1968 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1968 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	21 April – 22 September 1968
Teams	31
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Down (3rd win)
Captain	Joe Lennon
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Kerry
Captain	Pat Griffin
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Longford
Ulster	Down
Connacht	Galway
Championship statistics
No. matches played	32
Top Scorer	Paddy Doherty (1-25)
Player of the Year	Seán O'Neill
← 1967 1969 →

The 1968 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 82nd staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 21 April 1968 and ended on 22 September 1968.

Meath entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Longford in the Leinster semi-final. ^[1]

On 22 September 1968, Down won the championship following a 2-12 to 1-13 defeat of Kerry in the All-Ireland final. ^[2] This was their third All-Ireland title and their first in seven championship seasons.

Down's Paddy Doherty was the championship's top scorer with 1-25. His teammate Seán O'Neill was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-final

Sligo v Leitrim

2 June 1968Quarter-final	Sligo	2-17 – 0-12	Leitrim	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	M Kearins 0-12, B McAuley 2-0, D McHugh 0-2, J Colleary 0-2, M Keane 0-1.		P Dolan 0-4, H O'Carroll 0-4, T Hayes 0-3, M Keane 0-1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Semi-finals

Galway v Roscommon

16 June 1968Semi-final	Galway	2-10 – 3-7	Roscommon	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	L Sammon 1-2, S CLeary 1-1, C Dunne 0-4, F Canavan 0-1, J Keenan 0-1, J Duggan 0-1.		J Kane 2-2, J Kelly 1-2, T Whyte 0-1, MJ Keane 0-1, G Geraghty 0-1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Mayo v Sligo

23 June 1968Semi-final	Mayo	1-9 – 0-7	Sligo	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	J Corcoran 0-4, M Ruane 1-0, S O'Dowd 0-2, W McGee 0-2, J Nealon 0-1.		M Kearins 0-5, S Davey 0-1, J Henry 0-1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Roscommon v Galway

14 July 1968Semi-final replay	Roscommon	1-9 – 2-8	Galway	St. Coman's Park, Roscommon
	J Kelly 1-0, J Keane 0-3, A White 0-3, M Martin 0-2, D Earley 0-1.		S Leydon 1-2, J Kennan 0-5, F Canavan 1-0, C Dunne 0-1.	Referee: J Martin (Tyrone)

Final

Mayo v Galway

21 July 1968Final	Mayo	2-9 – 2-10	Galway	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	M Ruane 1-1, J Langan 1-0, J Corcoran 0-3, S O'Dowd 0-2, J Farragher 0-1, W McGhee 0-1, J Nealon 0-1.		J Keenan 1-7, M McDonagh 1-0, S Leydon 0-1, C Dunne 0-1, L Sammon 0-1.	Attendance: 30,000 Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

First round

Carlow v Wicklow

21 April 1968First round	Carlow	2-9 – 0-10	Wicklow	Geraldine Park, Athy
	B Doyle 2-2, E Walker 0-4, B Hayden 0-2, J Byrne 0-1.		M McNamee 0-3, A Naughton 0-2, G Farrell 0-1, S Doyle 0-1, J Sullivan 0-1, N Scott 0-1, R O'Shea 0-1.	Referee: J Shannon (Dublin)

Laois v Wexford

28 April 1968First round	Laois	2-12 – 1-9	Wexford	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Lalor 0-7, R Miller 1-2, T Dunne 1-0, M Fennell 0-1, S Fleming 0-1, JJ Conwya 0-1.		J Bradley 1-1, Jack Berry 0-4, H Byrne 0-2, A Merrigan 0-1, J Shaughnessy 0-1.	Referee: T McCarthy (Kildare)

Second round

Laois v Carlow

12 May 1968Second round	Laois	1-12 – 0-7	Carlow	Geraldine Park, Athy
	J Lawlor 0-5, B Lawlor 1-0, JJ Conway 0-3, R Delaney 0-2, P Doyle 0-1, T Walsh 0-1.		E Walker 0-3, B Hayden 0-2, P McNally 0-1, J Byrne 0-1.	Referee: J Dowling (Offaly)

