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1. John O'Leary

2. Barney Rock

3. Seán Doherty

4. Des Foley

5. Kevin Heffernan

6. Jimmy Keaveney

Welcome to the hall of Fame,where you can read about:

John O’Leary

- First player to play in 70 consecutive championship matches as Dublin’s Goalkeeper (1980-1997)
- 5 All-stars
- 2 All-Ireland titles, 8 Leinster titles, 2 League titles.
- 4 Years Dublin’s Championship captain

John O’Leary’s story is the story of Dublin football 1980-1997. He was part of every triumph and every defeat of this – Dublins most roller-coasterof times.

John was born in 1961. At the age of 16 he was goalkeeping for the O’Dwyers club in Balbriggan. His first break came in 1978 when he was called upon to be the Dublin Minor sub goalie. He saw no action that year but fulfilled the promise shortly after his leaving cert the folowing year by playing in the minor team that won that years title, beating a much hyped Kerry team by a point. It was O’Leary’s first taste of the big time – victory in Croke Park.

The following year O’Leary’s career really took off. Too old now for the minor team, O’Leary started the championship with the under-21’s. On the morning of the Senior Leinster Final, Kevin Heffernan informed O’Leary he would be Dublin’s senior goalkeeper against Offaly. From that day on O’Leary would play in every Dublin Championship match till 1998. O’Leary played well on his debut but Dublin lost their first Leinster championship match in 7 years.

Now very much part of the senior squad O’Leary secured the save of the season award in 1981 against Wicklow during a short Leinster campaign. In 1982 O’Leary was between the posts again for his third season with the Dubs but was beaten by Offaly in the Leinster Final.

Despite 3 years in the Dublin jersey O’Leary had yet (unlike most in the team) to win a Leinster let alone an All-Ireland medal. 1983 was to be different. Meath gave Dublin a scare in the first round giving an advance hint of the future threat. It took 2 games and extra time to beat them. O’Leary more than played his part – saving a penalty in the second game. Dublin advanced, brushed Louth aside and set a date with the All-Ireland Champions Offaly in the Leinster Final. Ina tense match o’Leary won his first Leinster title. They were now to face Cork in the Semi-final.

21st August 1983 – Dublin 5 points down and eleven minutes from being dumped out of the Championship. Cork already planning the final against Galway. 2 Points later and a sensational Barney Rock goal and O’Leary and the Dublin team were heading down south to play the replay in Parc Ui Caoimh. Cork were confident on their home patch but Dublin turned in the performance of the decade to bring O’Leary to his first Senior All-Ireland Final . Dublin 4:15 Cork 2:10.

That Final has gone down in infamy – the most controversial final in memory included 4 sendings-off and a half time tussle. Either way it was Dublin’s first win in 6 years and O’Leary’s greatest acheivement to date. Nobody would have thought it would be so long again before Dublin would taste All-Ireland victory again.

1983 marked the peak of O’Leary’s early career with Dublin. 1995 was the peak of his later career. In between were some tough soul-searching times for the Dubs. True 1984 and 1985 brought 2 more Leinster titles but also brought 2 heavy defeats at the hands of the Kingdom. From 1986 to 1991 Meath beat Dublin 5:1 in Leinster. Leinster titles seemed to have all dried up for Dublin. O’Leary suffered too conceding 11 goals to Meath in this period (including the 91 series). The only time Dublin did come out of Leinster, Cork put an end to our hopes. The most gut wrenching year of all was 1991. When it took 4 matches to separate the Dubs from the Royals. Meaths win should have devastated Dublin but grit and determination overcame disappointment and little known to the legions on the Hill that day was the fact that Meath would not beat Dublin again for over 5 years. O’Leary had played his eleventh Championship match with Dublin and a new breakthrough seemed as far away as ever. One of the only veterans of 1983 O’Leary must have thought that retirement was all that awaited him – not 4 Leinster titles and an All-Ireland in the next 5 years.

Dublin’s Leinster breakthrough came again in 1992. Laois ambushed Meath and Did Dublin a massive favour. Meath could not now win their 6th Leinster title in 7 years. Kildare were beaten and Clare next. Dublin had broken Meaths grip on Leinster but no sooner had they that another more unlikely grip was installed to thwart Dublins hopes – Ulsters grip on All-Ireland titles. Donegal beat Dublin in a Final we left behind. 1993 – Derry beat us in the semi en route to a final victory and in 1994 more heartbreak as Leinster dominance failed to help us against Down in another Final. O’Leary really felt the pinch – He had played in 5 All-Irelands and lost 4. 1993 was terribly disappointing for O’Leary as he did not put a foot wrong – 5 matches, 5 clean sheets. Even so these were great times in Leinster and his medal collection was growing.

