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Dublin: 7 °C Thursday 23 May, 2013

Reeling in the years: new DVD captures magic of past All-Ireland football finals

The IFI Irish Film Archive production, GAA Football Gold, features highlights of Sam Maguire deciders from the National Film Institute which have been made available to own at home for the first time.

THE LIKES OF Dublin manager Pat Gilroy, his star forward Bernard Brogan and Hill 16 legend Kevin Heffernan today launched a new DVD which captures All-Ireland deciders from decades ago.

The IFI Irish Film Archive production, GAA Football Gold, features highlights of Sam Maguire deciders from the National Film Institute which have been made available to own at home for the first time.

The release features finals from the 1940s and ’50s featuring players like Galway’s Frankie Stockwell and Seán Purcell, Cork’s Denis ‘Toots’ Kelleher, the aforementioned Kevin Heffernen, Kerry’s Mick O’Connell and Seán Murphy; and Cavan’s Peter Donohoe, P.J Duke and John Joe O’Reilly.

The DVD includes victories for Kerry, Meath, Dublin, Mayo and Galway as well as a golden era for Cavan football with three wins and a rare All-Ireland victory for Louth.

The films have been remastered and digitised by the staff of the IFI Irish Film Archive, who preserve the original film reels in climate-controlled vaults.

Here’s some of our favourite stills from the films.

Reeling in the years: new DVD captures magic of past All-Ireland football finals
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  • GAA football Gold

    A young Cork supporter in 1957.
  • GAA football Gold

    The Dublin and Derry teams parade before the 1958 All-Ireland final.
  • GAA Football Gold

    The Artane Boys Band - as it was then - at the 1958 All-Ireland decider between Dublin and Derry.
  • GAA Football Gold

    Cameraman at the 1957 All-Ireland Final
  • GAA Football Gold

    Cavan players celebrate their win at the 1952 All-Ireland Final.
  • GAA Football Gold

    Standing to attention at the 1956 decider between Galway and Cork.
  • GAA Football Gold

    The 1955 All-Ireland Final between Kerry and Dublin.
  • GAA Football Gold

    The Armagh team pose before the 1953 All-Ireland Final, which they lost to Kerry

  • The DVD is priced €19.99 and is available from www.ifi.ie, the IFI Film Shop and all good DVD retailers, with profits going to the newly launched IFI Irish Film Archive Preservation Fund.

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