1979 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 1979 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 93rd staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 13 May 1979 and ended on 16 September 1979.

1979 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Championship details
Dates13 May – 16 September 1979
Teams33
All-Ireland Champions
Winning teamKerry (25th win)
CaptainTim Kennelly
ManagerMick O'Dwyer
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing teamDublin
CaptainTony Hanahoe
ManagerKevin Heffernan
Provincial Champions
MunsterKerry
LeinsterDublin
UlsterMonaghan
ConnachtRoscommon
Championship statistics
No. matches played35
Top Scorer Mikey Sheehy (6-18)
Player of the Year Mikey Sheehy
1978
1980

Kerry entered the championship as the defending champions.

On 16 September 1979, Kerry won the championship following a 3-13 to 1-8 defeat of Dublin in the All-Ireland final.[1] This was their 25th All-Ireland title and their second in succession.

Kerry's Mikey Sheehy was the championship's top scorer with 6-18. He was also named as the Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Leinster Championship format change edit

The second round of the Leinster football championship is dropped this year after 1 year.

Results edit

Connacht Senior Football Championship edit

Quarter-finals

27 May 1979 Quarter-final Galway 2-20 – 3-5 London Pearse Stadium, Galway
G McManus 0-10, P O'Neill 1-2, T Naughton 1-1, S Joyce 0-3, P McGettigan 0-2, P Rooney 0-1, B Talty 0-1. E Creighton 3-1, M McGovern 0-4. Referee: PJ McGrath (Mayo)
3 June 1979 Quarter-final Sligo 0-12 – 1-13 Leitrim Markievicz Park, Sligo
J Kent 0-5, A Brennan 0-4, J Brennan 0-1, F Henry 0-1, M Laffey 0-1. F Smith 0-5, P Holohan 1-0, M Martin 0-3, L Flynn 0-1, P McPartland 0-1, S Crossan 0-1, L Kelly 0-1, M Quinn 0-1. Referee: T Cunningham (Galway)

Semi-finals

17 June 1979 Semi-final Leitrim 1-10 – 3-12 Mayo Páirc Sheáin Mhic Dhiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
S Crossan 1-6, P McPartland 0-1, F Smith 0-1, M Martin 0-1, F Holohan 0-1. J McGrath 3-1, G Cuddy 0-3, C Kelly 0-2, L Donoghue 0-2, P O'Brien 0-2, A Garvey 0-1, WJ Padden 0-1. Attendance: 5,500
Referee: J Geraghty (Galway)
24 June 1979 Semi-final Roscommon 3-11 – 1-11 Galway Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
A McManus 1-2, J O'Gara 1-1, S Kilbride 1-1, D Earley 0-3, M Freyne 0-2, M Menton 0-1, E McManus 0-1. G McManus 1-3, R Lee 0-3, P Talty 0-2, J Hughes 0-1, B O'Donnell 0-1, S Joyce 0-1. Attendance: 15,500

Final

15 July 1979 Final Mayo 2-10 – 3-15 Roscommon McHale Park, Castlebar
J McGrath 2-5, L Donoghue 0-2, G Cuddy 0-1, H Gavin 0-1, T O'Malley 0-1. T McManus 2-1, D Earley 0-5, M Finneran 1-1, J O'Connor 0-4, E McManus 0-2, M Freyne 0-1, J O'Gara 0-1. Attendance: 23,700
Referee: P Gorman (Sligo)

