Played on September 29th, 1919, this All-Ireland final would be the last for seven years to be played in the same year of the championship. The 1920 final wasn't staged until June 1922 because of war and subsequent All-Irelands were also delayed.

Kildare had been surprise winners in Leinster as Dublin had been the team to put a stop to Wexford's bid for five consecutive All-Irelands. Captained by Larry Stanley, one of the great names in football history, Kildare beat Cavan in the semi-final with two goals from Frank `Joyce' Conlon who along with goalkeeper Larry Cribben was a survivor of the county's only previous All-Ireland victory in 1905.

Galway were contesting a final for the first time (Tuam Krugers had reached the home final in 1900). Inspired by the legendary - and legendarily named - Knacker Walsh, they had defeated Kerry after a replay in the semi-final.

The final was a disaster for the Galwaymen. With Walsh firmly kept under wraps, they managed only one point in the entire afternoon. With Stanley cleaning up at centrefield, Kildare led by 1-2 to nil at half-time and a second goal shortly after the interval settled the matter.

The match was watched by a crowd of 32,000, "probably a record", according to the GAA's official historian Marcus De Burca.

Kildare: L Cribben; J Conlon, J Moran, T Goulding; M Buckley, J O'Connor, P Doyle; L Stanley, M Sammon; G Magan, J Stanley, C Flynn; B McGlade, James O'Connor, F Conlon.

Galway: T Egan; D Egan, J Egan, P Higgins; M Walsh, P Roche, J Hanniffy; G Jennings, L Raftery; M Flannelly, H Burke, G Feeney; Knacker Walsh, T McDonnell, M Cawley.