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. This was their second All-Ireland title overall and their first in 12 championship seasons.

Results Connacht Under-21 Football Championship

Leinster Under-21 Football Championship

GK1 Mal Clarke (Oliver Plunketts)RCB2 Paul Matthews (Newtown Blues)FB3 Séamus Haughey (Dundalk Young Irelands)LCB4 Brendan Byrne (St Mochta's) (c)RHB5 Gary O'Callaghan (Clan na Gael)CHB6 Benny McArdle (Dundalk Gaels)LHB7 Pat Lynch (Dreadnots)MF8 Michael McCabe (Dundalk Young Irelands)MF9 Larry Goodman (Dundalk Young Irelands)RHF10 Eugene Judge (Newtown Blues)CHF11 Jimmy McDonnell (Geraldines)LHF12 Seán Reid (Mattock Rangers)RCF13 Pat Lennon (Kilkerley Emmets)FF14 Denis Kelleher (Dreadnots)LCF15 Johnny McDonnell (St Fechin's)Substitutes: 16 Aidan Wiseman (Clan na Gael) for McCabe GK1 Pat Coyne (Na Piarsaigh)RCB2 Niall O'Dea (Tullamore)FB3 Ollie Minnock (Clara)LCB4 Pat Grady (Daingean)RHB5 Pat Dolan (St Mary's)CHB6 Gerry Carroll (Edenderry)LHB7 Ger Higgins (Bracknagh)MF8 Thomas Connor (Walsh Island)MF9 Johnny Mooney (Rhode)RHF10 Jimmy Dunne (Na Piarsaigh)CHF11 Vincent Henry (Clara)LHF12 Tom Fitzpatrick (Bracknagh)RCF13 Liam Dunne (Gracefield)FF14 Matt Connor (Walsh Island)LCF15 Mickey White (Tullamore)Substitutes: 16 Danny Owens (Na Piarsaigh) for White 17 Martin Dunne (St Mary's) for Dolan 18 Brendan Lowry (Ferbane) for Fitzpatrick

Ulster Under-21 Football Championship

Munster Under-21 Football Championship

All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship

Semi-finals

Final

Statistics Miscellaneous

The All-Ireland semi-final between Kerry and Louth was originally fixed for 27 August 1978, however, Kerry disclosed to the GAA authorities that they would not be fielding a team as several of their players were also involved with the senior team in the All-Ireland final. Louth were declared the winners of that tie and were given a place in the All-Ireland final, however, an appeal by Kerry saw the game refixed. The refixture ended in dramatic circumstances as the score appeared to be level at the end of normal time, however, the referee later stated that Kerry had won by two points.

References