Leinster Senior Football Championship edit

First round

13 May 1979 First round Meath 6-19 – 0-3 Kilkenny Páirc Tailteann, Navan
B Cullen 4-0, F Barry 2-4, M Fay 0-4, E Mahon 0-4, M Ryan 0-3, F O'Sullivan 0-2, P Finnerty 0-2. G Ryan 0-1, J O'Donnell 0-1, M Fitzgerald 0-1.
13 May 1979 First round Carlow 1-16 – 4-7 Wexford Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
W Cullen 0-9, P Quirke 0-4, C Byrne 1-0, J Walsh 0-2, D Byrne 0-1. M Magee 2-5, G Howling 1-0, J Wright 1-0, R Neville 0-1, P Neville 0-1. Referee: M Meally (Kilkenny)
20 May 1979 First round Louth 1-14 – 1-6 Longford Croke Park, Dublin
JP O'Kane 1-3, D Reid 0-3, S Reid 0-2, D Kelleher 0-2, E Sheelin 0-2, J McDonnell 0-1, G Nixon 0-1. P Mullooly 1-2, D Shanley 0-1, J Murphy 0-1, T McCormack 0-1, D Shanley 0-1. Attendance: 2,290
20 May 1979 First round Laois 4-13 – 2-8 Westmeath O'Connor Park, Tullamore
T O'Brien 2-3, E Condron 2-0, E Whelan 0-3, G Browne 0-2, Robert Millar 0-2, W Brennan 0-1, G Lalor 0-1, D O'LOughlin 0-1. J Farrell 1-1, M Kilcoyne 1-0, L Gillivan 0-3, W Lowry 0-1, T McCormack 0-1, J Quigley 0-1, J Mulligan 0-1. Referee: J Gunning (Offaly)
27 May 1979 First round replay Wexford 2-6 – 0-12
(aet)
Carlow Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
G Howlin 1-1, G Byrne 1-0, R Neville 0-2, M McGee 0-1, J Wright 0-1, G O'Connor 0-1. P Quirke 0-4, W Cullen 0-3, E Ellis 0-2, J Walsh 0-1, C Byrne 0-1, M Moore 0-1. Referee: M Meally (Kilkenny)
3 June 1979 First round second replay Wexford 1-12 – 0-7 Carlow Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

Quarter-finals

3 June 1979 Quarter-final Dublin 4-16 – 0-4 Louth Páirc Tailteann, Navan
J Keaveney 1-5, D Hickey 1-5, P Ellis 1-1, B Doyle 1-0, J McCarthy 0-2, M Hickey 0-1, T Hanahoe 0-1, B Brogan 0-1. A Wiseman 0-2, P Lennon 0-2. Referee: R Barry (Meath)
10 June 1979 Quarter-final Meath 0-12 – 1-9 Kildare Croke Park, Dublin
M Fay 0-5, C O'Rourke 0-3, F O'Sullivan 0-2, M Ryan 0-1, P Finnerty 0-1. P Mangan 0-7, M Condon 1-0, H Hyland 0-1, P McCarthy 0-1. Referee: T Jordan (Dublin)
10 June 1979 Quarter-final Wicklow 3-11 – 0-13 Wexford Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
J Lynch 2-2, T Foley 1-0, P Baker 0-3, T Murphy 0-2, P Burke 0-2, J McDonald 0-2. G O'Connor 0-6, M McGee 0-3, G Howlin 0-2, G Byrne 0-1, L Fardy 0-1. Referee: C Lally (Laois)
17 June 1979 Quarter-final replay Meath 1-20 – 3-9 Kildare Croke Park, Dublin
M Ryan 1-7, K Rennicks 0-5, C o'Rourke 0-4, M Fay 0-3, P Smith 0-1. G Power 2-0, P McCarthy 0-5, M Moore 1-0, P Mangan 0-3, M Condon 0-1. Referee: T Jordan (Dublin)
17 June 1979 Quarter-final Offaly 1-12 – 0-13 Laois O'Connor Park, Tullamore
S Lowry 0-5, M Connor 1-1, P Doyle 0-2, K Kilmurray 0-2, M Wright 0-1, G Carroll 0-1. A O'Brien 0-4, E Whelan 0-4, W Brennan 0-3, D O'Loughlin 0-1, M Moore 0-1. Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Semi-finals

1 July 1979 Semi-final Dublin 3-13 – 2-7 Wicklow St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge
T Hanahoe 1-2, M Hickey 1-2, J Keaveney 0-5, B Mullins 1-0, P Ellis 0-2, B Brogan 0-1, F Ryder 0-1. J Lynch 1-3, P Baker 1-2, P Burke 0-1, T Foley 0-1. Attendance: 20,000
Referee: K Campbell (Meath)
8 July 1979 Semi-final Meath 2-6 – 0-16 Offaly Croke Park, Dublin
C O'Rourke 1-2, E Barry 1-2, M Fay 0-1, F O'Sullivan 0-1. S Lowry 0-10, M Connor 0-2, K Kilmurray 0-1, J Mooney 0-1, T Fitzpatrick 0-1, P Fenning 0-1. Attendance: 21,404
Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Final

