1996–97 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship 1996–97
Championship Details
Dates	22 September 1996 – 17 March 1997
Teams	28
All Ireland Champions
Winners	Athenry (1st win)
Captain	Brian Feeney
All Ireland Runners-up
Runners-up	Wolfe Tones na Sionna
Captain	Brian Lohan
Provincial Champions
Munster	Wolfe Tones na Sionna
Leinster	Camross
Ulster	Ruairí Óg
Connacht	Athenry
Championship Statistics
Top Scorer	Paul Flynn (3-21)
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

The 1996–97 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the 27th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county club hurling tournament. The championship began on 22 September 1996 and ended on 17 March 1997.

Sixmilebridge were the defending champions, however, they failed to qualify after being defeated in the Clare Senior Championship.^[1]

On 17 March 1996, Athenry won the championship after a 0–14 to 1–08 defeat of Wolfe Tones in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park.^[2] It was their first ever championship title.

Ballygunner's Paul Flynn was the championship's top scorer with 3-21.

Results

Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship

First round

Tubbercurry v Gortletteragh

5 October 1996 First round	Tubbercurry	2-13 - 2-12	Gortletteragh	Gortletteragh
	P Seevers 1-9, B Burke 1-1, K Walsh 0-2, D Killoran 0-1.		T McLoughlin 0-7, S Duignan 1-1, S Mallon 1-0, T Ward 0-1,

Quarter-final

Ballina Stephenites v Tubbercurry

19 October 1996 Quarter-final	Ballina Stephenites	1-08 - 2-06	Tubbercurry	James Stephens Park, Ballina
	N McLoughlin 0-4, J Regan 1-0, K Commons 0-3, K Guthrie 0-1.		P Seevers 0-5, B Walsh 1-1, D Killoran 1-0.

Semi-final

Tubbercurry v Four Roads

2 November 1996 Semi-final	Tubbercurry	0-06 - 6-15	Four Roads	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	P Seevers 0-6.		R Mulry 2-1, A Lalwor 2-1, M Cunniffe 1-4, J Mannion 0-4, O Lohan 1-0, S Coyle 0-2, G Coyle 0-1, F Grehan 0-1, B Mannion 0-1.

Final

Four Roads v Athenry

8 December 1996 Final	Four Roads	1-08 - 1-15	Athenry	Ballyforan
	M Cunniffe 0-4, D Lohan 1-0, J Mannion 0-3, R Mulry 0-1.		C Moran 0-6, P Higgins 1-2, B Keogh 0-3, B Hanley 0-2, A Poniard 0-1, D Moran 0-1.

Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Preliminary round

Wolfe Tones (Louth) v Wolfe Tones (Longford)

29 September 1996 Preliminary round	Wolfe Tones (Louth)	1-03 - 1-03	Wolfe Tones (Longford)	Drogheda Park, Drogheda
	T Crocoran 1-2, A Carter 0-1.		J Lynn 1-3.

Wolfe Tones (Longford) v Wolfe Tones (Louth)

6 October 1996 Preliminary round replay	Wolfe Tones (Longford)	1-07 - 3-11	Wolfe Tones (Louth)	Micahel Fay Park, Longford
	J Lynn 1-4, W Browne 0-1, B Connell 0-1, J Gilchrist 0-1.		O Kelly 0-6, A Carter 1-1, D McCarthy 1-0, M Reynolds 1-0, E Downey 0-2, N McEnaney 0-1, T Corcoran 0-1.

First round

Naomh Bríd v Glenealy

13 October 1996 First round	Naomh Bríd	0-09 - 1-01	Glenealy	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Kavanagh 0-4, J Nevin 0-2, D Quirke 0-1, B Maher 0-1, R Sheehan 0-1.		T Byrne 1-0, J O'Neill 0-1.	Referee: P Direen (Offaly)

Wolfe Tones (Louth) v Trim

13 October 1996 First round

Wolfe Tones (Louth)

2-06 - 2-07

Trim

Drogheda Park, Drogheda

Lough Lene Gaels v Coill Dubh

19 October 1996 First round	Lough Lene Gaels	0-16 - 1-11	Coill Dubh	Collinstown
	B Williams 0-7, F O'Farrell 0-3, J Williams 0-2, P Williams 0-1, J Gavigan 0-1, P Reilly 0-1, P Molloy 0-1.		T Carew 0-5, D Anderson 1-0, C Byrne 0-3, N Casey 0-2, R Byrne 0-1.

