1975 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1975 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	11 May – 28 September 1975
Teams	33
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Kerry (23 win)
Captain	Mickey "Ned" O'Sullivan
Manager	Mick O'Dwyer
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Dublin
Captain	Seán Doherty
Manager	Kevin Heffernan
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Dublin
Ulster	Derry
Connacht	Sligo
Championship statistics
No. matches played	35
Goals total	101 (2.8 per game)
Points total	762 (21. 7 per game)
Top Scorer	Jimmy Keaveney (1–38)
Player of the Year	John O'Keeffe
← 1974 1976 →

The 1975 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 89th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 25 May 1975 and ended on 28 September 1975.

Dublin were the defending champions. London fielded a team in the senior championship for the first time.

On 28 September 1975, Kerry won the championship following a 2–12 to 0–11 defeat of Dublin in the All-Ireland final. ^[1] This was their 23rd All-Ireland title, their first in five championship seasons.

Dublin's Jimmy Keaveney was the championship's top scorer with 1–38. Kerry's John O'Keeffe was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Format

The usual knock-out four-province setup was used. London played in the Connacht Senior Football Championship for the first time. Leinster Championship format change saw, Second round dropped this year first round winners go straight to the Quarter-finals. Kilkenny return to Leinster football for the first time since 1963.

Rule change

As a result of a decision taken at the Gaelic Athletic Association's (GAA) annual congress the previous year, as of 1975 all provincial finals, All-Ireland semi-finals and the All-Ireland final itself were reduced to 70 minutes playing time. Prior to this all championship matches were eighty minutes in duration for the past 5 years.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Mayo v London

25 May 1975Quarter-final	Mayo	4–12 – 1–12	London	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	G Feeney (0–1), T O’Malley (0–5), R Bell (1–1), G Farragher (1–1); M Henry (1–0), S Kilbride (1–2) sub E Webb (0–2).		Jody Hickey 0–1 (Offaly), John Coffey 0–2 (Kerry), Gerry Farrelly 1–8 (Meath) & John Mahoney 0–1 (Kerry).	Referee: P Gorman (Sligo)

Leitrim v Roscommon

1 June 1975Quarter-final	Leitrim	0–4 – 0–12	Roscommon	Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
	M Martin 0–1, M Tighe 0–1, B Wrynn 0–1, N Maxwell 0–1.		E McManus 0–3, J O'Gara 0–2, J Keane 0–1, P Cox 0–1, P Lindsay 0–1, M Menton 0–1, G Mannion 0–1, J Finnegan 0–1, McNamara 0–1.

Semi-finals

Sligo v Galway

8 June 1975Semi-final	Sligo	1–13 – 0–6	Galway	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	M Kearins 0–10, D Kerins 1–0, M Hoey 0–2, M Laffey 0–1.		L Salmon 0–2, T Naughton 0–1, M Rooney 0–1, TJ Gilmore 0–1, M Hughes 0–1.	Referee: J Martin (Roscommon)

Roscommon v Mayo

15 June 1975Semi-final	Roscommon	1–9 – 1–12	Mayo	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	BT Beegan 1–0, F McManus 0–2, J Keane 0–2, J Finnegan 0–1, M Menton 0–1, D Earley 0–1, P Cox 0–1, J O'Gara 0–1.		G Farragher 1–4, T O'Mahony 0–2, JP Kean 0–2, T Welsh 0–1, W McGee 0–1, S Kilbride 0–1, R Bell 0–1.	Referee: T Moran (Leitrim)

Finals

Sligo v Mayo

6 July 1975Final	Sligo	2–10 – 1–13	Mayo	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	F Henry 1–3, D Kerins 1–1, M Kearins 0–4, M Laffey 0–1.		JP Kean 1–1, T O'Malley 0–3, G Farragher 0–3, E Webb 0–2, W McGee 0–1, D McGrath 0–1, G Feeney 0–1, M Higgins 0–1.	Referee: T Moran (Leitrim)

Mayo v Sligo

20 July 1975Final replay	Mayo	0–15 – 2–10	Sligo	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	T O'Malley 0–4, D McGrath 0–3, M Higgins 0–2, E Webb 0–2, W McGee 0–1, S Kilbride 0–1, G Farragher 0–1, J Keane 0–1.		M Kearins 1–4, D Kerins 1–1, M Hoey 0–4, J Stenson 0–1.