1995 was to bring late justification for O’Leary’s incredible career. By now he was 34, team captain and on of the old hands of the team. Dublin beat Louth, then Laois in Navan as O’Leary kept clean sheets. Dublin hammered Meath in the Leinster Final. Sherlock’s wonder goal against Cork helped decide that issue. Victory against Tyrone and a clean sheet against a team including the mighty Peter Canavan was O’Leary’s greatest triumph – mad all the sweeter by the recent set-backs. 12 years since his first All- Ireland medal here at last was his second. (only Charlie Redmond collected a second medal that day too). O’Leary had seen it all – he had been to Australia with the Irish team and captained a Railway Cup winning Leinster squad. He toyed with a well justified retirement on this his finest hour but knew there was more to this team.

Unfortunately there was no more glory for O’Leary. Meath were back on top in 1996 on the way to their own glory and again beat us in 1997. Once Paul Bealin missed a late penalty against Meath that year, O’Leary’s career bowed to the inevitable. Move over John O’Leary come in Davy Byrne.

John O’Leary is now a selector for the Dublin Football team.

BARNEY ROCK

In an exclusive interview with Hill 16.com’s John Duggan, Dubs legend Barney Rock reflects on a lengthy and fascinating career with the metropolitans, while also giving his views on Tommy Carr's current crop and the state of the game in general.

Career: Rock first plied his trade with the Dublin minors, losing an All-Ireland Minor to Mayo in 1978 before returning to beat Kerry a year later. The Ballymun Kickhams star made his championship debut against Cork in the National League, also in 1979. Rock won an Intermediate, 2 Dublin Championships with Ballymun in 1982 & 1985, 4 Leinster titles: (1983, 1984, 1985, 1989) and 1 All-Ireland: 1983. He called it a day after the marathon series against the Royals in 1991.

Rock faced three footballing giants throughout his career. Offaly won a three in a row in Leinster from 1980-1982, Meath did the same from 1986-1988 and Rock also faced the Kingdom in two All-Irelands in 1984 and 85, losing both. Rock's view on rivalry was simple: "It was exceptional. You had Offaly, Kerry and Meath. It was swings and roundabouts really. You couldn't put one above the other."

So 1983 will be remembered for all the right reasons. After ending Offaly's reign in the Leinster Final (2-13 to 1-11), Dublin came back from the brink, five points down to snatch a draw against Cork at Croker in the semi final. Rock got the brilliant equalising goal in the dying seconds to tie up the match: 2-11 to 2-11.

And so it was on to Cork for the replay as the Dubs triumphed in the blazing sunshine of Pairc Ui Caoimh on that famous late August afternoon, by 4-15 to 2-10, Rock bagging another goal. The final against Galway was less memorable; three players were sent off from Heffo's side and Dublin had to rely on a sizeable lead at the break before holding on to win by two points (1-10 to 1-8) again Rock scored Dublin’s crucial goal.

Winning the All-Ireland will obviously live long in Rock's memory and he agrees: "I would have to say that the trip to Cork and the way we played must rank high, as would making the breakthrough against Offaly earlier in the year. As regards the goal in the first game, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time." "The final was a bad old day, and people are likely to remember the bad things that occurred above anything else. We were fortunate that we had the six-point cushion over Galway at half time. The day didn't really suit our type of game."

1983 will certainly be fondly remembered but it could be argued that Dublin should have taken Sam back to the capital on many more occasions. They would have to endure two heartbreaking defeats after Rock had retired, in 1992 and 1994, before success finally came the Dubs' way. Why didn't the Dubs live up to the potential in the 1980's? "Brian Mullins' injury at his prime was a major loss. We had opportunities to win more. In 1984 we never seemed to be at the races. In 1985, two goals from Joe McNally got us to within a point of Kerry but the reality was that they had too much of a lead, 1-8 to 0-2 at half time. The 1986 Leinster final against Meath was a game we could have won. I would go as far to say that we were a little unlucky in the downpour. We had enough chances, but we missed free after free and ended up losing by two." Many supporters would have entrusted Rock with the penalty kick in injury time to force the 1988 Leinster Final into a replay. Vinny Murphy had been pulled down in the area as Dublin trailed by three. Charlie Redmond skied the kick. Rock says: "1988 was disappointing. I was told not to take the penalty even though I had scored three in the previous month for my club."

