1972 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1972 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Championship details
Dates	7 May – 15 October 1972
Teams	31
All-Ireland Champions
Winning team	Offaly (2nd win)
Captain	Tony McTague
Manager	Fr. Tom Scully
All-Ireland Finalists
Losing team	Kerry
Captain	Tom Prendergast
Manager	Johnny Culloty
Provincial Champions
Munster	Kerry
Leinster	Offaly
Ulster	Donegal
Connacht	Roscommon
Championship statistics
No. matches played	34
Top Scorer	Tony McTague (0–36)
Player of the Year	Willie Bryan
← 1971 1973 →

The 1972 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 86th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 7 May 1972 and ended on 15 October 1972.

Offaly entered the championship as the defending champions.

On 15 October 1972, Offaly won the championship following a 1–19 to 0–13 defeat of Kerry in the All-Ireland final replay.^[1] This was their second All-Ireland title.

Offaly's Tony McTague was the championship's top scorer with 0–36. Offaly's Willie Bryan was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Quarter-final

Roscommon v Leitrim

11 June 1972 Quarter-final	Roscommon	1–11 – 0–5	Leitrim	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	M Freyne 0–6, D Earley 0–4, J Kelly 1–0, M Fallon 0–1.		P McGarty 0–2, S Flanaghan 0–1, D Keegan 0–1, B Galligan 0–1.	Attendance: 4,500 Referee: R Lane (Sligo)

Semi-finals

Sligo v Mayo

18 June 1972 Semi-final	Sligo	2–7 – 1–10	Mayo	Markievicz Park, Sligo
	M Kearins 0–6, J Colleary 1–0, G Mitchell 1–0, P Kearins 0–1.		T O'Malley 0–6, W McGee 1–1, D Griffith 0–1, S O'Grady 0–1, F Burns 0–1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Roscommon v Galway

25 June 1972 Semi-final	Roscommon	3–9 – 2–12	Galway	Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
	M Freyne 1–2, J Hunt 1–0, M Flanagan 1–0, J Kelly 0–3, J Mannion 0–2, J Finnegan 0–2.		J Tobin 1–9, T Naughton 1–0, J Duggan 0–2, W Joyce 0–1.	Referee: M Connaughton (Mayo)

Mayo v Sligo

2 July 1972 Semi-final replay	Mayo	1–18 – 0–17	Sligo	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	T O'Malley 1–3, J Corcoran 0–5, S Kilbride 0–3, S O'Grady 0–2, T Fitzgerald 0–2, G Feeney 0–1, J. J. Cribbin 0–1, D Griffith 0–1.		M Kearins 0–14, D Pugh 0–2, J Colleary 0–1.	Attendance: 16,872 Referee: S Martin (Roscommon)

Galway v Roscommon

9 July 1972 Semi-final replay	Galway	0–7 – 1–8	Roscommon	Tuam Stadium, Tuam
	J Keenan 0–2, J Tobin 0–2, S Leydon 0–1, T Naughton 0–1, M Burke 0–1.		J Kelly 1–0, D Earley 0–3, M Flanagan 0–2, M Freyne 0–1, J Finnegan 0–1, J Mannion 0–1.	Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

Final

Mayo v Roscommon

16 July 1972 Final	Mayo	3–10 – 5–8	Roscommon	MacHale Park, Castlebar
	J. J. Cribbin 2–0, W McGee 1–0, J Corcoran 0–3, S O'Grady 0–2, D Griffith 0–2, T O'Malley 0–2, B O'Reilly 0–1.		J Kelly 2–2, D Earley 1–2, M Freyne 1–2, M Flanagan 1–0, T Hunt 0–1, J Mannion 0–1.

Leinster Senior Football Championship

First round

Carlow v Wexford

7 May 1972 First round	Carlow	0–16 – 0–9	Wexford	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	T King 0–8, W Cullen 0–3, T Geoghegan 0–3, P McNally 0–1, C Hughes 0–1.		M Carty 0–3, A Merrigan 0–2, L Byrne 0–2, N Sheridan 0–1, Jim Berry 0–1.

