1971 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 1971 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 85th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 25 April 1971 and ended on 26 September 1971.

1971 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Championship details
Dates25 April – 26 September 1971
Teams31
All-Ireland Champions
Winning teamOffaly (1st win)
CaptainWillie Bryan
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing teamGalway
CaptainLiam Sammon
Provincial Champions
MunsterCork
LeinsterOffaly
UlsterDown
ConnachtGalway
Championship statistics
No. matches played32
Top Scorer Tony McTague (1-35)
Player of the Year Eugene Mulligan
1970
1972

Kerry entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Cork in the Munster final.[1]

On 26 September 1971, Offaly won the championship following a 1-14 to 2-8 defeat of Galway in the All-Ireland final.[2] This was their first All-Ireland title.

Offaly's Tony McTague was the championship's top scorer with 1-35. Offaly's Eugene Mulligan was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Leinster Championship format change

The Second Round returns to Leinster football championship this year.

Results

Quarter-final

13 June 1971 Quarter-final Mayo 5-7 – 2-4 Leitrim Fr. O'Hara Park, Charlestown
D Griffith 2-1, J Carey 1-1, J Corcoran 0-4, T Fitzgerald 1-0, PJ Loftus 1-0, J Gibbons 0-1.M Doorigan 1-0, R Prendergast 1-0 og, P Dolan 0-2, B Wrynne 0-2.Referee: P O'Connor (Roscommon)

Semi-finals

20 June 1971 Semi-final Roscommon 1-5 - 0-10 Sligo Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
A O'Sullivan 1-0, T Kenny 0-3, M Fallon 0-1, J Keane 0-1.M Kearins 0-7, M Brennan 0-2, G Mitchell 0-1.Referee: M Connaughton (Mayo)
27 June 1971 Semi-final Galway 1-7 – 0-7 Mayo Tuam Stadium, Tuam
F Canavan 1-0, L Sammon 0-3, M Ferrick 0-1, E Farrell 0-1, S Leydon 0-1, J Duggan 0-1.J Corcoran 0-5, J Nealon 0-1, J Carey 0-1.Referee: R Barry (Meath)

Finals

11 July 1971 Final Galway 2-15 – 2-15 Sligo MacHale Park, Castlebar
J McLoughlin 0-8, S Leydon 1-3, F Canavan 1-1, P Burke 0-1, M Rooney 0-1, C McDonagh 0-1.M Kearins 0-13, P Brennan 2-0, G Mitchell 0-1, H Quinn 0-1.Attendance: 19,764
Referee: J Martin (Roscommon)
25 July 1971 Final replay Galway 1-17 – 3-10 Sligo MacHale Park, Castlebar
S Leydon 1-7, F Canavan 0-4, J McLoughlin 0-4, W Joyce 0-1, E Farrell 0-1.G Mitchell 2-1, M Kearins 0-7, D Pugh 1-0, J Gilmartin 0-1, H Quinn 0-1.Attendance: 20,000
Referee: J Martin (Roscommon)

First round

25 April 1971 First round Wicklow 2-8 - 0-6 Wexford Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
2 May 1971 First round Laois 4-12 - 2-7 Carlow St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge
E Condron 1-7, S Allen 1-2, B Delaney 1-0, S Lawler 1-0, J Conway 0-2, K Brennan 0-1.B McNally 1-3, S King 1-2, B Hayden 0-1, P McNally 0-1.Referee: M Spain (Offaly)

Second round

23 May 1971 Second round Laois 2-9 - 2-5 Wicklow Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
S Allen 1-1, B Lawlor 0-2, H Mulhaire 0-2, B Delaney 0-1, E Condron 0-1, W Miller 0-1, J Lawlor 0-1.P Clarke 1-0, P Kelly 1-0, S Kelly 0-2, D Byrne 0-2, J Doyle 0-1.Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Quarter-finals

2 May 1971 Quarter-final Meath 1-14 – 0-9 Westmeath O'Connor Park, Tullamore
N Curran 1-4, M Fay 0-2, A Burns 0-2, K Rennicks 0-2, T Brennan 0-2, M Kerrigan 0-1, M Mellett 0-1.P Buckley 0-3, M Fagan 0-2, J Carolan 0-1, F Connaughton 0-1, M Carley 0-1, D Dolan 0-1.Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)
9 May 1971 Quarter-final Offaly 1-7 – 0-3 Longford Cusack Park, Mullingar
T McTague 0-7, S Cooney 1-0.J Hanniffy 0-2, P Burke 0-1.Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)
30 May 1971 Quarter-final Louth 1-7 - 1-7 Kildare Croke Park, Dublin
M McKeown 1-1, M Leech 0-3, B Gaughran 0-2, W Murphy 0-1.P Dunny 1-2, J Goulding 0-2, M Kelly 0-1, T Carew 0-1, J Donnelly 0-1.Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)
6 June 1971 Quarter-final Laois 3-8 – 0-13 Dublin Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
J Lawlor 2-2, S Allen 1-0, E Condron 0-3, B Delaney 0-2, H Mulhaire 0-1.T O'Hanlon 0-5, J Keaveney 0-4, J O'Reilly 0-2, F Murray 0-1, D Hickey 0-1.Referee: M Spain (Offaly)
13 June 1971 Quarter-final replay Kildare 0-11 - 1-5 Louth Croke Park, Dublin
J Donnelly 0-5, T Carew 0-2, P Dunny 0-2, E O'Donoghue 0-1, K Kelly 0-1.M Keown 1-0, B Gaughran 0-2, M Leech 0-2, L Leech 0-1.Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Semi-finals

