1991 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1991 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Championship details
Dates19 May – 15 September 1991
Teams32
All-Ireland Champions
Winning teamDown (4th win)
CaptainPaddy O'Rourke
ManagerPete McGrath
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing teamMeath
CaptainLiam Hayes
ManagerSeán Boylan
Provincial Champions
MunsterKerry
LeinsterMeath
UlsterDown
ConnachtRoscommon
Championship statistics
No. matches played38
Top Scorer Brian Stafford (4-62)
Player of the Year Colm O'Rourke
1990
1992

The 1991 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 105th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 19 May 1991 and ended on 15 September 1991.

In the Munster semi-final Kerry ended Cork's 2 years as All Ireland champions.

Down defeated Meath in the final by a scoreline of 1–16 to 1–14. The Ulster county's victory was to be the start of four consecutive All-Ireland titles for the province. For Meath, it was their second consecutive defeat in a final, having lost to Cork in the 1990 final.

The Championship was noted for the tie between Dublin and Meath that took three replays to decide.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

London v Mayo
2 June 1991 Quarter-final London 2-9 – 6-14 Mayo Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
J Landy 0-6, P McIntyre 1-0, J McCormack 1-0, T McDonnell 0-1, R Flaherty 0-1, T McBride 0-1. N Durkan 3-1, T Morley 2-0, R Dempsey 1-1, L McHale 0-3, C McMenamin 0-2, S Maher 0-2, M Fitzmaurice 0-2, P McStay 0-2, WJ Padden 0-1. Attendance: 5,000
Referee: J Carney (Roscommon)
Leitrim v Sligo
9 June 1991 Quarter-final Leitrim 1-16 – 0-5 Sligo Páirc Sheáin Mhic Dhiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
C Mahon 0-7, S Heslin 1-1, B Breen 0-2, P Kenny 0-2, M Quinn 0-2, M Martin 0-1, P Kieran 0-1. D McGoldrick 0-2, T Deignan 0-2, D Keaveney 0-1. Attendance: 8,000
Referee: J Cosgrove (Mayo)

Semi-finals

Mayo v Galway
23 June 1991 Semi-final Mayo 3-11 – 0-6 Galway MacHale Park, Castlebar
M Fitzmaurice 0-6, P McStay 1-2, T Morley 1-0, N Durkan 1-0, R Dempsey 0-3. F O'Neill 0-3, T Kilcommins 0-1, C O'Dea 0-1, H Blehein 0-1. Attendance: 18,000
Referee: F Finan (Sligo)
Leitrim v Roscommon
30 June 1991 Semi-final Leitrim 0-8 – 0-12 Roscommon Páirc Sheáin Mhic Dhiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
C mahon 0-3, P Kenny 0-2, B Breen 0-2, L Conlon 0-1. T McManus 0-5, D Duggan 0-3, M Donlon 0-3, T Grehan 0-1. Attendance: 11,000
Referee: P Egan (Galway)

Finals

Mayo v Roscommon
14 July 1991 Final Mayo 0-14 – 0-14 Roscommon MacHale Park, Castlebar
L Mchale 0-2, M Fitzmaurice 0-2, T Morley 0-2, R Dempsey 0-2, P McStay 0-2, WJ Padden 0-1, C McMenamon 0-1, T Tierney 0-1, TJ Kilgallon 0-1. D Duggan 0-6, P Earley 0-2, T McManus 0-2, P Hickey 0-1, M Reilly 0-1, J Newton 0-1, M Donlon 0-1. Attendance: 25,000
Referee: P Egan (Galway)
Roscommon v Mayo
28 July 1991 Final replay Roscommon 0-13 – 1-9 Mayo Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
D Duggan 0-8, M Donlon 0-2, J Newton 0-1, T Grehan 0-1, T McManus 0-1. A Finnerty 1-0, M Fitzmaurice 0-3, P McStay 0-2, T Tierney 0-1, C McMenamon 0-1, L McHale 0-1, WJ Padden 0-1. Attendance: 24,000
Referee: P Egan (Galway)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

Note for the first time since 1975 there's a full, straightforward or proper open draw top county teams such as Dublin, Meath or Offaly no longer byes to the teams to the Quarter-finals.

