1968 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The 1968 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 82nd staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 21 April 1968 and ended on 22 September 1968.

1968 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Championship details
Dates	21 April – 22 September 1968
Teams	31
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Down (3rd win)
Captain	Joe Lennon
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Kerry
Captain	Pat Griffin
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Longford
Ulster	Down
Connacht	Galway
Championship statistics
No. matches played	32
Top Scorer	Paddy Doherty (1-25)
Player of the Year	Seán O'Neill
← 1967 1969 →

Meath entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Longford in the Leinster semi-final.^[1]

On 22 September 1968, Down won the championship following a 2-12 to 1-13 defeat of Kerry in the All-Ireland final.^[2] This was their third All-Ireland title and their first in seven championship seasons.

Down's Paddy Doherty was the championship's top scorer with 1-25. His teammate Seán O'Neill was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-final

Sligo v Leitrim

2 June 1968 Quarter-final	Sligo	2-17 – 0-12	Leitrim	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	M Kearins 0-12, B McAuley 2-0, D McHugh 0-2, J Colleary 0-2, M Keane 0-1.		P Dolan 0-4, H O'Carroll 0-4, T Hayes 0-3, M Keane 0-1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Semi-finals

Galway v Roscommon

16 June 1968 Semi-final	Galway	2-10 – 3-7	Roscommon	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	L Sammon 1-2, S CLeary 1-1, C Dunne 0-4, F Canavan 0-1, J Keenan 0-1, J Duggan 0-1.		J Kane 2-2, J Kelly 1-2, T Whyte 0-1, MJ Keane 0-1, G Geraghty 0-1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Mayo v Sligo

23 June 1968 Semi-final	Mayo	1-9 – 0-7	Sligo	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	J Corcoran 0-4, M Ruane 1-0, S O'Dowd 0-2, W McGee 0-2, J Nealon 0-1.		M Kearins 0-5, S Davey 0-1, J Henry 0-1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Roscommon v Galway

14 July 1968 Semi-final replay	Roscommon	1-9 – 2-8	Galway	St. Coman's Park, Roscommon
	J Kelly 1-0, J Keane 0-3, A White 0-3, M Martin 0-2, D Earley 0-1.		S Leydon 1-2, J Kennan 0-5, F Canavan 1-0, C Dunne 0-1.	Referee: J Martin (Tyrone)

Final

Mayo v Galway

21 July 1968 Final	Mayo	2-9 – 2-10	Galway	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	M Ruane 1-1, J Langan 1-0, J Corcoran 0-3, S O'Dowd 0-2, J Farragher 0-1, W McGhee 0-1, J Nealon 0-1.		J Keenan 1-7, M McDonagh 1-0, S Leydon 0-1, C Dunne 0-1, L Sammon 0-1.	Attendance: 30,000 Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

First round

Carlow v Wicklow

21 April 1968 First round	Carlow	2-9 – 0-10	Wicklow	Geraldine Park, Athy
	B Doyle 2-2, E Walker 0-4, B Hayden 0-2, J Byrne 0-1.		M McNamee 0-3, A Naughton 0-2, G Farrell 0-1, S Doyle 0-1, J Sullivan 0-1, N Scott 0-1, R O'Shea 0-1.	Referee: J Shannon (Dublin)

Laois v Wexford

28 April 1968 First round	Laois	2-12 – 1-9	Wexford	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Lalor 0-7, R Miller 1-2, T Dunne 1-0, M Fennell 0-1, S Fleming 0-1, JJ Conwya 0-1.		J Bradley 1-1, Jack Berry 0-4, H Byrne 0-2, A Merrigan 0-1, J Shaughnessy 0-1.	Referee: T McCarthy (Kildare)

Second round

Laois v Carlow

12 May 1968 Second round	Laois	1-12 – 0-7	Carlow	Geraldine Park, Athy
	J Lawlor 0-5, B Lawlor 1-0, JJ Conway 0-3, R Delaney 0-2, P Doyle 0-1, T Walsh 0-1.		E Walker 0-3, B Hayden 0-2, P McNally 0-1, J Byrne 0-1.	Referee: J Dowling (Offaly)

