Billy Dooley
Encyclopedia
Billy Dooley is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
with the Offaly
inter-county team from 1991 until 1999.
, County Offaly
in 1969. The fourth youngest in a family of five boys and four girls, he was born into a family that was steeped in hurling
history. His father's uncle, Tom Dooley, as well as his mother's father and uncle had all played with Offaly
in the junior All-Ireland
finals in 1929 and 1923 respectively. Similarly, for almost two decades Billy and his brothers Joe
and Johnny
formed the backbone of the Offaly senior hurling team.
with his local Seir Kieran
club. He enjoyed some success at underage levels before winning four senior county championship titles in 1988, 1995, 1996 and 1998.
minor and under-21 inter-county hurling
teams in the late 1980s and had some success. In 1986 he came on as a substitute to win an All-Ireland
medal at minor level. Dooley was a full member of the team when he won his second minor All-Ireland medal in 1988. He joined the senior panel in 1991 when he helped Offaly to win its very first National Hurling League
title. Later that year he made his Leinster Championship
debut.
By the mid-1990s all three Dooley brothers were playing together on the Offaly senior team. Together they won a Leinster title in 1994, before later playing in one of the most famous All-Ireland finals of all-time. With five minutes left in the game, Limerick
were leading by five points. Johnny Dooley
scored a goal from a 21-yard free which seemed to open the floodgates as Offaly amassed another 1-6 in the remaining few minutes. Offaly had snatched victory away from Limerick and Dooley had claimed his first All-Ireland
title at senior level. Billy finished off the year by winning his first All-Star
award. The Dooleys were back in 1995 winning another Leinster title, however, in the All-Ireland final victory went to Clare
. It was the county’s first All-Ireland win since 1914. There was some consolation as Dooley collected a second All-Star award at the end of the year. Three years later in 1998 Offaly and the Dooleys claimed another All-Ireland title over Kilkenny
, having lost the Leinster
final to the same team.
In 1999, following a defeat by Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final, Dooley decided to retire from inter-county hurling.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
Hurling
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...
with the Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
inter-county team from 1991 until 1999.
Early life
Billy Dooley was born just outside ClareenClareen
Clareen is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 8 km west of Birr on the R421 regional road.The village is situated at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.The local Catholic church, St. Kieran's, was built in 1900.-See also:...
, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
in 1969. The fourth youngest in a family of five boys and four girls, he was born into a family that was steeped in hurling
Hurling
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...
history. His father's uncle, Tom Dooley, as well as his mother's father and uncle had all played with Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in the junior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
finals in 1929 and 1923 respectively. Similarly, for almost two decades Billy and his brothers Joe
Joe Dooley
Joe Dooley is an Irish former hurlers and manager.Regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, Dooley enjoyed a successful playing career at club level with Seir Kieran and remains the only Offaly player to have won three All-Ireland titles...
and Johnny
Johnny Dooley
Johnny Dooley is an Irish former hurling manager and player. He played hurling with his local club Seir Kieran and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1991 until 2002...
formed the backbone of the Offaly senior hurling team.
Club
Dooley, along with his four brothers, played 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...
with his local Seir Kieran
Seir Kieran GAA
Seir Kieran is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the village of Clareen in County Offaly, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.-Famous players:* Joe Bergin* Eugene Coughlan* Billy Dooley* Joe Dooley...
club. He enjoyed some success at underage levels before winning four senior county championship titles in 1988, 1995, 1996 and 1998.
Inter-county
Dooley played with the OffalyOffaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
minor and under-21 inter-county hurling
Hurling
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...
teams in the late 1980s and had some success. In 1986 he came on as a substitute to win an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal at minor level. Dooley was a full member of the team when he won his second minor All-Ireland medal in 1988. He joined the senior panel in 1991 when he helped Offaly to win its very first National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title. Later that year he made his Leinster Championship
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
debut.
By the mid-1990s all three Dooley brothers were playing together on the Offaly senior team. Together they won a Leinster title in 1994, before later playing in one of the most famous All-Ireland finals of all-time. With five minutes left in the game, Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
were leading by five points. Johnny Dooley
Johnny Dooley
Johnny Dooley is an Irish former hurling manager and player. He played hurling with his local club Seir Kieran and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1991 until 2002...
scored a goal from a 21-yard free which seemed to open the floodgates as Offaly amassed another 1-6 in the remaining few minutes. Offaly had snatched victory away from Limerick and Dooley had claimed his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
title at senior level. Billy finished off the year by winning his first 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. The Dooleys were back in 1995 winning another Leinster title, however, in the All-Ireland final victory went to Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
. It was the county’s first All-Ireland win since 1914. There was some consolation as Dooley collected a second All-Star award at the end of the year. Three years later in 1998 Offaly and the Dooleys claimed another All-Ireland title over Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
, having lost the Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
final to the same team.
In 1999, following a defeat by Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final, Dooley decided to retire from inter-county hurling.