Quarter-finals

Longford v Dublin

2 June 1968Quarter-final	Longford	1-12 – 0-12	Dublin	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	M Hopkins 0-5, J Devine 1-1, J Hannify 0-4, V Daly 0-1, S Murray 0-1.		M Whelan 0-4, 0-4, S O'Connor 0-2, P Delaney 0-2, B McDonald 0-2, G Davey 0-1, L Donnelly 0-1.	Referee: M Campbell

Offaly v Louth

9 June 1968Quarter-final	Offaly	0-11 – 0-6	Louth	Croke Park, Dublin
	P McCormack 0-6, N Clavin 0-2, T McTeague 0-1, A Hickey 0-1, S Grogan 0-1.		B Gaughan 0-3, T Breen 0-1, L Toal 0-1, S Mohan 0-1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Laois v Kildare

9 June 1968Quarter-final	Laois	3-9 – 0-9	Kildare	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Lawlor 1-5, M Fennell 1-2, T Dunne 1-0, B Delaney 0-1, JJ Conway 0-1.		J Donnelly 0-6, P Connolly 0-2, T Walsh 0-1.	Referee: J Hatton (Wicklow)

Meath v Westmeath

23 June 1968Quarter-final	Meath	1-11 – 1-7	Westmeath	Croke Park, Dublin
	T Brennan 0-5, O Shanley 1-1, M Kerrigan 0-3, M Mellett 0-1, P Mulvaney 0-1.		D Dolan 1-0, M Carley 0-2, P Buckley 0-2, W Jackson 0-2, P Moran 0-1.	Referee: J Hatton (Wicklow)

Semi-finals

Offaly v Laois

30 June 1968Semi-final	Offaly	0-6 – 0-11	Laois	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	S Evans 0-1, T McTeague 0-1, W Bryan 0-1, P McCormack 0-1, J Gunning 0-1, S Grogan 0-1.		T Dunne 0-3, John Lawlor 0-3, JJ Conway 0-2, M Fennell 0-2, B Delaney 0-1.	Attendance: 30,000 Referee: P Hughes (Louth)

Longford v Meath

7 July 1968Semi-final	Longford	0-12 – 0-7	Meath	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	M Hopkins 0-4, J Devine 0-3, V Daly 0-2, J Hannify 0-2, T Mulvihill 0-1,		T Brennan 0-4, P Mulvaney 0-2, E Maguire 0-1.	Attendance: 20,000 Referee: J Dowling (Offaly)

Final

Longford v Laois

21 July 1968Final	Longford	3-9 – 1-4	Laois	Croke Park, Dublin
	Sean Donnelly 2-1, Jimmy Hannify 1-1, Tom Mulvihill and Jackie Devine (0-2f) 0-2 each, Sean Murray, Mick Hopkins, Pat Burke 0-1 each		Mick Fennell 1-0, John Lawlor 0-2f, Tom Dunne and Brian Delaney 0-1 each	Attendance: 30,000 Referee: John Dowling (Offaly)

Munster Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Waterford v Clare

12 May 1968Quarter-final	Waterford	3-5 – 1-15	Clare	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	T Harty 2-0, M Guiry 1-3, P Walsh 0-1, T O'Riordan 0-1.		M McInerney 0-6, M Moloney 1-2, J Tubridy 0-3, P O'Grady 0-1, P McMahon 0-1, M Begley 0-1, M O'Donoghue 0-1.

Tipperary v Limerick

19 May 1968Quarter-final	Tipperary	0-9 – 0-7	Limerick	Seán Treacy Park, Tipperary
	M Keating 0-3, R Strang 0-2, P Blythe 0-2, L Myles 0-1, M Egan 0-1.		M Tynan 0-3, P Murphy 0-1, M Graham 0-1, P O'Dwyer 0-1, B Hartigan 0-1.	Referee: M. Ryan (Kerry)

Semi-finals

Clare v Cork

16 June 1968Semi-final	Clare	1-7 – 1-8	Cork	Cusack Park, Ennis
	P McMahon 1-3, M McInerney 0-3, M Chambers 0-1.		C O'Sullivan 0-5, JJ Murphy 1-1, J Carroll 0-1, D Hunt 0-1.	Referee: M. Ryan (Kerry)