27 June 1971 Semi-final Kildare 4-8 - 2-12 Meath Croke Park, Dublin
T Walshe 2-1, E O'Donoghue 1-0, P Archbold 1-0, K Kelly 0-3, P Dunny 0-3, T Carew 0-1.T Brennan 2-6, M Fay 0-3, N Curran 0-2, K Rennicks 0-1.Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)
4 July 1971 Semi-final Laois 0-10 - 2-12 Offaly O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
E Condron 0-5, S Lalor 0-2, S Allen 0-1, H Mulhaire 0-1, B Millar 0-1.T McTague 1-4, S Evans 1-0, S Cooney 0-3, M Connor 0-2, J Gunning 0-2, K Kilmurray 0-1.Attendance: 23055
Referee: B Hayden (Carlow)

Final

18 July 1971 Final Offaly 2-14 – 0-6 Kildare Croke Park, Dublin
Tony McTague 0-9 (0-5f), Murt Connor 2-1, Kevin Kilmurray 0-4.Pat Dunny 0-2f, Tommy Carew 0-2, Hugh Hyland 0-1, Kevin Kelly 0-1f.Attendance: 34,255
Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Quarter-finals

6 June 1971 Quarter-final Clare 1-9 – 3-2 Limerick Hennessy Memorial Park, Milltown Malbay
P Cotter 1-1, M Moloney 0-4, J Hehir 0-3, M Chambers 0-1.T Madigan 2-1, É Cregan 1-1.Referee: P Vernon (Tipperary)
6 June 1971 Quarter-final Tipperary 1-14 – 1-9 Waterford Ned Hall Park, Clonmel
P Blythe 0-9, V O'Donnell 1-2, M Keating 0-2, B Strang 0-1.P Casey 1-3, T Power 0-4, L O'Rourke 0-1, V Kirwan 0-1.Referee: P Finnegan (Cork)

Semi-finals

13 June 1971 Semi-final Clare 0-5 - 2-10 Cork Páirc Uí Seancháin, Doonbeg
J Hehir 0-4, E O'Neill 0-1.D Coughlan 1-6, D Hunt 1-2, B O'Neill 0-1, J Barrett 0-1.Referee: J Moloney (Tipperary)
13 June 1971 Semi-final Kerry 1-14 – 1-7 Tipperary Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
M O'Dwyer 1-6, B Lynch 0-4, M Gleeson 0-1, P Griffin 0-1, J O'Keeffe 0-1, DJ Crowley 0-1.M Keating 1-1, P Blythe 0-4, D Burke 0-1, P O'Connor 0-1.Referee: N Dalton (Waterford)

Final

18 July 1971 Final Cork 0-25 – 0-14 Kerry Cork Athletic Grounds, Cork
D Coughlan 0-10, R Cummins 0-6, J Barrett 0-3, KJ O'Sullivan 0-2, D Hunt 0-2, E Kirby 0-1, T O'Brien 0-1.M O'Dwyer 0-7, M Gleeson 0-2, M O'Connell 0-2, B Lynch 0-2, E O'Donoghue 0-1.Attendance: 28,347
Referee: S O'Connor (Limerick)

Preliminary round

6 June 1971 Preliminary round Derry 4-10 – 1-10 Fermanagh Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen
M Niblock 2-2, A McGuirk 1-1, E Devlin 1-0, S O'Connor 0-3, J O'Leary 0-1, A McGuckin 0-1, L Diamond 0-1, G O'Loughlin 0-1.V Greene 1-1, P McGinnity 0-4, G Gallagher 0-2, A Hennerson 0-1, E McPartland 0-1, S McGrath 0-1.Referee: F Greene (Antrim)

Quarter-finals

6 June 1971 Quarter-final Armagh 4-9 – 2-10 Tyrone The Playing Fields, Lurgan
L McCabe 2-0, J Smith 1-2, J O'Loan 1-0, B Hanna 0-3, G O'Reilly 0-2, P Loughran 0-1, L Kerins 0-1.P Barrett 1-7, A Mcahon 1-1, S Donaghy 0-1, J McCreesh 0-1.Referee: B Treanor (Down)
13 June 1971 Quarter-final Antrim 0-4 - 0-8 Derry Casement Park, Belfast
A McCallin 0-2, E Close 0-1, A Hamill 0-1.S O'Connell 0-5, J O'Leary 0-1, A McGuirk 0-1, M Niblock 0-1.Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)
13 June 1971 Quarter-final Monaghan 1-12 - 2-10 Cavan Pearse Park, Ballybay
D McCabe 0-9, G Finnegan 1-0, P Donnelly 0-1, J Leahy 0-1, S Woods 0-1.G Cosack 0-5, P Murray 1-0, H Newman 1-0, H McInerney 0-3, S Duggan 0-2.Referee: P Kelly (Down)
20 June 1971 Quarter-final Down 3-14– 3-6 Donegal Páirc Esler, Newry
S O'Neill 2-1, M Cunningham 1-2, J Morgan 0-3, M Cole 0-3, C McAlarney 0-2, C Ward 0-2, P Rooney 0-1.P McShen 1-1, S Garnnaghan 1-1, T Quinn 1-0, J Hannigan 0-3, M Carney 0-1.Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

