As the Cork football teams heads for Dublin to contest the All-Ireland Football Final tomorrow, I can’t help but recall the last time the famous Sam Maguire Cup was brought back to Cork.

I was chaplain at Scoil Mhic Shuibhne, Knocknaheeny, at the time and I recall the joyous day when two great sportsmen with local connections walked through the schools doors with the two All-Ireland trophies.

sam-and-Mac
The Liam McCarthy Cup and the Sam Maguire Cup being cheered by Knocknaheeny students in 1990.
Sam's last visit in 1990
The Liam McCarthy Cup is carried by Tomás Mulcahy and the Sam Maguire Cup is brought by John Kearns (RIP), accompanied by School Principal Tony O'Neill as reps of the two winning Cork teams visited Scoil Mhic Shuibhne in Knocknaheeny in 1990.

Tomás Mulcahy was reared down the road from the school in Harbour View Road but he played his hurling with the Glen. He brought the Liam McCarthy Cup. John Kearns, the goalkeeper on the football team brought the Sam Maguire. John died a few short years later and will be shouting for us from above this year. John was a ‘Barrs man but he was stationed as a Garda in the local Gurranabraher station in the north side of the city at the time.

Here’s hoping for a welcome return by Sam on Monday night!