| 1997 Cork Senior Football Championship | |
| Dates: | 10 May 1997 – 9 November 1997 |
| Teams: | 25 |
| Sponsor: | TSB Bank |
| Champions: | Beara |
| Count: | 6 |
| Champions Captain: | Ollie Rue O'Sullivan |
| Champions Manager: | Donal O'Sullivan |
| Runners-Up: | Castlehaven |
| Runners-Up Captain: | Niall Cahalane |
| Runners-Up Manager: | Christy Collins |
| Matches: | 26 |
| Goals: | 46 |
| Points: | 562 |
| Top Scorer: | Ciarán O'Sullivan (1-24) |
| Previous Year: | 1996 |
| Previous Tournament: | 1996 Cork Senior Football Championship |
| Next Year: | 1998 |
| Next Tournament: | 1998 Cork Senior Football Championship |
The 1997 Cork Senior Football Championship was the 109th staging of the Cork Senior Football Championship since its establishment by the Cork County Board in 1887. The draw for the opening fixtures took place on 8 December 1996. The championship began on 10 May 1997 and ended on 9 November 1997.
Clonakilty entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Muskerry in the second round.[1]
On 9 November 1997, Beara won the championship following a 1-10 to 1-07 defeat of Castlehaven in a replay of the final.[2] This was their 6th championship title overall and their first title since 1967.
Beara's Ciarán O'Sullivan was the championship's top scorer with 1-24.
Promoted from the Cork Intermediate Football Championship
| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ciarán O'Sullivan | Beara | 1-24 | 27 | 5 | 5.40 |
| 2 | John Cleary | Castlehaven | 0-25 | 25 | 6 | 4.16 |
| 3 | Dermot O'Sullivan | Duhallow | 1-21 | 24 | 4 | 6.00 |
| 4 | Ronan Sheehan | Mallow | 3-09 | 18 | 2 | 9.00 |
| Derek Barrett | Cobh | 0-18 | 18 | 5 | 3.60 | |
| 6 | Colin Crowley | Castlehaven | 3-06 | 15 | 6 | 2.50 |
| Larry Tompkins | Castlehaven | 1-12 | 15 | 6 | 2.50 | |
| 8 | Séamus Spencer | Beara | 2-08 | 14 | 5 | 2.80 |
| 9 | Noel Twomey | Muskerry | 2-07 | 13 | 3 | 4.33 |
| Jason Whooley | Carbery | 1-10 | 13 | 2 | 6.50 |
| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronan Sheehan | Mallow | 2-03 | 9 | Aghada |
| Ronan Sheehan | Mallow | 1-06 | 9 | Imokilly | |
| Ciarán O'Sullivan | Beara | 0-09 | 9 | Clyda Rovers | |
| 4 | Noel Twomey | Muskerry | 1-05 | 8 | Bishopstown |
| Jason Whooley | Carbery | 1-05 | 8 | Imokilly | |
| Dermot O'Sullivan | Duhallow | 0-08 | 8 | Muskerry | |
| 7 | Michael Lewis | Aghada | 2-01 | 7 | Mallow |
| Austin Aherne | Mallow | 2-01 | 7 | Aghada | |
| Dermot O'Sullivan | Duhallow | 0-07 | 7 | Duhallow | |
| Paul McGrath | Bishopstown | 0-07 | 7 | Muskerry | |
| Mark O'Sullivan | UCC | 0-07 | 7 | O'Donovan Rossa | |
| Podsie O'Mahony | Ballincollig | 0-07 | 7 | Duhallow | |
| Derek Barrett | Imokilly | 0-07 | 7 | Dohenys |