A year later Dublin did make the breakthrough from Leinster, but the tables turned in another semi with Cork. "I felt we had a real chance in 1989. We did very well to beat Meath in what was a fantastic game, and despite being seven points up against Cork, we couldn't put them away and they rallied in the second half, when I felt Keith Barr was sent off somewhat harshly." Such disappointments are clear to see, but Rock's baptism of fire was the Mayo game as a youngster. " There obviously have been many disappointments. Losing the All Ireland minor in 1978 was hard to take, as we were six points up with only four minutes to go."

Kevin Heffernan was the God to the fans on the Hill and to Rock he was no different. "He was a big influence, a 'giant' of the game, but I wasn't ever in awe of him, I was just a young lad who wanted to go and play football, although I always found it crucial to listen." Barney would take up position on the right and preferred half forward to full forward, as he felt it gave him the option of running into space. Playing half forward meant that you had to face tough opponents, and Rock acknowledges "three specifically, in Martin O Connell, Jimmy Kerrigan and Ger Lynch."

Barney Rock, like Charlie Redmond will always be remembered on the Hill for his extraordinary free-taking ability, something that earmarked him as a legend. He admits, "I never felt pressure taking them. I thoroughly enjoyed freetaking. As regards preparation, I would concentrate on it for about three quarters of an hour after training. In many respects it's a dying art, with the ball now being kicked from the hands."

The game still retains its amateur status and the vigour of Gaelic Football combined with large crowds hasn’t changed but Rock feels that the game has altered. "It's definitely quicker, the training in my view is still as hard but not as good. I would even say that the skill level has diminished somewhat. Especially regarding frees, where one can run 4-5 yards before taking one. I've seen some atrocious passing in recent times. You don't need to change as many rules. The pick up should be scrapped."

So who will win this year's All-Ireland? "I predicted Mayo to beat Galway, but I would still side with Meath, if they sort out their attack." I would have doubts whether Mayo can keep up their scoring rate. Cork were impressive against Kerry and you cannot tell what Ulster will throw up. It's still very open"

SEAN DOHERTY:

It's 25 years ago now since Sean Doherty led Heffo's army out onto the field for Dublin's first triumph in 11 years. Sean ( 3rd from right sitting) captained the breakthrough team that heralded in Dublin's most glorious era in football since the 20's.

Incredibly for such an important figure in GAA folklore, Sean was a Wicklow man and actually played senior football for the garden county. Born in 1946 in remote, beautiful Glenealy near Ashford, Sean learned his love of football from his father and uncle. He was educated firstly in CBS Wicklow and later after his move to Ballsbridge in the mid 50's, Oatlands College in Stillorgan, still a great GAA school. Sean played for Kilmacud as a minor and later joined Ballyboden St Enda's.

Sean was a born captain. He led both Oatland's football and hurling teams and guided ballyboden to a junior county title in 1968 - one of the highlights of his career. Soon after Senior football beckoned. Doherty was asked to play for Wicklow - first at under 21 and then senior. But during the league the relationship turned sour and Sean never did play senior for the blues of Wicklow. Instead Sean's career took a dramatic turn as the Dublin county board came knocking for the talented defender.

Sean played full back for Dublin from 1968. Defeat however was the order of the day as the Dubs failed to make an impression in Leinster. It seemed Sean would never captain a Leinster winning side let alone an All-Ireland winning one. Sean was 27 when Kevin Heffernan was re-installed by county chairman and ex hurler Jimmy Gray.

Heffernan re-established pride in the Dublin jersey. He built his own team around only the most dedicated footballers, training sessions intensified, preparations were thorough. Heffo's army were ready for their first serious attempt at Sam by Spring 1974 and to lead them on the field Heffo chose Sean Doherty, the 27 year old full back from Glenealy.

Sean's own game was to improve dramatically under Heffo's stewardship as the full back began to stick tighter to his man. Throughout the long Leinster campaign Sean was excellent at neutralising the threats posed by successive full forwards of Wexford, Louth, Offaly, Kildare and finally Meath. As Leinster Champions, Dublin faced favourites and All-Ireland champions Cork in the semi-final. Dublin football had never seen such hype before.

