1997 National Hurling League

The 1997 National Hurling League was the 66th season of the National Hurling League.

Structural changes

At a meeting of Central Council on 18 May 1996, the GAA decided to scrap winter league hurling for a two-year trial period. It was also decided, by a margin of 23 votes to 15, to complete the National Hurling League within the calendar year. After further negotiations the GAA decided to run the league on a March to October basis. Other provisions included the playing of three matches in March, two in April and one each in May and June. The league final was to be played in October. Play-offs to determine the standings of teams within the divisions were also abandoned in favour of using scoring averages.

Division 1

Galway came into the season as defending champions of the 1995-96 season. Laois, Limerick and Wexford joined Division 1 as the promoted teams.
On 5 October 1997, Limerick won the title after a 1-12 to 1-9 win over Galway in the final. It was their 11th league title overall and their first since 1991-92.
Clare, Laois and Wexford were relegated.
Kilkenny's D. J. Carey was the Division 1 top scorer with 5-43.

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Kilkenny	7	5	0	2	10	-
2	Limerick	7	4	2	1	10	Division 1 champions
3	Galway	7	5	0	2	10	Division 1 runners-up
4	Tipperary	7	4	1	2	9	-
5	Offaly	7	4	0	3	8	-
6	Clare	7	2	1	4	5	Relegated to Division 2
7	Wexford	7	2	0	5	4	Relegated to Division 2
8	Laois	7	0	0	7	0	Relegated to Division 2

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
'''Final'''

Top scorers

;Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	D. J. Carey	Kilkenny	5-43	58	9	6.44
2	Gary Kirby	Limerick	4-31	43	7	6.14
3	Johnny Dooley	Offaly	0-34	34	7	4.85
4	Aidan Flanagan	Tipperary	1-30	33	8	4.12
5	Darragh Coen	Galway	1-29	32	5	6.40
6	Tom Dempsey	Wexford	1-25	28	6	4.16
7	Éamonn Scallan	Wexford	0-25	25	5	5.00
8	David Cuddy	Laois	1-21	24	7	3.42
8	Jamesie O'Connor	Clare	0-24	24	6	4.00
10	Tommy Dunne	Tipperary	1-18	21	8	2.62

;Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	D. J. Carey	Kilkenny	2-09	15	Galway
2	Gary Kirby	Limerick	2-07	13	Laois
3	Rory Gantley	Galway	2-05	11	Laois
3	Aidan Flanagan	Tipperary	1-08	11	Wexford
3	Johnny Dooley	Offaly	0-11	11	Galway
3	Tom Dempsey	Wexford	0-11	11	Limerick
7	D. J. Carey	Kilkenny	2-04	10	Tipperary
7	Éamonn Scallan	Wexford	0-10	10	Laois
9	Michael Cleary	Tipperary	3-00	9	Kilkenny
9	Gary Kirby	Limerick	0-09	9	Wexford

Division 2

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Dublin	7	7	0	0	14	Promoted to Division 1
2	Cork	7	6	0	1	12	Promoted to Division 1
3	Waterford	7	5	0	2	10	Promoted to Division 1
4	Antrim	7	3	0	4	6	-
5	Meath	7	3	0	4	6	-
6	London	7	2	0	5	4	-
7	Westmeath	7	1	0	6	2	-
8	Kerry	7	1	0	6	2	-

Top scorers

;Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Paul Flynn	Waterford	5-42	57	7	8.14
2	Tom Moloney	London	3-31	40	7	5.71
3	Ger Manley	Cork	3-27	36	6	6.00
4	Joe Deane	Cork	5-20	35	6	5.83
5	Connor McCambridge	Antrim	1-31	34	7	4.85
6	Pat Potterton	Meath	3-24	33	6	5.60
7	Jamesie Brennan	Dublin	0-32	32	7	4.57
8	Billy O'Sullivan	Waterford	5-09	24	6	4.00
8	Seánie McGrath	Cork	4-12	24	7	3.42
9	Gregory O'Kane	Antrim	3-12	21	7	3.00
9	Eamon Morrissey	Dublin	2-15	21	6	3.50

;Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Connor McCambridge	Antrim	1-12	15	London
1	Paul Flynn	Waterford	1-12	15	Westmeath
2	Alastair Elliot	Antrim	3-03	12	Westmeath
2	Joe Deane	Cork	2-06	12	Antrim
2	Tom Moloney	London	2-06	12	Antrim
3	Alan Browne	Cork	3-02	11	Westmeath
3	Brendan O'Sullivan	Kerry	1-08	11	Westmeath
4	Ger Manley	Cork	2-04	10	Antrim
4	Pat Potterton	Meath	2-04	10	Waterford
4	Seánie McGrath	Cork	2-04	10	Waterford
4	Pat Potterton	Meath	1-07	10	Antrim