Dublin GAA in mourning as 1970s colossus passes away after short illness

Irish Daily Mirror

08-07-2025

Seán Doherty, who captained Dublin to their momentous All-Ireland victory of 1974, has died at the age of 78.
Doherty was a colossus at full-back as Dublin stormed to a first title since 1963 under Kevin Heffernan's management, popularising the game in the capital and creating a legacy which endures to this day.
He went on to win further All-Irelands in 1976 and '77 as well as five Leinster titles and two National Leagues.
Born in Wicklow, Doherty represented the county at under-21 level but his family eventually settled in Ballsbridge and he played his football with a number of clubs in the south of Dublin before settling with Ballyboden Wanderers, who he captained to a Dublin junior title in 1968. The club later joined forces with Rathfarnham St Enda's to form Ballyboden St Enda's, with whom he had success at intermediate level.
He was appointed Dublin captain by Heffernan ahead of the 1974 Championship as Dublin came from nowhere to win the All-Ireland, drawing increasing crowds en route, culminating in a final win over Galway. Doherty won his only All Star that year.
The following year, Dublin lost the All-Ireland final to an emerging Kerry team, sparking one of the GAA's great rivalries. Doherty famously upended Kerry captain Mickey Ned O'Sullivan in that final, with O'Sullivan having to go to hospital with concussion and missing the opportunity to lift the Sam Maguire Cup.
There was no lingering resentment between the pair, however, and Doherty presented O'Sullivan with the cup at a reunion many years later. Indeed, the teams held their latest get-together in Kerry in April to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1975 final, with Doherty in attendance.
Dublin got back on top in 1976, beating Kerry to regain the All-Ireland, with the captaincy having passed to Tony Hanahoe, who was player-manager when they retained the title in 1977.
But a 17-point defeat to Kerry in the 1978 final led to Doherty's retirement, bringing down the curtain on a glittering career.
He later served as part of a three-man Dublin management team in 1986 with former teammates Brian Mullins and Robbie Kelleher after Heffernan stepped down for good though it was shortlived as Meath re-emerged in Leinster that year and Gerry McCaul took sole charge the following season.
A plumber by trade who also ran a pub, he managed on the club scene with a degree of success.
He died on Monday night after a short illness.