1978 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 1978 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 92nd staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 7 May 1978 and ended on 24 September 1978.

1978 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	7 May – 24 September 1978
Teams	33
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Kerry (24th win)
Captain	Denis "Ógie" Moran
Manager	Mick O'Dwyer
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Dublin
Captain	Tony Hanahoe
Manager	Tony Hanahoe
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Dublin
Ulster	Down
Connacht	Roscommon
Championship statistics
Top Scorer	Jimmy Keaveney (2–31)
Player of the Year	Pat Spillane
← 1977 1979 →

Dublin entered the championship as the defending champions.

On 24 September 1978, Kerry won the championship following a 5–11 to 0–9 defeat of Dublin in the All-Ireland final.^[1] This was their 24th All-Ireland title and their first in three championship seasons.

Kerry's Pat Spillane was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year. Dublin's Jimmy Keaveney was the championship's top scorer with 2–31.

Leinster Championship format change

In 1978 Round 2 returns to the Leinster football championship.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Sligo v London

21 May 1978 Quarter-final	Sligo	4–13 – 2–10	London	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	M Hoey 3–8, M McIntyre 1–0, J Kent 0–3, T Carty 0–1, G McCarrick 0–1.		T Quirke 1–2, D Keating 1–1, B O'Connell 0–2, J Flynn 0–2, T Flynn 0–2, N McCarthy 0–1, M McGovern 0–1, P Canavan 0–1.	Referee: S McMahon (Roscommon)

Mayo v Leitrim

28 May 1978 Quarter-final	Mayo	2–18 – 1–8	Leitrim	James Stephens Park, Ballina
	B Fitzpatrick 1–3, J Mallee 1–3, WJ Padden 0–4, W Nally 0–3, D Dolan 0–3, R Bell 0–3.		M Tighe 0–5, M Kiernan 1–1, B Wrynne 0–2.	Referee: J Geraghty (Galway)

Semi-finals

Galway v Sligo

11 June 1978 Semi-final	Galway	1–11 – 1–8	Sligo	Tuam Stadium, Tuam
	S Joyce 1–2, G McManus 0–4, T Naughton 0–2, P Lee 0–1, J Hughes 0–1, B Talty 0–1.		F Henry 1–1, M Hoey 0–4, M Kearins 0–1, M McIntyre 0–1, J Kearins 0–1.	Referee: PJ McGrath (Mayo)

Roscommon v Mayo

18 June 1978 Semi-final	Roscommon	1–12 – 1–9	Mayo	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	J O'Connor 1–1, M Finneran 0–4, M Menton 0–3, A McManus 0–2, D Earley 0–1, S Kilbride 0–1.		L Donoghue 1–0, W Fitzpatrick 0–3, G Cuddy 0–2, W Nally 0–1, R Bell 0–1, D Dolan 0–1, WJ Padden 0–1.	Referee: T Cunningham (Galway)

Final

Galway v Roscommon

9 July 1978 Final	Galway	0–9 – 2–7	Roscommon	Pearse Stadium, Galway
	P McGettigan 0–2, T Naughton 0–2, G McManus 0–2, S Joyce 0–1, J Duggan 0–1, B Talty 0–1.		M Freyne 2–0, D Earley 0–3, S Kilbride 0–2, M Finneran 0–1, L O'Gara 0–1.	Attendance: 17,000 Referee: PJ McGrath (Mayo)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

First round

Carlow v Westmeath

7 May 1978 First round	Carlow	5–8 – 3–9	Westmeath	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	B Doyle 3–2, D Byrne 1–1, T Geoghegan 1–0, M Moore 0–2, W Cullen 0–2, P Foley 0–1.		K Geraghty 1–5, J Keane 1–0, T McCormack 1–0, A O'Halloran 0–1, T Doyle 0–1, M Lowry 0–1, W Lowry 0–1.

Wicklow v Kilkenny

7 May 1978 First round	Wicklow	2–16 – 0–3	Kilkenny	Geraldine Park, Athy
	P Doyle 2–5, P O'Toole 0–3, T Murphy 0–2, P Baker 0–2, O Doyle 0–2, M Dunne 0–1, T Foley 0–1.		M Brennan 0–2, C Heffernan 0–1.

