1977 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 1977 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 91st 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 1977 and ended on 25 September 1977.

1977 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	8 May – 25 September 1977
Teams	33
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Dublin (20th win)
Captain	Tony Hanahoe
Manager	Tony Hanahoe
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Armagh
Captain	Jimmy Smyth
Manager	Gerry O'Neill
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Dublin
Ulster	Armagh
Connacht	Roscommon
Championship statistics
Top Scorer	Jimmy Keaveney (2-27)
Player of the Year	Jimmy Keaveney
← 1976 1978 →

Kilkenny returned to the Leinster Senior Football Championship.

Dublin entered the championship as the defending champions.

On 25 September 1977, Dublin won the championship following a 5-12 to 3-6 defeat of Armagh in the All-Ireland final. This was their 20th All-Ireland title and their second championship in succession.

Dublin's Jimmy Keaveney was the championship's top scorer with 2-27. Keaveney was also the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Leitrim v London

15 May 1977 Quarter-final

Leitrim

0-6 - 0-9

London

Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon

Mayo v Roscommon

22 May 1977 Quarter-final	Mayo	0-13 - 0-16	Roscommon	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	C Moynihan 0-6, G Feeney 0-4, T O'Malley 0-1, M Collins 0-1, S Weir 0-1.		D Earley 0-8, M Freyne 0-3, J O'Connor 0-2, P Cox 0-1, M Menton 0-1, T McManus 0-1.	Referee: J Gorman (Sligo)

Semi-finals

Galway v London

12 June 1977 Semi-final	Galway	5-13 – 1-9	London	Dunlo GAA Grounds, Ballinasloe
	J Tobin 2-3, G McManus 1-2, L Sammon 1-1, B Talty 0-4, B Joyce 1-0, TJ Gilmore 0-2, J Duggan 0-1.		E O'Sullivan 1-2, M McGovern 0-2, D Keating 0-2, John O'Mahoney 0-2, F Couzens 0-1, James O'Mahoney 0-1.	Referee: PJ McGrath (Mayo)

Roscommon v Sligo

19 June 1977 Semi-final	Roscommon	2-9 – 1-6	Sligo	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	J O'Connor 1-2, E McManus 1-0, P Cox 0-2, M Freyne 0-2, A McManus 0-2, D Earley 0-1.		J Stenson 1-1, J Kearins 0-2, M Hoey 0-1, M Laffey 0-1, B Murphy 0-1.	Referee: T Moran (Leitrim)

Final

Roscommon v Galway

10 July 1977 Final	Roscommon	1-12 - 2-8	Galway	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	D Earley 0-9, M Freyne 1-2, T McManus 0-1.		B Talty 2-1, G McManus 0-5, TJ Gilmore 0-2.	Attendance: 18,000 Referee: T Moran (Leitrim)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Offaly v Wicklow

8 May 1977 Preliminary round	Offaly	0-19 – 0-7	Wicklow	Croke Park, Dublin
	V Henry 0-10, G Carroll 0-2, J Dunne 0-2, E Lowry 0-2, G Hickey 0-1, P Fenning 0-1, J Mooney 0-1.		T Murphy 0-2, M Coffey 0-1, G Grehan 0-1, P O'Toole 0-1, P Quinn 0-1, F Burke 0-1.	Attendance: 1500 Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Kildare v Kilkenny

8 May 1977 Preliminary round	Kildare	4-13 – 2-4	Kilkenny	Geraldine Park, Athy
	T Carew 2-2, H Hyland 1-0, P Whyte 1-0, J Geoghegan 0-3, A Whelan 0-2, J Crofton 0-2, B O'Doherty 0-1, C Feeney 0-1, A Meaney 0-1, P Mangan 0-1.		K Mulhall 1-3, M Regan 1-0, G Fennelly 0-1.	Referee: J Denton (Wexford)

Louth v Westmeath

15 May 1977 Preliminary round	Louth	2-9 – 0-12	Westmeath	Páirc Tailteann, Navan
	D Reid 1-4, M McKeown 1-2, A McGrath 0-1, JP O'Kane 0-1, E Sheelin 0-1.		J Gillivan 0-4, T McGuire 0-2, F Scully 0-3, G McNevin 0-1, W Lowry 0-1, A O'Halloran 0-1.	Referee: R Barry (Meath)

Carlow v Longford

22 May 1977 Preliminary round	Carlow	1-9 – 1-9	Longford	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	W Cullen 1-4, P Cleere 0-2, D Byrne 0-1, T Geoghegan 0-1, J Moore 0-1.		M Greene 1-1, P Mullooly 0-3, B Smith 0-2, P Burke 0-1, S Mulvihill 0-1, J Hanniffy 0-1.	Referee: J Gunning (Offaly)

