1997–98 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

The 1997–98 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the 28th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, an inter-county knockout competition for Ireland's top championship clubs representing each county. The championship was won by Birr of Offaly, who beat Sarsfield's of Galway by 1–13 to 0–9 in the final.

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship 1997–98

Championship Details
Dates	21 September 1997 – 17 March 1998
Teams	28
All Ireland Champions
Winners	Birr (2nd win)
Captain	Joe Errity
Manager	Pad Joe Whelahan
All Ireland Runners-up
Runners-up	Sarsfields
Provincial Champions
Munster	Clarecastle
Leinster	Birr
Ulster	Dunloy
Connacht	Sarsfields
Championship Statistics
Matches Played	31
Top Scorer	Ken Ralph (4-28)
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

Results

Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship

First round

St. Mary's v Tubbercurry

4 October 1997 First round	St. Mary's	1-10 - 1-04	Tubbercurry	Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry
	B Beirne 0-6, D O'Grady 1-0, B Whelan 0-2, B Carroll 0-1, P Carroll 0-1.		M Gorman 1-0, K Killeen 0-2, R Brennan 0-1, E Morley 0-1.

Second round

St. Mary's v Tooreen

18 October 1997 Second round	St. Mary's	1-04 - 2-13	Tooreen	Aghamore
	B Beirne 0-2, J Keane 0-1, D O'Grady 0-1.		Dom Greally 0-6, A Hession 1-1, Declan Greally 1-0, N Delaney 1-0 (og), J Cunnane 0-2, R Robinson 0-1, R Delaney 0-1, F Delaney 0-1, K Greally 0-1.	Referee: D McDermott (Roscommon)

Semi-final

Four Roads v Tooreen

1 November 1997 Semi-final	Four Roads	0-15 - 1-14	Tooreen	Ballyforan
	J Mannion 0-8, R Mulry 0-2, F Grehan 0-2, M Cunniffe 0-1, P Mannion 0-1, D Lohan 0-1.		Dom Greally 1-10, M Trench 0-1, A Heesion 0-1, J Cunnane 0-1, J Henry 0-1.	Referee: M Bodkin (Galway)

Final

Sarsfields v Tooreen

6 December 1997 Final	Sarsfields	5-15 - 1-05	Tooreen	Peadar Early Memorial Park
	J Cooney 2-3, A Donohue 1-6, J McGrath 1-2, P Cooney 1-0, N Morrissey 0-2, M Ward 0-1, P Kelly 0-1.		A Hession 1-0, D Greally 0-3, G Glavey 0-1, F Delaney 0-1.

Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship

First round

Naomh Moninne v St. Mullin's

19 October 1997 First round	Naomh Moninne	0-09 - 2-15	St. Mullin's	Dundalk
	D Dunne 0-4, P Dunne 0-1, J Temple 0-1, C Connolly 0-1, J Kennedy 0-1, A Hoey 0-1.		P Coady 0-10, P Murphy 1-1, M Ryan 1-0, J McDonnell 0-2, D Doyle 0-2.

Naas v Longford Slashers

25 October 1997 First round	Naas	5-24 - 0-09	Longford Slashers	Sallins Road, Naas
	M Hennessy 2-4, J Brennan 1-5, J Kinlon 2-1, M Boran 0-6, E Denieff 0-4, B McGovern 0-1, R Coyle 0-1, B Behan 0-1, L Moloney 0-1.		J McDermott 0-7, G Ghee 0-1, B O'Connor 0-1.

Rathmolyon v Kiltegan

25 October 1997 First round	Rathmolyon	0-08 - 1-10	Kiltegan	St. Loman's Park, Trim
	J Gorry 0-4, N Cole 0-1, M Cole 0-1, D Tuile 0-1, S Ennis 0-1.		J Keogh 1-6, S Byrne 0-2, G Wynne 0-1, M Cullen 0-1.

Castletown v Lough Lene Gaels

26 October 1997 First round	Castletown	3-17 - 2-10	Lough Lene Gaels	Kelly Daly Park, Rathdowney
	P Phelan 1-3, D Cuddy 0-6, J O'Sullivan 1-1, F O'Sullivan 0-4, M O'Sullivan 1-0, P Cuddy 0-3.		P Williams 0-4, C Murtagh 0-4, M Williams 1-0, A Murray 1-0, G Briordy 0-1, J Williams.