Longford v Wicklow

7 May 1972 First round	Longford	4–9 – 0–5	Wicklow	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	S Donnelly 2–0, J Halpin 1–1, J Hanniffy 0–4, P Burke 1–0, T Mulvihill 0–2, T Farrell 0–2.		M Kennedy 0–2, L Loughlin 0–1, M McNamee 0–1, S Murray 0–1.	Referee: M Spain (Offaly)

Second round

Longford v Louth

28 May 1972 Second round	Longford	5–5 – 3–7	Louth	Croke Park, Dublin
	S Donnelly 2–1, J Hanniffy 1–2, S Lee 1–1, T Mulvihill 1–0, F Farrell 0–1.		J Byrne 3–0, R Barry 0–3, E Sheelin 0–3, G Sheridan 0–1.	Referee: P Kelly (Dublin)

Laois v Carlow

28 May 1972 Second round	Laois	1–7 – 1–5	Carlow	Geraldine Park, Athy
	B Lalor 1–0, D Byrne 0–2, J Lalor 0–2, R Miller 0–1, A Purcell 0–1, S Allen 0–1.		B McNally 1–2, S King 0–2, C Hughes 0–1.	Referee: L Foley (Kilkenny)

Quarter-finals

Longford v Meath

11 June 1972 Quarter-final	Longford	1–9 – 0–16	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	S Donnelly 1–2, S Lee 0–2, K Canavan 0–1, F Farrell 0–1, J Halpin 0–1, B Smith 0–1, J Hanniffy 0–1.		M Fay 0–8, T Brennan 0–2, J Daly 0–2, D Connolly 0–2, J Fay 0–1, M Kerrigan 0–1.

Dublin v Westmeath

11 June 1972 Quarter-final	Dublin	2–8 – 0–8	Westmeath	Croke Park, Dublin
	M Whelan 2–4, L Foley 0–2, P Wilson 0–1, F Murray 0–1.		M Carley 0–3, P Buckley 0–2, V Murray 0–2, M Fagan 0–1.	Referee: R Barry (Meath)

Kildare v Laois

11 June 1972 Quarter-final	Kildare	1–11 – 0–7	Laois	Páirc Tailteann, Navan
	P Dunny 1–2, M Mullins 0–5, K Kelly 0–3, R Flanagan 0–1.		A O'Brien 0–4, M Buggy 0–2, H Mulhaire 0–1.	Attendance: 15,000 Referee: B Hayden (Carlow)

Semi-finals

Offaly v Meath

25 June 1972 Semi-final	Offaly	2–17 – 3–5	Meath	Croke Park, Dublin
	T McTague 0–8, N Clavin 0–4, W Bryan 1–0, S Evans 1–0, S Cooney 0–2, S Darby 0–1, P Fenning 0–1, K Kilmurray 0–1.		T Brennan 1–2, K Rennicks 1–0, J Fay 1–0, M Kerrigan 0–3.	Referee: B Hayden (Carlow)

Kildare v Dublin

2 July 1972 Semi-final	Kildare	0–16 – 3–5	Dublin	Páirc Tailteann, Navan
	J Donnelly 0–6, K Kelly 0–3, T Carew 0–3, P Dunny 0–2, T O'Brien 0–1, M Mullins 0–1.		B Casey 1–1, L Foley 1–1, J Keaveney 1–0, M Whelan 0–2, J Reilly 0–1.	Referee: G Hoey (Louth)

Final

Offaly v Kildare

23 July 1972 Final	Offaly	1–18 – 2–8	Kildare	Croke Park, Dublin
	Tony McTague 0–6 (0-4f), Sean Cooney 1–2, Willie Bryan 0–3, Nick Clavin 0–2, Eugene Mulligan, Kevin Kilmurray, Sean Evans, Seamus Darby, Murt Connor 0–1 each		Mick Mullins 1–1, Kevin Kelly 1–0, Jack Donnelly (0-3f) and Pat Dunny (0-3f) 0–3 each, Hugh Hyland 0–1.	Attendance: 30,074 Referee: George Hoey (Louth)

Munster Senior Football Championship

Quarter-finals

Limerick v Waterford

14 May 1972 Quarter-final	Limerick	0–8 – 0–10	Waterford	FitzGerald Park, Kilmallock
	M Tynan 0–3, K Rennison 0–1, J Burke 0–1, M Graham 0–1, D Cullinane 0–1, C Cregan 0–1.		T Power 0–3, P Walsh 0–2, T Casey 0–2, P Walsh 0–2, M Cronin 0–1.	Referee: J Moloney (Tipperary)

Clare v Tipperary

14 May 1972 Quarter-final	Clare	1–6 – 2–10	Tipperary	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	G McAlness 1–1, P Cotter 0–3, S Moloney 0–1, M Chambers 0–1.		L Moyles 2–1, J Cummins 0–5, M Keating 0–2, J Kehoe 0–1, V O'Donnell 0–1.	Referee: S O'Connor (Limerick)

Semi-finals

Tipperary v Kerry

11 June 1972 Semi-final	Tipperary	0–9 – 1–12	Kerry	Ned Hall Park, Clonmel
	M Keating 0–4, V O'Donnell 0–1, M Ryan 0–1, C McElwee 0–1, P O'Connor 0–1, S Kearney 0–1.		L Higgins 1–2, M O'Dwyer 0–3, M O'Connell 0–3, E O'Donoghue 0–2, B Lynch 0–1, M Gleeson 0–1.	Referee: S Dalton (Waterford)

