| 1979 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship | |
| Bodyclass: | vevent |
| Headerstyle: | background:#BFD7FF; |
| Labelstyle: | white-space: nowrap |
| Datastyle: | white-space: nowrap |
| Header1: | Championship details |
| Label2: | Dates |
| Label3: | Teams |
| Header4: | All-Ireland Champions |
| Label5: | Winning team |
| Data5: | Down (1st win) |
| Label6: | Captain |
| Data6: | Ned King |
| Label7: | Manager |
| Header8: | All-Ireland Finalists |
| Label9: | Losing team |
| Data9: | Cork |
| Label10: | Captain |
| Label11: | Manager |
| Header12: | Provincial Champions |
| Label13: | Munster |
| Data13: | Cork |
| Label14: | Leinster |
| Data14: | Offaly |
| Label15: | Ulster |
| Data15: | Down |
| Label16: | Connacht |
| Data16: | 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.[1]
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
Semi-finals
Final