1988 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 1988 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 102nd staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 8 May 1988 and ended on 9 October 1988.

1988 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	8 May – 9 October 1988
Teams	32
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Meath (5th win)
Captain	Joe Cassells
Manager	Seán Boylan
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Cork
Captain	Tony Nation
Manager	Billy Morgan
Provincial Champions
Munster	Cork
Leinster	Meath
Ulster	Monaghan
Connacht	Mayo
Championship statistics
No. matches played	33
Top Scorer	Brian Stafford (0–38)
Player of the Year	Robbie O'Malley
← 1987 1989 →

For the second year in a row, the final was between Meath and Cork. Again, the outcome was the same, Meath winning the replay by a scoreline of 0–13 to 0–12.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

London v Sligo

5 June 1988 Quarter-final	London	2–10 – 2–13	Sligo	Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
				Attendance: 2,000

Mayo v Leitrim

19 June 1988 Quarter-final	Mayo	1–13 – 0–4	Leitrim	Fr. O'Hara Park, Charlestown
	P Brogan 1–2, T Morgan 0–3, M Carney 0–3, N Durcan 0–2, T Reilly 0–1, L McHale 0–1, B Molloy 0–1.		P Kenny 0–3, P Kernan 0–1.	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: M Kearins (Sligo)

Semi-finals

Roscommon v Galway

26 June 1988 Semi-final	Roscommon	2–10 – 1–10	Galway	Pearse Stadium, Galway
	T McManus 1–3, T Lennon 1–0, P Earley 0–3, J Kelly 0–2, J Connaughton 0–1, E McManus Jnr 0–1.		V Daly 0–5, M Gavin 1–0, J O'Dea 0–3, C O'Dea 0–1, J Coleman 0–1.	Attendance: 9,000 Referee: S Prior (Leitrim)

Sligo v Mayo

3 July 1988 Semi-final	Sligo	0–6 – 2–19	Mayo	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	D McDonagh 0–3, PJ Cavanagh 0–1, D McGoldrick 0–1, P Dockery 0–1.		M Butler 1–6, M Carney 1–1, T Reilly 0–4, T Morgan 0–3, L McHale 0–2, N Durkan 0–1, S Maher 0–1, TJ Kilgallon 0–1.	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: S Mullaney (Roscommon)

Final

Roscommon v Mayo

24 July 1988 Final	Roscommon	0–8 – 1–12	Mayo	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	P Earley 0–5, S Killoran 0–1, E McManus 0–1, T McManus 0–1.		T Reilly 1–1, M Carney 0–4, D Flanagan 0-2f, TJ Kilgallon 0–1, M Butler 0–1, L McHale 0–1, N Durkin 0–1, J BUrke 0–1.	Attendance: 20,000 Referee: M Kearins (Sligo)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Longford v Westmeath

22 May 1988 Preliminary round	Longford	1–11 – 0–7	Westmeath	Pearse Park, Longford
	J McCormack 0–7, D Barry 1–2, M O'Hara 0–1, O Kiernan 0–1.		R Fleming 0–3, P Walsh 0–2, T Ormsby 0–1, L Giles 0–1.	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: C Buckley (Offaly)

Offaly v Wexford

22 May 1988 Preliminary round	Offaly	1–18 – 1–7	Wexford	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	B Flynn 1–2, S Lynam 0–4, D Kavanagh 0–3, V Claffey 0–2, P Brady 0–2, R O'Connor 0–2, P Mollan 0–1, P Cushen 0–1, J Stewart 0–1.		P Barden 1–0, M Hannck 0–3, J O'Gorman 0–2, J Harrington 0–1, M Mahon 0–1.	Referee: P Moran (Laois)

Carlow v Laois

22 May 1988 Preliminary round	Carlow	3–5 – 2–7	Laois	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Hayden 1–0, L Kelly 1–0, P Quirke 1–0, P Kenny 0–2, M Nolan 0–1, J Nevin 0–1, G Byrne 0–1.		T Maher 1–0, S Dempsey 1–0, G Lalor 0–3, G Browne 0–2, D Lalor 0–1, p Brophy 0–1.	Attendance: 5,500 Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare)

