Joseph Stafford (10 March 1918 – 17 June 2000) was a Gaelic footballer who played for the Cavan county team.

Joe Stafford
Personal information
Irish name Seosamh Stafort
Sport Gaelic football
Position Right corner-forward
Born 19 March 1918
Killinkere, County Cavan, Ireland
Died 17 June 2000 (aged 82)
St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Occupation Hotelier
Club(s)
Years Club
Killinkere
Seán McDermotts
Club titles
Cavan titles 0
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
1943–1950
Cavan
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 6
All-Irelands 2
NFL 1

Playing career

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Stafford played at right full forward and was a prolific goalscorer for Cavan in the 1940s. He is 9th in All-time top Ulster goalscorers chart. His goal was crucial in securing Cavan's famous victory in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final in Polo Grounds, New York in 1947. He helped Cavan retain the title the following year against County Mayo. He also won a National Football League medal in 1949/50 season. Joe Stafford was the first man to be sent off in an All-Ireland final. He had been ordered off with fifteen minutes left in the 1943 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final against Roscommon.[1] His nephew, Jimmy Stafford, also played with Cavan in the 1960s and 1970s.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Kelly, Tom (3 February 2010). "A football life less ordinary". The Anglo-Celt. In 1943 [Mick Higgins] was left-half forward on the team that lost to Roscommon in the replayed All-Ireland final. Cavan had finished that game with fourteen players when Joe Stafford had been ordered off with fifteen minutes left.
  2. ^ Fitzpatrick, Paul (14 March 2020). "In praise of Joe Stafford, Cavan's first goal king". The Anglo-Celt. Retrieved 18 March 2021.