Preliminary round

Carlow v Wexford
19 May 1991 Preliminary round Carlow 2-7 – 3-14 Wexford Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
L Molloy 1-2, J Nevin 1-0, M Nolan 0-2, J Murphy 0-2, A Callinan 0-1. L Rafter 1-3, M Stafford 1-2, M Fleming 1-1, M Hendrick 0-3, J Harrington 0-2, J Power 0-1, C Javans 0-1, G Watters 0-1. Referee: A Maher (Laois)
Louth v Longford
26 May 1991 Preliminary round Louth 2-13 – 2-12 Longford Drogheda Park, Drogheda
J McDonnell 1-2, C O'Hanlon 1-2, P Butterly 0-5, B Kerins 0-3, D Reilly 0-1. D Barry 0-6, C Fox 1-1, C Bawle 1-0, B O'Connor 0-2, R Culhane 0-1, G Fox 0-1, P Victory 0-1. Referee: V Lynch (Meath)
Dublin v Meath
2 June 1991 Preliminary round Dublin 1-12 – 1-12 Meath Croke Park, Dublin
C Redmond 0-7, M Galvin 1-0, P Curran 0-2, T Carr 0-1, J Sheedy 0-1, V Murphy 0-1. B Stafford 1-4, B Flynn 0-3, T Dowd 0-2, PJ Gillic 0-2, S Kelly 0-1. Attendance: 51,144
Referee: T Howard (Kildare)
Dublin v Meath
9 June 1991 Preliminary round replay Dublin 1-11 – 1-11
(aet)
Meath Croke Park, Dublin
B Rock 0-8, J Sheedy 1-0, E Heery 0-1, P Clarke 0-1, K Duff 0-1. B Stafford 0-5, D Beggy 1-1, PJ Gillic 0-2, S Kelly 0-1, C O'Rourke 0-1, B Flynn 0-1. Attendance: 60,960
Referee: T Howard (Kildare)
Dublin v Meath
23 June 1991 Preliminary round second replay Dublin 1-14 – 2-11
(aet)
Meath Croke Park, Dublin
P Clark 1-1, B Rock 0-3, N Guiden 0-3, J Sheedy 0-2, J Nally 0-2, P Bealin 0-1, D Sheehan 0-1, P Curran 0-1. B Stafford 0-10, B Flynn 1-1, C Coyle 1-0. Attendance: 62,736
Referee: T Howard (Kildare)
Dublin v Meath
6 July 1991 Preliminary round third replay Dublin 0-15 – 2-10 Meath Croke Park, Dublin
C Redmond 0-5, N Guiden 0-4, P Curran 0-2, D Sheehan 0-2, M Galvin 0-2. Report B Stafford 1-6, K Foley 1-0, B Flynn 0-2, M McCabe 0-1, D Beggy 0-1. Attendance: 61,543
Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Quarter-finals

Laois v Westmeath
9 June 1991 Quarter-final Laois 1-17 – 0-6 Westmeath O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
Referee: N Whelan (Wexford)
Louth v Kildare
16 June 1991 Quarter-final Louth 2-11 – 2-10 Kildare Drogheda Park, Drogheda
S White 2-4, P Butterly 0-4, B Kerins 0-2, F Murphy 0-1. P McLoughlin 0-6, D Kerrigan 1-1, J Gilroy 1-0, J McDonald 0-2, B Donovan 0-1. Attendance: 15,000
Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)
Wexford v Offaly
16 June 1991 Quarter-final Wexford 0-7 – 1-7 Offaly Wexford Park, Wexford
B Dodd 0-3, M Stafford 0-1, J Harrington 0-1, M Hanrick 0-1, M Fleming 0-1. B Lowry 1-2, P Brady 0-3, D Claffey 0-1, V Claffey 0-1. Attendance: 4,000
Referee: D Guerin (Dublin)
Meath v Wicklow
14 July 1991 Quarter-final Meath 1-9 – 0-12 Wicklow Croke Park, Dublin
B Stafford 1-6, M McCabe 0-2, C O'Rourke 0-1. C Daye 0-4, K O'Brien 0-3, P Baker 0-1, M Murtagh 0-1, F Daly 0-1, B Kenny 0-1, P O'Byrne 0-1. Attendance: 35,123
Referee: N Whelan (Wexford)
Meath v Wicklow
21 July 1991 Quarter-final replay Meath 1-12 – 1-9 Wicklow Croke Park, Dublin
B Stafford 0-6, B Flynn 1-2, M O'Connell 0-1, L Hayes 0-1, D Beggy 0-1, C O'Rourke 0-1. P Baker 1-4, F Daly 0-2, P Byrne 0-1, C Daye 0-1, A O'Sullivan 0-1. Attendance: 41,215
Referee: N Whelan (Wexford)

