan 0-1, T Maunsell 0-1.		B McManus 1-1, J Brennan 0-3, M Morrissey 0-2, E Morrissey 0-2, R Boland 0-1, S Perkins 0-1.	Referee: S McMahon (Clare)

Meath v Antrim

9 March 1997	Meath	1-11 - 1-08	Antrim	St. Loman's Park, Trim
	P Potterton 1-7, R Dorran 0-3, M Smith 0-1.		A McCloskey 0-4, P Graham 1-0, A Elliott 0-2, J Connery 0-1, Gregory O'Kane 0-1.	Referee: P Horan (Offaly)

Cork v Westmeath

9 March 1997	Cork	6-21 - 2-04	Westmeath	Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork
	A Browne 3-2, A Cummins 1-4, J Deane 1-2, R Dwane 1-0, F McCormack 0-3, G Manley 0-3, B Egan 0-2, S McGrath 0-2, T Kelleher 0-1, B Corcoran 0-1, M O'Connell 0-1.		B Kennedy 2-0, S McLoughlin 0-2, P Williams 0-1, O Devine 0-1.	Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)

Waterford v Kerry

23 March 1997	Waterford	2-19 - 0-03	Kerry	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	M White 1-6, P Flynn 0-5, B Green 1-0, B O'Sullivan 0-2, K McGrath 0-2, T Fives 0-1, B Walsh 0-1, J Brenner 0-1, L O'Connor 0-1.		J O'Sullivan 0-1, M Slattery 0-1, M Foley 0-1.	Referee: P Aherne (Carlow)

Dublin v Meath

23 March 1997	Dublin	1-10 - 0-02	Meath	Parnell Park, Dublin
	J Brennan 0-6, E Morrissey 1-2, C McCann 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1.		P Potterton 0-2.	Referee: P Dunphy (Kilkenny)

Westmeath v London

23 March 1997	Westmeath	1-11 - 0-08	London	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	P Clarke 0-7, P Connaughton 1-0, S McLoughlin 0-2, P Clancy 0-1, P Williams 0-1.		D Murphy 0-2, T Moloney 0-2, K Grogan 0-2, J Kennedy 0-1, A Heaney 0-1.	Referee: J Cooney (Galway)

Antrim v Cork

23 March 1997	Antrim	2-11 - 4-21	Cork	Casement Park, Belfast
	SP McKillop 2-1, C McCambridge 0-7, Gregory O'Kane 0-1, J Connelly 0-1, A Delargy 0-1.		J Deane 2-6, G Manley 2-4, R Dwane 0-3, A Browne 0-2, T Kelleher 0-2, S McGrath 0-1, M Daly 0-1, F McCormack 0-1, S Óg Ó hApilín 0-1.	Referee: J Gribben (Down)

Kerry v Antrim

30 March 1997	Kerry	2-11 - 3-12	Antrim	Austin Stack Park, Tralee
	C Walsh 1-3, B O'Mahony 1-0, M Slattery 0-2, J O'Sullivan 0-2, G Frehill 0-2, I Brick 0-1, S Fitzgerald 0-1.		C McCambridge 0-5, A Delargy 1-1, Gregory O'Kane 1-1, M McConnon 1-0, Gary O'Kane 0-2, SP McKillop 0-2, P Jennings 0-1.	Referee: S O'Leary (Cork)

Meath v Westmeath

30 March 1997	Meath	2-11 - 0-07	Westmeath	St. Loman's Park, Trim
	M Massey 1-2, P Potterton 0-5, J Dorran 1-0, J Gorry 0-2, M Smith 0-1, E Howley 0-1.		J Gavigan 0-2, P Clancy 0-2, D Gallagher 0-1, P Clarke 0-1, C Murtagh 0-1.	Referee: G Devlin (Armagh)

London v Dublin

30 March 1997	London	2-05 - 2-18	Dublin	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
	D Spellman 1-1, M Lyons 1-0, T Moloney 0-3, J Kennedy 0-1.		C McCann 1-2, E Morrissey 0-5, S Perkins 1-1, J Brennan 0-4, B McMahon 0-2, D Hernon 0-2, R Boland 0-1.	Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim)

Cork v Waterford

30 March 1997	Cork	2-15 - 0-11	Waterford	Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork
	S McGrath 2-4, G Manley 0-6, J Deane 0-2, B Corcoran 0-1, B O'Driscoll 0-1, R Dwane 0-1.		P Flynn 0-5, K McGrath 0-1, M White 0-1, B Walsh 0-1, P Power 0-1, J Brenner 0-1, T Browne 0-1.