Quarter-finals

Trim v Seir Kieran

27 October 1996 Quarter-final	Trim	0-04 - 1-24	Seir Kieran	St. Loman's Park, Trim
	D Murray 0-3, R Fitzsimons 0-1.		Johnny Dooley 0-9, M Coughlan 0-5, B Dooley 1-1, J Coakley 0-3, C Kelly 0-2, J Connors 0-2, S Dooley 0-1, Joe Dooley 0-1.	Referee: A Mac Suibhne (Dublin)

Camross v Lough Lene Gaels

27 October 1996 Quarter-final	Camross	1-17 - 0-08	Lough Lene Gaels	St. Fintan's GAA Grounds, Mountrath
	J Dollard 0-7, D Culleton 1-2, O Dowling 0-3, R Cuddy 0-2, P Hogan 0-1, M Collier 0-1, B Moore 0-1.		B Williams 0-3, J Gavigan 0-2, P Williams 0-1, M Shaw 0-1, J Williams 0-1.	Referee: L Doyle (Wexford)

Naomh Bríd v O'Toole's

27 October 1996 Quarter-final	Naomh Bríd	1-10 - 3-17	O'Toole's	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Kavanagh 0-4, A Dowling 1-0, J Nevin 0-2, J Fitzpatrick 0-1, B Lawler 0-1, N Kane 0-1.		J Brennan 0-11, P Donoghue 2-0, K Flynn 1-0, J Morris 0-2, M Dunne 0-2, E Morrissey 0-2.	Referee: P Dunphy (Kilkenny)

Rathnure v Young Irelands

3 November 1996 Quarter-final	Rathnure	2-09 - 0-10	Young Irelands	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	P Codd 1-2, M Morrissey 1-1, J Codd 0-2, C Byrne 0-1, M Byrne 0-1, R Guiney 0-1, A Codd 0-1.		J McDermott 0-3, C Carter 0-3, B Treacy 0-2, DJ Carey 0-2.	Referee: P Delaney (Laois)

Semi-finals

Camross v Rathnure

10 November 1996 Semi-final	Camross	2-06 - 0-10	Rathnure	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	M Collier 1-1, G Danne 1-0, J Dollard 0-3, O Dowling 0-1, PJ Cuddy 0-1.		J Holohan 0-3, J Mooney 0-2, M Byrne 0-2, P Codd 0-2, A Codd 0-1.

Seir Kieran v O'Toole's

10 November 1996 Semi-final	Seir Kieran	3-10 - 1-16	O'Toole's	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	Johnny Dooley 1-7, M Mulrooeny 1-0, J Connors 1-0, K Dooley 0-1, N Coughlan 0-1, K Kelly 0-1.		M Morrissey 1-6, J Brennan 0-6, M Dunne 0-1, K Flynn 0-1, P Benoughue 0-1, N Hearns 0-1.

Seir Kieran v O'Toole's

16 November 1996 Semi-final replay	Seir Kieran	2-09 - 0-18	O'Toole's	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	M Mulrooney 1-1, B Dooley 1-0, J Kealy 0-3, J Coakley 0-2, Joe Dooley 0-1, M Coughlan 0-1, K Dooley 0-1.		J Brennan 0-9, E Morrissey 0-5, S Kearns 0-2, M Healy 0-1, P Donoghue 0-1.	Referee: P Ahearne (Carlow)

Final

Camross v O'Toole's

1 December 1996 Final	Camross	1-12 - 2-05	O'Toole's	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	J Dollard 0-7, PJ Cuddy 1-1, D Culleton 0-2, F Dowling 0-1, M Collier 0-1.		D Morris 1-0, N Howard 1-0, E Morrissey 0-2, J Brennan 0-2, P Donoghue 0-1.	Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)

Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Quarter-finals

Ballygunner v Na Piarsaigh

12 October 1996 Quarter-final	Ballygunner	1-18 - 0-11	Na Piarsaigh	Walsh Park, Waterford
	P Flynn 1-12, M Mahony 0-2, D O'Sullivan 0-1, T Carroll 0-1, L Whitty 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1.		Mark Mullins 0-7, Mickey Mullins 0-2, J. A. Moran 0-2.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Ballyheigue v Wolfe Tones

13 October 1996 Quarter-final	Ballyheigue	2-07 - 1-12	Wolfe Tones	John Joe O'Sullivan Park, Ballyheigue
	B O'Sullivan 1-3, J Healy 1-1, M Slattery 0-2, L O'Mahony 0-1.		Paul O'Rourke 1-2, P Keary 0-5, F Lohan 0-2, B Lohan 0-1, J Riordan 0-1, C O'Neill 0-1.	Referee: G Harrington (Cork)

