Gaelic Football: a 9ct. gold winner's medal from the inaugural All-Ireland football final of 1887 aw...
Gaelic Football: a 9ct. gold winner's medal from the inaugural All-Ireland football final of 1887 awarded to Malachi O'Brien of Limerick Commercials, the obverse inscribed G.A.A. CENTRAL COUNCIL C'RHIP, 1887, the reverse inscribed THE ALL IRELAND F. CHAMPIONSHIP, WON BY LMCK. COMMERCIALS; sold with a copy of a newspaper obituary for Malachi O'Brien (2) The first All-Ireland football final was in 1887 and was won by Limerick (Commercials) who beat Louth (Dundalk Young Irelands). The final was played in a field called The Big Bank at Clonskeagh, Dublin. There was no cup for the Limerick team and the players did not receive their medals until 1912. Having won the inaugural senior football final, Limerick have only tasted the same success on one other occasion (1896) in the proceeding 118 years. Malachi O'Brien was born in Ballinvrina, Emly, where he lived until he was 14 years of age. After a while in Dublin he moved to America where he remained for 32 years, returning for good to his native Ballinvrina from 1929 until his death on 2nd August 1953. he was buried in the little churchyard at Emly. By all accounts O'Brien, known as 'The Little Wonder' due to his slight stature, was the Man of the Match in the 1887 final and on his return to Limerick was carried on the shoulders of ecstatic supporters from the railway station to the hotel for the team's celebration reception. The winners' medals were not presented until 25 years later. In a letter sent from America to the Limerick Commercials Secretary Mr P Gleeson, O'Brien writes: ''Dear Mr Gleeson, I had a letter from my brother informing me I was to receive one of the medals for the 1887 Football Championship; indeed I assure you it was one of the surprises of my life after so many years. I had completely forgotten but as a member of that famous old team I will treasure it as a reminder of bygone days and those loyal, true and trusted comrades, who, I believe would be hard to duplicate.'' Malachi O'Brien, who never played for any other team but the Commercials, had the unique honour of being shouldered off the pitch by the opposing team for his outstanding performance against Kilmacow. Another great game of his was at Limerick Junction where The Little Wonder's performance was talked about in the district for years afterwards. Provenance: by family descent.