chronicles so much of what could be unearthed about the early pursuit of the silverware donated by the Dunmanway-born Maguire. What was initially an attempt to discover the club provenance of those who participated in the finals developed into something much more as they provide details of the championships and events that led to some finals being delayed to the following years. The tome shines a light on the context around the games as well as chartering the game's evolution and the great detail to which both winners and losers have been treated shows the pair's deep affection for Gaelic football. Their Trojan efforts, which are set to be repeated in 2027 when the Sam Maguire Cup is contested for the 100th time, will be greatly received in a sport that is only beginning to appreciate its historic worth
-- Irish Examiner
It's a brilliant read and is an ideal gift coming up to Christmas
-- Shane Stapleton of OurGame
A must buy for any GAA supporter
-- Killian Whelan of KFM
The book is a monumental exercise - putting significant amounts of work into the uncovering of information that by rights should have already been established. All GAA and football enthusiasts are in the debt of Keys and Reilly for producing a ground-breaking account of the early evolution of the competition for Ireland's most famous sporting trophy
-- Sean Moran, Irish Times
brilliant piece of work
-- The Irish Sun
A unique and valuable addition on the history of the Sam Maguire Cup
-- Leinster Leader
a brilliant history of the All Irelands of each of those years
-- Kildare Nationalist
a fabulous read
-- RTE Radio 1, Marty Morrisey
Definitely a book for the Christmas shortlist ... draws you into a rich world of nostalgia ... a fantastic book
-- Radio Kerry's Terrace Talk
a heavyweight chronicle .. The book is the brainchild of Dermot Reilly and he, along with Colm Keys have put in an incredible amount of time and effort in their research to ensure that what it contains is accurate, precise and informative
-- Leinster Leader
a deep dive into the All-Ireland football championship from 1928 to 1977
-- John Greene, Sunday Independent
a really brilliant book which goes far beyond simply reeling off teams and scorelines. It contains many fascinating storylines around All-Ireland finals that I was oblivious to until now. Kudos to @KeysColm. Wonderfully produced by @OBrienPress as always
-- Pat Nolan, Irish Mirror
a lavish production. Chasing Sam Maguire covers 50 seasons (1928-1977), unearthing many fascinating nuggets along the way
-- Irish Independent
Keys and Reilly have produced a stunning book, full of titbits and photos and characters that would in most cases have been lost to the ages
-- Irish Times - Malachy Clerkin's Best Sports Books of the Year
Facts, figures and a whole load more relating to the hunt for All-Ireland glory are contained in Chasing Sam Maguire by Dermot Reilly and Colm Keys (The O'Brien Press). The period covered by the book is 1928 - when the Sam Maguire Cup was first contested - to 1977 so it encompasses the first fifty years in which Sam was the reward for All-Ireland glory. (Part 2 to come, perhaps, once the 2027 final is decided?) ... impressive detail ... This book is also set to be an important reference point for many, myself included, in the years ahead
-- MayoGAABlog
thrilling
-- Woman's Way
tremendous work. The authors have painstakingly charted 50 All-Ireland championships, describing the action and context of the early rounds and focusing heavily on the finals. Listing the correct details for All-Ireland finals - including what clubs the players were registered with - was no easy feat. Gaelic games records are notoriously patchy and Keys and Reilly have addressed this authoritatively, based on detailed research, trawling of the newspaper archives and contacting some esteemed 'keepers of the records' in various counties. The result is a superb addition to the GAA canon which has been very warmly received ... brilliant ... The authors have skilfully weaved the evolving story of sport and society together with the first truly complete list of All-Ireland final statistics from this period, starting with 1928, the year in which Reilly's own Kildare landed the All-Ireland SFC crown ... This is a book which can be read in a couple of sittings or dipped in and out of and will be an invaluable reference for generations to come
-- The Anglo Celt
a great overview ... a brilliant book, packed with facts but fun with it. The depth of research involved is astounding
-- Irish News
wonderful book
-- Donegal Democrat
two authors deserve immense credit for their painstaking research and ability to mine some gems of stories from each of the first 50 years that the Sam Maguire was contested ... a monumental work ... will be used as reference for years to come
-- Irish Daily Mail
magnificent book
-- Meath Chronicle