Quarter-finals

Castletown v Oulart-the Ballagh

1 November 1997 Quarter-final	Castletown	0-17 - 1-14	Oulart-the Ballagh	Kelly Daly Park, Rathdowney
	P Phelan 0-6, F O'Sullivan 0-4, D Cuddy 0-3, J O'Sullivan 0-2, Paul Cuddy 0-1, Paudge Cuddy 0-1.		P Finn 0-6, D O'Connor 1-0, P Redmond 0-3, J Mythen 0-2, M Storey 0-1, L Dunne 0-1, P Rossiter 0-1.

Kiltegan v Birr

2 November 1997 Quarter-final	Kiltegan	1-06 - 3-15	Birr	Pearse Park, Arklow
	J Keogh 0-4, N Cremin 1-0, K Furlong 0-2.		D Pilkington 3-0, G Cahill 0-5, P Carroll 0-3, D Regan 0-3, D Hanniffy 0-2, S Whelehan 0-1, J Pilkington 0-1.	Referee: P Neary (Kilkenny)

St. Mullin's v O'Toole's

2 November 1997 Quarter-final	St. Mullin's	0-13 - 4-15	O'Toole's	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	P Coady 0-6, D Doyle 0-3, P Murphy 0-2, D Kavanagh 0-1, S Gahan 0-1.		J Brennan 1-9, É Morrissey 1-4, K Horgan 1-1, P Donoghue 1-0, J Morris 0-1.	Referee: P Moran (Westmeath)

Naas v Dunnamaggin

2 November 1997 Quarter-final	Naas	1-06 - 1-11	Dunnamaggin	Sallins Road, Naas
	J Kinlon 1-2, T Shanahan 0-3, C Boran 0-1.		M Moran 0-7, K O'Shea 1-0, S Ryan 0-3, E Kennedy 0-1.	Referee: C Byrne (Wicklow)

Oulart-the Ballagh v Castletown

8 November 1997 Quarter-final replay	Oulart-the Ballagh	0-10 - 1-08	Castletown	Bellefield, Enniscorthy
	P Finn 0-4, S Dunne 0-2, M Storey 0-2, D O'Connor 0-1, P Redmond 0-1.		P Phelan 1-5, D Cuddy 0-2, E Kirwan 0-1.	Referee: P Dunphy (Kilkenny)

Semi-finals

Castletown v O'Toole's

16 November 1997 Semi-final	Castletown	3-08 - 2-09	O'Toole's	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	D Cuddy 1-5, P Phelan 1-1, M Cuddy 1-0, Paul Cuddy 0-2.		K Flynn 2-0, J Brennan 0-6, J Morris 0-1, P Donohue 0-1, D Hernon 0-1.	Referee: P Horan (Offaly)

Birr v Dunnamaggin

16 November 1997 Semi-final	Birr	1-19 - 1-07	Dunnamaggin	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	G Cahill 0-6, P Carroll 0-5, Brian Whelehan 1-1, D Hanniffy 0-3, D Pilkington 0-3, J Pilkington 0-1.		M Moran 0-6, James Hickey 1-0, S Ryan 0-1.	Referee: P Ahearne (Carlow)

Final

Birr v Castletown

30 November 1997 Final	Birr	0-11 - 0-05	Castletown	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	G Cahill 0-4, D Hanniffy 0-2, D Pilkington 0-2, C Hanniffy 0-1, P Carroll 0-1, L Power 0-1.		David Cuddy 0-2, Cyril Cuddy 0-1, Patrick Phelan 0-1, F O'Sullivan 0-1.	Referee: P Neary (Kilkenny)

Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Quarter-finals

Ballyheigue v Patrickswell

26 October 1997 Quarter-final	Ballyheigue	1-09 - 1-13	Patrickswell	John Joe O'Sullivan Park, Ballyheigue
	B O'Sullivan 0-5, J Lucid 1-1, M Slattery 0-2, WJ Lean 0-1.		G Kirby 1-10, K Carey 0-2, B Foley 0-1.	Referee: S McMahon (Clare)

Sarsfields v Ballygunner

26 October 1997 Quarter-final	Sarsfields	1-13 - 1-13	Ballygunner	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
	P Ryan 0-7, J Murphy 1-2, T McCarthy 0-1, T Óg Lynch 0-1, J Barry 0-1, G Murphy 0-1.		P Power 1-4, T Carroll 0-2, L Whitty 0-2, M O'Mahony 0-2, F Hartley 0-1, T Fives 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1.