Leinster Senior Football Championship

First round

Wexford v Carlow

11 May 1975First round	Wexford	2–8 – 1–10	Carlow	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	W French 1–1, D Clancy 0–4, W Rowesome 1–0, P Cullen 0–2, G Howlin 0–1.		D Byrne 1–1, W Cullen 0–2, B Hennessy 0–2, S King 0–1, P Quirke 0–1, S Shields 0–1, C Hughes 0–1, C Byrne 0–1.	Referee: M Meally (Kilkenny)

Laois v Longford

25 May 1975First round	Laois	3–13 – 1–8	Longford	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	L Scally 0–6, J Hovendon 1–2, D Booth 1–0, S Allen 1–0, W Brennan 0–3, J Lalor 0–2.		R Smith 1–1, J Hanniffy 0–2, S Kilroy 0–2, P Mullooly 0–1, S Lee 0–1, T McCormack 0–1.	Referee: M Spain (Offaly)

Westmeath v Kilkenny

1 June 1975First round	Westmeath	2–14 – 2–2	Kilkenny	Geraldine Park, Athy
	P Whelan 1–3, M Galvin 1–0, S Conroy 0–3, V Murray 0–3, S Havin 0–2, B Smith 0–2, W Lowry 0–1.		S Brennan 2–0, T Brennan 0–1, M Kelly 0–1.	Referee: E Long (Carlow)

Louth v Wicklow

8 June 1975First round	Louth	2–22 – 2–6	Wicklow	Croke Park, Dublin
	P McParland 0–7, P Gallagher 1–2, F Taaffe 1–1, E Shevlin 0–4, A Hoey 0–4, M McKeown 0–3, M McDonald 0–1.		M O'Toole 0–4, T Kennedy 1–0, M Coffey 1–0, P Burke 0–1, B Laide 0–1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Quarter-finals

Dublin v Wexford

8 June 1975Quarter-final	Dublin	4–17 – 3–10	Wexford	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Keaveney 0–10, A Hanahoe 1–1, D Hickey 1–1, M Noctor 1–1, J McCarthy 1–1, B Doyle 0–2, A O'Toole 0–1.		G Howlin 2–1, D Clancy 0–5, J Dunphy 1–0, J Cullen 0–1, W Ffrench 0–1, P Cullen 0–1, B Rowesome 0–1.	Referee: F Hayden (Carlow)

Offaly v Laois

15 June 1975Quarter-final	Offaly	0–13 – 0–13	Laois	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	T McTague 0–4, S Lowry 0–3, S Darby 0–3, E Lowry 0–1, P Fanning 0–1, K Kilmurray 0–1.		L Scully 0–4, J Hovenden 0–3, J Lawlor 0–2, R Miller 0–2, S Allen 0–1, M Buggy 0–1.	Attendance: 20,000 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Louth v Meath

22 June 1975Quarter-final	Louth	0–15 – 1–9	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	A Hoey 0–7, M McKeown 0–3, M McDonald 0–1, D Reid 0–1, P Gallagher 0–1, P McParland 0–1, B Gaughran 0–1.		O O'Brien 0–7, M Kerrigan 1–1, P Traynor 0–1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Kildare v Westmeath

29 June 1975Quarter-final	Kildare	1–15 – 1–8	Westmeath	Páirc Tailteann, Navan
	A French 0–6, P Dunny 1–2, T Carew 0–4, M McKeever 0–1, H Hyland 0–1, J Donnelly 0–1.		V Murray 0–5, B Smith 1–0, P Whelan 0–2, D Smith 0–1.	Referee: R Barry (Meath)

