The Great Kevin Heffernan- a legacy that lives on

By Conor Martin 

Today marks 11 years since the passing of the legendary Kevin Heffernan. 

'Heffo' enjoyed incredible success as a player and as a manager with Dublin’s Footballers, as well as with his club St Vincents. 

A dual star with his club, Heffo's medal haul is legendary. 

Between 1948 and 1967, he won 15 Dublin Senior Football Championships, including a seven-in-a-row between 1949 and 1955, before Vincent’s spent six years unmoved on the Dublin football throne between 1957 and 1962.

When it came to the small ball, Heffernan won the Dublin Senior Hurling Championship six times: in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1960 and 1962.

But it’s at inter-county level where Heffernan is best remembered.

He featured at minor level in football and hurling for Dublin and won a Leinster minor football medal in 1946 and a Leinster minor hurling medal the year after.

Heffernan would make his senior debut for Dublin in the same year he sat his Leaving Certificate.

He would also win an All-Ireland title with the Dublin Junior team in 1948 with a 2-11 to 1-5 win over London.

Success at senior level would soon come Dublin and Heffernan’s way.

He would pick up his first National Football League medal in 1953, before pocketing his second in 1955, the same year he won the Leinster Senior Football Championship. However, that year, an All-Ireland medal was just out of reach, with Kerry beating Dublin in the final.

As captain, he won the league for a third time in 1958 before provincial success came his and Dublin’s way once more, as Dublin claimed the Leinster Championship after seeing off Louth in the final. 

Dublin would then go on to beat Derry in the All-Ireland Final, Heffernan’s only Senior All-Ireland title of his playing career.

Heffernan would win the Leinster Senior Football twice more before calling time on his days in a sky blue jersey. Between 1948 and 1962, he made 115 appearances for Dublin and finished with an incredible scoring record of 52-226, with three National Football League medals, four Leinster Senior Football Championships and one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

In late 1973, Heffo received a call from then-Dublin chairman Jimmy Gray- a call that would change the face of GAA in the capital.

He was invited to take the reins of the Dublin senior football team and his impact was instantaneous, as Dublin claimed their first Leinster and All-Ireland Championships since 1963, beating Meath and Galway, respectively.

During his reign, the Dublin-Kerry rivalry cemented its GAA legacy and Heffernan’s young Dublin team caught the imagination of the city/county and even those without much of an interest in Gaelic football. Ultimately, it was the birth of ‘Heffo’s Army’.

In 1974, Heffernan made history when he became the only non-player to win the Texaco Footballer of the Year award.

Another Leinster title would come Dublin’s way in 1975, but Kerry would deny Dublin back-to-back Sams.

1976 would see the Dubs bounce back in style as Heffernan guided Dublin to glory, winning the National Football League and the Leinster Senior Football Championship for the third year on the bounce. We ended the year on a high as we reclaimed the All-Ireland title from Kerry in a repeat of the previous year’s final.

Heffernan resigned after that victory, but was soon back in the Dublin hot seat when he returned in 1979. We triumphed over Offaly in the Leinster decider before suffering a defeat to Kerry in the All-Ireland Final.

As Heffo built a new team, Dublin had to wait until 1983 to celebrate All-Ireland success again, as the 12 Apostles beat Galway in one of the most infamous finals of all time.

Heffernan would step down as Dublin manager for good in 1986.

Under his management, Dublin won a total of one National Football League, seven Leinster Senior Football Championships and three All-Irelands.

Heffernan also went on to achieve several other impressive feats, including being named in the GAA’s Football Team of the Century in 1984 He also made the GAA’s Football Team of the Millennium in 2000.

He managed Ireland to an International Rules Series win over Australia in 1986, as Ireland won the three-match series 2-1.

Heffo was awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin in 2004 and was key to the youth set-ups at his club, St Vincent’s and Dublin Minors as he inspired the next generation of Dublin Gaels.

To this day, Heffernan is spoken about at clubs across the county and is the inspiration for many across Dublin.

The great man may have passed, but his legacy lives on.