For the first and only time, the final was played outside Ireland, at Polo Grounds in New York City, to cater for the large Irish-American community there.

The New York final was also intended to observe the centenary of the Great Famine, which caused mass Irish emigration to the U.S. and other countries.

[2] It was decided that New York would host this match as a commemoration of the 1847 Great Famine, which forced a large number of Irish people to emigrate to North America.

[4] The Artane Boys' Band travelled to New York to play before the match, as they do traditionally at all All-Ireland finals.

Cavan team = 1 Val Gannon 2 Willie Doonan 3 Brian O'Reilly 4 Paddy Smith 5 John Wilson 6 John Joe O'Reilly (c) 7 Simon Deignan 8 P. J. Duke 9 Phil Brady 10 Tony Tighe 11 Mick Higgins 12 Columba McDyer 13 Joe Stafford 14 Peter Donohoe 15 T. P. O'Reilly 16 Edwin Carolan 17 Terry Sheridan 18 Owen Roe McGovern 19 John Joe Cassidy 20 Tom O'Reilly 21 Eunan Tiernan 22 Brendan Kelly Kerry team = 1 D. O'Keeffe 2 D. Lyne (c) 3 J. Keohane 4 P. B. Brosnan 5 J. Lyne 6 B. Casey 7 E. Walsh 8 E. Dowling 9 Teddy O'Connor 17 T. O'Sullivan 15 D. Kavanagh 12 B. Garvey 13 F. O'Keeffe 14 Tom O'Connor 22 P. Kennedy 11 W. O'Donnell for T. Brosnan 18 M. Finucane for E. Walsh 16 T. Brosnan for W. O'Donnell 21 G. Teahan for P. Kennedy 10 G. O'Sullivan 19 T. Long 20 S. Keane The Cavan team returned to Ireland aboard the RMS Queen Mary.

"[4] The 1947 All-Ireland SFC final brought about an understanding that a large audience existed for Gaelic games highlights.