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County Kildare History and Heritage

1928 All-Ireland Football Championship

The All-Ireland Final

Leinster Leader, Saturday 6th October 1928.

AFTERTHOUGHTS.

It was a great game and though the Breffni Gaels left the field defeated the match places beyond all doubt their right to be classed as a first-class Gaelic football combination. The outstanding feature of the game was the grand sporting spirit in which it was played. From beginning to end there was not an incident which infringed the strictest code of sportsmanship. The Kildare players by their long record in first-class Gaelic matches and by their individual performances on Sunday fully merited the honours which they are well worthy of upholding honourably. To the losers there is the consolation of knowing that by their performance Ulster becomes a definite formidable force to be reckoned with in future All-Ireland Finals. Amongst the Kildare followers and the players themselves there was nothing to be heard after the match but eulogies of the Cavan Gaels. Too much cannot be said in praise of the team from the North. They have definitely established themselves in the hearts of the Kildare Gaels, and the best tribute that can be paid to them is the statement of one of the Kildare team-"If we had to lose the Championship Cavan is the kind of a team I would like to lose to." Could a tribute go further than that. Perhaps a draw would have been a fitting termination to the great game. However, the fortunes of the arena decided otherwise. We are glad the All Whites still retain the crown of Gaeldom, and we think the honour is enhanced by the fact that such a team as Cavan did battle in the final round. By the performances of both teams the Gaelic games have received a great impetus and the organisation of the G.A.A. owes a deep debt to the men of both teams who showed that science and real sportsmanship were the essential foundations of the games of the Gael.

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SAM MAGUIRE CUP

A pleasant little ceremony followed the match when Willie Gannon, the Kildare Captain, was called to the Grand Stand and there presented by Dr. McCartan, a close friend of the late Sam Maguire, with the beautiful silver cup which commemorates the memory of that great Gael and true Irishman.

A fine sporting spirit was displayed when Gannon turned to the assembled thousands and called for three cheers for the Cavan Gaels who had played such a great game. The cheers were heartily given, and the spectators left the field in a pleasant atmosphere of good fellowship. The cup is a perpetual one to be held each year by the All-Ireland Senior football Champions.