Quarter-finals

Kildare v Offaly

5 June 1988 Quarter-final	Kildare	1–10 – 0–13	Offaly	St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge
	D Fannin 1–1, M Shaw 0–3, S McGovern 0–1, B Donovan 0–1, D Kerrigan 0–1, S Ryan 0–1, P McLoughlin 0–1, Moran 0–1.		D Kavanagh 0–5, S Lynam, 0–5, B Flynn 0–2, R Connor 0–1.	Attendance: 6,000 Referee: P Kavanagh (Meath)

Longford v Wicklow

5 June 1988 Quarter-final	Longford	1–15 – 2–4	Wicklow	Pearse Park, Longford
	J McCormack 1–8, D Barry 0–3, B Lennon 0–2, C Gilmore 0–1, G Clarke 0–1.		F Daly 1–0, P O'Byrne 1–0, R McHugh 0–2, P Spollen 0–2.	Referee: C Conlon (Westmeath)

Louth v Meath

5 June 1988 Quarter-final	Louth	0–9 – 3–13	Meath	Drogheda Park, Drogheda
	K Dawe 0–3, Jim McDonnell 0–2, B Kerin 0–1, R Culhane 0–1, P Matthews 0–1, S O'Hanlon 0–1.		B Stafford 0–6, D Beggy 1–2, B Flynn 0–4, PJ Gillic 1–0, M McCabe 1–0, T Ferguson 0–1.	Attendance: 21,000 Referee: J Woods (Dublin)

Carlow v Dublin

6 June 1988 Quarter-final	Carlow	0–8 – 1–14	Dublin	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	T Dwyer 0–3, J Hayden 0–2, P Quirke 0–1, W Doyle 0–1.		M Galvin 1–2, C Redmond 0–5, D de Lapp 0–2, B Rock 0–2, C Crowley 0–1, V Murphy 0–1, J Bissett 0–1.	Attendance: 8,000 Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Offaly v Kildare

18 June 1988 Quarter-final replay	Offaly	0–16 – 0–10	Kildare	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	S Lynam 0–5, P Brady 0–4, V Claffey 0–2, D Kavangh 0–1, J Stewart 0–1, M Plunkett 0–1, B Flynn 0–1, R Connor 0–1.		P McLoughlin 0–4, L McLoughlin 0–2, G Power 0–2, M Shaw 0–1, B Donovan 0–1.	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: P Kavanagh (Meath)

Semi-finals

Dublin v Longford

26 June 1988 Semi-final	Dublin	4–15 – 0–9	Longford	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	B Rock 1–3, V Murphy 1–2, M Galvin 1–1, D Sheehan 0–4, J McNally 1–0, C Redmond 0–3, J Bissett 0–1, T Conroy 0–1.		J McCormack 0–6, B Lennon 0–1, C Lee 0–1, P Kiernan 0–1.	Referee: C Conlon (Westmeath)

Meath v Offaly

3 July 1988 Semi-final	Meath	0–19 – 0–10	Offaly	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 0–8, B Flynn 0–6, C O'Rourke 0–2, D Beggy 0–1, PJ Gillic 0–1, M McCabe 0–1.		P Brady 0–3, S Lynam 0–3, D Kavanagh 0–2, M Plunkett 0–1, T Egan 0–1.	Attendance: 13,030 Referee: T Howard (Kildare)

Final

Meath v Dublin

31 July 1988 Final	Meath	2–5 – 0–9	Dublin	Croke Park, Dublin
	PJ Gillic 1–3 (0-2f), Mattie McCabe 1–1, Liam Hayes 0–1		Declan Sheehan 0–3 (0-1f), Vinnie Murphy 0–2, Noel McCaffrey, Charlie Redmond (0–1 pen), Barney Rock (0-1f), Mick Galvin 0–1 each	Attendance: 42,302 Referee: Seamus Aldridge (Kildare)

Munster Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Limerick v Clare

8 May 1988 Quarter-final	Limerick	2–4 – 0–5	Clare	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	E Sheehan 1–2, F Ryan 1–0, L Long 0–1, L Keane 0–1.		N Normoyle 0–2, C O'Donoghue 0–1, G O'Keeffe 0–1, P Burke 0–1.	Referee: P Barrett (Tipperary)

Waterford v Tipperary

8 May 1988 Quarter-final	Waterford	3–9 – 1–11	Tipperary	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	N Waldon 1–1, D Wyse 1–0, J Maher 1–0, P Whyte 0–3, E O'Brien 0–3, J McGrath 0–1.		M Cunningham 0–4, D O'Keeffe 1–0, A Crosse 0–2, J Costello 0–2, J Ryan 0–2, D Foley 0–1.	Referee: P O'Donovan (Cork)