29 July 1979 Final Dublin 1-8 – 0-9 Offaly Croke Park, Dublin
Bernard Brogan Sr 1-1, Jim Ronayne 0-3, Jimmy Keaveney 0-2f, Bobby Doyle and Mick Hickey (0-1f) each Sean Lowry 0-6 (0-4f), Kevin Kilmurray 0-2, Matt Connor 0-1 Attendance: 52,348
Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath)

Munster Senior Football Championship edit

Quarter-finals

20 May 1979 Quarter-final Limerick 1-9 – 1-15 Clare Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
20 May 1979 Quarter-final Tipperary 1-14 – 0-7 Waterford Ned Hall Park, Clonmel
Referee: A. Fogarty (Kerry)

Semi-finals

24 June 1979 Semi-final Cork 2-18 – 0-5 Tipperary Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
D Allen 0-8, C Kearney 1-2, D Barron 1-2, P Kavanagh 0-3, J Kerrigan 0-1, D McCarthy 0-1, T O'Reilly 0-1. V O'Donnell 0-1, G McGrath 0-1, T McGrath 0-1, S Kearney 0-1, K Barron 0-1. Referee: JJ Landers (Waterford)
1 July 1979 Semi-final Clare 1-9 – 9-21 Kerry Hennessy Memorial Park, Milltown Malbay
S Moloney 0-4, D Casey 1-0, M Downes 0-3, N Normoyle 0-1, J McGrath 0-1. P Spillane 3-3, G Power 2-2, E Liston 2-2, M Sheehy 1-4, V O'Connor 1-2, T Doyle 0-5, J O'Shea 0-2, J Egan 0-1. Referee: J Dennigan (Cork)

Final

22 July 1979 Final Kerry 2-14 – 2-4 Cork Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
Ger Power 2-4, Pat Spillane 0-5, Mikey Sheehy 0-3 (0-2f), Tommy Doyle and Sean Walsh 0-1 each Dinny Allen 1-2 (0-1f), Jimmy Barry-Murphy 1-0, John Courtney (0-1 pen) and Christie Kearney 0-1 each Attendance: 46,146
Referee: Pat Lane (Limerick)
Man of the Match: Ger Power

Ulster Senior Football Championship edit

Preliminary round

20 May 1979 Preliminary round Tyrone 2-9 – 2-5 Antrim O'Neill Park, Dungannon
O Hetherington 0-6, K Toner 1-0, B Donnelly 1-0, E Devlin 0-1, P Bell 0-1, G Devlin 0-1. S McGourty 0-4, S Muldoon 1-0, PJ O'Hara 1-0, K McAllister 0-1. Referee: S McManus (Fermanagh)

Quarter-finals

27 May 1979 Quarter-final Monaghan 0-14 – 0-10 Down St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney
K Finlay 0-5, E Finnegan 0-3, K Treanor 0-2, B Brady 0-2, D Mulligan 0-2. W Walsh 0-8, V McGovern 0-1, D Watson 0-1.
3 June 1979 Quarter-final Armagh 5-3 – 1-7 Fermanagh The Playing Fields, Lurgan
P Loughran 2-1, C McKinestrey 1-0, J Gernan 1-1, S Devlin 1-0, J McKerr 0-1. G McIlroy 1-3, G McGinnitty 0-4. Referee: S Murray (Monaghan)
10 June 1979 Quarter-final Cavan 1-13 – 2-12 Derry Breffni Park, Cavan
T Brady 1-2, D Donoghue 0-5, R Cullivan 0-3, S Duggan 0-1, P McNamee 0-1. B Kelly 1-5, J McAfee 1-2, E Young 0-1, A Dallas 0-1, M Lynch 0-1, T Doherty 0-1, T McGuinness 0-1. Referee: H Duggan (Armagh)
17 June 1979 Quarter-final Donegal 1-11 – 1-9 Tyrone Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen
S Flynn 0-5, M Sweeney 1-0, S Bonner 0-3, P McGeehan 0-1, M Lafferty 0-1, E Sharkey 0-1. K Toner 1-0, M Harte 0-3, O Hetherington 0-2, K McGarvey 0-2, P Donnelly 0-1, B Donnelly 0-1.

