Jim Smith -- Cavan. Jim Smith was the 1st Cavan captain to lift the Sam Maguire Cup in 1933. I have come across some articles on him which tells a remarkable story of the G.A.A. in the early years of the Free State. Jim Smith joined the Garda Siochana in 1927 and worked in the Louth / Meath Division. He had been playing for his county at underage since 1918 but was now an established member of the senior team. On the 30th June 1929 Cavan played Armagh in the semi-final of the Ulster Championship. At half-time Cavan were ahead 2-5 to 0-1. About 10 minutes into the second-half, James Kernan, Armagh, and Jim Smith collided. Kernan collapsed and was replaced on the advice of Dr. Tom Plunkett of Ballyhaise, as he had also been injured in the first half. After the game Kernan was again examined by Dr. Plunkett and, in the Armagh hotel, he was examined for a third time by Drs. McKee and Drumm as well as Dr. Plunkett. All three felt he was fit to return home. James Kernan was admitted to the Armagh Infirmary on monday morning in a collapsed condition. An operation was performed and a hole in the small intestine was found. He rallied after the operation but again collapsed and died on Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. An inquest was held in Armagh that afternoon. Three South Armagh men gave evidence. Patrick Sammon, a blacksmith, from Culloville, said that the deceased had jumped for the ball and caught it but as he was coming down with it he collided with the knee of the Cavan number 8. Similar statements were made by a Mr. Kirk and a Mr. Hughes. Head Constable Wynne was attacked by a James Trodden for presenting a "one sided case" and asked that all statements taken by the police be produced. The Head Constable stated that the police had not taken any other statements but said that anyone who wished to give evidence could do so. Jack Corrigan who played centre three-quarters for Armagh said that Kernan had been injured in the first-half in a clash with one of his own team and that in the second-half he collided with Smith in a jump for the ball. Corrigan stated that play had continued without a free being given but that Kernan collapsed. Further evidence was given by doctors, officials and other players that put no blame on Smith. In summing up the Coroner Mr. J.A.Peel, stated that as far as he could see James Smith did not do anything that was "in any degree out of the way of his duty as a player" The jury found that death was due to peritonitis and shock following injuries received during the football match and expressed no opinion on whether the injuries were accidental.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 09/02/2009 17:22:35    202125

Is he related to Tom Smith.

Fredthered (Donegal) - Posts: 1144 - 09/02/2009 17:27:33    202136

Brilliant Fred!

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 09/02/2009 17:33:14    202148

continued..

The verdict created a problem for the Dublin authorities. Jim Smith was a sergeant in the Garda Siochana, the newly established unarmed Police Force of the Irish Free State, and his mid-field partner was a Superintendent in the Force, Paddy Colleran. Rumours of all sorts were rife and to ensure that justice was seen to be done Jim Smith was arrested on Sat 6th July and charged that he "did felonously kill and slay one James Kernan". Smith replied "While i regret very much that the man met his death, i have a clear conscience. It was an accident for which i was not responsible". The case came before the District Court in Cavan on Thur July 18th with District Justice Hannon on the Bench. Mr. Joe Duffy S.S. appeared for the state, and the President of the G.A.A. Sean Ryan who was a solicitor represented Jim Smith.

Favourable evidence was given by Surgeon Deane, Armagh, and by Armagh players Jack Corrigan and Francis Toner. The referee Alderman T.Burke, Drogheda, and linesman Tom Cox gave evidence as did Dr. Plunkett and Superintendent Colleran. Some witnesses did not turn up. Justice Hannon said that he was impressed by the witnesses who gave a "complete picture of the incident" and that he was satisfied beyond any doubt that the evidence did not warrant sending the defendant for trial and dismissed the case.
Later Cavan again played Armagh in Dundalk in an Ulster Championship game which Cavan won. As the players left the field Hughie O'Reilly, midfield partner of Jim Smith saw a man approach Smith threateningly with a gun in hand. O'Reilly and two Armagh players tackled the man and took possession of the gun. All three players were believed to have been members of the I.R.A. When the Garda Commissioner questioned Smith about the incident he denied all knowledge of it and refused to state what had become of the gun stating "if i did know i would not tell you". Smith found himself transferred to Dublin.

Jim Smith played for Cavan from 1918 to 1937. He captained them to the 1933 All-Ireland success.
He won 13 Ulster Senior football medals. He won Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup medals with U.C.D.

I hope you found the above interesting. I have been collecting information on the heroes of the past and may relate some more interesting G.A.A. history in the future.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 09/02/2009 18:36:06    202255

John connolly in 1980

corner back (Limerick) - Posts: 37 - 09/02/2009 18:45:29    202265

Captain Christy

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 09/02/2009 20:01:34    202349

dermot o brien-1957 all ireland winning captain.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 09/02/2009 20:57:09    202415

Interesting Slasher, a good read.

And yet the two most famous captains, football and hurtling, are probably John Joe O'Reilly of Cavan, and Mick Mackay with Limerick.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 09/02/2009 22:02:17    202496

Captain Birdseye.

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 09/02/2009 22:22:14    202518

corner back joe connolly was captain in 1980 not john

jailhouse.usa (Galway) - Posts: 1155 - 10/02/2009 03:54:48    202607

John McCabe now managing Ballyhiase Ag. College was an inspiratioonal Captain OF Cavan Seniors in The Seventies

theinformer (Cavan) - Posts: 104 - 10/02/2009 09:40:24    202695

Very good slasher, knew a wee bit of that story, never read it in such detail before. very good

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 10/02/2009 09:43:48    202698

Captain Kirk
Captain crisps ( awaaaay ) Any-on remember them?
Captain Planet.

RAM85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 978 - 10/02/2009 10:18:44    202740

Captain Kirk
Captain crisps ( awaaaay ) Any-on remember them?
Captain Planet.

RAM85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 978 - 10/02/2009 10:19:08    202743

Captain Kirk
Captain crisps ( awaaaay ) Any-on remember them?
Captain Planet.

RAM85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 978 - 10/02/2009 10:19:08    202744

Captain Caaaaave-Maaaaaan!!

RAM85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 978 - 10/02/2009 10:20:12    202747

Enter-key jammed

RAM85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 978 - 10/02/2009 10:20:56    202748

Pugwash was another famous captain , as was the great Dublin captain of the 1970's Tony Hanahoe.

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 10/02/2009 10:44:35    202779

corner back joe connolly was captain in 1980 not john

jailhouse.usa
County: Galway
Posts: 17

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center half forward

Clash-of-da-ash (Galway) - Posts: 927 - 10/02/2009 12:51:50    202932

keano

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 10/02/2009 12:55:52    202943