O Muircheartaigh to launch 'Big Jim Smith, Man of Breifne'
August 29, 2012
Flash back to 1933 as Cavan captain Jim Smith leads his team mates around Breffni Park before the semi final clash with the mighty Kerry. Following Jim are Big Tom O'Reilly, M. Dinneny, J. Smallhorne, W. Young, T. Coyle, P. Devlin, H. O'Reilly, D. Morgan, P. Phair, L. Blessing, P. Lynch, V. McGovern, W. Connolly and MJ Magee.
The exploits of the renowned Cavan footballer of the 1920 and '30s have been recorded for posterity in an autobiography by his son Gearoid.
The 528-page book was pieced together over a ten year period and details the life and times of the first footballer to captain Cavan to an All-Ireland SFC title success in 1933.
It also examines the events that shaped Cavan GAA in the early part of the 20th century.
Born at Gola, Killinkere in 1901, Big Jim Smith attended a school in Ballyjamesduff before entering St Patrick's College, Cavan, and later All-Hallows College.
It was during this time that he was selected to play for the Cavan senior football team and with the football and hurling teams of University College Dublin.
He won his first county senior football championship medal playing for Virginia in 1919 and he joined the county senior panel the following year. His medal collection included a remarkable thirteen Ulster SFC medals.
The author of the book, Jim's second son Gearoid represented Cavan in the minor grade in 1951 and again with the successful team of 1952 that reached the All-Ireland final.
At club level he fielded with the Killinkere St Ultan's club and the Kells Harps team in Meath. He was a member of the Royal County squad that won Leinster and All-Ireland honours in 1954. Tweet