Semi-finals

Laois v Louth
7 July 1991 Semi-final Laois 1-10 – 2-7 Louth Croke Park, Dublin
M Turley 0-6, L Turley 1-0, C Maher 0-2, T Maher 0-1, M Lawlor 0-1. C O'Hanlon 1-1, P Butterly 1-1, S White 0-3, B Kearns 0-2. Attendance: 16,441
Referee: P Whelan (Wicklow)
Laois v Louth
14 July 1991 Semi-final replay Laois 2-14 – 0-12 Louth Croke Park, Dublin
M Lawlor 2-3, M Turley 0-6, N Roe 0-2, C Maher 0-1, T Maher 0-1, P Roe 0-1. P Butterly 0-4, B Kerins 0-2, N Browne 0-2, F Murphy 0-1, S O'Hanlon 0-1, L McGuigan 0-1, S White 0-1.
Meath v Offaly
28 July 1991 Semi-final Meath 2-13 – 0-7 Offaly Croke Park, Dublin
B Stafford 1-6, J McDermott 1-0, C Coyle 0-2, B Flynn 0-2, PJ Gillic 0-1, T Dowd 0-1, C O'Rourke 0-1. D Reynolds 0-2, V Claffey 0-2, P Brady 0-1, B Lowry 0-1, Derek Claffey 0-1. Attendance: 22,038
Referee: J Woods (Dublin)

Final

Meath v Laois
10 August 1991 Final Meath 1-11 – 0-8 Laois Croke Park, Dublin
B Stafford 0-5, D Beggy 1-0, B Flynn 0-3, C Coyle 0-2, C O'Rourke 0-1. M Turley 0-4, L Turley 0-2, P Roe 0-1. Attendance: 28,157
Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Munster Senior Football Championship

In 1991, for the first time in years, the Munster Championship got rid of its seeded draw system and moved to an open draw. With the exception of Tipperary in 1935, Kerry or Cork had won every Munster title since 1923. The open draw was expected to weaken Kerry & Cork, and improve Clare, Limerick, Tipperary & Waterford. Since 1947, Cork vs Kerry was the most common Munster final until 1990, but less common from then on.

Quarter-finals

Clare v Kerry
26 May 1991 Quarter-final Clare 2-12 – 5-16 Kerry Cusack Park, Ennis
G Killeen 1-1, S Keane 1-1, M Flynn 0-4, F McInerney 0-3, MJ Thynne 0-2, P Vaughan 0-1. D Farrell 2-1, M Fitzgerald 0-7, J O'Shea 0-4, P Dennehy 1-0, W Maher 0-3, C Murphy 1-0, T Fleming 0-1. Attendance: 3,500
Referee: R Moloney (Limerick)
Limerick v Tipperary
26 May 1991 Quarter-final Limerick 0-14 – 2-7 Tipperary Páirc na nGael, Askeaton
T Cummins 0-4, J Donovan 0-3, L Long 0-2, D Larkin 0-2, E Sheehan 0-1, S Kelly 0-1, P Danaher 0-1. J Dunne 1-0, D Hogan 1-0, P Lambert 0-3, D Hahesay 0-1, J O'Meara 0-1, C McGrath 0-1, J Costello 0-1. Attendance: 3,500
Referee: T Sugrue (Kerry)

Semi-finals

Kerry v Cork
16 June 1991 Semi-final Kerry 1-10 – 0-11 Cork Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
M Fitzgerald 0-5, J Cronin 1-1, T Fleming 0-1, A O'Donovan 0-1, J O'Shea 0-1, P Dennehy 0-1. L Tompkins 0-2, J O'Driscoll 0-2, D Culloty 0-2, D Barry 0-1, M Slocum 0-1, S Fahy 0-1, P McGrath 0-1, M McCarthy 0-1. Attendance: 41,334
Referee: P Russell (Tipperary)
Waterford v Limerick
23 June 1991 Semi-final Waterford 0-11 – 0-13 Limerick Fraher Field, Dungarvan
E O'Brien 0-3, P Whyte 0-2, P Ferncombe 0-1, M McGrath 0-1, P Queally 0-1, P Hynes 0-1, L Dalton 0-1, L O'Connor 0-1. D Fitzgibbon 0-2, T Cummins 0-2, D Fitzgerald 0-2, J O'Donovan 0-2, E Sheehan 0-1, L Long 0-1, D Larkin 0-1, J Reddington 0-1, J Quane 0-1. Referee: J O'Leary (Cork)