Quarter-finals

Longford v Dublin

2 June 1968 Quarter-final	Longford	1-12 – 0-12	Dublin	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	M Hopkins 0-5, J Devine 1-1, J Hannify 0-4, V Daly 0-1, S Murray 0-1.		M Whelan 0-4, 0-4, S O'Connor 0-2, P Delaney 0-2, B McDonald 0-2, G Davey 0-1, L Donnelly 0-1.	Referee: M Campbell

Offaly v Louth

9 June 1968 Quarter-final	Offaly	0-11 – 0-6	Louth	Croke Park, Dublin
	P McCormack 0-6, N Clavin 0-2, T McTeague 0-1, A Hickey 0-1, S Grogan 0-1.		B Gaughan 0-3, T Breen 0-1, L Toal 0-1, S Mohan 0-1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Laois v Kildare

9 June 1968 Quarter-final	Laois	3-9 – 0-9	Kildare	Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
	J Lawlor 1-5, M Fennell 1-2, T Dunne 1-0, B Delaney 0-1, JJ Conway 0-1.		J Donnelly 0-6, P Connolly 0-2, T Walsh 0-1.	Referee: J Hatton (Wicklow)

Meath v Westmeath

23 June 1968 Quarter-final	Meath	1-11 – 1-7	Westmeath	Croke Park, Dublin
	T Brennan 0-5, O Shanley 1-1, M Kerrigan 0-3, M Mellett 0-1, P Mulvaney 0-1.		D Dolan 1-0, M Carley 0-2, P Buckley 0-2, W Jackson 0-2, P Moran 0-1.	Referee: J Hatton (Wicklow)

Semi-finals

Offaly v Laois

30 June 1968 Semi-final	Offaly	0-6 – 0-11	Laois	O'Connor Park, Tullamore
	S Evans 0-1, T McTeague 0-1, W Bryan 0-1, P McCormack 0-1, J Gunning 0-1, S Grogan 0-1.		T Dunne 0-3, John Lawlor 0-3, JJ Conway 0-2, M Fennell 0-2, B Delaney 0-1.	Attendance: 30,000 Referee: P Hughes (Louth)

Longford v Meath

7 July 1968 Semi-final	Longford	0-12 – 0-7	Meath	Cusack Park, Mullingar
	M Hopkins 0-4, J Devine 0-3, V Daly 0-2, J Hannify 0-2, T Mulvihill 0-1,		T Brennan 0-4, P Mulvaney 0-2, E Maguire 0-1.	Attendance: 20,000 Referee: J Dowling (Offaly)

Final

Longford v Laois

21 July 1968 Final	Longford	3-9 – 1-4	Laois	Croke Park, Dublin
	Sean Donnelly 2-1, Jimmy Hannify 1-1, Tom Mulvihill and Jackie Devine (0-2f) 0-2 each, Sean Murray, Mick Hopkins, Pat Burke 0-1 each		Mick Fennell 1-0, John Lawlor 0-2f, Tom Dunne and Brian Delaney 0-1 each	Attendance: 30,000 Referee: John Dowling (Offaly)

Munster Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Waterford v Clare

12 May 1968 Quarter-final	Waterford	3-5 – 1-15	Clare	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	T Harty 2-0, M Guiry 1-3, P Walsh 0-1, T O'Riordan 0-1.		M McInerney 0-6, M Moloney 1-2, J Tubridy 0-3, P O'Grady 0-1, P McMahon 0-1, M Begley 0-1, M O'Donoghue 0-1.

Tipperary v Limerick

19 May 1968 Quarter-final	Tipperary	0-9 – 0-7	Limerick	Seán Treacy Park, Tipperary
	M Keating 0-3, R Strang 0-2, P Blythe 0-2, L Myles 0-1, M Egan 0-1.		M Tynan 0-3, P Murphy 0-1, M Graham 0-1, P O'Dwyer 0-1, B Hartigan 0-1.	Referee: M. Ryan (Kerry)

Semi-finals

Clare v Cork

16 June 1968 Semi-final	Clare	1-7 – 1-8	Cork	Cusack Park, Ennis
	P McMahon 1-3, M McInerney 0-3, M Chambers 0-1.		C O'Sullivan 0-5, JJ Murphy 1-1, J Carroll 0-1, D Hunt 0-1.	Referee: M. Ryan (Kerry)

