1976 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1976 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	9 May – 26 September 1976
Teams	33
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Dublin (19 win)
Captain	Tony Hanahoe
Manager	Kevin Heffernan
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Kerry
Captain	John O'Keeffe
Manager	Mick O'Dwyer
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Dublin
Ulster	Derry
Connacht	Galway
Championship statistics
Top Scorer	Mikey Sheehy (4–26)
Player of the Year	Jimmy Keaveney
← 1975 1977 →

The 1976 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 90th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 9 May 1976 and ended on 26 September 1976.

Kerry were the defending champions.

On 26 September 1976, Dublin won the championship following a 3–8 to 0–10 defeat of Kerry in the All-Ireland final. ^[1] This was their 19th All-Ireland title, their first in two championship seasons.

Dublin's Jimmy Keaveney was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Mayo v Leitrim

23 May 1976Quarter-final	Mayo	0–11 – 0–11	Leitrim	Fr. O'Hara Park, Charlestown
	R Bell (0–2), JP Kean (0–2), S Kilbride (0–3); G Farragher (0–2) & W Fitzpatrick (0–2).

Leitrim v Mayo

30 May 1976Quarter-final replay	Leitrim	2–8 – 0–10	Mayo	Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
	E McHale 1–0, N Mahon 1–0, J Houlihan 0–2, T Dolan 0–2, M Martin 0–1, S Flanagan 0–1, F Bohan 0–1, T Mulvey 0–1.		JP Kean 0–4, S Kilbride 0–1, M Sweeney 0–1, G Farragher 0–1, M Dixon 0–1, P Corrigan 0–1, R Bell 0–1.	Referee: J Lee (Sligo)

Roscommon v London

30 May 1976Quarter-final	Roscommon	2–18 – 1–7	London	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	M Freyne 0–7, J O'Connor 1–3, H Griffin 1–0, T Donnellan 0–3, J Finnegan 0–2, P Cox 0–1, D Watson 0–1, E McManus 0–1.		K Maguire 1–0, D Keating 0–4, J Mahoney 0–1, G Nellis 0–1, J Coffey 0–1.	Referee: J O'Gorman (Sligo)

Semi-finals

Leitrim v Galway

6 June 1976Semi-final	Leitrim	0–8 – 3–21	Galway	Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
	M Martin 0–5, S Flanagan 0–1, T Dolan 0–1, E McHale 0–1.		J McLoughlin 1–8, J Duggan 1–2, J Barrett 1–1, B Talty 0–3, L Sammon 0–3, T Naughton 0–2, W Joyce 0–1, D Smyth 0–1.	Referee: PJ McGrath (Mayo)

Sligo v Roscommon

13 June 1976Semi-final	Sligo	0–7 – 2–10	Roscommon	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	M Kearins 0–6, J Stenson 0–1.		J O'Connor 0–4, J Kelly 1–0, P Cox 0–2, N Freyne 0–1, G Beirne 0–1, J Finnegan 0–1, J O'Gara 0–1.	Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Finals

Roscommon v Galway

4 July 1976Final	Roscommon	1–8 – 1–8	Galway	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	J O'Gara 1–1, J O'Connor 0–2, T Donnellan 0–1, P Cox 0–1, J Kelly 0–1, E McManus 0–1, M Freyne 0–1.		J Duggan 1–1, D Smith 0–2, J McLoughlin 0–2, J Tobin 0–1, B Talty 0–1, S McHugh 0–1.	Attendance: 18,000 Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Galway v Roscommon

18 July 1976Final replay	Galway	1–14 – 0–9	Roscommon	Tuam Stadium, Tuam
	J McLoughlin 0–6, J Duggan 1–0, K Clancy 0–2, J Tobin 0–2, T Naughton 0–2, L O'Neill 0–1, J Hughes 0–1.		J O'Connor 0–4, J O'Gara 0–1, T Donnellan 0–1, M McNamara 0–1, M Freyne 0–1, G Beirne 0–1.	Attendance: 16,000 Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

First round

Meath v Wicklow

9 May 1976First round	Meath	2–13 – 1–10	Wicklow	Croke Park, Dublin
	G Farrelly 1–5, C Rowe 1–1, C O'Rourke 0–4, K Rennicks 0–2, M Ryan 0–1.		M O'Toole 0–6, E Dunne 1–0, P Kavanagh 0–1, T Foley 0–1, G Farrell 0–1, T Murphy 0–1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Wexford v Westmeath

