| Championship details | |
|---|---|
| All-Ireland Champions | |
| Winning team | Cork (3rd win) |
| Captain | Timmy Dalton |
| All-Ireland Finalists | |
| Losing team | Dublin |
| Provincial Champions | |
| Munster | Cork |
| Leinster | Dublin |
| Ulster | Tyrone |
| Connacht | Mayo |
The 1980 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship was the 17th staging of the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1964.
Down entered the championship as defending champions, however, they were defeated by Tyrone in the Ulster final.
On 12 October 1980, Cork won the championship following a 2-8 to 1-5 defeat of Dublin in the All-Ireland final.[1] This was their third All-Ireland title overall and their first in nine championship seasons.