Final

Kerry v Limerick
21 July 1991 Final Kerry 0-23 – 3-12 Limerick Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
M Fitzgerald 0-12, J Cronin 0-3, J O'Shea 0-3, P Dennehy 0-2, P Spillane 0-2, A O'Donovan 0-1. S Kelly 2-1, J O'Donovan 1-2, D Fitzgerald 0-4, F Ryan 0-2, T Browne 0-1, J Quane 0-1, PJ Garvey 0-1. Attendance: 25,900
Referee: P Russell (Tipperary)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Tyrone v Derry
19 May 1991 Preliminary round Tyrone 1-8 – 1-9 Derry Healy Park, Omagh
A Cush 1-3, P Donaghy 0-2, D O'Hagan 0-1, K McCabe 0-1, D McGleenan 0-1. D cassidy 1-1, E Burns 0-4, E Gormley 0-2, D McNicholl 0-1, F McCusker 0-1. Referee: D Campbell (Fermanagh)

Quarter-finals

Antrim v Fermanagh
26 May 1991 Quarter-final Antrim 1-8 – 3-12 Fermanagh Casement Park, Belfast
J Kennedy 1-3, T Connolly 0-2, B McCann 0-1, J McAleese 0-1, D Armstrong 0-1. P Coyle 1-3, S Bradley 1-2, M Gallagher 1-1, M O'Rourke 0-3, C Curran 0-1, J Leonard 0-1, J Rehill 0-1. Attendance: 5,000
Referee: T McDermott (Cavan)
Donegal v Cavan
2 June 1991 Quarter-final Donegal 2-14 – 0-12 Cavan MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
M Boyle 0-5, A Molloy 1-1, M Gallagher 1-0, B Cunningham 0-2, C Mulgrew 0-2, D Reid 0-2, M Gavigan 0-1, B Murray 0-1. R Carolan 0-4, P Lynch 0-2, S King 0-2, L Bardy 0-1, J Reilly 0-1, N O'Donnell 0-1, D Brady 0-1. Referee: J Curran (County Tyrone)
Down v Armagh
9 June 1991 Quarter-final Down 1-7 – 0-8 Armagh Páirc Esler, Newry
M Linden 1-0, G Mason 0-3, R Carr 0-2, DJ Kane 0-1, L Austin 0-1. J Toner 0-5, M Grimley 0-1, B O'Kane 0-1, M Toye 0-1. Attendance: 17,000
Referee: M Greenan (Cavan)
Derry v Monaghan
16 June 1991 Quarter-final Derry 0-13 – 0-8 Monaghan Celtic Park, Derry
E Gormley 0-5, E Burns 0-3, D McNicholl 0-2, J McGurk 0-1, D Heaney 0-1, D Cassidy 0-1. R McCarron 0-3, E McEneaney 0-2, D Byrne 0-1, G McGuirk 0-1, E Murphy 0-1. Attendance: 10,000
Referee: G McClorey (Antrim)

Semi-finals

Donegal v Fermanagh
23 June 1991 Semi-final Donegal 1-18 – 0-13 Fermanagh Healy Park, Omagh
D Bonnar 0-6, T Boyle 1-2, M Boyle 0-3, M McHugh 0-2, B Murray 0-2, B McGowan 0-2, J McMullan 0-1. P Coyle 0-5, J Reilhill 0-2, B Brewster 0-2, S Bradley 0-2, M Gallagher 0-1, M O'Rourke 0-1. Attendance: 10,000
Referee: M Cranney (Down)
Down v Derry
30 June 1991 Semi-final Down 0-13 – 1-10 Derry Athletic Grounds, Armagh
R Carr 0-9, M Linden 0-1, J McCartan 0-1, G Blaney 0-1, DJ Kane 0-1. E Burns 1-5, F McCusker 0-1, D McNicholl 0-1, D Barton 0-1, J Brolly 0-1, A Tohill 0-1. Attendance: 12,000
Referee: M Greenan (Cavan)
Down v Derry
14 July 1991 Semi-final replay Down 0-14 – 0-9 Derry Athletic Grounds, Armagh
R Carr 0-9, M Linden 0-2, P McCartan 0-1, G Blaney 0-1, G Mason 0-1. E Gormley 0-3, J Brolly 0-2, EBurns 0-1, C McGuirk 0-1, A Tohill 0-1, D McNicholl 0-1. Attendance: 12,000
Referee: M Greenan (Cavan)