Laois v Offaly

29 June 1975Quarter-final replay	Laois	3–7 – 3–14	Offaly	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	W Brennan 2–2, S Allen 1–1, L Scully 0–3, M Buggy 0–1.		M Connor 3–2, T McTague 0–6, P Fenning 0–2, S Darby 0–2, E Lowry 0–1, K Kilmurray 0–1.	Attendance: 10,000 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Semi-finals

Dublin v Louth

6 July 1975Semi-final	Dublin	3–14 – 4–7	Louth	Páirc Tailteann, Navan
	J Keaveney 1–11, B Doyle 1–0, A O'Toole 0–2, T Hanahoe 1–0, R Kelleher 0–1.		T Hoey 1–5, P McPartland 1–1, E Sheelan 1–0, R Brennan 1–0, D Reid 0–1.	Attendance: 31,000 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Offaly v Kildare

13 July 1975Semi-final	Offaly	0–11 – 2–11	Kildare	Croke Park, Dublin
	T McTague 0–9, S Darby 0–2.		J Donnelly 0–7, R O'Sullivan 1–1, P Dunny 1–0, B O'Doherty 0–2, H Hyland 0–1.	Attendance: 17,213 Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Final

Dublin v Kildare

27 July 1975Final	Dublin	3–13 – 0–8	Kildare	Croke Park, Dublin
	Brian Mullins 2–0, David Hickey 1–2, Paddy Gogarty 0–4, Bobby Doyle and Jimmy Keaveney (0-1f) 0–2 each, Bernard Brogan Sr, Tony Hanahoe, Anton O'Toole 0–1 each		Jack Donnelly 0-3f, Pat Dunny 0–2, Jack Balfe (1 '50), Tommy Carew, Ray O'Sullivan 0–1 each	Attendance: 44,182 Referee: Brendan Hayden (Carlow)

Munster Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Tipperary v Limerick

1 June 1975Quarter-final	Tipperary	7–18 – 1–5	Limerick	Emly Sportsfield, Emly
	J Kehoe 4–0, M Keating 0–6, P Hanrahan 1–2, G Stapleton 1–2, J Tracey 1–0, L Myles 0–3, C O'Flherty 0–2, G McGrath 0–1.		T Bradley 1–1, P Ahern 0–2, L Lawlor 0–2.	Referee: J Dennison (Cork)

Clare v Waterford

1 June 1975Quarter-final	Clare	1–15 – 1–10	Waterford	The Cricket Field, Kilrush
	S Moloney 1–3, J O'Halloran 0–4, M Greene 0–4, J McMahon 0–2, T Tubridy 0–2.		M Power 1–1, V Kirwin 0–4, T Casey 0–2, S Ahern 0–1, M Hackett 0–1, J Hennessy 0–1.	Referee: PJ O'Halloran

Semi-finals

Tipperary v Kerry

15 June 1975Semi-final	Tipperary	0–9 – 3–13	Kerry	Ned Hall Park, Clonmel
	C O'Flaherty 0–4, L Myles 0–3, M Keating 0–2.		J Egan 2–3, B Lynch 0–5, R Prenderville 1–0, P Spillane 0–3, M Sheehy 0–2.	Referee: F Halbert (Cork)

Clare v Cork

15 June 1975Semi-final	Clare	0–7 – 1–16	Cork	Páirc Uí Seancháin, Doonbeg
	J McMahon 0–4, B O'Reilly 0–1, M Downes 0–1.		T Murphy 0–8, D Barron 1–3, D Long 0–2, R Cummins 0–2, J Barrett 0–1.	Referee: B Cross (Limerick)