Semi-finals

Boherlahan-Dualla v Ballygunner

10 November 1996 Semi-final	Boherlahan-Dualla	1-13 - 2-16	Ballygunner	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	A Flanagan 0-9, P O'Dwyer 1-0, B O'Dwyer 0-2, M Murphy 0-1, L Maher 0-1.		M Mahony 1-3, P Flynn 0-5, D Codd 1-0, B O'Sullivan 0-3, T Carroll 0-2, L Whitty 0-1, F Hartley 0-1, P Power 0-1.	Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick)

Wolfe Tones v Patrickswell

10 November 1996 Semi-final	Wolfe Tones	1-11 - 0-09	Patrickswell	Páirc na Sionna, Shannon
	Paul O'Rourke 0-4, C O'Neill 1-0, P Keary 0-3, P Lee 0-3, Pat O'Rourke 0-1.		G Kirby 0-5, E Geary 0-2, A Carmody 0-1, N Carey 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Final

Wolfe Tones v Ballygunner

24 November 1996 Final	Wolfe Tones	4-09 - 4-08	Ballygunner	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	Paul O'Rourke 2-4, P Lee 1-2, F Carrig 1-1, P Keary 0-2.		P Flynn 2-4, P Power 1-1, G Ryan 1-1, B O'Sullivan 0-2.	Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick)

Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Semi-finals

Keady Lámh Dhearg v Portaferry

22 September 1996 Semi-final

Keady Lámh Dhearg

1-07 - 5-09

Portaferry

Keady

Ruairí Óg Cushendall v Kevin Lynch's

22 September 1996 Semi-final

Ruairí Óg Cushendall

2-15 - 1-07

Kevin Lynch's

Fr. Healy Park, Loughguile

Final

Ruairí Óg Cushendall v Portaferry

27 October 1996 Final

Ruairí Óg Cushendall

3-09 - 2-08

Portaferry

Casement Park, Belfast

All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship

Quarter-final

St. Gabriel's v Athenry

15 December 1996 Quarter-final	St. Gabriel's	1-08 - 3-15	Athenry	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
	M Lyons 0-4, B Hayes 1-0, D Quinlan 0-3, K Grogan 0-1.		P Healy 2-1, B Hanley 1-3, C Moran 0-6, A Ponirad 0-2, J Rabbitte 0-2, B Keogh 0-1.

Semi-finals

Wolfe Tones v Ruairí Óg

16 February 1997 Semi-final	Wolfe Tones	2-08 - 1-10	Ruairí Óg	Parnell Park, Dublin
	P Keary 1-2, D Collins 1-0, P O'Rourke 0-2, F Lohan 0-1, P O'Rourke 0-1, F Carrig 0-1, P Lee 0-1.		C McCambridge 1-4, A Delargy 0-2, C McCambridge 0-1, M McCambridge 0-1, J Carson 0-1, R McNaughton 0-1.	Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)

Athenry v Camross

16 February 1997 Semi-final	Athenry	4-17 - 3-03	Camross	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	E Cloonan 1-9, D Moran 2-2, B Hanley 1-2, J Rabbitte 0-2, C Moran 0-2.		J Dollard 1-2, O Dowling 1-1, D Culleton 1-0.	Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)

Final

Athenry v Wolfe Tones

17 March 1997 Final	Athenry	0-14 - 1-08	Wolfe Tones	Croke Park, Dublin
	E Cloonan 0-9, B Higgins 0-1, P Higgins 0-1, C Moran 0-1, P Healy 0-1, A Poniard 0-1.	Report	P Keary 0-5, D Collins 1-0, P Lee 0-1, F Carrig 0-1, F Lohan 0-1.	Attendance: 34,852 Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Paul Flynn	Ballygunner	3-21	30	3	10.00
2	Jamesie Brennan	O'Toooles	0-27	27	3	9.00
3	Johnny Dooley	Seir Kieran	2-16	22	3	7.33
	Paul Seevers	Tubbercurry	1-19	22	3	7.33
	Joe Dollard	Camross	1-19	22	4	5.50
4	Paul O'Rourke	Wolfe Tones	3-12	21	5	4.20
4	Eugene Cloonan	Athenry	1-18	21	2	10.50
5	Paul Keary	Wolfe Tones	1-17	20	5	4.00

References

^ Cahill, Jackie (8 May 2017). "Life begins at 40! Clare All-Ireland winner back for a 23rd season of club fare". The 42. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
^ Cahill, Jackie (8 May 2017). "Life begins at 40! Clare All-Ireland winner back for a 23rd season of club fare". The 42. Retrieved 18 January 2020.