Tipperary v Kerry

23 June 1968Semi-final	Tipperary	2-7 – 0-17	Kerry	Ned Hall Park, Clonmel
	R Strang 2-2, J Ryan 0-3, M Keating 0-1, P Blythe 0-1.		M O'Dwyer 0-5, P Griffin 0-4, M O'Connell 0-3, B Lynch 0-2, M Fleming 0-2, Donie O'Sullivan 0-1.	Referee: F. Halbert (Cork)

Final

Kerry v Cork

14 July 1968Final	Kerry	1-21 – 3-8	Cork	Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
	M O'Dwyer 0-7, É O'Donoghue 1-1, P Griffin 0-4, B Lynch 0-4, M O'Connell 0-4, T Prendergast 0-1.		C O'Sullivan 1-3, D Hunt 1-0, R Cummins 1-0, JJ Murphy 0-2, J Carroll 0-1, É Ryan 0-1, B O'Neill 0-1.	Referee: J. Dowling (Offaly)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Fermanagh v Tyrone

2 June 1968Preliminary round	Fermanagh	2-8 – 0-8	Tyrone	St. Molise Park, Irvinestown
	G Magee 1-2, E McPartlan 0-4, S McGarritty 1-0, M O'Rourke 0-1, S McGrath 0-1.		C McElduff 0-6, D O'Neill 0-1, J O'Neill 0-1.

Quarter-finals

Derry v Down

9 June 1968Quarter-final	Derry	1-6 – 1-8	Down	Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen
	S Lagan 1-1, S O'Connell 0-3, B Devlin 0-1, M Niblock 0-1.		S O'Neill 1-3, J Lennon 0-1, M Cole 0-1, J Purdy 0-1, P Rooney 0-1, P Doherty 0-1.	Referee: M Higgins (Cavan)

Cavan v Antrim

16 June 1968Quarter-Final	Cavan	5-9 – 1-11	Antrim	Breffni Park, Cavan
	F McAuley 2-1, C Gallagher 1-4, J O'Donnell 1-2, S Duggan 1-1, P Murray 0-1.		S Burns 1-2, M Green 0-3, H McGill 0-2, R Griffin 0-1, P Lynn 0-1, S McQuillan 0-1, A Scullion 0-1.	Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Donegal v Armagh

16 June 1968Quarter-final	Donegal	2-10 – 1-3	Armagh	MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
	D O'Carroll 1-2, M McLoone 1-0, S Granaghan 0-3, PJ Flood 0-1, N Gallagher 0-1, P McShea 0-1, J Quigley 0-1, S Ferriter 0-1.		S Harty 1-0, K McGeough 0-1, J McEntee 0-1, L Kerins 0-1.	Referee: J Martin (Tyrone)

Monaghan v Fermanagh

23 June 1968Quarter-final

Monaghan

1-12 – 2-9

Fermanagh

St. Tiernach's Park, Clones

Fermanagh v Monaghan

30 June 1968Quarter-final replay	Fermanagh	2-5 – 2-12	Monaghan	St. Molise Park, Irvinestown
	J Connolly 1-0, M O'Rourke 1-0, T Treacy 0-2, E McPartland 0-1, S McGrath 0-1, S McGarritty 0-1.		E Tavey 2-1, T McCudden 0-5, S Woods 0-4, B McDonnell 0-1, B Moss 0-1.	Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

Semi-finals

Down v Donegal

30 June 1968Semi-final	Down	2-14 – 0-8	Donegal	Breffni Park, Cavan
	P Doherty 1-6, M Cole 1-2, S O'Neill 0-3, R Murphy 0-2, P Rooney 0-1.		N Gallagher 0-2, J Quigley 0-2, M McLoone 0-2, S Graughan 0-1, J Hannigan 0-1.	Referee: L Maguire (Monaghan)

Cavan v Monaghan

7 July 1968Semi-final	Cavan	1-11 – 0-5	Monaghan	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	C Gallagher 0-5, J O'Donnell 1-0, P Murray 0-3, M Greenan 0-2, S Duggan 0-1.		T McCudden 0-2, T Loughnan 0-1, J McCabe 0-1, B McDonald 0-1.	Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Final