Final

Down v Donegal
28 July 1991 Final Down 1-15 – 0-10 Donegal St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
M Linden 1-1, R Carr 0-3, G Blaney 0-3, G Mason 0-3, J McCartan 0-2, P Higgins 0-1, DJ Kane 0-1, B Breen 0-1. D Bonnar 0-4, T Boyle 0-3, N Boyle 0-2, P Brogan 0-1. Attendance: 22,000
Referee: D Campbell (Fermanagh)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Down v Kerry
11 August 1991 Semi-final Down 2-9 - 0-8 Kerry Croke Park, Dublin
P Withnail 2-1, R Carr 0-4, G Mason 0-2, M Linden 0-2. M Fitzgerald 0-5, P Spillane 0-2, A O'Donovan 0-1. Attendance: 40,166
Referee: T Howard (Kildare)
Meath v Roscommon
18 August 1991 Semi-final Meath 0-15 - 1-11 Roscommon Croke Park, Dublin
B Stafford 0-9, T Dowd 0-2, PJ Gillic 0-1, D Beggy 0-1, M O'Connell 0-1, B Flynn 0-1. D Duggan 1-8, E McManus 0-3. Referee: D Campbell (Fermanagh)

Final

Down v Meath
15 September 1991 Final Down 1-16 - 1-14 Meath Croke Park, Dublin
R Carr 0-5, G Mason 0-4, B Breen 1-0, J McCartan 0-3, E Burns 0-2, M Linden 0-1, G Blaney 0-1. B Flynn 0-6, B Stafford 0-5, L Hayes 1-1, C O'Rourke 0-1, D Beggy 0-1. Attendance: 64,500
Referee: S Prior (Leitrim)

Championship statistics

Scoring

Overall
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average
1 Brian Stafford Meath 4-62 74 10 7.40
2 Ross Carr Down 0-30 30 6 5.00
3 Maurice Fitzgerald Kerry 0-29 29 4 7.25
4 Derek Duggan Roscommon 1-25 28 4 7.00
5 Bernard Flynn Meath 0-27 27 10 2.70
Single game
Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition
1 Maurice Fitzgerald Kerry 0-12 12 Limerick
2 Derek Duggan Roscommon 1-8 11 Meath
3 Noel Durkin Mayo 3-1 10 London
Stefan White Louth 2-4 10 Kildare
Brian Stafford Meath 0-10 10 Dublin
6 Mick Lawlor Laois 2-3 9 Louth
Brian Stafford Meath 1-6 9 Dublin
Brian Stafford Meath 1-6 9 Wicklow
Brian Stafford Meath 1-6 9 Offaly
Ross Carr Down 0-9 9 Derry
Brian Stafford Meath 0-9 9 Roscommon
Ross Carr Down 0-9 9 Derry

Miscellaneous

  • Seeding is abolished in the Leinster and Munster championships meaning an open draw in Leinster for the first time since 1974 or Munster for the first time in 40 years.
  • Fermanagh's 3–12 to 1–8 defeat of Antrim in the Ulster quarter-final is their first victory in the championship since 1983.
  • The 1991 championship became famous for the four-game saga between Meath and Dublin in the preliminary round of the Leinster Championship. The four games comprised three draws, with two still ending level even after extra time. Meath eventually triumphed by a single point. A combined total of just under 237,000 people attended the four games in what was a major windfall for the Leinster Council.
  • While in the Quarter-final stage of the Leinster championship Meath played Wicklow twice and in the semi-final game between Laois and Louth also ended in a draw and went to replay making it the largest Leinster championship of Modern times.
  • Limerick reached their first Munster final since 1965 but lost it to Kerry, since 1947 all Munster finals expect for Cork vs Clare 1949, Cork vs Waterford 1957, Kerry vs Waterford 1960 and Kerry vs Limerick in 1965 the rest were all Kerry vs Cork deciders.
  • Meath and Laois meet in the Leinster final for the first time since 1951.
  • Down win the All Ireland final for the first time in 23 years and were first Ulster county since 1968 to win and also first not from Munster/Leinster of course.

References

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Pre-1928
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Beginning of
Sam Maguire
Seasons
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80-minute
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Post-experiment
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Qualifiers and
quarter-finals era
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Associated competitions
Statistics and awards