The 1997 Limerick Senior Hurling Championship was the 103rd staging of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Limerick County Board in 1887. The draw for the group stage took place on 11 February 1997. The championship ran from 17 April to 21 September 1997.
Patrickswell entered the championship as the defending champions.
The final was played on 21 September 1997 at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, between Patrickswell and Garryspillane, in what was their first ever meeting in the final. Patrickswell won the match by 1âÂÂ12 to 0âÂÂ09 to claim their 16th championship title overall and a third title in succession.
Patrickswell's Gary Kirby was the championship's top scorer with 7âÂÂ61.
Promoted from the Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship
Relegated to the Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship
There was an increase in the number of teams, with four divisional or amalgamation teams joining the 16 club teams. This meant that each of the four groups increased to five teams, with each team being guaranteed four games. Eastern Gaels featured players from Caherline, Kilteely-Dromkeen and Fedamore, while Southern Gaels was composed of players from Galbally, Glenroe and Hospital-Herbertstown. St David's was made up of players fromwest Limerick, while Dromard was another amalgamation.