Cavan GAA is mourning the loss of an All-Ireland medal hero after the passing of James McCabe – a member of the 1952 All-Ireland winning team. 

He made his Cavan senior championship debut in the 1949 All-Ireland final defeat by Meath. A defender renowned for his long kick off the ground, he was part of the Cavan side who won the league title in 1950 and defeated Meath after a replay to win the Sam Maguire of 1952. The news of his passing comes after another key member of the 1952 team, Johnny Cusack, passed away in July. 

In an eventful career, James McCabe featured in Cavan senior finals with Mullahoran and Ballinagh and later played inter-county football for Sligo while also making important club contributions with UCC and UCD while he pursued an impressive academic career. 

Uachtarán CLG John Horan said: “Gaelic football enjoyed a real surge in popularity in the 1940s and 50s and was helped in no small part by the exploits of the Cavan teams of this era, when they were considered a benchmark for footballing excellence. James was a key part of this and played an important role in their memorable success of 1952.” 

The Association extends its sympathies to his wife Kay and to the McCabe family on their loss. 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.