Second round

Wicklow v Wexford

28 May 1978 Second round

Wicklow

4–15 – 1–8

Wexford

Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow

Kildare v Louth

4 June 1978 Second round	Kildare	4–15 – 1–8	Louth	Páirc Tailteann, Navan
	T Carew 1–6, G Power 2–0, M Condon 1–1, D Hyland 0–2, P Magan 0–2, J Geoghegan 0–1, H Hyland 0–1, F Mulligan 0–1, J Crofton 0–1.		D Kelleher 1–0, P Lennon 0–3, JP O'Kane 0–2, P McEvoy 0–1, D McCoy 0–1, E Judge 0–1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Offaly v Longford

4 June 1978 Second round	Offaly	2–12 – 0–8	Longford	Cusack Park, Mullingar
				Attendance: 3000 Referee: C Conlon

Quarter-finals

Dublin v Carlow

18 June 1978 Quarter-final	Dublin	6–15 – 2–9	Carlow	Croke Park, Dublin
	J McCarthy 3–7, T Hanahoe 1–4, D Hickey 1–0, B Doyle 1–0, J Keaveney 0–3, F Ryder 0–1.		P Kavanagh 0–5, D Byrne 1–1, T Geoghegan 1–0, P Foley 0–1, P Quirke 0–1, P Browne 0–1.

Kildare v Meath

18 June 1978 Quarter-final	Kildare	3–14 – 1–12	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	P Mangan 1–3, M Condon 1–2, T Carew 1–2, H Hyland 0–4, G Power 0–2, J Geoghegan 0–1.		M Fay 0–7 (0-4f), G McEntee 1–0, K Rennicks 0–2, E Magee 0–1, C O'Rourke 0–1, J Cassells 0–1.	Referee: N O'Donoghue (Dublin)

Laois v Offaly

25 June 1978 Quarter-final	Laois	2–8 – 0–16	Offaly	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
				Attendance: 20,000 Referee: M Meally (Kilkenny)

Semi-finals

Kildare v Wicklow

2 July 1978 Semi-final	Kildare	4–14 – 2–6	Wicklow	Croke Park, Dublin
	M Condon 2–1, J Geoghegan 1–3, T Carew 0–6, H Hyland 1–1, P Dunny 0–1, P Mangan 0–1, J Crofton 0–1.		T Foley 1–1, T Murphy 1–1, O Doyle 0–1, M Coffey 0–1, P O'Toole 0–1, P Byrne 0–1.	Referee: D Guerin (Dublin)

Dublin v Offaly

9 July 1978 Semi-final	Dublin	2–9 – 0–12	Offaly	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	J Keaveney 1–7, J McCarthy 1–1, B Doyle 0–1.		J Mooney 0–3, V Henry 0–3, P Doyle 0–2, W Bryan 0–1, M Connor 0–1, M Wright 0–1, P Fenning 0–1.	Attendance: 22,000 Referee: S Murray (Roscommon)

Final

Dublin v Kildare

30 July 1978 Final	Dublin	1–17 – 1–6	Kildare	Croke Park, Dublin
	Jimmy Keaveney 0–7 (0-3f, 1 '45), Tony Hanahoe 1–2, Anton O'Toole 0–2, Robbie Kelleher, Brian Mullins, Bernard Brogan Sr, John McCarthy, Padraig Hogan, Paddy Gogarty 0–1 each		Denis Dalton 1–0, Tommy Carew 0–3 (0-2f), Mick Condon 0–2, Pat Dunny 0–1	Attendance: 53,512 Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath)

Munster Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Clare v Limerick

28 May 1978 Quarter-final	Clare	0–19 – 1–4	Limerick	Páirc Uí Seancháin, Dunbeg
	M Downes 0–5, A Moloney 0–4, J McGrath 0–3, T Curtin 0–3, M Keogh 0–2, N Roche 0–1, B O'Reilly 0–1.		K Rennteon 1–1, M Quish 0–1, C O'Connor 0–1, G Murray 0–1.	Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)

Tipperary v Waterford

28 May 1978 Quarter-final	Tipperary	1–16 – 2–13	Waterford	Ned Hall Park, Clonmel
	C Murphy 0–8, H Mulhaire 1–2, V O'Donnell 0–2, G McGrath 0–2, M McCarthy 0–1, J Ryan 0–1.		J Hennessy 1–0, T Casey 0–6, M Hackett 1–1, P Keating 0–2, P Murphy 0–2, B Fleming 0–2.	Referee: B Cross (Limerick)

