John Joe O'Reilly (1918 – 1952) was a legendary Gaelic footballer who played for the Cavan county team.

After early successes with St Patrick's College, Cavan and his club, Cornafean, he captained the Cavan county team, which won All-Ireland Senior Football Championships in 1947 (at the New York City Polo Grounds)[1] and 1948, having also played on three losing sides in the final.

A Commandant in the Irish Army, John Joe O'Reilly, suffered a serious injury during a football match against Ardclough in 1952 from which he never recovered.

[citation needed] In 1984, the GAA's centenary year he was named at centre half-back on the Football Team of the Century.

On 20 November 2022, two days before the 70th anniversary of his death, a 7-foot bronze statue of John Joe, sculpted by Seamus Connolly, was unveiled at Market Square in Cavan.