Search Results for 'Sam Maguire Cup'

My first permanent teaching post was at St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, 20 years ago this September. And having taught in the county for eight years, I appreciate the ravenous and deep rooted desire that exists there for a senior All-Ireland success. The school principal at the time was big Brother Thomas Durnin from the De La Salle Order, and he asked me to bring the Sam Maguire Cup down in 1998. The reaction of the older members of staff was revealing. They would take the canister. Look at it, and then hand it over quickly, with a certain amount of disdain, muttering something like; “I don’t want it. Or want to touch it, unless we have won it ourselves.” 

Last year when Mayo met Donegal in the 2012 All Ireland football final, hopes were once again raised throughout the county. Mayo people around the world also held their breath, barely daring to believe that they could bring the Sam Maguire Cup home after a gap of over 60 years. Two goals and a point for Donegal in the first 12 minutes put paid to those hopes. In pubs all over the county ‘Mayo, God help us’ was uttered. There were mutterings that the 'curse' had once again dashed Mayo’s hopes.

Galway reached the All-Ireland football final for the first time in 1919, when they were beaten by Kildare by 2 – 5 to 0 – 1. In 1922 they were beaten by Dublin by 6 points to 4. In 1925 they won it for the first time, beating Cavan by 3 – 2 to 1 - 2. In 1928, the Sam Maguire Trophy was presented to the GAA, and ever since, it has been the dream of every county in Ireland to hold it aloft in Croke Park on the third Sunday in September.

More than €2,000 was raised for Alan Kerins African Projects at the recent Stars and Cups fundraising event in Supermac’s, Eyre Square.