The long wait for Sam

Sam is coming back to Mayo after 75 years and we look at other lengthy waits between All-Ireland successes.

Mayo (75 years)

The Mayo drought came to an end on Sunday as they finally got over the line in the All-Ireland final. 27,335 days had passed since Sam Maguire last visited the county and they were absolutely incredible in seeing off the reigning champions Kerry, getting up the steps of the Hogan Stand after unimageable years and years of hurt and suffering.

Louth (45 years)

Louth haven’t won the All-Ireland since 1957, although this season they did get back to the semi-final stage of the competition for the first time since. In 1957, they ended their own All-Ireland famine by earning the crown for the first time since 1912. Back then, they’d lost the All-Ireland decider in 1909 but came back the following year to right those wrongs and followed that up with another success in 1912.

Cork (34 years)

Two world wars were fought between Cork’s All-Ireland winning triumphs in 1911 and 1945. 34 years is a seriously long time for a county of the Rebels stature to go without being crowned kings of Ireland. They had only won three Munster titles in those intervening years 1916, 1928 and 1943 before going all the way in the 1945 decider, beating Cavan by four points in the end.

Galway (32 years)

Following Galway’s golden generation of the 1960s, the county suffered a 32-year lull in terms of All-Ireland success. The Tribesmen claimed three All-Ireland titles on the bounce in ’64, ’65 and ’66 but 1998 was the next time Sam Maguire visited the men in maroon. They had lost four All-Ireland finals in between years before going on to be crowned champions in ’98 and again in 2001.

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Down (23 years)

Down’s five All-Ireland titles, Ulster’s joint top alongside Cavan, came from two outstanding generations of footballers. The team of the 1960s took Sam across the border for the very first time in 1960 before repeating the trick in 1961 and 1968. The Mourne County had to wait until the 1990s to see Sam again and Pete McGrath’s men finally get their hands on the title in 1991 before seeing it again in 1994.

Wexford (22 years)

Only five counties have won more All-Ireland titles than Wexford, who dominated the scene over 100 years ago. They were first crowned champions of Ireland in 1893 but had to wait another 22 years to taste that same success again. They lost back-to-back finals in 1913 and 1914 but enjoyed a historic and glorious run of All-Ireland titles after that, becoming the first county to win four in a row from 1915-1918.

Armagh (22 years)

The Orchard County won their first ever All-Ireland title in 2002, when Kieran McGeeney captained the side to glory. 22 years later, in 2024, McGeeney was the Armagh manager and again guided his county to the ultimate success. Both of their All-Ireland final victories, against Kerry and Galway respectively, were decided by the bare minimum.

Donegal (20 years)

Sam Maguire first visited the hills of Donegal under Brian McEniff’s watch in 1992, when they defeated Dublin in the decider. It would be another 20 years before the Tir Chonaill County were back in Croke Park for the biggest day of all. They got their hands back on the ultimate prize against Mayo in 2012, with Jim McGuinness as manager and Michael Murphy as captain.

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Tipperary (20 years)

All of Tipperary’s All-Ireland successes came in the first two decades of the GAA. They first won the crown in 1889 and experienced that winning feeling again in 1895 and 1900. For the next 20 years, they didn’t get their hands on silverware, despite losing the 1918 decider, but got over the line again in 1920.

Meath (20 years)

After winning the All-Ireland Championship in 1967, Sam Maguire didn’t visit the Royal County for another two decades until Sean Boylan’s men of 1987 ended the wait. Following their 1987 accomplishment, they retained the title the following season and won twice more in 1996 and 1999.

Dublin (19 years)

Second on the All-Ireland roll of honour, Dublin had plenty of tough days to endure as well. While most will be familiar with the 1995-2011 drought, the longest the Dubs ever had to wait for an All-Ireland title was 19 years and that came between 1923 and 1942.

Tyrone (13 years)

After All-Ireland final losses in 1986 and 1995, Tyrone won Sam for the very first time in 2003. Mickey Harte’s men backed that up with further titles in 2005 and 2008, but 13 years passed until they climbed the Hogan Steps again. That came in the knockout championship of 2021, when Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher led the Red Hand County to the promised land.