Image: The Score.ie
There’ll be widespread sadness in the GAA world tonight following the death earlier on today of GAA legend Kevin Heffernan. An outstanding servant of Dublin GAA as both a player and a manager, Heffo had been ill for some time. He was 83 years of age.
Captain of Dublin’s football All-Ireland winning team of 1958, manager of the great Dublin team that won All-Irelands in 1974 and 1976 (Tony Hanahoe was at the helm in 1977) and also manager of the Dubs team that triumphed in the rather infamous 1983 decider, manager of the successful International Rules touring side of 1986 and member, at left corner-forward, of the GAA’s Team of the Century and Team of the Millennium, Kevin Heffernan was a real colossus of the organisation to which he devoted so much of his life.
He’ll be mourned by all Dublin GAA fans but even more so by those attached to St. Vincents, his local club here on the Northside of the city. Kevin won an incredible haul of fifteen Dublin senior football championship medals and six hurling ones with Vinnies and he contributed an enormous amount of time and energy to the club down the years. He was still a regular presence at the club until a few months ago and there will, I know, be great sadness among club members young and old at his passing. A warm and heartfelt tribute to Kevin has already been posted on the club’s website – here.
May he rest in peace.
Will always remember Micheal o Hehir 1974 ‘the dublin jacks are back and the galway backs have jacked’ ………….RIP Heffo
That’s a nice piece you’ve written there Willie Joe on Heffo, and it’s only when you see the written word, you realize the enormous contribution he made to Dublin GAA and beyond. A true legend of the game we all love. May he rest in peace……
Yeah good piece Willy Joe. Many of the Dublin players in the 70s didn’t seem to be overly fond of him, a small price to pay for a few celtic crosses. Interesting to hear Brian Mullins say that Heffo had no time for people feeling sorry for themselves and the only thing to do with adversity was to meet it head on. Something that Mayo players and supporters should take on board. May he rest in peace while we face our demons head on and bring Sam home in 2013.