Carlow v Longford

5 June 1977 Preliminary round replay	Carlow	1-10 – 1-8	Longford	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	W Cullen 1-3, P Clear 0-3, P Connolly 0-2, D Burke 0-2.		J Farrell 1-2, J Hanniffy 0-3, M Casey 0-2, J Bannon 0-1.	Referee: J Gunning (Offaly)

Quarter-finals

Dublin v Kildare

29 May 1977 Quarter-final	Dublin	1-14 – 2-8	Kildare	Páirc Tailteann, Navan
	J Keaveney 0-6, B Brogan 1-1, T Hanahoe 0-2, D Hickey 0-2, B Doyle 0-2, R Kelleher 0-1.		T Carew 1-3, P Mangan 1-0, M Condon 0-1, J Crofton 0-1, B O'Doherty 0-1, H Hyland 0-1, J Geoghegan 0-1.	Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Wexford v Offaly

5 June 1977 Quarter-final	Wexford	4-6 – 2-10	Offaly	Croke Park, Dublin
	M Quigley 2-0, G Howlin 2-0, J Shell 0-2, W French 0-1, P Neville 0-1, M Carty 0-1, B Furlong 0-1.		V Henry 1-8, J Mooney 1-1, W Bryan 0-1.	Referee: H Reilly (Louth)

Laois v Louth

12 June 1977 Quarter-final	Laois	4-15 – 1-16	Louth	Croke Park, Dublin
	W Brennan 2-4, T Prendergast 1-3, B Bohane 1-2, E Whelan 0-2, B Miller 0-2, L Scully 0-2.		D Reid 0-10, A Hoey 1-0, E Marmion 0-2, J McLoughlin 0-1, JP O'Kane 0-1, B Gaughran 0-1, T Lennon 0-1.	Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare)

Meath v Carlow

19 June 1977 Quarter-final	Meath	1-18 – 0-7	Carlow	Croke Park, Dublin
	C Roe 1-4, M Kerrigan 0-5, O O'Brien 0-4, P Cromwell 0-2, C Donnegan 0-1, M Ryan 0-1, D Clare 0-1.		W Cullen 0-3, C Hughes 0-2, P Connelly 0-1, P Cleere 0-1.

Semi-finals

Dublin v Wexford

3 July 1977 Semi-final	Dublin	3-11 – 0-6	Wexford	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Dunphy 0-4, W French 0-1, R Neville 0-1.		J Keaveney 0-6, J McCarthy 1-1, T Hanahoe 1-1, B Doyle 1-0, A O'Toole 0-2, R Kelleher 0-1.	Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare)

Meath v Laois

10 July 1977 Semi-final	Meath	3-20 – 1-13	Laois	Croke Park, Dublin
	K Rennicks 1-8, J Gibbons 2-0, O O'Brien 0-6, P Cromwell 0-3, G Farrelly 0-1, G McEntee 0-1, J Cassells 0-1.		W Brennan 0-6, L Scully 1-1, PJ Costello 0-1, C Browne 0-1, B Bohane 0-1, M Fennell 0-1, B Nurney 0-1, T Prendergast 0-1.

Final

Dublin v Meath

31 July 1977 Final	Dublin	1-9 – 0-8	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	Jimmy Keaveney 0-6 (0-4f), Anton O'Toole 1-0, Bobby Doyle, John McCarthy, Fran Ryder 0-1 each		Ken Rennicks and Gerry Farrelly (0-2f) 0-2 each, Ollie O'Brien (0-1f), John Gibbons (0-1f), Cormac Rowe, Matt Kerrigan 0-1 each	Attendance: 46,044 Referee: Seamus Aldridge (Kildare)

Munster Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Waterford v Clare

15 May 1977 Quarter-final	Waterford	3-6 - 1-18	Clare	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	V Kirwan 2-1, K Power 1-0, T Keating 0-2, B Fleming 0-2, T Partridge 0-1.		B McGrath 1-7, S Flanagan 1-3, A Moloney 1-3, P Curtin 0-2, M Keogh 0-1, M Downey 0-1, Martin Greene 0-1.

