| 1997 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship | |
| Dates: | 16 August 1997 – 12 October 1997 |
| Teams: | 12 |
| Sponsor: | St. Canice's Credit Union |
| Champions: | Dunnamaggin |
| Champions Captain: | Paul Cahill |
| Count: | 1 |
| Runners-Up: | Young Irelands |
| Runners-Up Captain: | Cathal Fitzgerald |
| Relegated: | Mooncoin |
| Matches: | 15 |
| Goals: | 46 |
| Points: | 303 |
| Top Scorer: | D. J. Carey (3–16) |
| Previous Year: | 1996 |
| Previous Tournament: | 1996 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship |
| Next Year: | 1998 |
| Next Tournament: | 1998 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship |
The 1997 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 103rd staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board. The championship began on 16 August 1997 and ended on 12 October 1997.
Young Irelands were the defending champions.
On 12 October 1997, Dunnamggin won the title after a 2–10 to 2–07 defeat of Young Irelands in the final at Nowlan Park.[1] It was their first ever championship title.
D. J. Carey from the Young Irelands club was the championship's top scorer with 3–16.
Promoted from the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship
Relegated to the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D. J. Carey | Young Irelands | 3–16 | 25 | 3 | 8.33 |
| 2 | Damien Cleere | Graigue-Ballycallan | 2–16 | 22 | 4 | 5.50 |
| 3 | Brian Young | Erin's Own | 2–14 | 20 | 3 | 6.66 |
| 4 | Willie Purcell | Fenians | 2-09 | 15 | 2 | 7.50 |
| 5 | Charlie Carter | Young Irelands | 3-04 | 13 | 3 | 4.33 |
| Michael Moran | Dunnamaggin | 0–13 | 13 | 3 | 4.33 | |
| 6 | Michael Walsh | Mooncoin | 1-09 | 12 | 3 | 4.00 |
| Damien Lawlor | St. Martin's | 1-09 | 12 | 2 | 6.00 | |
| 7 | Niall Moloney | St. Martin's | 2-05 | 11 | 2 | 5.50 |
| Paul Cleere | O'Loughlin Gaels | 0–11 | 11 | 2 | 5.50 |
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D. J. Carey | Young Irelands | 2-08 | 14 | James Stephens |
| 2 | Damien Cleere | Graigue-Ballycallan | 2-04 | 10 | Erin's Own |
| Brian Young | Erin's Own | 1-07 | 10 | Graigue-Ballycallan | |
| 3 | Willie Purcell | Fenians | 1-06 | 9 | Graigue-Ballycallan |
| 4 | Brian Young | Erin's Own | 1-05 | 8 | Graigue-Ballycallan |
| Paul Cleere | O'Loughlin Gaels | 0-08 | 8 | St. Martin's | |
| Michael Moran | Dunnamaggin | 0-08 | 8 | Erin's Own | |
| 5 | Charlie Carter | Young Irelands | 2-01 | 7 | Glenmore |
| Liam Dowling | St. Martin's | 1-04 | 7 | Mooncoin | |
| Damien Lawlor | St. Martin's | 0-07 | 7 | O'Loughlin Gaels | |
| Brian McEvoy | James Stephens | 0-07 | 7 | Young Irelands |