The Sam Maguire Cup was presented to the GAA in 1928. Kildare were the first county to win the Sam Maguire Cup and captain William ‘Bill’ Gannon was the first man to ever lift it.

In 1987, the original Sam Maguire Cup was retired – Meath’s Mick Lyons was the last Captain to receive it on All-Ireland Football Final day. Meath were also the first team to win the new replica Sam Maguire in 1988, when it was presented to their captain, Joe Cassells.

The replica Sam Maguire was hand crafted by Silversmith Desmond Byrne and took 500 hours to make and continues to be awarded annually to the All-Ireland Football champions.

The original Sam Maguire Cup resides permanently as part of the GAA Museum’s treasury of trophies.