Limerick v Tipperary

22 May 1977 Quarter-final	Limerick	1-5 - 4-10	Tipperary	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	P Kelly 1-1, G Moloney 0-2, G Brown 0-1, P Quish 0-1.		H Mulhare 2-1, G McGrath 1-4, P Morrissey 1-0, D Ryan 0-3, E Webster 0-1, T McGrath 0-1.	Referee: A Fogarty (Kerry)

Semi-finals

Clare v Cork

12 June 1977 Semi-final	Clare	1-5 - 3-12	Cork	Cusack Park, Ennis
	S Flanagan 1-0, T Curtin 0-2, M Downes 0-1, A Moloney 0-1, B O'Reilly 0-1.		D Long 0-4, D Allen 1-0, J Barry-Murphy 1-0, M Mullins 1-0, S Murphy 0-3, S Coughlan 0-3, D McCarthy 0-1, C O'Rourke 0-1.	Referee: J Landers (Waterford)

Kerry v Tipperary

3 July 1977 Semi-final	Kerry	3-14 – 0-9	Tipperary	Austin Stack Park, Tralee
	B Walsh 2-4, P Spillane 1-0, J Egan 0-3, P Ó Sé 0-3, S Walsh 0-2, J O'Keeffe 0-1, G Power 0-1.		G McGrath 0-5, T McGrath 0-1, H Mulhare 0-1, D Ryan 0-1, S Kearney 0-1.	Referee: F Halbert (Cork)

Final

Kerry v Cork

24 July 1977 Final	Kerry	3-15 – 0-9	Cork	Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
	Pat Spillane 1-3, Barry Walsh 0-5 (0-2f), Sean Walsh 1-1, John Egan 1-0, Mikey Sheehy 0-3 (0-2f), Jack O'Shea 0-2, Paudie Lynch 0-1		Seamus Coughlan 0-3f, Denis Long (0-1f) and Sean O'Shea 0-2 each, Dinny Allen and Jimmy Barry-Murphy 0-1 each	Attendance: 46,087 Referee: Brendan Cross (Limerick)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Donegal v Derry

29 May 1977 Preliminary round	Donegal	0-12 – 1-12	Derry	MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
	M Carney 0-7, H McClafferty 0-2, D Doherty 0-1, S Harput 0-1, C Keeney 0-1.		S Lagan 1-5, T McGuinness 0-2, B Kelly 0-2, M Lynch 0-1, M Moran 0-1, G O'Loughlin 0-1.	Referee: L McGovern (Fermanagh)

Quarter-finals

Monaghan v Antrim

29 May 1977 Quarter-final	Monaghan	0-10 – 0-6	Antrim	St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney
	D Mulligan 0-2, C Caddaher 0-1, K Treanor 0-1, DJ Finlay 0-1, E Hughes 0-1, B Brady 0-1, G McMeel 0-1, G Brannigan 0-1, M Quinn 0-1.		G O'Kane 0-2, G McCann 0-1, Darragh 0-1, J McKiernan 0-1, M Donaghy 0-1.	Referee: G McCabe (County Tyrone)

Armagh v Cavan

5 June 1977 Quarter-final	Armagh	2-14 – 1-12	Cavan	Athletic Grounds, Armagh
	C McKinstry 1-1, P Moriarty 1-0, F Toman 0-3, E O'Neill 0-3, N Marley 0-2, L Kearins 0-2, J Smyth 0-2, K Rafferty 0-1.		S Duggan 1-5, J Cusack 0-3, K O'Keeffe 0-2, O Brady 0-2.	Referee: M Devlin (County Tyrone)

Down v Fermanagh

12 June 1977 Quarter-final	Down	3-9 – 0-7	Fermanagh	Páirc Esler, Newry
	B Gardiner 1-1, J McParland 1-1, P Rooney 1-0, V McGovern 0-3, M Slevin 0-3, C McAlarney 0-1.		I McManus 0-4, G Lynch 0-1, V Connolly 0-1, C Corrigan 0-1.	Referee: S Murray (Monaghan)

Derry v Tyrone

19 June 1977 Quarter-final	Derry	3-10 – 1-11	Tyrone	The Playing Fields, Lurgan
	B Kelly 2-5, E Laverty 1-0, T McGuinness 0-2, G McElhinney 0-1, A Dallas 0-1, M Lynch 0-1.		E McKenna 0-6, B Donnelly 1-1, T Donnelly 0-2, G Taggart 0-1, K McCabe 0-1.	Referee: H Duggan (Armagh)

Semi-finals

Armagh v Monaghan

26 June 1977 Semi-final	Armagh	2-12 – 3-5	Monaghan	O'Neill Park, Dungannon
	E O'Neill 1-1, P Trainor 1-1, P Loughran 0-3, F Tornan 0-3, J Smyth 0-2, S Daly 0-1, J Kernan 0-1.		E Tavey 1-0, G Fitzpatrick 1-1, K Treanor 1-0, K Finlay 0-1, E Hughes 0-1, R Brady 0-1, G Brannigan 0-1.	Referee: H McPolin (Antrim)

Down v Derry

3 July 1977 Semi-final	Down	0-8 – 0-10	Derry	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	V McGovern 0-4, W Walsh 0-3, C McAlarney 0-1.		B Kelly 0-4, G O'Loughlin 0-3, M Lynch 0-2, T McGuinness 0-1.	Referee: P Greene (Antrim)

