| Championship details | |
|---|---|
| All-Ireland Champions | |
| Winning team | Roscommon (2nd win) |
| Captain | Séamus Hayden |
| All-Ireland Finalists | |
| Losing team | Kerry |
| Captain | Vincent O'Connor |
| Provincial Champions | |
| Munster | Kerry |
| Leinster | Louth |
| Ulster | Down |
| Connacht | Roscommon |
The 1978 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship was the 15th staging of the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1964.
Kerry entered the championship as defending champions in search of a record-breaking fourth successive All-Ireland title.
On 15 October 1978, Roscommon won the championship following a 1-9 to 1-8 defeat of Kerry in the All-Ireland final. [1] This was their second All-Ireland title overall and their first in 12 championship seasons.
| 23 July 1978 [2] Final | | 2-08 - 2-07 | | Croke Park, Dublin |
| P. Lennon 1-1, Jimmy McDonnell 0-4, D. Kelleher 1-0, E. Judge 0-1, Johnny McDonnell 0-1, P. Matthews 0-1 | J. Dunne 1-3, L. Dunne 1-1, T. Fitzgerald 0-2, D. Owens 0-1 | Referee: Paul Kelly (Dublin) |
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Semi-finals
| 10 September 1978Semi-final | | 0-08 - 0-07 | | Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon |
| 1 October 1978Semi-final | | 0-14 - 2-10 | | Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda |
Final
| 15 October 1978Final | | 1-09 - 1-08 | | Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon |
| Referee: S. Murray (Monaghan) |