Tony Hanahoe
Encyclopedia
Tony Hanahoe is a retired Irish
Gaelic football
manager
and former player. He played football with his local club St. Vincent's
and was a member of the Dublin
senior inter-county team from 1964 until 1979. Hanahoe captained Dublin to the All-Ireland
titles in 1976 and 1977. He was also manager for the latter win.
, Dublin in 1945. He was educated locally by the Christian Brothers
at Scoil Mhuire in Marino and later at St. Joseph’s, affectionately known as ‘Joey’s’, in Fairview. There was no sporting tradition in Hanahoe’s family, however, it was at these schools that his interest at Gaelic games
was developed. Hanahoe later attended Trinity College, Dublin
where he qualified with a degree in law. He subsequently worked as a solicitor and has worked with victims of the Stardust disaster
and club football
with the famous St. Vincent's
club in Dublin. With the club he won eleven Dublin SFC titles in 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 and 1984. One of these wins was converted into an All-Ireland
title in 1976. Hanahoe also won Dublin SHC titles with the club in 1964, 1967 and 1975.
and football
with Dublin
in the early 1960s. He played in the Leinster minor final of 1963, however, his side were defeated by Westmeath
. Later that same year Hanahoe got trials with the senior team in both sports. He subsequently secured a spot on Dublin’s senior football team and made his debut in 1964. In 1965 Hanahoe the left the Dublin team and put his sporting career on hold. He returned in 1970 when Kevin Heffernan
was manager
of the side. By this stage Dublin’s football fortunes were at an all-time low. This low ebb culminated in a defeat by Kildare
in the 1972 Leinster
final. Hanahoe was captain that day and it was feared at the time that all the players would be sacked along with the management team.
Hanahoe played no part in the 1973 championship but he returned in 1974 and Kevin Heffernan was appointed manager once again. That year Hanahoe claimed his first Leinster title before later going on to beat Galway
to claim his first All-Ireland
medal. In 1975 Dublin retained their provincial title with Hanahoe playing a key role in the full-forward line. His side, however, were later defeated by an up-and-coming Kerry
side. In 1976 Hanahoe was appointed captain of Dublin. Under his leadership Dublin captured another Leinster title before gaining revenge over Kerry for the previous year’s defeat. It was Dublin’s nineteenth All-Ireland title and it was Hanahoe’s second. Hanahoe also became one of only seven men to have been presented the Sam Maguire Cup
twice as captain. His performance in the championship earned him his sole All-Star
award.
Following the conclusion of the 1976 championship Kevin Heffernan unexpectedly stepped down as Dublin manager. Hanahoe was somewhat pushed into accepting the vacant position. He now had the unenviable task of being captain of the side as well as the manager. In spite of this pressure he captured another Leinster title in 1977. He later led Dublin to victory iagainst Kerry before later claiming his third All-Ireland medal following an emphatic victory over Armagh
.
In 1978 Hanahoe retained his dual role as captain and manager. He captured his fifth Leinster title in-a-row before leading Dublin into their fifth All-Ireland final in-a-row. Dublin were the red hot favourites to complete the three-in-a-row, however, Kerry were back on form. The game itself is remembered for Mikey Sheehy
’s cheeky goal which he scored by lobbing the ball over the head of Paddy Cullen
. It was an emphatic victory for Kerry on a score line of 5-11 to 0-9. In 1979 Heffernan returned as manager, however, Hanahoe retained the captaincy of the team. He captured his sixth Leinster title which allowed Dublin to advance to their sixth All-Ireland final appearanace in-a-row. Once again Hanahoe's side faced Kerry. Dublin were outplayed in the final once again and Hanahoe ended up on the losing side. This defeat brought an end to the great Dublin team of the 1970s. Hanahoe retired from inter-county football shortly after.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and former player. He played football with his local club St. Vincent's
St Vincents GAA
St Vincents is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Marino, on the northside of Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1931, originally in Raheny, but it moved to its home in Marino in 1987. St Vincents merged with Marino Camogie Club in 1997 to form the St Vincents Hurling, Football and...
and was a member of the Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
senior inter-county team from 1964 until 1979. Hanahoe captained Dublin to the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
titles in 1976 and 1977. He was also manager for the latter win.
Biography
Tony Hanahoe was born in ClontarfClontarf, Dublin
Clontarf is a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin, in Ireland. It is most famous for giving the name to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Vikings of Dublin and their allies, the Irish of Leinster. This battle, which extended to districts...