Even though Heffernan was the first manager to seriously prepare players for media intrusion and fan adoration, Sean still felt the tension mount in the capital. On the day of the game he remembers the teeming crowds as putting a little extra pressure on the Dubs " we had to go and win, these guys were coming to see us and expecting us to do it". But win they did in a great game to reach the final against the tribesmen of Galway.

The 1974 final was a momentous day for Dublin football and one you can read about in Great days in Blue. Doherty did not have his greatest day, in fact it was his quietest day of the year. Even so he was tight on Liam Sammon and contributed to much play. Nothing however could take away from the climb to the Ard Comhairle to reunite Sam and Capital. Sean was the first Dub since Des Foley in 1963 to do so. The closing scenes of the match are utterly unforgettable - even Heffo himself helping out the Gardai trying (in vain) to keep delirious fans off the turf of Croker.

Sean was to experience 2 more All-Ireland triumphs but never again as captain. Tony Hanahoe took over for the victories of 76 & 77. Despite this Sean's contribution to those 2 wins was incalculable as he earned the reputation as one of the very best full backs of the 70's and Dublin finest in a generation. Never since the 20's has a Dublin full back won 3 All-Ireland medals ( it puts him in the illustrious company of Sean Walsh of Kerry and Noel Tierney of Galway). Only one full back since the war has won more medals - John O'Keefe (4). Sean also won 6 Leinster titles in a row, 2 leagues and an All Star in 1974 recognising his contribution to a great year for the "Jacks".

DES FOLEY:

The great Des Foley will always command huge affection from all Dubs fans. He was a dual star of true class whose greatest achievement was in football - captaining the All-Ireland winning team of 1963. In hurling he played centre field for Dublin in the 1961 decider when Dublin lost to Tipperary by a solitary point. What an achievement that could have been. Incredibly though Des' truly remarkable feat was winning 2 Railway cup medals for Leinster on the same day for Football and Hurling.

St Patrick's day 1962 bore witness to this unique occasion. Firstly Des showed his hurling talents by helping to defeat Munster and followed this up later with the defeat of Ulster in the football contest. Des hardly had time to put on a fresh jersey before having to rush out to join the already departed football parade. To add to the achievement, he was suffering from a head cold on the day in question.

One of the first footballers to wish him luck in that 2nd railway cup final was Sean O'Neill of Down. The great Sean O'Neill's and Des Foley's paths would cross on many occasions in the late 50's and early 60's. They played against each other in the minor semi-final of 1958, which Dublin won. Des as captain of the minors was on hand to accept the cup when the Dubs won the Minor title later that year (it was his second minor medal). Later still that day, Kevin Heffernan (with Des' brother Lar) claimed Sam Maguire as Dublin achieved that remarkable Double. Heffo would be selector next time Dublin won the title and Des Foley would be captain. Foley then became the first footballer to captain a minor and senior football winning team.

Sean O'Neill, beaten by Foley and Dublin in 58, would win 2 senior medals for Down before Des won his senior. O'Neill was nominated on the team of the Millennium.

Des was born in 1940 in Kinsealy, still a very rural part of Dublin. Unlike most Dublin players today therefore his background was agricultural. Foley always believed that the outdoor work contributed to his and brother Lar's success. You would never have thought the Foley brothers came from Dublin given that they only received electricity in the late 50's and water in the 60's.

Des won minors in 56 and 58 and senior in 63 but at club level his team St.Vincent's were virtually unbeatable. Between 1959 and 1972, Foley won no fewer than 14 county championships with Vincents. 10 football and 4 hurling. His last club final win in 1972 was the beginning of a long campaign which ended up in the All-Ireland Club Championship final against Nemo Rangers of Cork. At the age of 32 Des suffered defeat after a replay. It was a bitter defeat for the Kinsealy, Vincent's man.

But this was well into the future as the championship started in 1963. 1962 had seen Dublin defeated by the eventual winners Kerry in the semi final. Kevin Heffernan had retired and many of the winners of 1958 were gone. In fact only 3 of the 58 team would line out in the final in 63, Des's brother Lar, John Timmons and Des Ferguson. With Heffo gone (albeit a selector) it was dificult to see how Dublin could go 2 steps better this year. Des was a young 23 year old captain.

