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. 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.

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.

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

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. Eastern Gaels featured players from Caherline, Kilteely-Dromkeen and Fedamore, while Southern Gaels was composed of players from Galbally, Glenroe and Hospital-Herbertstown. St David's was made up of players fromwest Limerick, while Dromard was another amalgamation.

Group 1 Group 1 table

TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiffPatrickswell44009057338Kilmallock42025661−54Ahane42025362−94Na Piarsaigh42027968−114Bruree40045686−304

Group 1 results

Group 1 playoffs

Kilmallock qualified for the quarter-finals.

Group 2 Group 2 table

TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiffKilleedy43014636106Doon32106031295

Group 2 results

Group 3 Group 3 table

TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiffClaughaun43105743147Garryspillane43016757106Bruff42025660−244Old Christians40225868−102Pallasgreen40135161−101

Group 3 results

Group 4 Group 4 table

TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiffBallybrown44007243298Adare43016741266Eastern Gaels42024652−64Cappamore40135877−191Blackrock40133363−301

Group 4 results

Knockout stage Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Championship statistics Top scorers

Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Gary KirbyPatrickswell7–6182711.712Frankie CarrollGarryspillane4–415386.623Mike GalliganClaughaun1–343749.254Donie RyanGarryspillane7–093083.75Shane FitzgibbonAdare4–183065.00

References