Semi-finals

Limerick v Cork

29 May 1988 Semi-final	Limerick	1–3 – 0–9	Cork	Páirc na nGael, Askeaton
	C McGuinness 1–0, L Barrett 0–1, N Leonard 0–1, T Cummins 0–1.		L Tompkins 0–6, M McCarthy 0–1, T Nation 0–1, D Barry 0–1.	Referee: T Sugrue (Kerry)

Kerry v Waterford

29 May 1988 Semi-final	Kerry	3–19 – 1–7	Waterford	Austin Stack Park, Tralee
	P Spillane 1–6, M Fitzgerald 0–6, W Maher 1–1, D McEvoy 1–1, M McAuliffe 0–4, G Power 0–1.		J Maher 1–2, D Wyse 0–1, L Daniels 0–1, E Phelan 0–1, L O'Connor 0–1, E O'Brien 0–1.	Referee: P Lane (Limerick)

Final

Cork v Kerry

3 July 1988 Final	Cork	1–14 – 0–16	Kerry	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
	L Tompkins 0–5, D Allen 1–1, D Barry 0–2, M McCarthy 0–2, C O'Neill 0–1, J O'Driscoll 0–1, S Fahy 0–1, P McGrath 0–1.		M Fitzgerald 0–10, P Spillane 0–1, W Maher 0–1, C Murphy 0–1, M McAuliffe 0–1, T Doyle 0–1, J O'Shea 0–1.	Attendance: 41,234 Referee: P Lane (Limerick)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Fermanagh v Armagh

15 May 1988 Preliminary round	Fermanagh	1–13 – 2–12	Armagh	St. Molaise Park, Irvinestown
	P McGinnity 0–5, T Maguire 1–1, P Courtney 0–3, P O'Loughlin 0–2, M O'Rourke 0–1, F McCann 0–1.		J Cunningham 2–5, G Houlihan 0–2, F Harney 0–2, J McConville 0–1, M Toye 0–1, D Canavan 0–1.	Referee: J Curran (Tyrone)

Quarter-finals

Monaghan v Cavan

22 May 1988 Quarter-final	Monaghan	0–16 – 0–14	Cavan	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	E Hughes 0–5, E McEneaney 0–3, E Murphy 0–2, O Hamilton 0–2, C Murray 0–1, D Byrne 0–1, R McCarron 0–1, B Murray 0–1.		R Carolan 0–10, M Faulkner 0–1, F Cahill 0–1, D McDonnell 0–1, J Brady 0–1.	Attendance: 15,000 Referee: D Campbell (Fermanagh)

Derry v Down

29 May 1988 Quarter-final	Derry	0–7 – 1–11	Down	Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen
	B Barton 0–2, B McGilligan 0–1, P Young 0–1, E Gormley 0–1, D Cassidy 0–1, S Downey 0–1.		M Linden 1–0, B Mason 0–3, J Treanor 0–3, G Blaney 0–3, K O';Rourke 0–2.	Referee: J Gough (Antrim)

Tyrone v Antrim

5 June 1988 Quarter-final	Tyrone	3–13 – 2–4	Antrim	Healy Park, Omagh
				Attendance: 10,000 Referee: A O'Neill (Derry)

Armagh v Donegal

12 June 1988 Quarter-final	Armagh	2–10 – 0–8	Donegal	Athletic Grounds, Armagh
	G Houlihan 1–3, K McGuirk 1–0, M Toye 0–2, J Cunningham 0–2, D Dowling 0–1, C Harney 0–1, D Canavan 0–1.		M McHugh 0–4, J McMullan 0–3, P Heggarty 0–1.	Attendance: 6,000 Referee: B Murray (Monaghan)

Semi-finals

Monaghan v Down

19 June 1988 Semi-final	Monaghan	1–11 – 0–9	Down	Breffni Park, Cavan
	E McEneaney 1–5, E Murphy 0–2, G McCarville 0–2, R McCarron 0–1, D Byrne 0–1.		J Treanor 0–5, A Rodgers 0–2, G Blaney 0–1, B Mason 0–1.	Attendance: 17,000 Referee: M Greenan (Cavan)

