Sam Maguire Cup
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The Sam Maguire Cup often just called Sam is the name of the Cup that Gaelic football-teams play for in the final of the Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland Football Final being played on the third or fourth Sunday in September in Croke Park, Dublin.
The Cup is named after Sam Maguire, an influential figure in the Gaelic Athletic Association in London and a former footballer. Following his death in 1928 a group of his friends formed a committee in Dublin under the chairmanship of Dr Pat McCartan from Carrickmore Co.Tyrone, to raise funds for a permanent commemoration of his name. They decided on a cup to be presented to the GAA. The Association were proud to accept the Cup. At the time it cost £300. In today's terms that sum is equivalent to €25,392. The Cup is modeled on the Ardagh Chalice and was made by Hopkins and Hopkins of O'Connell's Bridge.
Kildare was the first county to win the "Sam Maguire Cup" in 1928 after defeating Cavan 2-6 to 2-5. Even though the cup aged with grace it had to be replaced following the 1988 final. Meath's Joe Cassells was the first recipient of "Sam Óg".
Only 6 men have had the honour of being presented with the trophy twice. They are; Joe Barret (Kerry), Jim Murray (Roscommon), J.J O'Reilly (Cavan), Seán Flanagan (Mayo), Enda Colleran (Galway) and Tony Hanahoe (Dublin).