, Dublin in 1945. He was educated locally by the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
at Scoil Mhuire in Marino and later at St. Joseph’s, affectionately known as ‘Joey’s’, in Fairview. There was no sporting tradition in Hanahoe’s family, however, it was at these schools that his interest at Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
was developed. Hanahoe later attended Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
where he qualified with a degree in law. He subsequently worked as a solicitor and has worked with victims of the Stardust disaster
Stardust Disaster
The Stardust fire was a fatal fire which took place at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland in the early hours of 14 February 1981. Some 841 people had attended a disco there, of whom 48 died and 214 were injured as a result of the fire...
Club
Hanahoe played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and club football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with the famous St. Vincent's
St Vincents GAA
St Vincents is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Marino, on the northside of Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1931, originally in Raheny, but it moved to its home in Marino in 1987. St Vincents merged with Marino Camogie Club in 1997 to form the St Vincents Hurling, Football and...
club in Dublin. With the club he won eleven Dublin SFC titles in 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 and 1984. One of these wins was converted into an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
title in 1976. Hanahoe also won Dublin SHC titles with the club in 1964, 1967 and 1975.
Inter-county
Hanahoe played both minor hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
in the early 1960s. He played in the Leinster minor final of 1963, however, his side were defeated by Westmeath
Westmeath GAA
The Westmeath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Westmeath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Westmeath...
. Later that same year Hanahoe got trials with the senior team in both sports. He subsequently secured a spot on Dublin’s senior football team and made his debut in 1964. In 1965 Hanahoe the left the Dublin team and put his sporting career on hold. He returned in 1970 when Kevin Heffernan
Kevin Heffernan (Gaelic footballer)
-See also :* List of people on stamps of Ireland*Dublin GAA*Dublin GAA Honours*Dublin Senior Club Football Championship...
was manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
of the side. By this stage Dublin’s football fortunes were at an all-time low. This low ebb culminated in a defeat by Kildare
Kildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...
in the 1972 Leinster
Leinster Senior Football Championship
The GAA Leinster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council and are played during the summer months. The competition involves the counties of...
final. Hanahoe was captain that day and it was feared at the time that all the players would be sacked along with the management team.
Hanahoe played no part in the 1973 championship but he returned in 1974 and Kevin Heffernan was appointed manager once again. That year Hanahoe claimed his first Leinster title before later going on to beat Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
to claim his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
medal. In 1975 Dublin retained their provincial title with Hanahoe playing a key role in the full-forward line. His side, however, were later defeated by an up-and-coming Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
side. In 1976 Hanahoe was appointed captain of Dublin. Under his leadership Dublin captured another Leinster title before gaining revenge over Kerry for the previous year’s defeat. It was Dublin’s nineteenth All-Ireland title and it was Hanahoe’s second. Hanahoe also became one of only seven men to have been presented the Sam Maguire Cup
Sam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup, often called The Sam , is the name of the cup that is awarded to winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
twice as captain. His performance in the championship earned him his sole All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award.
Following the conclusion of the 1976 championship Kevin Heffernan unexpectedly stepped down as Dublin manager. Hanahoe was somewhat pushed into accepting the vacant position. He now had the unenviable task of being captain of the side as well as the manager. In spite of this pressure he captured another Leinster title in 1977. He later led Dublin to victory iagainst Kerry before later claiming his third All-Ireland medal following an emphatic victory over Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
.
In 1978 Hanahoe retained his dual role as captain and manager. He captured his fifth Leinster title in-a-row before leading Dublin into their fifth All-Ireland final in-a-row. Dublin were the red hot favourites to complete the three-in-a-row, however, Kerry were back on form. The game itself is remembered for Mikey Sheehy
Mikey Sheehy
Mikey Sheehy is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Austin Stacks and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1974 until 1987. Sheehy is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:Sheehy played his club football with the...
’s cheeky goal which he scored by lobbing the ball over the head of Paddy Cullen
Paddy Cullen
Paddy Cullen is a former inter-county goalkeeper and manager with the Dublin GAA senior football team. During his player career Cullen won three All-Irelands and four all-stars awards....
. It was an emphatic victory for Kerry on a score line of 5-11 to 0-9. In 1979 Heffernan returned as manager, however, Hanahoe retained the captaincy of the team. He captured his sixth Leinster title which allowed Dublin to advance to their sixth All-Ireland final appearanace in-a-row. Once again Hanahoe's side faced Kerry. Dublin were outplayed in the final once again and Hanahoe ended up on the losing side. This defeat brought an end to the great Dublin team of the 1970s. Hanahoe retired from inter-county football shortly after.