Tyrone v Armagh

26 June 1988 Semi-final	Tyrone	0–15 – 1–8	Armagh	St. Molaise Park, Irvinestown
	S Conway 0–5, K McCabe 0–4, E McKenna 0–3, P Donaghy 0–1, S McNally 0–1, D O'Hagan 0–1.		K McQuirk 1–0, G Houlihan 0–4, J Cunningham 0–2, F Harney 0–1, D Canavan 0–1.	Attendance: 12,000 Referee: M Cranney (Down)

Final

Monaghan v Tyrone

17 July 1988 Final	Monaghan	1–10 – 0–11	Tyrone	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	E Hughes 1–3, R McKaron 0–2, D Byrne 0–1, G McCarville 0–1, S White 0–1, O Hamilton 0–1, Bernie Murray 0–1.		S Conway 0–5, D O'Hagan 0–2, K McCabe 0–2, E McKenna 0–1, P Quinn 0–1.	Attendance: 25,000 Referee: M Cranney (Down)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Cork v Monaghan

14 August 1988 Semi-final	Cork	1–14 – 0–6	Monaghan	Croke Park, Dublin
	L Tompkins 0–7, D Barry 1–2, P McGrath 0–4, T McCarthy 0–1.		E McEneaney 0–3, R McCarron 0–2, E Murphy 0–1.	Attendance: 29,679 Referee: S Prior (Leitrim)

Meath v Mayo

21 August 1988 Semi-final	Meath	0–16 – 2–5	Mayo	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 0–9, C Coyle 0–3, C O'Rourke 0–2, D Beggy 0–1, M McCabe 0–1.		A Finnerty 1–1, L McHale 1–0, M Carney 0–2, D Kearney 0–1, N Durkin 0–1.	Attendance: 39,023 Referee: T Sugrue (Kerry)

Finals

Meath v Cork

18 September 1988 Final	Meath	0–12 – 1–9	Cork	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 0–8, C O'Rourke 0–4.		L Tompkins 0–8, T McCarthy 1–0, M McCarthy 0–1.	Attendance: 65,898 Referee: T Sugrue (Kerry)

Meath v Cork

9 October 1988 Final replay	Meath	0–13 – 0–12	Cork	Croke Park, Dublin
	B Stafford 0–7, C O'Rourke 0–3, B Flynn 0–1, D Beggy 0–1, J Cassells 0–1.		L Tompkins 0–8, B Coffey 0–2, D Allen 0–1, D Barry 0–1.	Attendance: 64,069 Referee: T Sugrue (Kerry)

Main article: 1988 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Brian Stafford	Meath	0–38	38	5	7.60
2	Larry Tompkins	Cork	0–34	34	5	6.80

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Joey Cunningham	Armagh	2–5	11	Fermanagh
	John McCormack	Longford	1–8	11	Wicklow
3	Maurice Fitzgerald	Kerry	0–10	10	Cork
	Ronan Carolan	Cavan	0–10	10	Monaghan
5	Mark Butler	Mayo	1–6	9	Sligo
	Pat Spillane	Kerry	1–6	9	Waterford
	Brian Stafford	Meath	0–9	9	Mayo
8	Eamonn McEneaney	Monaghan	1–5	8	Down
	Larry Tompkins	Cork	0–8	8	Meath
	Brian Stafford	Meath	0–8	8	Cork
	Larry Tompkins	Cork	0–8	8	Meath
	Brian Stafford	Meath	0–8	8	Offaly

Miscellaneous

• Carlow's 3–5 to 2–7 defeat of Laois in the Leinster preliminary round is their first defeat of their neighbours since 1961.
• Monaghan's 0–16 to 0–14 defeat of Cavan in the Ulster quarter-final is their first defeat of their neighbours since 1930.
• The All Ireland semi-final between Cork and Monaghan was the first meeting between the teams.
• The All-Ireland final ends in a draw and goes to a replay for the first time since 1972.
• Meath were All Ireland Champions for 2 in a row and Leinster Champions for 3 in a row and they shared their 2 in a row with Galway in the Hurling.

Roll of Honour

• Kerry – 30 (1986)
• Dublin – 21 (1983)
• Galway – 7 (1966)
• Wexford – 5 (1918)
• Meath – 5 (1988)
• Cavan – 5 (1952)
• Cork – 4 (1973)
• Kildare – 4 (1928)
• Tipperary – 4 (1920)
• Offaly – 3 (1982)
• Down – 3 (1968)
• Louth – 3 (1957)
• Mayo – 3 (1951)
• Roscommon – 2 (1944)
• Limerick – 2 (1896)