Sam Maguire Cup

The Sam Maguire Cup was first presented to Kildare, winners of the 1928 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.

The All-Ireland Football Final was traditionally played on the third or fourth Sunday in September at Croke Park in Dublin.

The trophy is made of silver and due to this being one of the softer metals it is prone to sustaining dents easily.

[2] A group of his friends formed a committee in Dublin under the chairmanship of Dr Pat McCartan from Carrickmore, County Tyrone, to raise funds for a permanent commemoration of his name.

Matthew J. Staunton (1888–1966) came from a long line of silversmiths going back to the Huguenots, who brought their skills to Ireland in the 1600s.

Matt, as he was known to his friends, served his time in the renowned Dublin silversmiths, Edmond Johnson Ltd, where the Liam MacCarthy Hurling Cup was made in 1921.

Even though it is highly polished, multiple hammer marks are still visible today, indicating the manufacturing process.

[1] The incident was covered on the front page of the Irish Independent and Deenihan recounted the episode in his book My Sporting Life, stating he subsequently retrieved the Sam Maguire Cup following the intervention of the New York County Board and with the aid of an FBI officer.

The silver for the new cup was donated by Johnson Matthey Ireland at the behest of Kieran D. Eustace Managing Director, a native of Newtowncashel Co.

In 2010, the GAA asked the same silversmith to produce another replica of the trophy (the third Sam Maguire Cup) although this was to be used only for marketing purposes.

[1] Donnelly had a special case made so as to store the trophy safely when it was being transported over long distances.