Tipperary v Kerry

23 June 1968 Semi-final	Tipperary	2-7 – 0-17	Kerry	Ned Hall Park, Clonmel
	R Strang 2-2, J Ryan 0-3, M Keating 0-1, P Blythe 0-1.		M O'Dwyer 0-5, P Griffin 0-4, M O'Connell 0-3, B Lynch 0-2, M Fleming 0-2, Donie O'Sullivan 0-1.	Referee: F. Halbert (Cork)

Final

Kerry v Cork

14 July 1968 Final	Kerry	1-21 – 3-8	Cork	Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
	M O'Dwyer 0-7, É O'Donoghue 1-1, P Griffin 0-4, B Lynch 0-4, M O'Connell 0-4, T Prendergast 0-1.		C O'Sullivan 1-3, D Hunt 1-0, R Cummins 1-0, JJ Murphy 0-2, J Carroll 0-1, É Ryan 0-1, B O'Neill 0-1.	Referee: J. Dowling (Offaly)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Fermanagh v Tyrone

2 June 1968 Preliminary round	Fermanagh	2-8 – 0-8	Tyrone	St. Molise Park, Irvinestown
	G Magee 1-2, E McPartlan 0-4, S McGarritty 1-0, M O'Rourke 0-1, S McGrath 0-1.		C McElduff 0-6, D O'Neill 0-1, J O'Neill 0-1.

Quarter-finals

Derry v Down

9 June 1968 Quarter-final	Derry	1-6 – 1-8	Down	Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen
	S Lagan 1-1, S O'Connell 0-3, B Devlin 0-1, M Niblock 0-1.		S O'Neill 1-3, J Lennon 0-1, M Cole 0-1, J Purdy 0-1, P Rooney 0-1, P Doherty 0-1.	Referee: M Higgins (Cavan)

Cavan v Antrim

16 June 1968 Quarter-Final	Cavan	5-9 – 1-11	Antrim	Breffni Park, Cavan
	F McAuley 2-1, C Gallagher 1-4, J O'Donnell 1-2, S Duggan 1-1, P Murray 0-1.		S Burns 1-2, M Green 0-3, H McGill 0-2, R Griffin 0-1, P Lynn 0-1, S McQuillan 0-1, A Scullion 0-1.	Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Donegal v Armagh

16 June 1968 Quarter-final	Donegal	2-10 – 1-3	Armagh	MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
	D O'Carroll 1-2, M McLoone 1-0, S Granaghan 0-3, PJ Flood 0-1, N Gallagher 0-1, P McShea 0-1, J Quigley 0-1, S Ferriter 0-1.		S Harty 1-0, K McGeough 0-1, J McEntee 0-1, L Kerins 0-1.	Referee: J Martin (Tyrone)

Monaghan v Fermanagh

23 June 1968 Quarter-final

Monaghan

1-12 – 2-9

Fermanagh

St. Tiernach's Park, Clones

Fermanagh v Monaghan

30 June 1968 Quarter-final replay	Fermanagh	2-5 – 2-12	Monaghan	St. Molise Park, Irvinestown
	J Connolly 1-0, M O'Rourke 1-0, T Treacy 0-2, E McPartland 0-1, S McGrath 0-1, S McGarritty 0-1.		E Tavey 2-1, T McCudden 0-5, S Woods 0-4, B McDonnell 0-1, B Moss 0-1.	Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

Semi-finals

Down v Donegal

30 June 1968 Semi-final	Down	2-14 – 0-8	Donegal	Breffni Park, Cavan
	P Doherty 1-6, M Cole 1-2, S O'Neill 0-3, R Murphy 0-2, P Rooney 0-1.		N Gallagher 0-2, J Quigley 0-2, M McLoone 0-2, S Graughan 0-1, J Hannigan 0-1.	Referee: L Maguire (Monaghan)

Cavan v Monaghan

7 July 1968 Semi-final	Cavan	1-11 – 0-5	Monaghan	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	C Gallagher 0-5, J O'Donnell 1-0, P Murray 0-3, M Greenan 0-2, S Duggan 0-1.		T McCudden 0-2, T Loughnan 0-1, J McCabe 0-1, B McDonald 0-1.	Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Final

