Sam Maguire

Sam Maguire captained London in the 1901 and 1904 All-Ireland finals, recruited Michael Collins to the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1909, and became the centre of Scotland Yard's investigation into the assassination of Sir Henry Wilson before fleeing to Dublin in December 1923. Born in the townland of Mallabraca near Dunmanway in 1877, he carried that small Cork identity into London halls, gun-running shadows and national trophies. The Sam Maguire Cup still flies to the All-Ireland Senior Champions, turning a local boy into a permanent measure of Irish football greatness.