Final

Armagh v Derry

24 July 1977 Final	Armagh	3-10 – 1-5	Derry	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	N Marley 1-2, P Moriarty 1-1, L Kearins 1-0, P Trainor 0-2, J Smyth 0-2, P Loughran 0-1, J Donnelly 0-1, C McKinstry 0-1.		G Keane 1-1, G McElhinney 0-1, C Faulkner 0-1, E Laverty 0-1, M Lynch 0-1.	Attendance: 25,000 Referee: S Murray (Monaghan)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Armagh v Roscommon

14 August 1977 Semi-final	Armagh	3-9 - 2-12	Roscommon	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Smyth 1-4, P Moriarty 1-1, P Trainor 1-0, P Loughran 0-3, J Kernan 0-1.		D Earley 1-5, E McManus 1-1, P Cox 0-2, M Menton 0-1, J O'Gara 0-1, A McManus 0-1, M Freyne 0-1.	Attendance: 32,601 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Dublin v Kerry

21 August 1977 Semi-final	Dublin	3-12 - 1-13	Kerry	Croke Park, Dublin
	D Hickey 1-1, J McCarthy 1-0, B Brogan 1-0, J Keaveney 0-3, A O'Toole 0-4, T Hanahoe 0-3, B Doyle 0-1.		M Sheehy 0-7, S Walsh 1-2, J Egan 0-2, J O'Keeffe 0-1, P Lynch 0-1.	Attendance: 54,974 Referee: S Murray (Monaghan)

Armagh v Roscommon

28 August 1977 Semi-final replay	Armagh	0-15 - 0-14	Roscommon	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Smyth 0-5, P Loughran 0-5, S Devlin 0-2, P Trainor 0-2, L Kerins 0-1.		D Earley 0-7, A McManus 0-3, E McManus 0-2, P Cox 0-1, M Finneran 0-1.	Attendance: 43,322 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath)

Final

Dublin v Armagh

25 September 1977 Final	Dublin	5-12 - 3-6	Armagh	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Keaveney 2-6, B Doyle 2-2, J McCarthy 1-2, D Hickey 0-1, A O'Toole 0-1.		J Kernan 2-1, P Moriarty 1-0, P Loughran 0-2, J Smyth 0-1, S Devlin 0-1, P Trainor 0-1.	Attendance: 66,542 Referee: John Moloney (Tipperary)

Main article: 1977 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	2-27	33	5	6.60
	Dermot Earley	Roscommon	1-30	33	5	6.60
3	Vincent Henry	Offaly	1-18	21	2	10.50
4	Jimmy Smyth	Armagh	1-16	19	6	3.16
5	Brendan Kelly	Derry	2-11	17	4	4.25
	Damien Reid	Louth	1-14	17	2	8.50
7	Willie Brennan	Laois	2-10	16	2	8.00
	Willie Cullen	Carlow	2-10	16	3	5.33
9	Barry Walsh	Kerry	2-9	15	3	5.00
10	Tommy Carew	Kildare	3-5	14	2	7.00

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Jimmy Keaveney	Dublin	2-6	12	Armagh
2	Brendan Kelly	Derry	2-5	11	Tyrone
	Vincent Henry	Offaly	1-8	11	Wexford
	Ken Rennicks	Meath	1-8	11	Laois
5	Willie Brennan	Laois	2-4	10	Louth
	Barry Walsh	Kerry	2-4	10	Tipperary
	B. McGrath	Clare	1-7	10	Waterford
	Vincent Henry	Offaly	0-10	10	Wicklow
	Damien Reid	Louth	0-10	10	Laois
10	John Tobin	Galway	2-3	9	London
	Dermot Earley	Roscommon	0-9	9	Galway

Miscellaneous

• After 2 years in the Connacht championship London record against Leitrim was their first ever championship win.
• Armagh qualify for the Ulster final for the first time since 1961. Their defeat of Derry in that game secures their first provincial title since 1953.
• The All-Ireland semi-final draw between Armagh and Roscommon was the first at that stage of the competition since 1969 when Cavan and Offaly drew.
• The attendance of 54,974 at the All-Ireland semi-final between Dublin and Kerry was the largest at an All-Ireland semi-final since 1962 when 60,396 watched the same teams in action.
• Jimmy Keaveney of Dublin set a new scoring record in an All-Ireland final when he scores 2-6 for Dublin against Armagh.

External links

• Haughey, Jimmy. "My Greatest Game: Former Armagh captain Jimmy Smyth relives 1977 Ulster Final". BBC Sport. 16 May 2020.