Cork v Waterford

11 June 1972 Semi-final	Cork	2–8 – 0–9	Waterford	Páirc MacGearailt, Fermoy
	D McCarthy 1–2, D Coughlan 0–5, D Allen 1–0, KJ O'Sullivan 0–1.		T Power 0–4, T Casey 0–2, P McMahon 0–2, B Fleming 0–1.	Referee: J Moloney (Tipperary)

Final

Kerry v Cork

16 July 1972 Final	Kerry	2–21 – 2–15	Cork	Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
	M O'Dwyer 0–10, M Gleeson 1–1, L Higgins 0–4, D Kavanagh 1–0, M O'Connell 0–2, J O'Keeffe 0–2, B Lynch 0–2.		R Cummins 0–9, D Coughlan 1–1, D Barron 0–2, D Hunt 0–1, D McCarthy 0–1, KJ O'Sullivan 0–1.	Attendance: 29,827 Referee: J Moloney (Tipperary)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Preliminary round

Fermanagh v Derry

4 June 1972 Preliminary round	Fermanagh	0–7 – 5–7	Derry	St. Molaise Park, Irvinestown
	P McGinnitty 0–2, S Quinn 0–2, G Magee 0–1, A Henderson 0–1, E McPartlan 0–1.		H Niblock 2–1, F O'Loane 0–4, M McGuckian 1–0, L Diamond 1–0, A McGurk 1–0, A McGuckian 0–1, S O'Connell 0–1.	Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Quarter-finals

Tyrone v Armagh

4 June 1972 Quarter-final	Tyrone	0–13 – 1–7	Armagh	O'Neill Park, Dungannon
	P Harte 0–3, P Hetherington 0–3, B Dolan 0–2, F McGuigan 0–2, H Crawford 0–1, J Foley 0–1, P Mulgrew 0–1.		J Smith 1–1, P Loughran 0–3, J O'LOan 0–2, L McCabe 0–1.	Referee: T Johnson (Fermanagh)

Cavan v Monaghan

11 June 1972 Quarter-final	Cavan	3–9 – 0–6	Monaghan	Casement Park, Belfast
	P Brady 1–3, M Reilly 1–2, H McInerney 1–1, D Fitzpatrick 0–2, R Carolan 0–1.		E Tavey 0–3, D McCabe 0–1, G Fitzpatrick 0–1, P Donnelly 0–1.	Referee: P Greene (Antrim)

Donegal v Down

18 June 1972 Quarter-final	Donegal	1–8 – 0–8	Down	MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
	S Granaghan 1–1, D O'Carroll 0–4, J Winston 0–2, M Carney 0–1.		S O'Neill 0–4, J Burns 0–3, A King 0–1.	Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

Derry v Antrim

25 June 1972 Quarter-final	Derry	2–9 – 2–5	Antrim	Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen
	A McGuckin 1–2, H Niblock 1–1, F O'Loane 0–2, T McGuinness 0–1, S O'Connell 0–1, C Mullan 0–1, L Diamond 0–1.		PI O'Hare 1–1, A Hamill 1–0, A McCallin 0–2, G McCann 0–1, A Scullion 0–1.	Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

Semi-finals

Donegal v Cavan

2 July 1972 Semi-final	Donegal	0–12 – 2–6	Cavan	St. Molaise Park, Irvinestown
	J Winston 0–10, M McMenamin 0–1, J Granaghan 0–1.		J Duggan 1–1, M O'Reilly 1–0, JJ O'Reilly 0–1, P Brady 0–1, J McGuigan 0–1, H Newman 0–1, D Fitzpatrick 0–1.	Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Tyrone v Derry

9 July 1972 Semi-final	Tyrone	1–8 – 0–9	Derry	O'Neill Park, Dungannon
	P Hetherington 0–5, F Quinn 1–0, B Dolan 0–2, H Crawford 0–1.		S Lagan 0–5, T McGuinness 0–2, A McGuirk 0–1, G O'Loughlin 0–1.	Referee: P Greene (Antrim)

Donegal v Cavan

16 July 1972 Semi-final replay	Donegal	2–11 – 1–9	Cavan	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	J Winston 0–9, M Carney 1–1, S Granaghan 0–1.		S Duggan 0–6, H McInerney 1–1, B O'Donohue (1–0, own goal), J Cusack 0–1, S McGuigan 0–1.	Referee: M Loftus (Mayo)

