| Championship details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 19 May – 15 September 1991 |
| Teams | 32 |
| All-Ireland Champions | |
| Winning team | Down (4th win) |
| Captain | Paddy O'Rourke |
| Manager | Pete McGrath |
| All-Ireland Finalists | |
| Losing team | Meath |
| Captain | Liam Hayes |
| Manager | Seán Boylan |
| Provincial Champions | |
| Munster | Kerry |
| Leinster | Meath |
| Ulster | Down |
| Connacht | Roscommon |
| Championship statistics | |
| No. matches played | 38 |
| 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
[edit]Quarter-finals
| 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) |
| 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 (County Mayo) |
Semi-finals
| 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) |
| 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
| 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) |
| 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) |
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 get byes to the teams to the Quarter-finals.
Preliminary round
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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
| 9 June 1991 Quarter-final | Laois | 1-17 – 0-6 | Westmeath | O'Moore Park, Portlaoise |
| Referee: N Whelan (Wexford) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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
| 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) |
| 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. |
| 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
| 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) |
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 and Cork, and improve Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. Since 1947, Cork vs Kerry was the most common Munster final until 1990, but less common from then on.
Quarter-finals
| 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) |
| 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
| 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) |
| 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
| 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) |
Preliminary round
| 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
| 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) |
| 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 (Tyrone) |
| 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) |
| 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
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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
| 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) |
Semi-finals
| 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) |
| 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
| 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
[edit]Scoring
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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.
- The Meath-Dublin saga was the first SFC tie since Carlow-Wexford (1941) to be played four times in one season.
- 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 ever (15) and was not equalled until 2000.
- 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.
- Meath became the first side since Kildare (1903) to play 10 senior football championship matches in one season.
- 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.