, Ireland

Éire

is the Irish name for the island of Ireland and the sovereign state of the same name.- Etymology :The modern Irish Éire evolved from the Old Irish word Ériu, which was the name of a Gaelic goddess. Ériu is generally believed to have been the matron goddess of Ireland, a goddess of sovereignty, or...

) is a retired 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 player. He played football with his local club Ballyboden Wanderers

Ballyboden Wanderers

Wanderers are a small Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Ballyboden, Dublin, Ireland.-Background:Ballyboden Wanderers G.A.A. Club was founded in 1910. They played their first match against Clanna Gael Fontenoys in April 1910. The match was played by permission of Padraig Mac Piarais in the...

, Ballyboden St. Enda's

Ballyboden St. Enda's

Ballyboden St. Enda's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Knocklyon, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is named after Saint Enda of Aran. The Club serves the Knocklyon, Ballycullen, Rathfarnham, Ballyboden, Ballyroan, Firhouse areas.Their homeground is Pairc Uí Mhurchú, located on the Firhouse...

 and St. Anne's

St Anne's GAA

St Anne's are a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Bohernabreena, Tallaght, in South Dublin county, Ireland.-Achievements:Saint Annes were crowned the first ever champions of the Thomas Davis/Evening Herald Floodlit cup after they defeated Ballymun Kichams 2-9 to 9 points...

 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 throughout the 1970s. Doherty 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...

 title in 1974. He later served as joint-manager of the team with Brian Mullins

Brian Mullins

Brian Mullins is a retired 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 1974 until 1985. Mullins later served as manager of both Dublin and Derry...

 and Robbie Kelleher

Robbie Kelleher

Robbie Kelleher is a former all-Ireland winning Gaelic footballer for Dublin.-Biographical Information:He grew up in Glasnevin, County Dublin. He was educated at Coláiste Mhuire, where he excelled in his studies which included an A in Higher Level Mathematics...

 for one season in 1986.

Club

Doherty played his club football with a selection of clubs throughout the 1960s and 1970s, however, it was with Ballyboden St. Enda's

Ballyboden St. Enda's

Ballyboden St. Enda's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Knocklyon, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is named after Saint Enda of Aran. The Club serves the Knocklyon, Ballycullen, Rathfarnham, Ballyboden, Ballyroan, Firhouse areas.Their homeground is Pairc Uí Mhurchú, located on the Firhouse...

 that he enjoyed his greatest successes.

He first came to prominence with the club as a member of the team that competed in the county intermediate championship

Dublin Intermediate Football Championship

The Dublin Intermediate Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Dublin Clubs. The winners of the Dublin Championship qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship and in turn, go on to the...

 in the 1970s. In 1971 Doherty lined out in his first county championship decider. It was a great day for Ballyboden St. Enda's as Doherty's side secured their very first triumph in the intermediate grade.

Three years later in1974 Doherty added a second county intermediate winners' medal to his collection after another convincing victory.

In later years Doherty served as player-manager with Tallaght

Tallaght

Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...

-based club St. Anne's

St Anne's GAA

St Anne's are a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Bohernabreena, Tallaght, in South Dublin county, Ireland.-Achievements:Saint Annes were crowned the first ever champions of the Thomas Davis/Evening Herald Floodlit cup after they defeated Ballymun Kichams 2-9 to 9 points...

.

Inter-county

Doherty first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as 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 in the early 1970s. It was the beginning of a glorious resurgence for 'the Dubs' who had been in the doldrums for much of the previous decade.

In 1974 Doherty was captain when he played in his first Leinster final in the senior grade. Archrivals Meath

Meath GAA

The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...

 set out to stop 'the Dubs' claiming a first provincial title since 1965. A new look Dublin under the stewardship of 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...

 made no mistake in securing a 1-14 to 1-9 victory. It was Doherty's first 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...

 winners' medal in the senior grade. Dublin later surprisingly defeated All-Ireland title-holders Cork in the semi-final, thus booking a place in the All-Ireland final against 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,...

. The men fom the west, who had been beaten in two of the previous three championship deciders, took a 1-4 to 0-5 lead at half-time, however, the real turning point of the game came in the 52nd minute. Galway were awarded a penalty which Liam Sammon

Liam Sammon

Liam Sammon is retired Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He played football with his local clubs Father Griffins and Salthill-Knocknacarra and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team from 1966 until 1979...

 stepped up to take. Goalkeeper 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....

 made no mistake and saved the shot. 'The Dub's' later went on to take the lead as Galway collapsed. A 0-14 to 1-6 score line resulted in a 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...

 winners' medal for Doherty and a first for Dublin in eleven years. He capped off the year by collecting his only 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.

