| Championship details | |
|---|---|
| All-Ireland Champions | |
| Winning team | Cork (6th win) |
| Captain | Tony Davis |
| All-Ireland Finalists | |
| Losing team | Derry |
| Provincial Champions | |
| Munster | Cork |
| Leinster | Meath |
| Ulster | Derry |
| Connacht | Mayo |
The 1985 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship was the 22nd staging of the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1964.
Cork entered the championship as defending champions.
On 25 August 1985, Cork won the championship following a 0-14 to 1-8 defeat of Derry in the All-Ireland final.[1] This was their sixth All-Ireland title overall and their second in successive seasons.
Semi-finals
| 4 August 1985 Semi-final | Derry | 2-03 - 0-09 | Mayo | Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick |
| 4 August 1985 Semi-final | Cork | 2-13 - 1-03 | Meath | O'Moore Park, Portlaoise |
| 11 August 1985 Semi-final replay | Derry | 3-09 - 3-06 | Mayo | Brewster Park, Enniskillen |
Finals
| 25 August 1985 Final | Cork | 0-14 - 1-08 | Derry | Croke Park, Dublin |