Final

Kerry v Cork

13 July 1975Final	Kerry	1–14 – 0–7	Cork	Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
	Brendan Lynch 0–4 (0-3f), Pat Spillane 1–1, Mikey Sheehy 0–3 (0-2f), John Egan 0–2, Pat McCarthy, Mickey O'Sullivan, Denis Moran, Ger O'Driscoll 0–1 each		Dinny Allen 0–3, Ray Cummins 0–2, Tony Murphy and Declan Barron 0–1 each	Attendance: 43,295 Referee: Brendan Cross (Limerick)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Fermanagh v Armagh

1 June 1975Preliminary round	Fermanagh	0–10 – 4–6	Armagh	St. Molaise Park, Irvinestown
	P McGinnitty 0–4, S Reilly 0–3, F Sherry 0–2, B Keys 0–1.		S Daly 2–5, J Christie 1–0, E O'Neill 1–0, O Carty 0–1.	Referee: M Devlin (Tyrone)

Quarter-finals

Monaghan v Tyrone

1 June 1975Quarter-final	Monaghan	0–13 – 1–5	Tyrone	St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney
	K Finlay 0–7, G Fitzpatrick 0–2, H Clerkin 0–2, E Donnelly 0–1, D Mulligan 0–1.		E Bradley 1–0, R Beggs 0–2, J Taggart 0–1, B Donnelly 0–1, F McGuigan 0–1.	Referee: G Fagan (Armagh)

Cavan v Donegal

8 June 1975Quarter-final	Cavan	0–15 – 0–13	Donegal	MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
	S Duggan 0–7, S Leddy 0–2, H McInerney 0–2, J Carroll 0–1, D Meade 0–1, G Cusack 0–1, A King 0–1.		M Carney 0–7, M Griffin 0–3, H McClafferty 0–1, B McEniff 0–1, S Granaghan 0–1.	Referee: T Johnston (Fermanagh)

Down v Antrim

15 June 1975Quarter-final	Down	3–12 – 0–7	Antrim	St. Patrick's Park, Newcastle
	W Walsh 1–2, P McGrath 1–1, P Rooney 1–1, D Morgan 0–4, C McAlarney 0–2, M Cunningham 0–1, D Gordon 0–1.		A McCallin 0–3, T Doherty 0–2, D Laverty 0–1, G McCann 0–1.

Derry v Armagh

22 June 1975Quarter-final	Derry	2–15 – 1–7	Armagh	Healy Park, Omagh
	J O'Leary 1–2, S O'Connell 0–4, S Mullan 0–4, P Chivers 1–0, M Lynch 0–2, B Kelly 0–2, T McGuinness 0–1.		S Daly 1–2, J Smyth 0–2, L Kerins 0–1, P Loughran 0–1, J Kernan 0–1.	Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Semi-finals

Down v Cavan

29 June 1975Semi-final	Down	1–13 – 1–10	Cavan	St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney
	M Cunningham 0–4, S O'Neill 1–0, W Walsh 0–3, D Moran 0–2, C McAlarney 0–2, J Murphy 0–1, P Rooney 0–1.		S Duggan 0–4, D Dalton 1–0, C O'Keeffe 0–3, P McNamee 0–1, G O'Reilly 0–1, JJ Martin 0–1.	Referee: T Johnston (Fermanagh)

Monaghan v Derry

6 July 1975Semi-final	Monaghan	1–11 – 1–11	Derry	O'Neill Park, Dungannon
	K Finlay 0–5, G McTague 1–1, R Brady 0–2, P McEnaney 0–2, R McDonald 0–1.		S Mullan 0–4, P Stevenson 1–0, M Lynch 0–3, N Niblock 0–2, T McGuinness 0–1, B Kelly 0–1.

