The 1997 Kerry Senior Football Championship was the 97th staging of the Kerry Senior Football Championship since its establishment by the Kerry County Board in 1889. The draw for the opening round fixtures took place on 27 February 1997. The championship ran from 24 July to 2 November 1997.

Laune Rangers entered the championship as the defending champions.

The final was played on 2 November 1997 at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, between East Kerry and Laune Rangers, in what was their first ever meeting in the final. East Kerry won the match by 1-11 to 0-08 to claim their fifth championship title overall and a first title in 27 years.

East Kerry's Paud O'Donoghue was the championship's top scorer with 1-32.

Results Round 1

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Championship statistics Top scorers

Overall

Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Paud O'DonoghueEast Kerry1-323565.832Pa O'SullivanLaune Rangers0-262655.203Dara Ó CinnéideWest Kerry1-151844.504Eoin MoynihanAustin Stacks0-151535.005Ian TwissMid Kerry0-141434.666John KennedyShannon Rangers1-101334.337Seán GeaneyWest Kerry3-031243.00Darren AherneAustin Stacks0-121234.009Jerry MurphyEast Kerry1-081161.8310Gary McGrathMid Kerry2-041033.33Tom O'ConnellMid Kerry0-101025.00

In a single game

Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition1Paud O'DonoghueEast Kerry0-1010St. Brendan's2John KennedyShannon Rangers1-058Killarney Legion3Paud O'DonoghueEast Kerry1-047Laune RangersEoin MoynihanAustin Stacks0-077East KerryDarren AherneAustin Stacks0-077Feale RangersPa O'SullivanLaune Rangers0-077KenmarePa O'SullivanLaune Rangers0-077St. Kieran's8Gary McGrathMid Kerry2-006Dr. CrokesSeán GeaneyWest Kerry2-006Laune RangersCathal O'GradyKillarney Legion0-066Shannon RangersIan TwissMid Kerry0-066Dr. CrokesDara Ó CinnéideWest Kerry0-066Castleisland DesmondsIan TwissMid Kerry0-066West KerryPa O'SullivanLaune Rangers0-066West KerryPaud O'DonoghueEast Kerry0-066Laune Rangers Miscellaneous

East Kerry win the title for the first time in 27 years. The final goes to a replay for the first time since 1994.

References