9 May 1976First round	Wexford	2–11 – 0–14	Westmeath	Geraldine Park, Athy
	M Quigley 1–3, E Waters 1–2, M Carty 0–2, D Clancy 0–2, G Howling 0–1, J Dunphy 0–1.		D Smith 0–7, J Keane 0–3, W Lowry 0–2, M Scally 0–1, P Halligan 0–1.	Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare)

Laois v Carlow

23 May 1976First round

Laois

2–12 – 0–8

Carlow

Geraldine Park, Athy

Longford v Kilkenny

30 May 1976First round

Longford

3–21 – 0–5

Kilkenny

O'Connor Park, Tullamore

Quarter-finals

Offaly v Meath

6 June 1976Quarter-final	Offaly	0–8 – 3–8	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	L Hanlon 0–3, S Lowry 0–2, P Fenning 0–1, W Bryan 0–1, M Wright 0–1.		G Farrelly 1–4, C O'Rourke 1–0, M Kerrigan 1–0, C Rowe 0–2, K Rennicks 0–1, J Gibbons 0–1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Wexford v Louth

20 June 1976Quarter-final	Wexford	0–15 – 1–8	Louth	Croke Park, Dublin
	E Waters 0–7, M Carthy 0–2, B Rowesome 0–2, M Miller 0–1, G Howlin 0–1, W French 0–1, M Quigley 0–1.		A Hoey 1–1, P McPartland 0–2, G Nixon 0–1, F Brennan 0–1, D McCoy 0–1, D Reid 0–1, B Gaughran 0–1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Laois v Kildare

20 June 1976Quarter-final	Laois	1–13 – 0–12	Kildare	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	W Brennan 1–6, T McCague 0–3, P Brophy 0–2, M Fennell 0–1, S Allen 0–1.		T Shaw 0–6, P Dunny 0–3, P Swords 0–1, B O'Doherty 0–1, T Carew 0–1.	Attendance: M Meally (Kilkenny)

Dublin v Longford

27 June 1976Quarter-final	Dublin	5–16 – 0–7	Longford	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	J Keaveney 3–4, P Gogarty 1–3, A O'Toole 1–1, K Moran 0–3, D Hickey 0–3, B Mullins 0–1, B Doyle 0–1.		L Tierney 0–3, J Hanniffy 0–2, P Mullooly 0–1, T McCormick 0–1.	Attendance: 15,000 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Semi-finals

Wexford v Meath

4 July 1976Semi-final	Wexford	1–9 – 2–14	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	G Howlin 1–1, D Clancy 0–3, M Miller 0–2, M Carthy 0–1, W French 0–1, M Quigley 0–1.		M Kerrigan 0–5, G Farrelly 1–1, C O'Rourke 0–4, PJ O'Halloran 1–0, C Rowe 0–2, K Rennicks 0–1, J Gibbons 0–1.	Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare)

Dublin v Laois

11 July 1976Semi-Final	Dublin	3–12 – 0–11	Laois	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	J Keaveney 1–3, P Gogarty 1–2, B Mullins 1–2, A O'Toole 0–2, B Doyle 0–2.		W Brennan 0–5, T Prendergast 0–3, M Fennell 0–2, T McCague 0–1.	Referee: H O'Reilly (Louth)

Final

Dublin v Meath

25 July 1976Final	Dublin	2–8 – 1–9	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	Jimmy Keaveny 0–4 (0-1f, 1 '50), Anton O'Toole and Tony Hanahoe 1–0 each, David Hickey 0–2, Bobby Doyle and Paddy Gogarty 0–1 each		Colm O'Rourke 1–2 (0-1f), Gerry Farrelly 0-2f, John Gibbons (0-1f), Mick Ryan, Cormac Rowe, Mattie Kerrigan, Ollie O'Brien (0-1f) 0–1 each	Attendance: 38,955 Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare)

Munster Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Waterford v Tipperary

9 May 1976Quarter-final	Waterford	5–11 – 1–11	Tipperary	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	J Galvin 0–6, V Kirwan 1–1, M Power 1–1, R Ahearn 1–0, S Ahern 1–0, T Moore 1–0, J Hennessy 0–2, B Fleming 0–1.		H Mulhaire 1–4, C O'Flaherty 0–4, G McGrath 0–1, J Cummins 0–1, J Williams 0–1.	Referee: F Halbert (Cork)

Limerick v Clare

16 May 1976Quarter-final	Limerick	2–4 – 1–6	Clare	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	M Greene 1–1, S Clanagan 1–0, C Buckley 0–1, J McMahon 0–1, M Downes 0–1.		G Browne 1–2, T Kennedy 0–2, S Holmes 0–1, J Ryan 0–1.	Referee: B O'Grady (Kerry)

