Sam Maguire gets a kicking

Galway's players celebrate their superb victory

Galway GAA has been rocked by the revelation that the All-Ireland Football Championship trophy was kicked along one of the county's streets.

The Sam Maguire Cup is the most famous trophy in Irish sport but it was damaged in the aftermath of Galway's defeat by Kerry on 4 August.

The incident is understood to have happened when the cup was being brought from one Tuam pub to another.

"Apparently, there was more than one individual involved in kicking the Sam Magure about 30 or 40 yards up Shop Street in Tuam," said Tuam Herald reporter Tom Gilmore.

"It has caused consternation but the Gardai's hands here appear to be tied.

There are varying stories about the extent of the damage

Tuam Herald reporter Tom Gilmore

"While they are aware of the incident, they can't investigate because a formal complaint has not been made," added the Tuam journalist.

The Galway GAA board are understood to have had the cup repaired and it could be on display in the county before the end of this week.

"There are varying stories about the extent of the damage.

"Some people say it was severely damaged but county board official John Power insisted that the damage was slight," added the journalist.