Dublin proved that their success in 1974 was not a flash-in-the-pan by retaining the Leinster title in 1975 after an enormous 3-13 to 0-8 defeat of 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...

. Doherty's side were the red-hot favourites going into the All-Ireland final against the youngest Kerry teams of all-time. On a rain-soaked day John Egan

John Egan (footballer)

John Egan is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Sneem, his divisional side South Kerry and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1984.He also played hurling with neighbouring club Kenmare.Born in Tahilla , County Kerry, Egan...

 and substitute Ger O'Driscoll

Ger O'Driscoll

Ger O'Driscoll is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newcestown and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 2009 due to the 2008-2009 Cork players strike. O'Driscoll won back-to-back Munster minor titles in 2004 and 2005...

 scored two goals for Kerry and 'the Dubs' were ambushed by 2-12 to 0-11. It was a bitter defeat for a Dublin team that had expected so much.

Dublin continued their dominance in 1976. After securing the National League

National Football League (Ireland)

The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...

 title 'the Dubs' dominated the provincial championship once again. A narrow 2-8 to 1-9 defeat of Meath gave Doherty a third consecutive Leinster winners' medal. Once again it was Kerry who provided the opposition, as one of the great rivalries of football entered a new chapter. Both sides were hoping for success, however, new 'Dub' Kevin Moran was causing havoc with the Kerry defence. Immediately after the game started he careered through the Kerry half-back and full-back lines, however, his shot at goal went wide. This set the pace for the rest of the match. John McCarthy finished a five-man move to score Dublin's first goal of the day. A converted penalty by Jimmy Keaveney

Jimmy Keaveney

James "Jimmy" Keaveney is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club St. Vincents and was a member of the Dublin senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1978. Keaveney is regarded as one of Dublin's greatest-ever players.-Club:Keaveney played his club football...

 was followed by a third goal from Brian Mullins

Brian Mullins

Brian Mullins is a retired 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 1974 until 1985. Mullins later served as manager of both Dublin and Derry...

. A 3-8 to 0-10 score line gave Dublin the title and gave Doherty a second All-Ireland winners' medal.

The 1977 Leinster final was a replay of the previous year with the result being the same. Meath provided some stiff opposition but fell short, eventually losing the game by 1-9 to 0-8. It was Doherty's fourth consecutive Leinster title. Dublin later took on Kerry for the third consecutive year, however, this time it was in the All-Ireland semi-final. In one of the greatest games of football ever-played 'the Dubs' triumphed and booked a final apot against 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...

. An eight-goal thriller ensued, with Jimmy Keaveney scored the first of the day after just ninety seconds. He ended the day with a record 2-6 from play. Bobby Doyle soon followed with the first of his two goals while John McCarthy got a fifth. Armagh were awarded two penalties, however, the northerners spurned some golden goal-scoring opportunities. A huge 5-12 to 3-6 victory gave Dublin a second consecutive title and gave Doherty a third All-Ireland winners' medal in four years.

1978 saw Doherty add a second National League title to his collection. A fifth consecutive Leinster winners' medal soon followed as Dublin accounted for Kildare. The eleven point victory in this game made Doherty's side the favourites to secure a remarkable third All-Ireland title in-a-row. While the game should have been an historic occasion, a rout ensued. The game is chiefly 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 sensational goal. A free was awarded and the Kerry forward lobbed 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....

, who was caught off his line arguing with the referee. New full-forward Eoin Liston

Eoin Liston

Eoin 'Bomber' Liston is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Beale, his divisional side Shannon Rangers and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1978 until 1993...

 entered the record books as he scored a hat-trick of goals. Pat Spillane

Pat Spillane

Patrick Gerard Spillane , better known as Pat Spillane, is a retired Gaelic footballer and well known Irish sports pundit. He played Gaelic football with his local club Templenoe and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1991...

 played all over the field, including goalkeeper after Charlie Nelligan

Charlie Nelligan

Charlie Nelligan is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Castleisland Desmonds and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1976 until 1991.-Club:...

 was sent off. At the full-time whistle Kerry were the winners by 5-11 to 0-9. Doherty retired from inter-county football following this defeat.

Teams