Down v Cavan

28 July 1968 Final	Down	0-16 – 1-8	Cavan	Casement Park, Belfast
	P Doherty 0-9, J Murphy 0-2, S O'Neill 0-2, C McAlarney 0-1, J Purdy 0-1, M Cole 0-1.		C Gallagher 1-4, P Murray 0-2, S Duggan 0-1, M Greenan 0-1.	Attendance: 35,000 Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Kerry v Longford

4 August 1968 Semi-final	Kerry	2-13 – 2-11	Longford	Croke Park, Dublin
	P Griffin 1-4, B Lynch 0-4, D O'Donnell 1-0, DJ Crowley 0-2, M O'Dwyer 0-1, É O'Donoghue 0-1, M O'Connell 0-1.		J Devine 1-4, T Mulvihill 1-2, M Hopkins 0-3, J Hannify 0-2.	Attendance: 34,052 Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Down v Galway

18 August 1968 Semi-final	Down	2-10 – 2-8	Galway	Croke Park, Dublin
	S O'Neill 1-3, M Cole 1-1, P Doherty 0-4, J Purdy 0-2.		J Keenan 0-6, J Duggan 1-1, C Dunne 1-0, M McDonagh 0-1.	Attendance: 50,965 Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Final

Down v Kerry

22 September 1968 Final	Down	2-12 – 1-13	Kerry	Croke Park, Dublin
	S O'Neill 1-2, P Doherty 0-5, J Murphy 1-0, T O'Hare 0-2, P Rooney 0-2, J Milligan 0-1.		B Lynch 1-2, M O'Dwyer 0-5, P Griffin 0-3, M O'Connell 0-2, DJ Crowley 0-1.	Attendance: 71,294 Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Main article: 1968 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Paddy Doherty	Down	1-25	28	5	5.60
2	John Lalor	Laois	1-22	25	5	5.00
3	Seán O'Neill	Down	3-13	22	5	4.40
4	Charlie Gallagher	Cavan	2-13	19	3	6.33
5	Pat Griffin	Kerry	1-15	18	4	4.50
	Mick O'Dwyer	Kerry	0-18	18	4	4.50
7	John Keenan	Galway	1-14	17	3	5.66
	Mickey Kearns	Sligo	0-17	17	2	8.50
9	Jackie Devine	Longford	2-10	16	4	4.00
10	Brendan Lynch	Kerry	1-12	15	4	3.75

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Mickey Kearns	Sligo	0-12	12	Leitrim
2	John Keenan	Galway	1-7	10	Mayo
3	Paddy Doherty	Down	1-6	9	Donegal
	Paddy Doherty	Down	0-9	9	Cavan
5	Dick Strang	Tipperary	2-2	8	Kerry
	Jim Kane	Roscommon	2-2	8	Galway
	Brendan Doyle	Carlow	2-2	8	Wicklow
	John Lalor	Laois	1-5	8	Kildare
9	Seán Donnelly	Longford	2-1	7	Laois
	Fergus McAuley	Cavan	2-1	7	Antrim
	Éamon Tavey	Monaghan	2-1	7	Fermanagh
	Charlie Gallagher	Cavan	1-4	7	Antrim
	Pat Griffin	Kerry	1-4	7	Longford
	Jackie Devine	Longford	1-4	7	Kerry
	Charlie Gallagher	Cavan	1-4	7	Down
	Mick O'Dwyer	Kerry	0-7	7	Cork
	John Lalor	Laois	0-7	7	Wexford

Miscellaneous

• Longford win their first ever Leinster football title.
• The All-Ireland semi-final between Kerry and Longford is the first ever championship meeting between the two teams.

Roll of Honour

• Kerry - 20 (1962)
• Dublin - 17 (1963)
• Galway - 7 (1966)
• Wexford - 5 (1918)
• Cavan - 5 (1952)
• Kildare - 4 (1928)
• Tipperary - 4 (1920)
• Down - 3 (1968)
• Meath - 3 (1967)
• Louth - 3 (1957)
• Mayo - 3 (1951)
• Cork - 3 (1945)
• Roscommon - 2 (1944)
• Limerick - 2 (1896)

References

1. "Longford football legend Hannify dared to dream and he strode among giants". Longford Leader. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
2. "All Ireland Football Championship: The Down captains who ruled Croke Park". Belfast Telegraph. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2016.