Semi-finals

Waterford v Kerry

20 June 1976Semi-final	Waterford	0–6 – 3–17	Kerry	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	J Hennessy 0–2, E Halloran 0–1, J Galvin 0–1, R Dunford 0–1, D Conway 0–1.		P Spillane 1–5, M Sheehy 1–4, B Lynch 1–2, D Moran 0–2, M O'Sullivan 0–2, J Egan 0–2.	Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)

Cork v Clare

20 June 1976Semi-final	Cork	2–15 – 1–10	Clare	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	S Coughlan 1–3, S O'Shea 1–0, B Fields 0–3, J Barry-Murphy 0–3, D Long 0–3, S Murphy 0–2, D McCarthy 0–1.		J McMahon 0–6, S Flanagan 1–0, C Buckley 0–1, Martin Greene 0–1, S Moloney 0–1,	Referee: J Moloney (Tipperary)

Finals

Cork v Kerry

11 July 1976Final	Cork	0–10 – 0–10	Kerry	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
	Denis Long (0-2f), Billy Field (0-2f), Dinny Allen 0–2 each, Seamus Coughlan, Jimmy Barry-Murphy, Declan Barron, Sean Murphy (0-1f) 0–1 each		Mikey Sheehy 0–5 (0-3f), Pat McCarthy and Pat Spillane 0–2, Sean Walsh 0–1	Attendance: 40,600 Referee: John Moloney (Tipperary)

Cork v Kerry

25 July 1976Final replay	Cork	2–19 – 3–20 (a.e.t.)	Kerry	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
	Jimmy Barry-Murphy 1–3, Sean Murphy 0–5 (0-1f), Colman O'Rourke 0–4 (0-1f), Seamus Coughlan 1–0, Declan Barron 0–3, Denis Long, Dave McCarthy, Dinny Allen, Billy Field 0–1 each		Mikey Sheehy 0–11 (0-5f), Pat Spillane and Sean Walsh 1–3 each, Mickey O'Sullivan 1–2, John Egan 0–1	Attendance: 45,235 Referee: John Moloney (Tipperary)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Armagh v Fermanagh

23 May 1976Preliminary round

Armagh

1–13 – 1–12

Fermanagh

Athletic Grounds, Armagh

Quarter-finals

Cavan v Donegal

30 May 1976Quarter-final	Cavan	1–9 – 0–8	Donegal	Breffni Park, Cavan
	C O'Keeffe 1–1, O Brady 0–3, S Duggan 0–2, N Smith 0–1, D Meade 0–1, G Cusack 0–1.		S Granaghan 0–3, M Lafferty 0–2, M Carney 0–2, H McClafferty 0–1.	Referee: T Johnston (Fermanagh)

Antrim v Down

6 June 1976Quarter-final	Antrim	2–6 – 0–14	Down	Casement Park, Belfast
	G McCann 1–0, A McCallion 0–2, JP O'Kane 0–1, P Armstrong 0–1, S McGourty 0–1, A Hamill 0–1.		W Walsh 0–5, P Rooney 0–3, B Fitzsimons 0–2, B Bardner 0–2, V McGovern 0–1, D Rodgers 0–1.	Referee: G Fagan (Antrim)

Tyrone v Monaghan

6 June 1976Quarter-final

Tyrone

2–10 – 1–10

Monaghan

O'Neill Park, Dungannon

Derry v Armagh

13 June 1976Quarter-final	Derry	1–19 – 2–1	Armagh	Healy Park, Omagh
	B Kelly 0–7, A McGuckin 1–2, T McGuinness 0–2, G McElhinney 0–2, J O'Leary 0–2, M Lynch 0–1, P Stevenson 0–1, G O'Loughlin 0–1, A McGurk 0–1.		D McCoy 2–0, P Loughran 0–1.	Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Semi-finals

Down v Cavan

20 June 1976Semi-final	Down	0–10 – 1–18	Cavan	St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney
	D Rodgers 0–3, W Walsh 0–3, P Rooney 0–1, B Fitzsimons 0–1, L Austin 0–1, C McAlarney 0–1.		S Duggan 0–10, O Martin 1–1, G Cusack 0–3, N Smith 0–2, O Leddy 0–1, C O'Dea 0–1.

