7 GAA Fantasy Auction Items

What is your most prized piece of sporting memorabilia? A jersey signed? A ball? An autographed photo

This week Brazilian soccer legend Pele is in the news as he auctions his most famous memorabilia. Among the most sought after items in the auction room is a one off replica of the World Cup Jules Rimet trophy presented to him in 1970. This was in recognitions of Pele featuring in three world cup winning teams.

Also up for sale are his World Cup medals from 1958, 1962 and 1970. Other items include New York Cosmos jerseys, the ball with which he scored his 1000th goal and the boots he wore in the film Escape to Victory.

This got us thinking, in your fantasy auction, what would be among the most sought after items in the GAA? If they still exist and we could get our hands on them!

Original Cork Jersey

Cork GAA teams wore this jersey in blue fabric with an embroidered 'C’ until 1919. During a raid on the Cork County Board office, the British army confiscated the jerseys, never to have been seen since. This Spring we produced a replica, the Cork GAA 1916 Commemoration Jersey. If you happen to come upon an original in your attic let us know. It’s worth a clean fortune.

Having no jerseys to wear, Cork borrowed the colours and kit of the defunct Fr O’Leary Total Abstinence Hall Hurling Club, and these were subsequently officially adopted. The ‘TA’ from the original Abstinence jerseys was removed after a while so that a plain red geansai remained providing the blood and bandage jerseys so famous since.

Stephen O’Neill’s All Ireland medal

In 2008 Tyrone GAA star forward Stephen O’Neill made a sensational return to the county panel before the All Ireland final. Known as an extremely humble and unassuming player, despite his contribution in the final, Stephen refused to accept a medal saying he did not deserve it. Somewhere is a desk drawer or an office in Tyrone there is a medal belonging to one of the greatest men to wear the Tyrone GAA jersey. A unique memento of a true great of the game.

Joe Kernan’s Losers Medal

In 1977 Joe Kernan was a central player in the great Armagh GAA team beaten by the Dubs in the All Ireland final. As was the custom he received a losers plaque, a memento no player really wants to add to their collection if the truth be told. In 2002 when Armagh played Kerry GAA in the All Ireland Final, Joe made sure he had the losers’ plaque with him to use if required to motivate his team. Use it he did at half time, showing it to the players and hopping it off the wall to make his point that they wanted the real thing, not the losers’ medal as it would mean nothing to them. It thus became the losers’ medal to inspire a team of winners to get them over the line.

Seamus Darby’s Jersey

Seamus Darby had already two All Ireland medals when he was recalled to the Offaly GAA panel in 1982. He played full forward in the Leinster final but having pulled a hamstring missed the semi final win over Galway GAA. He started the final against Kerry on the bench. Kerry were famously chasing a historic five in a row All Ireland titles, and all seemed to be going according to plan for the Kingdom until Darby was sprung from the bench with two minutes to go with Kerry winning by two points, on a scoreline of 0-17 to 0-15. Seamus Darby’s instructions were to play close in and try and sneak a goal. When a high ball dropped in, Darby outfielded Tommy Doyle, and the rest as they say is history. He fired a looping shot over Charlie Nelligan into the goal to give Offaly an unlikely win and in the process deny Kerry their five in a row.

Stephen Cluxton’s Left Boot

In 2011 thanks to the trusty left boot of Stephen Cluxton, Dublin GAA won their first All Ireland since 1995. Cluxton showed no nerves as he headed up the field, knowing he faced the last kick of the game. Cojones of steel, ice in the veins and a laser precision left boot saw the Dubs home. How much for one of those boots though? From the man who has redefined the goalkeeping position.

An Original Dublin White Tracksuit

In the seventies with Heffo at the helm the Dublin team were cock of the walk. Like superstars in their own city they talked the talk and walked the walk. And like any good team they looked the part. When they ran out on to Croker in those immaculate white O’Neills tracksuits they were like rockstars. What would one of the originals be worth in today’s money?

Anything from that meeting in Thurles

Michael Cusack and the lads reclined in the chairs in the upstairs room in Mrs Hayes hotel in Thurles to dream up the Gaelic Athletic Association. It was an inspired moment in November 1884. The legacy remains and grows to this day. But what of a piece of memorabilia from that room, the fountain pen that Cusack wrote with; a plate from which Davitt ate is sandwiches, or a chair on which JK Bracken rested himself wearily.

And, there’s plenty more where these came from.