Ballygunner v Sarsfields

9 November 1997 Quarter-final replay	Ballygunner	3-11 - 2-07	Sarsfields	Walsh Park, Waterford
	P Flynn 2-3, T Carroll 0-4, M Mahony 1-0, B O'Sullivan 0-2, L Whitty 0-1, P Power 0-1.		P Ryan 2-4, P Gahan 0-1, J Murphy 0-1, T McCarthy 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Semi-finals

Patrickswell v Clonoulty-Rossmore

16 November 1997 Semi-final	Patrickswell	0-18 - 0-14	Clonoulty-Rossmore	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	G Kirby 0-8, A Carmody 0-4, D O'Grady 0-4, B Foley 0-1, E Geary 0-1.		M Kennedy 0-7, D Ryan 0-4, M Quirke 0-1, A Butler 0-1, K Ryan 0-1.	Referee: W Horgan (Cork)

Clarecastle v Ballygunner

30 November 1997 Semi-final	Clarecastle	1-16 - 0-16	Ballygunner	Semple Stadium
	K Ralph 1-7, A Neville 0-3, G O'Loughlin 0-2, F Tuohy 0-2, J Healy 0-1, R Fitzgerald 0-1.		P Flynn 0-6, B O'Sullivan 0-4, T Carroll 0-2, M O'Mahony 0-1, P Power 0-1, C Sweeney 0-1, D O'Sullivan 0-1.	Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary)

Final

Clarecastle v Patrickswell

7 December 1997 Final	Clarecastle	2-11 - 0-15	Patrickswell	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	K Ralph 1-4, A Neville 1-1, D Scanlan 0-4, P Healy 0-2.		G Kirby 0-11, D O'Grady 0-2, J McDermott 0-1, B Foley 0-1.	Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)

Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Semi-finals

Keady Lámh Dhearg v Lavey

21 September 1997 Semi-final	Keady Lámh Dhearg	0-10 - 3-17	Lavey	Athletic Grounds, Armagh
	G Mone 0-3, K Hatzer 0-2, V Mone 0-2, K Mone 0-1, G Enright 0-1, E McKee 0-1.		M McCormack 1-5, F McNally 1-3, H Downey 1-1, O Collins 0-4, B McCormack 0-2, J McGurk 0-1, S Downey 0-1.

Dunloy v Ballygalget

21 September 1997 Semi-final	Dunloy	1-15 - 1-08	Ballygalget	Casement Park, Belfast
	G O'Kane 1-7, A Elliott 0-3, L Richmond 0-3, M Molloy 0-1, C McGuckian 0-1, J Elliott 0-1.		G Clarke 1-1, J McGrattan 0-4, C McGrattan 0-1, B Coulter 0-1, B Savage 0-1.

Final

Dunloy v Lavey

5 October 1997 Final	Dunloy	3-16 - 4-10	Lavey	Casement Park, Belfast
	G O'Kane 1-8, A Elliott 1-1, J Elliott 0-4, L Richmond 1-0, T McGrath 0-2, N Elliott 0-1.		O Collins 2-4, P McCoy 1-0, F McNally 1-0, A McCrystal 0-2, B McCormack 0-2, M McCormack 0-2, M Collins 0-1.	Referee: JA Gribben (Down)

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

Quarter-final

St. Gabriel's v Clarecastle

14 December 1997 Quarter-final	St. Gabriel's	1-07 - 2-24	Clarecastle	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
	A Burke 1-1, R Murphy 0-3 (0-1 free, 0-1 65), D Murphy 0-2, D Quinlan 0-1.		K Ralph 1-8 (0-1 free), F Tuohy 0-6, A Neville 1-0, D Scanlon 0-3, P Healy 0-2 (0-1 65, 0-1 free), G O'Loughlin 0-2, A Daly, R Fitzgerald, 0-1 each.	Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim)