Tyrone v Derry

27 June 1976Semi-final	Tyrone	0–8 – 0–12	Derry	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	P McGuigan 0–2, B O'Neill 0–2, G Taggart 0–1, M Hughes 0–1, E Devlin 0–1, E McKenna 0–1.		B Kelly 0–6, M Lynch 0–2, A McGuckin 0–1, J O'Leary 0–1, M Moran 0–1, T McGuinness 0–1.	Referee: H McPoland (Antrim)

Finals

Derry v Cavan

18 July 1976Final	Derry	1–8 – 1–8	Cavan	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	B Kelly 0–4, J O'Leary 1–0, M Lynch 0–2, M Moran 0–1, T McGuinness 0–1.		S Duggan 1–3, A King 0–1, O Brady 0–1, E Martin 0–1, G Cusack 0–1, C O'Keeffe 0–1.	Attendance: 20,000 Referee: G Fagan (Armagh)

Derry v Cavan

25 July 1976Final replay	Derry	0–22 – 1–16 (a.e.t.)	Cavan	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	B Kelly 0–8, M Lynch 0–4, F McCloskey 0–3, G McElhinney 0–2, A McGurk 0–1, J O'Leary 0–1, M Moran 0–1, T McGuinness 0–1.		S Duggan 0–7, J Dwyer 1–3, O Brady 0–2, E Martin 0–2, E Cusack 0–1, O Leddy 0–1.	Attendance: 25,000 Referee: G Fagan (Armagh)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Kerry v Derry

8 August 1976Semi-final	Kerry	5–14 – 1–10	Derry	Croke Park, Dublin
	M Sheehy 3–3, S Walsh 1–1, G O'Driscoll 1–0, B Lynch 0–3, J Egan 0–2, P Spillane 0–2, T Kennelly 0–1, M O'Sullivan 0–1, D Moran 0–1.		B Kelly 0–4, P Stevenson 1–0, M Lynch 0–2, F McCloskey 0–1, L Diamond 0–1, J O'Leary 0–1, T McGuinness 0–1.	Attendance: 30,963 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Dublin v Galway

29 August 1976Semi-final	Dublin	1–8 – 0–8	Galway	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Keaveney 1–5, T Hanahoe 0–2, J McCarthy 0–1.		J Hughes 0–2, W Joyce 0–2, J Tobin 0–2, L Sammon 0–1, B Talty 0–1.	Referee: F Halbert (Cork)

Final

Dublin v Kerry

26 September 1976Final	Dublin	3–8 – 0–10	Kerry	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Keaveney 1–2, J McCarthy 1–1, B Mullins 1–1, B Brogan 0–1, A O'Toole 0–1, T Hanahoe 0–1, D Hickey 0–1.		M Sheehy 0–3, P Spillane 0–2, D Moran 0–2, M O'Sullivan 0–1, B Lynch 0–1, J Egan 0–1.	Attendance: 73,588 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Main article: 1976 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Miscellaneous

• Leitrim recorded their first win over Mayo since 1959 after a replay.
• Cork Athletic Grounds changed its name to Pairc Ui Chaoimh after Pádraig Ó Caoimh.
• 3 Provincial finals end in a draw and to a replay in the same year for the first time since 1924 (CLU) and never since (as of 2019) Connacht, Munster and Ulster. 1888, 1903 & 1915 were the only other years up to 1976 to have had multiple provincial final draws.
• The All-Ireland final was Dublin's first win over Kerry since the All-Ireland semi-final of 1934.

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Mikey Sheehy	Kerry	4–26	38	5	7.60
2	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	6–18	36	5	7.20
3	Brendan Kelly	Derry	0–29	29	5	5.80
4	Steve Duggan	Cavan	1–22	25	4	6.25
5	Gerry Farrelly	Meath	3–12	21	4	5.25
6	Pat Spillane	Kerry	2–14	20	5	4.00
7	Joe McLoughlin	Galway	1–16	19	4	4.75

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	3–4	13	Longford
2	Mikey Sheehy	Kerry	3–3	12	Derry
3	Joe McLoughlin	Galway	1–8	11	Leitrim
	Mikey Sheehy	Kerry	0–11	11	Cork
5	Steve Duggan	Cavan	0–10	10	Down
6	Willie Brennan	Laois	1–6	9	Kildare
7	Gerry Farrelly	Meath	1–5	8	Wicklow
	Pat Spillane	Kerry	1–5	8	Waterford
	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	1–5	8	Galway
	Brendan Kelly	Derry	0–8	8	Cavan

References

1. "Five Epics: The Best of Dublin v Kerry". GAA website. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2015.

External links

• "From the archives: Preview of 1976 Ulster SFC final between Derry and Cavan". BBC Sport. 26 April 2020.