G.A.A. All-Ireland Football Championship Finals Programme, 1976. Dublin v Kerry; Cork v Galway (Minor Final).

Official Programme (Clár Oifigiúil). Dublin: [G.A.A.], 26 September 1976. Small quarto. pp. [c. 32]. Original pictorial wrappers, printed in red with central photographic panel of match action, county crests to corners. Stapled as issued. A very good, bright copy. Light wear and minor marking to covers; staples sound; internally clean and complete.

A desirable official programme for the 1976 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final between Dublin and Kerry, accompanied by the Minor Final between Cork and Galway. This fixture forms part of the early years of one of Gaelic football’s most storied rivalries, marking the emergence of dominant Kerry and Dublin sides that would define the late 1970s and 1980s.

The programme includes full team line-ups, positional listings, substitute panels, and scoring charts, together with contemporary photographic material and period advertising. The distinctive red cover, incorporating an action photograph within a stylised football motif, is emblematic of G.A.A. design in the 1970s and remains visually striking.

Played at Croke Park before a large attendance, Kerry defeated Dublin by 3–8 to 0–10, beginning a period of sustained success for the Munster county. The match is often viewed as a key moment in the modern evolution of Gaelic football, as tactical and athletic standards continued to rise.

Programmes from this era are increasingly collectible, particularly those associated with major finals involving historically significant counties such as Dublin and Kerry.

The 1976 All-Ireland Final took place on 26 September at Croke Park; Kerry’s victory marked the beginning of a dominant era under manager Mick O’Dwyer.
The Dublin–Kerry rivalry would come to define Gaelic football over the following decade, producing some of the most celebrated matches in the sport’s history.
The inclusion of both senior and minor finals enhances the programme’s appeal to collectors.
G.A.A. programmes of the 1970s, while more widely printed than earlier examples, are increasingly sought after in clean condition.
The cover design reflects a shift towards photographic and modern graphic elements in G.A.A. publications of the period.

[WR GAA]