Waterford v Tipperary

4 June 1978 Quarter-final replay	Waterford	2–19 – 2–17 (aet)	Tipperary	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	T Casey 0–12, B Fleming 1–1, J McGrath 1–1, J Hennessy 0–2, M Hackett 0–2, P Keating 0–1.		H Mulhaire 1–4, S McCarthy 1–3, C Murphy 0–6, J Ryan 0–2, E McGrath 0–1, T Kavanagh 0–1.	Referee: B Cross (Limerick)

Semi-finals

Cork v Clare

11 June 1978 Semi-final	Cork	3–16 – 0–11	Clare	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
	J Barry-Murphy 2–1, R Cummins 1–3, D Allen 0–5, D Barron 0–2, S Murphy 0–2, C Ryan 0–1, D McCarthy 0–1, D Hunt 0–1.		A Moloney 0–5, B O'Reilly 0–2, M Roche 0–1, T Cartin 0–1, M Keogh 0–1, M Downes 0–1.	Referee: W Fogarty (Kerry)

Kerry v Waterford

18 June 1978 Semi-final	Kerry	4–27 – 2–8	Waterford	Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
	M Sheehy 2–8, P Spillane 2–5, J Egan 0–5, G Power 0–3, T Doyle 0–3, J Mulvihill 0–2, M O'Sullivan 0–1.		B Fleming 2–0, R Dunford 0–2, T Casey 0–2, T Keating 0–1, M Hackett 0–1, J McGrath 0–1, P Keating 0–1.	Referee: P O'Donovan (Cork)

Final

Cork v Kerry

16 July 1978 Final	Cork	3–7 – 3–14	Kerry	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
	Dinny Allen 2–2 (1–0 pen, 0-2f), Jimmy Barry-Murphy 1–0, Ray Cummins 0–3 (0-2f), Tom Creedon (1 '50) and Dennis Lenihan 0–1 each		Mikey Sheehy 2–5 (0-4f), Pat Spillane 0–4, Ger Power 1–0, Tommy Doyle and John Egan 0–2 each, Paidi Ó Sé 0–1	Attendance: 46,000 Referee: Sean O'Connor (Limerick)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Derry v Donegal

28 May 1978 Preliminary round	Derry	3–12 – 0–7	Donegal	Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen
	G Keane 1–6, J Fullerton 1–1, B O'Neill 1–0, M Lynch 0–2, B Kelly 0–1, D Kearney 0–1, G McIlhinney 0–1.		S Bonnar 0–2, F Rush 0–2, A Gallagher 0–1, S Marley 0–1, M Carney 0–1.	Referee: H McPoland (Antrim)

Quarter-finals

Antrim v Monaghan

21 May 1978 Quarter-final	Antrim	4–6 – 2–4	Monaghan	Casement Park, Belfast
	G Armstrong 2–1, M Darragh 2–0, K Gough 0–2, A Hamill 0–1, P O'Hare 0–1, S McGourty 0–1.		G Brannigan 1–1, E Tavey 1–0, K Treanor 0–1, P Kerr 0–1, D Mulligan 0–1.	Referee: J Gribben (Down)

Cavan v Armagh

11 June 1978 Quarter-final	Cavan	0–16 – 0–9	Armagh	Breffni Park, Cavan
	D Donoghue 0–6, P McGovern 0–3, R Cullivan 0–2, A King 0–1, O Leddy 0–1, M Goldrick 0–1, F McNamee 0–1, JJ Martin 0–1.			Referee: S Murray (Monaghan)

Fermanagh v Down

11 June 1978 Quarter-final	Fermanagh	2–7 – 0–14	Down	St. Molaise Park, Irvinestown
	G McElroy 2–1, K Corrigan 0–2, J Donnelly 0–1, E McPartland 0–1, P McGinnity 0–1.		C McAlarney 0–3, S Fearon 0–3, P Heaney 0–2, E Toner 0–2, C Digney 0–2, Cunningham 0–1, V McGovern 0–1.	Referee: H Duggan (Armagh)

Derry v Tyrone

18 June 1978 Quarter-final

Derry

3–11 – 0–9

Tyrone

The Playing Fields, Lurgan

Semi-finals

Down v Derry

2 July 1978 Semi-final	Down	1–14 – 2–8	Derry	Casement Park, Belfast
	P Rooney 0–6, V McGovern 0–4, B Gardner 1–0, M Cunningham 0–3, J Digney 0–1.		D Kearney 0–4, B O'Neill 1–0, J Hargan 1–0, G Keane 0–2, M Lynch 0–1, T McGuinness 0–1.

