The Niall Smullen Cup

The Niall Smullen Cup was founded in 1925 by the Gaelic Athletic Association It was competition desinged for smaller, more struggling clubs. The cup is only eligible to clubs in Kildare. The cup itself was named after Sallins-based footballer Niall Smullen. Smullen was one of Sallins finest ever players throughout the 1890s and early 1900s. Niall holds the record for the most points scored in the Kildare Senior Football Championship final. He scored 1-10, and the game ended with Sallins winning 2-15 to Celbridge's 1-14. Niall later went on the play wing-forward for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning Kildare side of 1903. Niall died in 1921, aged 52, from a heart-related disease. The competition was cancelled in 1995 because of lack of funds. The first ever winner of the cup was Sallins in 1925, they beat Timahoe to claim the cup.

Winners

The winners of the competition were widespread throughout Kildare but the most excelled teams are Sallins, Athy, Naas, Allenwood and Sarsfields.

Peak

The cup peaked to a provincial climax in the late 1960s to the early 1970s. Teams from Dublin, Meath, Offaly competed in the ever-growing cup. The provincial cup was then cancelled and The Niall Smullen Cup was returned to County level.