Waterford Crystal GAA Trophy

Waterford crystal lidded trophy jar engraved with "ALL-IRELAND S/C WINNER" 1953 "JAMES MURPHY (Capt) KERRY" surrounding a GAA crest. Perfect condition. Like new! James "Jas" Murphy (1923–2021) was an accomplished Irish Gaelic footballer who famously captained the County Kerry senior football team to victory in the 1953 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Life and Career Summary • Background: Born in Tralee, County Kerry, he originally played his club football locally with Kerins O'Rahilly's. • Profession: He moved from Kerry to Cork when he joined An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force), working for decades as a respected Detective Garda based out of Union Quay. • Football Success: While working in Cork, he won a Cork County Senior Football Championship title in 1950 playing for the Garda club team. However, he remained fiercely loyal to his home county on the inter-county stage, lining out as a dependable right corner-back for Kerry from 1949 to 1954. The Historic 1953 Final On September 27, 1953, Jas Murphy led Kerry out onto the pitch at Croke Park for the All-Ireland "Jubilee" Final against Armagh. The game was held before a massive, record-breaking crowd of over 82,000 spectators (with thousands more breaking past the gates). Murphy anchored the defense as Kerry won the match 0-13 to 1-6, claiming the county's 17th All-Ireland title. As team captain, he was presented with the iconic Sam Maguire Cup. This beautiful Waterford crystal commemorative lidded jar was engraved to honor his vital role in bringing the Sam Maguire trophy back to the Kingdom that year. He passed away in December 2021 at the age of 98, remembered fondly as one of Kerry's legendary elder statesmen of GAA football. Because this piece is a presentation trophy specifically engraved for Jas Murphy to commemorate his 1953 All-Ireland captaincy, it enters a highly specialized collectors' market: • Estimated Auction Value: €1,500 to €3,500+ Serious offers only, please.