1997 Ulster Senior Football Championship final

The 1997 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final was played at St Tiernach's Park in Clones on 20 July 1997. It was contested by Cavan and Derry.

1997 Ulster Senior Football Final
Event1997 Ulster Senior Championship
Date20 July 1997
VenueSt Tiernach's Park, Clones
Man of the MatchDermot McCabe
RefereePat McEnaney (Monaghan)
Attendance34,349
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Cavan were looking for their first title since 1969, while Derry hadn't won since 1993.

Cavan entered the game as underdogs, but bridged a 28-year gap to win a record 39th Ulster title.[1][2][3][4] Substitute Jason O'Reilly got the decisive goal,[5] while Ronan Carolan was top scorer with 6 points. Dermot McCabe was selected as man of the match while Stephen King had the honour of lifting the Anglo-Celt Cup as captain.[6][7]

Match details edit

Cavan1-14 – 0-16Derry
R. Carolan 0-6
J. O'Reilly 1-0
P. Reilly 0-3
L. Reilly 0-2
D. McCabe 0-1
R. Cunningham 0-1
F. Cahill 0-1
A. Tohill 0-4
J. Brolly 0-3
G. McGill 0-2
G. Coleman 0-2
J. Cassidy 0-1
F. McCusker 0-1
D. Dougan 0-1
J. McBride 0-1
K. McKeever 0-1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cavan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derry
1 Paul O'Dowd
2 Philip Kermath
3 Ciarán Brady
4 Terry Farrelly
5 Gerry Sheridan
6 Bernard Morris
7 Patrick Sheils
8 Stephen King (c)
9 Dermot McCabe
10 Peter Reilly
11 Ronan Carolan
12 Raymond Cunningham
13 Larry Reilly
14 Fintan Cahill
15 Damien O'Reilly
Substitutes:
17 Mickey Graham for L. Reilly
18 Philip Smith for King
20 Jason O'Reilly for Cahill

Manager:
Martin McHugh
1 Damien McCusker
2 Kieran McKeever (c)
3 David O'Neill
4 Gary Coleman
5 Seán Marty Lockhart
6 Henry Downey
7 Johnny McBride
8 Anthony Tohill
9 Dermot Heaney
10 Gary McGill
11 Dermot Dougan
12 Fergal McCusker
13 Joe Brolly
14 Seamus Downey
15 Joe Cassidy
Substitutes:
17 Karl Diamond for Dougan
19 Gary Doyle for McGill


Manager:
Brian Mullins

Man of the Match:
Dermot McCabe

References edit

  1. ^ "Cavan end wilderness years". Irish Times. 21 July 1997. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Back in the day: The Irish News July 20 1997: Cavan footballers end 28-year wait for Ulster title". Irish News. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  3. ^ "'I never witnessed scenes like it in my life' - The Donegal legend who led Cavan to Ulster glory". Independent. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  4. ^ "'I turned around and I think I was hit by a herd of buffalo, I never seen a pitch fill up as quick'". The42. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Soccer celebrations, carrying sandbags over hills, and ending a 28-year wait for Ulster glory". The42. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Flashback: 1997 Ulster SFC Final - Cavan v Derry". GAA.ie. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  7. ^ "'It was everything I thought it would be'". Anglo Celt. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2019.