Meath awaited the Dubs in the first round and provided stiff opposition. The first game ended in a draw and the replay went Dublin's way, but only by the slimmest of margins. The victory was the culmination of a great second half comeback. The Royals had gone 7 points clear after 30 minutes (2:5 to 1:1) only John Timmons had scored for the Blues. Des played a captain's role in midfield in the second half as Dublin overhauled their rivals. Lar Foley was moved to full forward and notched 2 points, Mickey Whelhan scored the crucial goal, while it was Des who popped over the winner as Meath were held scoreless for the entire second period.

After the great win over Meath, Dublin faced the Lillywhites but a first half accident broke Foley's wrist and he had to go off. The Dubs won nonetheless but Des wouldn't join them until after the Leinster final when as Leinster Champions they faced the might of Down and once again, Sean O'Neill.

Lar had taken over as captain during his brother's absence, but now made way for the recovered Des. The opposition were a famous team. Down had won the championship in 1960 and again in 1961, becoming the first team to take the cup across the border. Now in 1963 they were back to lay claim to their 3rd in 4 years. Des Foley and the Dubs stood firm however and won a cracking semi final. Dublin were in their first final since 1958. Galway were there first though.

In defeating the Tribesmen that September, Dublin became the only team to that would beat Galway in the Championship for nearly 5 years. Galway's future 3 in a row team were taught a sobering lesson that day in Croke Park. In a tight match which Dublin dominated for long spells only 2 points separated the teams at full time. Galway could have won and hit the bar on 2 occasions. Either way Sam Maguire was sitting on the Foley mantlepiece by dinner-time that evening and the Foley home became mobbed with visitors for months to come.

Incidentally the attendance of 87,000 is the last time the crowds have exceeded 80,000 as subsequent seating reduced the capacity in "Croker".

The victory of 1963 bridges the gap between 58 and the great wins of the 70's. Unfortunately there were to be no more triumphs till 1974. In 1964 Meath made no mistakes and beat the Foley's and the Dubs well to win their first title in 10 years. We came back to claim the silverware in 65 but were beaten by the Kingdom in the semi final of that year. 65 was the last Leinster Championship before the breakthrough year of 1974. In fact Dublin football went into marked decline. The Foley's and other players of the era 58-63 drifted away.

Des Foley was a true giant of the game and a wonderful dual star. The loss of the Hurling final of 1961 therefore was a tragedy. Not only would a win have been spectacular for Hurling in the capital and elsewhere but it would have crowned the career of Des Foley.

KEVIN HEFFERNAN:

· Dublin's only member of the "Team of the Millennium"

· 1 All Ireland as a player

· 3 League titles

· 7 Railway Cups

· 21 County Championships

· Managed 3 All Ireland winning sides.

When Kevin Heffernan was chosen for the team of the Millennium in summer 1999, the paudits came flooding in, It was a justified award for the undisputed giant of Dublin football. Not only for helping to deliver All-Ireland victory in 1958 (ending a 16 year famine) but most importantly for his leadership of Heffo's army which brought such glory to the capital in the 70's and 80's. At a local level, Heffo was a loyal stalwart for St.Vincent's in both codes - winning 21 county championships. At an international level his managerial excellence was recognised by the GAA who chose him to lead the Irish team in Australia 1986 to a great victory. His acheivements are legendary.

Where then does one start on the subject of Kevin Heffernan. In Marino of his childhood? Kevin was 13 when Dublin won the 42 championship. The next time the Dub's won the title, Heffernan would be captain, a stunning "roving forward" and a household name throughout the land.

Heffo - The Footballer

Heffernan gained his first major medal for Dublin back in 1953. That National league victory was Dublin's first and made all the sweeter by the defeat of All-Ireland Champions Cavan in the final. The Breffni Blues had just won their 3rd title in 6 years. Dublin fans sensed that after 11 years in the wilderness, the Dubs were on course again. Spearheading the charge - Kevin Heffernan, The "Roving Forward" - Heffo got the name in reference to his phenomenal workrate and movement during a game. Being too short to compete effectively for high balls, Heffernan used his pace, vision and darting runs to make space, receive a pass and then run at defences. His scoring rate was incredible. (Between 1955 and 1962 he scored 52 goals and 172 points in top flight football).