Dublin v Cork

13 April 1997	Dublin	1-10 - 1-06	Cork	Parnell Park, Dublin
	E Morrissey 1-2, C McCann 0-2, L Walsh 0-1, B McMahon 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1, S Perkins 0-1, J Brennan 0-1, G Ennis 0-1.		B Egan 1-0, S Óg Ó hAilpín 0-1, A Cummins 0-1, J Deane 0-1, M Hayes 0-1, G Manley 0-1, T Kelleher 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Waterford v Meath

13 April 1997	Waterford	5-13 - 3-10	Meath	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	P Flynn 2-3, M White 1-2, B Walsh 1-2, B O'Sullivan 1-0, K McGrath 0-2, D Bennett 0-2, L O'Connor 0-1, T Feeney 0-1.		P Potterton 2-4, R Dorran 1-1, M Cole 0-2, P Donnelly 0-2, A O'Neill 0-1.	Referee: W Horgan (Cork)

Antrim v London

13 April 1997	Antrim	1-22 - 2-13	London	Casement Park, Belfast
	C McCambridge 1-12, Gregory O'Kane 0-3, R McNaughton 0-3, A Delargy 0-2, P McKillen 0-2.		T Moloney 2-6, J King 0-4, K O'Driscoll 0-3.

Westmeath v Kerry

13 April 1997	Westmeath	1-07 - 2-17	Kerry	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	S McLoughlin 0-6, R Galvin 1-0, B Kennedy 0-1.		B O'Sullivan 1-8, B O'Mahony 0-5, G O'Sullivan 1-0, C Walsh 0-2, I Brick 0-1, G Frehill 0-1.	Referee: J Cooney (Galway)

Meath v Cork

27 April 1997	Meath	1-07 - 2-11	Cork	St. Loman's Park, Trim
	M Cole 1-2, P Potterton 0-2, M Smith 0-1, B Murray 0-1, R Dorran 0-1.		J Deane 0-6, B Egan 1-1, B Corcoran 1-0, M Daly 0-2, A Browne 0-2.	Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim)

Waterford v Dublin

27 April 1997	Waterford	1-11 - 3-07	Dublin	Walsh Park, Waterford
	P Flynn 1-5, B O'Sullivan 0-2, K McGrath 0-2, L O'Connor 0-1, T Feeney 0-1.		C Featherstone 2-0, J Brennan 0-5, B McMahon 1-0, G Ennis 0-1, S Perkins 0-1.	Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary)

Antrim v Westmeath

27 April 1997	Antrim	5-13 - 4-09	Westmeath	Casement Park, Belfast
	A Elliott 3-3, Gary O'Kane 1-1, Gregory O'Kane 1-1, C McCambridge 0-3, J Carson 0-3, P McKillen 0-2.		B Kennedy 2-1, D Gallagher 1-2, S McLoughlin 0-5, J Gavin 1-0, P Dalton 0-1.

London v Kerry

27 April 1997	London	2-14 - 3-09	Kerry	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
	T Moloney 0-7, J Comerford 1-1, D Spellman 1-0, D Murphy 0-3, R Murphy 0-2, S Tooher 0-1.		M Slattery 1-4, J O'Sullivan 1-0, T Maunsell 1-0, C Walsh 0-4, G Frehill 0-1.

Kerry v Meath

10 May 1997	Kerry	0-06 - 3-10	Meath	Austin Stack Park, Tralee
	P Cronin 0-1, I Maunsell 0-1, I Brick 0-1, B O'Mahony 0-1, M Slattery 0-1, G Frehill 0-1.		P Donnelly 1-1, M Cole 1-1, P Potterton 0-4, R Dorran 1-0, F McMahon 0-1, B Gilsenin 0-1, M Smith 0-1, A O'Neill 0-1.