Cavan v Antrim

9 July 1978 Semi-final	Cavan	2–13 – 1–10	Antrim	St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney
	P McNamee 1–2, M Goldrick 0–4, C O'Keeffe 1–0, R Cullivan 0–3, P McGovern 0–2, D Donoghue 0–1, O Martin 0–1.		C Smith 1–1, M Darragh 0–4, G Armstrong 0–1, A McQuillan 0–1, D Laverty 0–1, J McKiernan 0–1, K Gough 0–1.	Referee: H Duggan (Armagh)

Final

Down v Cavan

23 July 1978 Final	Down	2–19 – 2–12	Cavan	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	J Byrne 1–3, E McGivern 1–1, C McAlarney 0–4, J Digney 0–3, L Austin 0–3, B Toner 0–2, M Cunningham 0–2, P Rooney 0–1.		A Brady 1–2, D Donohoe 0–5, C O'Keeffe 1–0, M Goldrick 0–3, R Cullivan 0–1, A King 0–1.	Attendance: 27,600 Referee: S Murray (Monaghan)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Kerry v Roscommon

13 August 1978 Semi-final	Kerry	3–11 – 0–8	Roscommon	Croke Park, Dublin
	G Power 1–2, P Spillane 1–2, M Sheehy 0–4, P O'Mahony 1–0, J Egan 0–1, E Liston 0–1, J O'Shea 0–1.		J O'Connor 0–4, M Finneran 0–2, D Earley 0–1, J O'Gara 0–1.	Attendance: 25,594 Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare)

Dublin v Down

20 August 1978 Semi-final	Dublin	1–16 – 0–8	Down	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Keaveney 1–6, B Brogan 0–3, J McCarthy 0–2, B Doyle 0–2, A O'Toole 0–1, G O'Driscoll 0–1, P'O'Neill 0–1.		W Walsh 0–5, C Digney 0–1, C McAlarney 0–1, L Austin 0–1.	Attendance: 51,666 Referee: T Moran (Leitrim)

Final

Kerry v Dublin

24 September 1978 Final	Kerry	5–11 – 0–9	Dublin	Croke Park, Dublin
	E Liston 3–2, M Sheehy 1–4, J Egan 1–2, J O'Shea 0–1, G Power 0–1, P Spillane 0–1.		J Keaveney 0–8, B Brogan 0–1.	Attendance: 71,503 Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare)

Main article: 1978 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	2–31	37	5	7.40
2	Mikey Sheehy	Kerry	5–21	36	4	9.00

Miscellaneous

• Kevin Moran, who had signed for Manchester United F.C. in February 1978, was given permission from the club to line out for Dublin in their Leinster semi-final defeat of Offaly. He remained on the panel for all of Dublin's subsequent games.
• On 28 May 1978, James Stephens Park, Ballina hosted its first championship game for 28 years it was the Connacht Quarter-final between Mayo and Leitrim.
• At the Ulster final between Down and Cavan, an official attendance of 27,600 is given, however, it is estimated that between 6,000 and 8,000 extra spectators were at the game.
• In the All-Ireland semi-final between Down and Dublin, the Down players wore black armbands as a mark of respect to the late Michael Cunningham. He was the father of the team's centre-forward Mickey Cunningham and died in the week leading up to the match.
• Kerry won their first title in a year ending with 8. They became the first county in either code to win at least one All Ireland in years ending with all ten digits.

Roll of Honour

• Kerry – 24 (1978)
• Dublin – 20 (1977)
• Galway – 7 (1966)
• Wexford – 5 (1918)
• Cavan – 5 (1952)
• Cork – 4 (1973)
• Kildare – 4 (1928)
• Tipperary – 4 (1920)
• Down – 3 (1968)
• Meath – 3 (1967)
• Louth – 3 (1957)
• Mayo – 3 (1951)
• Offaly – 2 (1972)
• Roscommon – 2 (1944)
• Limerick – 2 (1896)