Kevin won his 2nd of 2 league medals in 55 and this time Dublin added the Leinster title. Heffo by now was the talk of the country. In the league final Dublin put 2:12 passed Meath and then in the Leinster final added another 3 goals, beating the Royals 5:12 to 7 points. He had also just won his 4th Railway Cup medal, playing in 7 out of 8 games as Leinster won the first 4 in a row in Railway Cup history.

Despite the hype Dublin would have to wait. The All-Ireland was snatched by Kerry, 12 to 1-6. This defeat had a impact on Heffernan and began an amazing rivalry between himself and the Kingdom that would reach a crescendo in the 70's and 80's.

In 1958 the Dublin team finally reached the promised land. It ended 16 years of defeat and despair. Heffernan was captain and Derry the vanquished as the Dubs won by 6 points. It was the culmination of an amazing year. Dublin had beaten Kildare in the League final and had won the Minor title also. Heffernan's captaincy made all the difference. Always a man of determination, the previous years defeat at the hands of Louth rankled. Heffo made a promise that 58 would be different and it was.

Kevin would suffer defeat to the Kingdom and the great Mick O'Connell (also on the team of the Millennium) in the semi of 1959. Playing at no. 5 that day for Kerry was a young man called Mick O'Dwyer. Heffernan's rivalry with O'Dwyer would not end there , it would last a further 26 years.

1962 was the next time Dublin would come out of Leinster and once again O'Connell, O'Dwyer and partners spoiled the plans. It was to be Heffernan's last championship game for Dublin. Heffo had already done enough to merit entry to the Hall of Fame. But in truth his greatest contribution to Dublin football was yet to come.

Heffo - The Manager

In 1973 the Dublin County Chairman, Jimmy Grey asked Heffo to manage the Senior Football Team. It was 12 years since Heffo had left the team. It was 11 years since they had won a National Title. In fact only one Leinster title was the haul since 1963. They were entering Division 2 of the League. With Heffo they would turn it all around. They were entering an amazing phase for Dublin football. 4 All Ireland's in the next 10 years, and Heffo made the difference. Promised a free hand, Heffo began to construct his army. His selectors were Donal Colfer and Lorcan Redmond. He needed a free taker so recalled Jimmy Keaveney. To this day Heffernan rates Jimmy as the finest free taker in the history of the GAA. Fitness had been neglected, now it was top of the agenda. Dublin became the fittest team in the land. This team was not a new team but new levels of fitness, new tactics and a fresh determination lifted then to new heights.

Dublin beat Cork and Galway on their way to the 1974 championship. For Heffo it was a dream turned reality. After the final whistle blew he turned to his selectors…”I can remember their faces distinctly, and I’m sure they can remember mine, simple disbelief that it had come right. Generally these fairytales don’t have the happiest endings, but this one certainly did”.

Dublin would win the next 5 Leinster titles. In 1975 Kerry again defeated Dublin in the final. The manager was furious. He knew Dublin could beat the young pretenders from the kingdom. Victory over Kerry in the 1976 final must rate as Heffernan’s most satisfying moment. It was the first time Dublin had beaten Kerry in the championship since Heffernan became involved in Dublin GAA. It was revenge for 55 and 75 all in one.

Shortly after the game and to national surprise, Heffo quit the job. He was succeeded swiftly by the winning captain Tony Hanahoe who ably took over and kept the winning team winning.

Once again though Heffernan’s had more to give. His leaving turned out only to be a rest and Heffo was back at the helm by the 78 championship. Unfortunately Kerry had turned the tables and won the next 2 encounters in 78 and 79. Dublin’s ageing stars began to leave. Paddy Cullen made way for John O’Leary, Hanahoe and others had little left in the tank. Defeat to Offaly in 1980 and 1981 added to a an accident which put Brian Mullins out of action seemed to conspire to end Heffo’s dreams of another title win.

But Heffernan thought differently. He fashioned another team capable of victory and victory was theirs. The blend of old – O’Toole, Drumm and a recovered Mullins, and new - Rock, O’Leary and Hazley worked perfectly to snatch an unexpected win in 1983. Heffo had delivered another win. It was his last.

Heffo’s last 2 years in charge ended in final defeat to the old rivals Kerry. But even this can’t dull the gloss of Heffo’s golden years. In 1986 he was chosen to manage the Compromise teams trip to Australia and returned in triumph. Far away from glory in Sydney and Melbourne, Heffernan liked nothing more than playing with St. Vincent’s. Maybe here lie his greatest memories of all with 21 county championships – 15 in football and 6 in hurling.