Monaghan v Derry

13 July 1975Semi-final replay	Monaghan	1–6 – 0–14	Derry	O'Neill Park, Dungannon
	K Finlay 1–4, B Brady 0–1, JJ Gorman 0–1.		S O'Connell 0–5, M Lynch 0–3, M Moran 0–2, J O'Leary 0–1, G McElihinney 0–1, G O'Loughlin 0–1, B Kelly 0–1.	Referee: G Fagan (Armagh)

Final

Derry v Down

27 July 1975Final	Derry	1–16 – 2–6	Down	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	M Lynch 0–5, S O'Connell 0–5, G McElhinney 1–1, J O'Leary 0–2, TK McGuinness 0–2, E Laverty 0–1.		W Walsh 2–3, P Rooney 0–2, J Murphy 0–1.	Attendance: 25,000 Referee: G Fagan (Armagh)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Kerry v Sligo

10 August 1975Semi-final	Kerry	3–13 – 0–5	Sligo	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Egan 2–2, P Spillane 1–1, P Lynch 0–4, G O'Driscoll 0–2, B Lynch 0–2, M O'Sullivan 0–1, G Power 0–1.		M Hoey 0–3, M Kearins 0–2.	Attendance: 32,215 Referee: G Fagan (Armagh)

Dublin v Derry

24 August 1975Semi-final	Dublin	3–13 – 3–8	Derry	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Keaveney 0–9, A O'Toole 2–0, T Hanahoe 1–0, D Hickey 0–2, P Gogarty 0–1, B Doyle 0–1.		B Kelly 1–3, S O'Connell 1–3, J O'Leary 1–0, A McGuckin 0–1, G McElihinney 0–1.	Attendance: 44,455 Referee: J Moloney (Tipperary)

Final

Kerry v Dublin

28 September 1975Final	Kerry	2–12 – 0–11	Dublin	Croke Park, Dublin
	M Sheehy 0–4, G O'Driscoll 1–0, J Egan 1–0, P Spillane 0–3, B Lynch 0–3, D Moran 0–2.		J Keaveney 0–6, P Gogarty 0–2, B Doyle 0–1, B Pocock 0–1, B Mullins 0–1.	Attendance: 66,346 Referee: J Moloney (Tipperary)

Main article: 1975 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Miscellaneous

• All championship games were reduced from eighty to seventy minutes.
• London join the Connacht championship.
• On 1 June 1975, The Cricket Field, Kilrush played host to its first championship game for 35 years as Clare play Waterford in a Munster Quarter-Final.
• Louth beat Meath for the first time since 1953.
• Kildare play Westmeath in the Leinster championship for the first time since 1960.
• Sligo won their first Connacht title since 1928 and last until 2007.
• Dublin play Kildare in the Leinster final for the first time since 1928.
• Kerry–Sligo All Ireland semi-final was the first meeting between the teams.

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	1–38	41	5	8.20
2	Mickey Kearns	Sligo	1–20	23	4	5.75
3	John Egan	Kerry	5–7	22	4	5.50
4	Seán O'Connell	Derry	1–17	20	5	4.00
5	Tony Hoey	Louth	1–16	19	3	6.33
	Kieran Finlay	Monaghan	1–16	19	3	6.33
	Tony McTague	Offaly	0–19	19	3	6.33
8	Willie Walsh	Cork	3–8	17	3	5.66
9	Seán Daly	Armagh	3–7	16	2	8.00
10	Brendan Lynch	Kerry	0–14	14	4	3.50

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Murt Connor	Offaly	3–2	11	Laois
	Seán Daly	Armagh	2–5	11	Fermanagh
3	Mickey Kearns	Sligo	0–10	10	Galway
	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	0–10	10	Wexford
5	John Egan	Kerry	2–3	9	Tipperary
	Willie Walsh	Down	2–3	9	Derry
	Tony McTague	Offaly	0–9	9	Kildare
	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	0–9	9	Derry
9	Willie Brennan	Laois	2–2	8	Offaly
	John Egan	Kerry	2–2	8	Sligo
	Tony Hoey	Louth	1–5	8	Dublin
	Tony Murphy	Cork	0–8	8	Clare

References

1. Breheny, Martin (18 September 2014). "Kerry's power surge strongest since 1975 – O'Dwyer". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 October 2015.