Cork v London

11 May 1997	Cork	5-24 - 0-06	London	Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork
	J Deane 2-3, G Manley 1-6, B Egan 0-6, A Browne 1-2, S McGrath 1-2, D Murphy 0-2, F McCormack 0-1, A Cummins 0-1, M O'Connell 0-1.		K McCaughey 0-3, R Murphy 0-1, J Comerford 0-1, T Moloney 0-1.	Referee: P Aherne (Carlow)

Westmeath v Waterford

11 May 1997	Westmeath	1-06 - 3-22	Waterford	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	S McLoughlin 0-4, R Galvin 1-0, B Kennedy 0-1, C Murtagh 0-1.		P Flynn 1-12, B O'Sullivan 2-3, P Power 0-3, S Frampton 0-1, K McGrath 0-1, L O'Connor 0-1, D Bennett 0-1.	Referee: P Delaney (Laois)

Dublin v Antrim

11 May 1997	Dublin	3-11 - 1-13	Antrim	Parnell Park, Dublin
	J Brennan 0-7, G Ennis 1-2, D Hernon 1-0, B McMahon 1-0, C Ring 0-1, P O'Donoghue 0-1.		J Carson 1-5, A Delargy 0-2, P Jennings 0-2, Gregory O'Kane 0-2, C McCambridge 0-1, Gary O'Kane 0-1.

Kerry v Cork

28 May 1997	Kerry	1-06 - 2-22	Cork	Austin Stack Park, Tralee
	P O'Mahony 1-0, V Murphy 0-2, B O'Mahony 0-1, C Walsh 0-1, WJ Lean 0-1, E Maunsell 0-1.		G Manley 0-7, K Murray 1-3, S McGrath 1-3, P Ryan 0-3, B Egan 0-2, R Dwane 0-1, D O'Sullivan 0-1, M Daly 0-1, D Murphy 0-1.

London v Meath

31 May 1997	London	3-08 - 1-11	Meath	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
	T Moloney 1-6, R Murphy 2-0, K McCaughey 0-2.		M Massey 1-2, M Cole 0-5, PJ Walsh 0-2, N Horan 0-1, P Kelly 0-1.

Waterford v Antrim

1 June 1997	Waterford	4-12 - 4-10	Antrim	Walsh Park, Waterford
	P Flynn 1-5, B O'Sullivan 1-1, K McGrath 1-0, S Frampton 1-0, T Browne 0-2, D Bennett 0-2, B Walsh 0-1, M White 0-1.		J Carson 2-1, Gregory O'Kane 1-3, A Delargy 1-0, C McCambridge 0-3, Gary O'Kane 0-1, P McKillen 0-1, A Elliott 0-1.	Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)

Dublin v Westmeath

1 June 1997	Dublin	0-23 - 1-06	Westmeath	Parnell Park, Dublin
	J Brennan 0-6, E Morrissey 0-4, S Dalton 0-3, C McCann 0-2, G Ennis 0-2, B McMahon 0-2, P O'Donoghue 0-2, M Morrissey 0-1, C Ring 0-1.		P Clarke 1-2, D Gallagher 0-2, B Kennedy 0-1, P Williams 0-1.

Top scorers

Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Paul Flynn	Waterford	5-42	57	7	8.14
2	Tom Moloney	London	3-31	40	7	5.71
3	Ger Manley	Cork	3-27	36	6	6.00
4	Joe Deane	Cork	5-20	35	6	5.83
5	Connor McCambridge	Antrim	1-31	34	7	4.85
6	Pat Potterton	Meath	3-24	33	6	5.60
7	Jamesie Brennan	Dublin	0-32	32	7	4.57
8	Billy O'Sullivan	Waterford	5-09	24	6	4.00
	Seánie McGrath	Cork	4-12	24	7	3.42
9	Gregory O'Kane	Antrim	3-12	21	7	3.00
	Eamon Morrissey	Dublin	2-15	21	6	3.50

Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Connor McCambridge	Antrim	1-12	15	London
	Paul Flynn	Waterford	1-12	15	Westmeath
2	Alastair Elliot	Antrim	3-03	12	Westmeath
	Joe Deane	Cork	2-06	12	Antrim
	Tom Moloney	London	2-06	12	Antrim
3	Alan Browne	Cork	3-02	11	Westmeath
	Brendan O'Sullivan	Kerry	1-08	11	Westmeath
4	Ger Manley	Cork	2-04	10	Antrim
	Pat Potterton	Meath	2-04	10	Waterford
	Seánie McGrath	Cork	2-04	10	Waterford
	Pat Potterton	Meath	1-07	10	Antrim