Semi-finals

24 June 1979 Semi-final Monaghan 2-10 – 2-8 Armagh Breffni Park, Cavan
B Brady 1-1, D Mulligan 1-0, K Finlay 0-3, T Moyna 0-3, K Treanor 0-1, H Clerkin 0-1, G McCarville 0-1. M Murphy 2-1, P Loughran 0-4, B Canavan 0-2, J Kernan 0-1. Referee: J Heaney (Tyrone)
1 July 1979 Semi-final Donegal 2-9 – 0-14 Derry Healy Park, Omagh
S Flynn 1-2, E Sharkey 1-0, M Gallagher 0-3, S Brennan 0-2, S Reilly 0-1, M Lafferty 0-1. B Kelly 0-6, A Dallas 0-2, P Doherty 0-2, M Lynch 0-1, J McAfee 0-1, A McGuirk 0-1, J Hargan 0-1. Referee: S McManus (Fermanagh)

Final

22 July 1979 Final Monaghan 1-15 – 0-11 Donegal St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
K Finlay 1-9, D Mulligan 0-3, B Brady 0-2, H Clerkin 0-1. S Flynn 0-4, E Sharkey 0-2, S Brennan 0-2, S Harpur 0-1, S Bonnar 0-1, K Keeney 0-1. Attendance: 21,272
Referee: H Duggan (Armagh)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship edit

Semi-finals

12 August 1979 Semi-final Kerry 5-14 - 0-7 Monaghan Croke Park, Dublin
M Sheehy 3-5, E Liston 1-1, G Power 1-0, J Egan 0-3, S Walsh 0-2, V O'Connor 0-1, P Spillane 0-1, D Moran 0-1. K Finlay 0-4, H Clerkin 0-1, E Hughes 0-1. Attendance: 32,254
Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)
19 August 1979 Semi-final Dublin 0-14 - 1-10 Roscommon Croke Park, Dublin
M Hickey 0-9, B Doyle 0-2, A O'Toole 0-2, J Ronayne 0-1. J O'Connor 0-5, M Finneran 1-1, D Earley 0-3, A McManus 0-1. Attendance: 53,402
Referee: J Dennigan (Cork)

Final

16 September 1979 Final Kerry 3-13 - 1-8 Dublin Croke Park, Dublin
M Sheehy 2-6, J Egan 1-1, P Spillane 0-4, E Liston 0-1, J O'Shea 0-1. J Ronayne 1-0, B Doyle 0-3, T Hanahoe 0-2, D Hickey 0-2, A O'Toole 0-1. Attendance: 72,185
Referee: H Duggan (Armagh)

Championship statistics edit

Top scorers edit

Overall
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average
1 Mikey Sheehy Kerry 6-18 36 4 9.00
2 Kieran Finlay Monaghan 1-21 24 4 6.00
3 Pat Spillane Kerry 3-13 22 4 5.50
4 Joe McGrath Mayo 5-6 21 2 10.50
Ger Power Kerry 5-6 21 3 7.00
Single game
Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition
1 Mikey Sheehy Kerry 3-5 14 Monaghan
2 Bernard Cullen Meath 4-0 12 Kilkenny
Pat Spillane Kerry 3-3 12 Clare
Mikey Sheehy Kerry 2-6 12 Dublin
Kieran Finlay Monaghan 1-9 12 Donegal
6 Joe McGrath Mayo 2-5 11 Roscommon
M. Magee Wexford 2-5 11 Carlow
8 Eamon Creighton London 3-1 10 Galway
Joe McGrath Mayo 3-1 10 Leitrim
Eamon Barry Meath 2-4 10 Kilkenny
Ger Power Kerry 2-4 10 Cork
Mick Ryan Meath 1-7 10 Kildare
Gay McManus Galway 0-10 10 London
Seán Lowry Offaly 0-10 10 Meath

Miscellaneous edit

  • The Munster semi-final between Kerry and Clare had the highest score in the history of the Munster championship 9-21 to 1-9.
  • Monaghan's 1-15 to 0-11 defeat of Donegal in the Ulster final gave them their first provincial title since 1938.
  • Roscommon in the Connacht final for the third year in a row only time a team not Galway/Mayo and ever done so.
  • As Dublin win their sixth Leinster title in a row they follow Wexford (1913-1918) and Kildare (1926-1931) who previously done so.

References edit

  1. ^ "In numbers: Dublin v Kerry". RTÉ Sport. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.