Gaelic football has been played in Ireland since the 17th and 18th centuries but it wasn’t until the GAA was formed in 1884 that it was played between county teams with proper rules. The first All-Ireland football final took place in 1887 in Clonskeagh, Dublin, between Limerick and Louth. Limerick won the game by 1-4 to 0-3; they were low scoring matches in those days.
Kerry are the most successful football county winning 32 All-Ireland titles, that’s a lot of San Maguires to fit in the
trophy cabinet. Dublin are next up with
22 titles followed by Galway with 9 and Meath with 7.
The Dubs were the first three-in-a-row winners becoming All-Ireland champions in 1897, ’98 and ’99 and believe it or not Wexford won the first four-in-a-row taking the title in 1915, ’16, ’17 and ’18.
In the 60's Galway won a three-in-a-row between 1964 and 1966. They were the greatest side to come out of Connacht. Seán Purcell was playing for them and he is regarded as one of footballs all-time greats.
Kerry were also a very strong side around this time with one of the greatest Mick O’Connell in a starring role, many people say that he was the finest to ever grace the football stage.
Kerry would go on to dominate football in the 70’s along with Dublin. Dublin at this time were nicknamed “Heffo’s Army” after their coach Kevin Heffernan and they brought great glamour to the game becoming Kerry’s deadliest rivals. The All-Ireland finals between them were epic battles and classic football matches.
In the 80's other teams emerged such as Offaly, Cork and Meath. Offaly won the All-Ireland in 1982 stopping Kerry from winning an historic five-in-a-row. Meath went on to win two titles in the 80’s in ’87 and ’89.
In the early 90’s it was Ulster’s turn to take the limelight with Down, Derry and Donegal winning the title. The Dubs brought Sam back to the capital again in 1995 for the first time since 1983, a long wait for the Boys in Blue. The late 90’s to the turn of the century saw Meath, Galway and Kerry winning 2 All-Ireland titles each.
The 2002 All-Ireland was won by Armagh beating Kerry in a pulsating final that will be remembered for a long time as it was the Orchard County’s first title.
In 2003 it was the clash of the titans in an All-Ulster final between Tyrone and Armagh. It was a tough encounter with the Red Hand County winning the day and Peter Canavan lifting the Sam Maguire in front of thousands of ecstatic fans.
Kerry have played in the last three All-Ireland finals, winning two of them in 2004 and 2006 beating Mayo on both occasions. In 2005 they lost out to a great Tyrone team in what was one of the most exciting finals ever in Croker. The game was played at blistering pace with some great scores from both sides and unforgettable performances from players like Peter Canavan, Ryan McMenamin, Brian Dooher and Tomás Ó Sé.
 
Many people say that
Mick O'Connell of
Kerry was the finest
to ever grace the
football stage.
       
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MAY 27th
2008