Semi-finals

4 July 1971 Semi-final Derry 3-12 – 1-10 Armagh Casement Park, Belfast
S O'Connell 1-5, S Gribben 1-2, E Coleman 1-0, M Moran 0-3, A McGuirk 0-1, M Niblock 0-1.L McCabe 1-2, P Moriarty 0-5, J Smith 0-2, P Loughran 0-1.Referee: F Greene (Antrim)
11 July 1971 Semi-final Down 0-11 – 2-3 Cavan St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney
P Doherty 0-3, J Morgan 0-2, S O'Neill 0-2, C McAlareny 0-1, J Murphy 0-1, D Gordon 0-1, T O'Hare 0-1.G Cosack 1-3, S McGuigan 1-0.Referee: T Johnson (Fermanagh)

Final

25 July 1971 Final Down 4-15 – 4-11 Derry Casement Park, Belfast
M Cunningham 2-0, J Morgan 0-6, D Davey 1-2, J Murphy 1-1, C McAlarney 0-2, S O'Neill 0-2, T O'Hare 0-1, D Gordon 0-1.M Niblock 2-4, A McGuirk 1-2, S O'Connor 0-5, E Coleman 1-0.Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Semi-finals

8 August 1971 Semi-final Galway 3-11 - 2-7 Down Croke Park, Dublin
S Leydon 0-5, P Burke 1-1, E Farrell 1-1, J Duggan 1-0, L Sammon 0-2, J McLoughlin 0-1, W Joyce 0-1.J Morgan 0-5, D McCartan 1-0, J Fitzsimons 1-0, D Davey 0-1, M Cunningham 0-1.Attendance: 36,052
Referee: B Hayden (Carlow)
22 August 1971 Semi-final Offaly 1-16 - 1-11 Cork Croke Park, Dublin
T McTague 0-9, K Kilmurray 1-0, J Cooney 0-3, M Connor 0-1, P Fenning 0-1, W Bryan 0-1, K Claffey 0-1.J Barrett 1-2, D Coughlan 0-4, R Cummins 0-2, D Hunt 0-1, D Long 0-1, KJ O'Sullivan 0-1.Attendance: 38,000
Referee: L Maguire (Monaghan)

Final

26 September 1971 Final Offaly 1-14 - 2-8 Galway Croke Park, Dublin
T McTague 0-6, M Connor 1-2, S Evans 0-2, K Kilmurray 0-2, B Clavin 0-1, J Cooney 0-1.S Leydon 2-3, F Canavan 0-3, L Smamon 0-2.Attendance: 70,798
Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Championship statistics

Miscellaneous

  • On 13 June 1971, the Ulster quarter final meeting of Cavan and Monaghan was the first game to be played at Pearse Park, Ballybay in 45 years.
  • There were a number of first-time championship meetings;
  • The All Ireland semi-final between Offaly and Cork was the first ever championship meeting between the two teams.
  • The All-Ireland final between Offaly and Galway was the first to be broadcast in colour by Telefís Éireann. It was also the first ever championship meeting between the two teams.
  • By claiming their first championship, Offaly become the 15th team to win the All-Ireland title who the last before Donegal in 1992 to do so.

Top scorers

Overall
RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Tony McTagueOffaly1-353857.60
2Seamus LeydonGalway4-193156.20
3Mickey KearnsSligo0-272739.00
4Denis CoughlanCork1-202337.66
5Mickey NiblockDerry4-82045.00
6Enda CondronLaois1-161944.75
7Mick O'DwyerKerry1-131628.00
James MorganDown0-161644.00
9Murt ConnorOffaly3-61553.00
10Tony BrennanMeath2-81427.00
Single game
RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalOpposition
1Mickey KearnsSligo0-1313Galway
2Tony BrennanMeath2-612Kildare
3Mickey NiblockDerry2-410Down
Patsy BarrettTyrone1-710Armagh
Enda CondronLaois1-710Carlow
Seamus LeydonGalway1-710Sligo
Denis CoughlanCork0-1010Kerry
8Seamus LeydonGalway2-39Offaly
Denis CoughlanCork1-69Clare
Mick O'DwyerKerry1-69Tipperary
Tony McTagueOffaly0-99Kildare
Paudie BlytheTipperary0-99Waterford
Declan McCabeMonaghan0-99Cavan
Tony McTagueOffaly0-99Cork

References