Semi-final

Birr v Clarecastle

15 February 1998 Semi-final	Birr	1-15 - 3-09	Clarecastle	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	G Cahill 0-6, D Pilkington 1-1, G Hanniffy 0-2, D Hanniffy 0-2, J Pilkington 0-1, L Power 0-1, P Carroll 0-1, O O'Neill 0-1.		D Scanlan 2-3, K Ralph 1-4, F Tuohy 0-1, G O'Loughlin 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Sarsfields v Dunloy

15 February 1998 Semi-final	Sarsfields	3-14 - 4-11	Dunloy	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	A Donohue 1-10, P Kelly 2-1, J McGrath 0-1, P Forde 0-1, P Cooney 0-1.		G O'Kane 1-6, A Elliot 2-0, T McGrath 1-1, J Elliot 0-2, N Elliot 0-1, C McGuckian 0-1.	Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick)

Birr v Clarecastle

28 February 1998 Semi-final replay	Birr	0-12 - 0-11 (aet)	Clarecastle	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	G Cahill 0-4, D Hanniffy 0-4, D Regan 0-2, Brian Whelehan 0-1, J Pilkington 0-1.		K Ralph 0-5, G O'Loughlin 0-2, A Neville 0-1, D Scanlan 0-1, A Daly 0-1, P Healy 0-1.	Attendance: 5,050 Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Sarsfields v Dunloy

1 March 1998 Semi-final replay	Sarsfields	1-15 - 1-11	Dunloy	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	A Donohue 0-6, M McGrath 1-1, P Kelly 0-2, J Cooney 0-2, P Forde 0-1, M Stratford 0-1, J McGrath 0-1, N Morrissey 0-1.		Gregory O'Kane 0-7, A Elliott 1-2, M Molloy 0-1, Gary O'Kane 0-1.	Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick)

Final

Birr v Sarsfields

17 March 1998 Final	Birr	1-13 - 0-09	Sarsfields	Croke Park, Dublin
14:00	D Hanniffy 1-3, G Cahill 0-3, D Pilkington 0-2, J Pilkington 0-2, Daithí Regan 0-1, Barry Whelehan 0-1, C McGlone 0-1.		A Donohue 0-6, Peter Kelly 0-2, J McGrath 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Championship Statistics

Scoring

Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Ken Ralph	Clarecastle	4-28	40	5	8.00
2	Gregory O'Kane	Dunloy	3-28	37	4	9.25
3	Aidan Donohue	Sarsfields	2-28	34	4	8.50
4	Gary Kirby	Patrickswell	1-29	32	3	10.66
5	Gary Cahill	Birr	0-28	28	6	4.66
6	Dom Greally	Tooreen	1-19	22	3	7.33
7	Declan Pilkington	Birr	4-08	20	6	3.33
8	Darren Hanniffy	Birr	1-16	19	6	3.16
9	Alistair Elliott	Dunloy	4-06	18	4	4.50
	Jamesie Brennan	O'Toole's	1-15	18	2	9.00
10	Pat Ryan	Sarsfields	2-11	17	2	8.50

Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Dom Greally	Tooreen	1-10	13	Four Roads Hurling Club
	Gary Kirby	Patrickswell	1-10	13	Ballyheigue
	Aidan Donohue	Sarsfields	1-10	13	Dunloy
2	Jamesie Brennan	O'Toole's	1-09	12	St. Mullin's
3	Gregory O'Kane	Dunloy	1-08	11	Lavey
	Ken Ralph	Clarecastle	1-08	11	St. Gabriel's
	Gary Kirby	Patrickswell	0-11	11	Clarecastle
4	Mark Hennessy	Naas	2-04	10	Longford Slashers
	Pat Ryan	Sarsfields	2-04	10	Ballygunner
	Ollie Collins	Lavey	2-04	10	Dunloy
	Gregory O'Kane	Dunloy	1-07	10	Ballygalget
	Ken Ralph	Clarecastle	1-07	10	Ballygunner
	Pat Coady	St. Mullin's	0-10	10	Naomh Moninne