Final

Donegal v Tyrone

30 July 1972 Final	Donegal	2–13 – 1–11	Tyrone	St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
	S Bonner 1–0, M Sweeney 1–0, J Winston 0–5, B McEniff 0–2, D Carroll 0–2, S Granaghan 0–2, M McMenamin 0–1, F McFeely 0–1.		B Dolan 1–4, P Hetherington 0–6, H Crawford 0–1.	Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Kerry v Roscommon

13 August 1972 Semi-final	Kerry	1–22 – 1–12	Roscommon	Croke Park, Dublin
	M O'Dwyer 0–8, M O'Connell 0–4, B Lynch 0–4, D Kavanagh 1–0, L Higgins 0–3, M Gleeson 0–2, T Prendergast 0–1.		D Earley 1–3, M Freyne 0–6, J Finnegan 0–1, J Kelly 0–1.	Attendance: 31,455 Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

Offaly v Donegal

20 August 1972 Semi-final	Offaly	1–17 – 2–10	Donegal	Croke Park, Dublin
	T McTague 0–6, K Kilmurray 1–2, W Bryan 0–4, J Cooney 0–3, L Coughlan 0–2.		M Carney 1–1, S Granaghan 1–1, J Winston 0–3, D O'Carroll 0–3, J Hannigan 0–1, F McFeely 0–1.	Attendance: 26,606 Referee: J Martin (Roscommon)

Finals

Offaly v Kerry

24 September 1972 Final	Offaly	1–13 – 1–13	Kerry	Croke Park, Dublin
	T McTague 0–6, J Cooney 1–2, P Fenning 0–2, J Smith 0–2, K Kilmurray 0–1.		B Lynch 1–7, M O'Dwyer 0–5, M O'Connell 0–1.	Attendance: 72,032 Referee: F Tierney (Cavan)

Offaly v Kerry

15 October 1972 Final replay	Offaly	1–19 – 0–13	Kerry	Croke Park, Dublin
	T McTague 0–10, P Fenning 1–1, M Connor 0–2, S Darby, 0–2, W Bryan 0–3, K Kilmurray 0–1.		M O'Connell 0–7, B Lynch 0–2, L Higgins 0–2, M O'Dwyer 0–2.	Attendance: 66,136 Referee: P Devlin (Tyrone)

Championship statistics

Miscellaneous

Omagh's pitch is named as Healy Park after Michael Healy.
On 14 May 1972, FitzGerald Park, Killmallock hosted its first game for 20 years the Munster Quarter-Final meeting of Limerick vs Waterford.
Tyrone qualify for the Ulster final for the first time since 1957.
Donegal become the 8th team to win the Ulster title when they claim their first provincial championship with a 2–13 to 1–11 defeat of Tyrone.
The All-Ireland semi-final meeting between Donegal and Offaly is the very first championship clash between the two teams. It is also Donegal's first championship match to be played at Croke Park, Dublin.
The All-Ireland final ends in a draw and goes to a replay for the first time since 1952.
Offaly win back-to-back All-Ireland titles for the first and only time in their history. Their 1–19 to 0–13 All-Ireland final replay victory remains Kerry's biggest ever defeat in a championship decider.

Scoring

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Tony McTague	Offaly	0–36	36	5	7.20
2	Joe Winston	Donegal	0–29	29	5	5.80
3	Mick O'Dwyer	Kerry	0–28	28	5	6.60
4	Mickey Freyne	Roscommon	2–17	23	5	4.60
5	Brendan Lynch	Kerry	1–16	19	5	3.80
6	Dermot Earley	Roscommon	2–12	18	5	3.60
7	Mick O'Connell	Kerry	0–17	17	5	3.40
8	Seán Cooney	Offaly	2–9	15	5	3.00
9	John Tobin	Galway	1–11	14	2	7.00
9	Liam Higgins	Kerry	1–11	14	5	2.80

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	John Tobin	Galway	1–9	12	Roscommon
2	Mickey Whelan	Dublin	2–4	10	Westmeath
	Brendan Lynch	Kerry	1–7	10	Offaly
	Tony McTague	Offaly	0–10	10	Kerry
	Mick O'Dwyer	Kerry	0–10	10	Cork
	Joe Winston	Donegal	0–10	10	Cavan
7	Johnny Byrne	Louth	3–0	9	Longford
	Ray Cummins	Cork	0–9	9	Kerry
	Joe Winston	Donegal	0–9	9	Cavan
10	Johnny Kelly	Roscommon	2–2	8	Mayo
	Tom King	Carlow	0–8	8	Wexford
	Mick Fay	Meath	0–8	8	Longford
	Tony McTague	Offaly	0–8	8	Meath
	Mick O'Dwyer	Kerry	0–8	8	Roscommon

References

"Offaly heroes of 1971 and 1972 to be honoured". Offaly GAA website. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2015.