Mick Higgins

Michael Higgins (22 August 1922 – 28 January 2010) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played at senior level for the Cavan county team, winning three All-Ireland medals during his career. In later years he was a successful coach.

His first All-Ireland Senior Football medal came as a member of the team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final played at the Polo Grounds in New York City, United States in 1947. Cavan retained that title the following year and won it again in 1952 when Higgins was captain of the team. Higgins also won the Ulster Senior Football Championship with Cavan on seven occasions, as well as both the National Football League and Railway Cup on two occasions each. Seán Moran of The Irish Times described him as "one of the great football figures of the last century". He also assisted the Donegal county team with its first Ulster Senior Football Championship win (1972).

He was interviewed at his Virginia home in 2002. In an interview shortly before his death Higgins was asked what his legacy would be. He replied:

Higgins died at the age of 87 in January 2010. His funeral and burial took place on 30 January 2010. His death meant that Owen Roe McGovern, who died in 2011, was the last survivor from Cavan All-Ireland winning teams of 1947 and '48.

In his tribute Christy Cooney, President of the Gaelic Athletic Association, said Higgins was "a man who made an immense and lasting contribution to Gaelic games".