1979 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
| Championship details | |
|---|---|
| All-Ireland Champions | |
| Winning team | Down (1st win) |
| Captain | Ned King |
| All-Ireland Finalists | |
| Losing team | Cork |
| Provincial Champions | |
| Munster | Cork |
| Leinster | Offaly |
| Ulster | Down |
| Connacht | Galway |
The 1979 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship was the 16th staging of the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1964.
Roscommon entered the championship as defending champions, however, they were defeated in the Connacht Championship.
On 23 September 1979, Down won the championship following a 1-9 to 0-7 defeat of Cork in the All-Ireland final. This was their first All-Ireland title.
The final was refereed by Gerry Mc Cabe from Clonoe in Co Tyrone