1979 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1979 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	13 May – 16 September 1979
Teams	33
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Kerry (25th win)
Captain	Tim Kennelly
Manager	Mick O'Dwyer
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Dublin
Captain	Tony Hanahoe
Manager	Kevin Heffernan
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Dublin
Ulster	Monaghan
Connacht	Roscommon
Championship statistics
No. matches played	35
Top Scorer	Mikey Sheehy (6–18)
Player of the Year	Mikey Sheehy
← 1978 1980 →

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.

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

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

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Galway v London

27 May 1979Quarter-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)

Sligo v Leitrim

3 June 1979Quarter-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

Leitrim v Mayo

17 June 1979Semi-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)

Roscommon v Galway

24 June 1979Semi-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

Mayo v Roscommon

15 July 1979Final	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

First round

Meath v Kilkenny

13 May 1979First 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.

Carlow v Wexford

13 May 1979First 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)

Louth v Longford

20 May 1979First 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

Laois v Westmeath

20 May 1979First 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)

Wexford v Carlow

27 May 1979First 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)

Wexford v Carlow

3 June 1979First round second replay

Wexford

1–12 – 0–7

Carlow

Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

Quarter-finals

Dublin v Louth

3 June 1979Quarter-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)

Meath v Kildare

10 June 1979Quarter-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)

Wicklow v Wexford

10 June 1979Quarter-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)

Meath v Kildare

17 June 1979Quarter-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)

Offaly v Laois

17 June 1979Quarter-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

Dublin v Wicklow

1 July 1979Semi-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)

Meath v Offaly

8 July 1979Semi-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

Dublin v Offaly

29 July 1979Final	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

Quarter-finals

Limerick v Clare

20 May 1979Quarter-final

Limerick

1–9 – 1–15

Clare

Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

Tipperary v Waterford

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

Semi-finals

Cork v Tipperary

24 June 1979Semi-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)

Clare v Kerry

1 July 1979Semi-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

Kerry v Cork

22 July 1979Final	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

Preliminary round

Tyrone v Antrim

20 May 1979Preliminary 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

Monaghan v Down

27 May 1979Quarter-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.

Armagh v Fermanagh

3 June 1979Quarter-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)

Cavan v Derry

10 June 1979Quarter-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)

Donegal v Tyrone

17 June 1979Quarter-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

Monaghan v Armagh

24 June 1979Semi-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)

Donegal v Derry

1 July 1979Semi-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

Monaghan v Donegal

22 July 1979Final	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

Semi-finals

Kerry v Monaghan

12 August 1979Semi-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)

Dublin v Roscommon

19 August 1979Semi-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

Kerry v Dublin

16 September 1979Final	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)

Main article: 1979 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Top scorers

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

• 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

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