JIMMY KEAVENEY

3 All-Ireland Medals – 74,76,77

2 Texaco Footballer of the year awards

Club Chanpionship – St Vincents 1976

Master scorer – 2-06 in the all-Ireland Final of 1977, 1-11 in a Leinster match v Louth.

Jimmy Keaveney had been with the Dubs through the depression – 9 years of under achievement that haunted the blues between all-Ireland triumph in 1963 and his retirement in 1972. Dublin struggled to rise above the mediocre through much of this period and had very little to show for the years of dedication. Just one Leinster title in these years (a great win over Longford) and one League title was all the likes of Keaveney had for their efforts. When defeat befell them again in Navan in 1972 Keaveney – then 26 - hung up his boots.

The Vincent’s clubman though was destined to prove a vital piece of Kevin Heffernan’s jigsaw. Every successful team needs an accurate freetaker and from the beginning of his management days Heffo saw the talent that he required in Jimmy. The pressure began to be applied seriously in the spring of 1974. In the evenings of early summer Heffernan would accost Keaveney in the Vincent’s social club to rejoin the team. Within time a sea change occurred and Keaveney swapped the evening drinking for the torrid fitness programme that Heffernan was already infamous for. He rejoined the Dublin team after the start of the Leinster campaign of 1974. It was surely a pivotal moment in the history of Dublin football.

Keavaney brought enormous guile, experience and above all accuracy to the outfit. In his first game that summer v Louth he was instrumental for the Dubs coming out winners by 2-11 to 1-09. His influence was always gargantuan and between 1974 and 1978 he was due to score an incredible 12 goals and 142 points in Championship football. Dublin’s crucial breakthrough Leinster campaign of 1974 saw the Dubs go about it the hard way. The crucial game was doubtless the clash v Champions Offaly which Dublin won by a single late point from substitute Leslie Deegan. Keaveney as always played wonderfully and without him doubtless Offaly’s march would have continued and Ireland may not have known Heffo’s army. Kildare and Meath were the next victims and the crowds began to stampede back to the Dublin colours. There was a feeling that maybe the depression was over and Keaveney’s swagger seemed to confirm it. The short forward from marino became Dublin’s greatest ever Darling of the hill as huge crowds once again flocked from a depressed city to Croke Park in search of glory. A Leinster title was in the bag again after an unbelievable 9 years. Heffo and hi team were sure it wouldn’t be as long again..

The rest of 1974 goes down in GAA history. Against alI-Ireland Champions Cork and Galway in the final Keaveney could hardly miss. Even when not kicking the deadball he was a play maker par excellence – the centre point of every attack. His passing was immaculate and his fitness defied his stature. As the blue draped crowds converged on their heroes in the pre and post match celebrations on the field Jimmy Keaveney was nominated as man of the match.

But Keaveney is known for much more than 1974. In the great Dublin Kerry sagas of 75, 76, 77 and 78, Keaveney became as respected by the men and fans from the kingdom as he was loved by Dubliners. It was after the classic match of 1977 when Dublin overcame a great Kerry side that Jimmy became the highest scorer in an all-Ireland Final. With Kerry beaten we let rip against Armagh and Keaveney bagged 2 goals and 6 points. It is and was an awesome achievement.

1975 was to end in disappointment as the Kingdom put Dublin to the sword. Kerry were very much a bogey team for Dublin and the blues had never managed to beat them in a championship match since 1934. In all Kevin Heffernan’s career he had never been involved in a team that beat Kerry. It was to be a sweet victory then when Dublin finally put this record to rest in the Final of 1976. On a wet and windy day at headquarters the All Ireland champions of 75 were defeated by the champions of 74. 40 years were rolled back and it seemed that the sky was the limit for Keaveney and co.

Jimmy Keaveney was to win Texacao footballer of the year award in 1977 and 1978 even though the emotions must have been polar opposite. Dublin landed Sam again in 77 but lost a final they should perhaps have won in 78. Again it was Kerry who tripped the blues. Dublin would never again beat Kerry in the Championship. As 1979 dawned Jimmy decided this was to be his last year come what may. His last Leinster championship came his way in July then of that year but a sending off in the fial made him ineligible for the Semi final and All-Ireland Final. He had played his last game for the Dubs at the age of 34. (Due to the Pope’s visit the final was brought forward, had it not been Keaveney’s suspension would have lapsed.)

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