| 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.[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