Down v Cavan

28 July 1968Final	Down	0-16 – 1-8	Cavan	Casement Park, Belfast
	P Doherty 0-9, J Murphy 0-2, S O'Neill 0-2, C McAlarney 0-1, J Purdy 0-1, M Cole 0-1.		C Gallagher 1-4, P Murray 0-2, S Duggan 0-1, M Greenan 0-1.	Attendance: 35,000 Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Kerry v Longford

4 August 1968Semi-final	Kerry	2-13 – 2-11	Longford	Croke Park, Dublin
	P Griffin 1-4, B Lynch 0-4, D O'Donnell 1-0, DJ Crowley 0-2, M O'Dwyer 0-1, É O'Donoghue 0-1, M O'Connell 0-1.		J Devine 1-4, T Mulvihill 1-2, M Hopkins 0-3, J Hannify 0-2.	Attendance: 34,052 Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Down v Galway

18 August 1968Semi-final	Down	2-10 – 2-8	Galway	Croke Park, Dublin
	S O'Neill 1-3, M Cole 1-1, P Doherty 0-4, J Purdy 0-2.		J Keenan 0-6, J Duggan 1-1, C Dunne 1-0, M McDonagh 0-1.	Attendance: 50,965 Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Final

Down v Kerry

22 September 1968Final	Down	2-12 – 1-13	Kerry	Croke Park, Dublin
	S O'Neill 1-2, P Doherty 0-5, J Murphy 1-0, T O'Hare 0-2, P Rooney 0-2, J Milligan 0-1.		B Lynch 1-2, M O'Dwyer 0-5, P Griffin 0-3, M O'Connell 0-2, DJ Crowley 0-1.	Attendance: 71,294 Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Main article: 1968 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Paddy Doherty	Down	1-25	28	5	5.60
2	John Lalor	Laois	1-22	25	5	5.00
3	Seán O'Neill	Down	3-13	22	5	4.40
4	Charlie Gallagher	Cavan	2-13	19	3	6.33
5	Pat Griffin	Kerry	1-15	18	4	4.50
	Mick O'Dwyer	Kerry	0-18	18	4	4.50
7	John Keenan	Galway	1-14	17	3	5.66
	Mickey Kearns	Sligo	0-17	17	2	8.50
9	Jackie Devine	Longford	2-10	16	4	4.00
10	Brendan Lynch	Kerry	1-12	15	4	3.75

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Mickey Kearns	Sligo	0-12	12	Leitrim
2	John Keenan	Galway	1-7	10	Mayo
3	Paddy Doherty	Down	1-6	9	Donegal
	Paddy Doherty	Down	0-9	9	Cavan
5	Dick Strang	Tipperary	2-2	8	Kerry
	Jim Kane	Roscommon	2-2	8	Galway
	Brendan Doyle	Carlow	2-2	8	Wicklow
	John Lalor	Laois	1-5	8	Kildare
9	Seán Donnelly	Longford	2-1	7	Laois
	Fergus McAuley	Cavan	2-1	7	Antrim
	Éamon Tavey	Monaghan	2-1	7	Fermanagh
	Charlie Gallagher	Cavan	1-4	7	Antrim
	Pat Griffin	Kerry	1-4	7	Longford
	Jackie Devine	Longford	1-4	7	Kerry
	Charlie Gallagher	Cavan	1-4	7	Down
	Mick O'Dwyer	Kerry	0-7	7	Cork
	John Lalor	Laois	0-7	7	Wexford

Miscellaneous

• Longford win their first ever Leinster football title.
• The All-Ireland semi-final between Kerry and Longford is the first ever championship meeting between the two teams.

Roll of Honour

• Kerry - 20 (1962)
• Dublin - 17 (1963)
• Galway - 7 (1966)
• Wexford - 5 (1918)
• Cavan - 5 (1952)
• Kildare - 4 (1928)
• Tipperary - 4 (1920)
• Down - 3 (1968)
• Meath - 3 (1967)
• Louth - 3 (1957)
• Mayo - 3 (1951)
• Cork - 3 (1945)
• Roscommon - 2 (1944)
• Limerick - 2 (1896)

References

1. "Longford football legend Hannify dared to dream and he strode among giants". Longford Leader. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
2. "All Ireland Football Championship: The Down captains who ruled Croke Park". Belfast Telegraph. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2016.