Shane Dooley
Encyclopedia
Shane Dooley is an Irish
sportsperson. He playes hurling
and Gaelic football
with his local club Tullamore
and has been a member of the Offaly
senior hurling team since 2007.
, County Offaly
in 1986. He was born into a family that was steeped in hurling history. His great granduncle, Tom Dooley, as well as his great grandfather and another great granduncle had all played with Offaly
in the junior All-Ireland
finals in 1929 and 1923 respectively. Similarly, for two decades his father Joe
and his uncles Billy
and Johnny
formed the backbone of the Offaly senior hurling team.
Dooley was educated at the local primary school and later attended Tullamore College. It was here that his hurling skills were first nurtured. In 2001 Dooley came on as a substitute as Tullamore College were crowned Leinster Vocational Schools Junior Hurling 'B' champions following a win over Borris Vocational School. He won an All-Ireland Vocational Schools' title in 2004 following a victory over Cork.
and has enjoyed much success at underage and senior level. He scored 2-4 in the final of the county intermediate championship in 2004, giving Tullamore a famous victory over Clonbullogue. In this grade Dooley enjoyed more success, winning a county title in 2007.
senior inter-county team in the Leinster
quarter-final defeat of Laois
in 2007. He has been an ever-present feature on the starting fifteen since then, however, Offaly's hurling fortunes are still in the doldrums. Dooley has yet to line out in a Leinster final at senior level, while Offaly have failed to make the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland series for the last two years.
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...
sportsperson. He playes 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...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with his local club Tullamore
Tullamore GAA
Tullamore GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. The club is concerned with both hurling and Gaelic football. The club competes in Offaly GAA competitions. The club has won three senior football championships and one senior hurling...
and has been a member of 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...
senior hurling team since 2007.
Biography
Shane Dooley was born in TullamoreTullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
, 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 1986. He was born into a family that was steeped in hurling history. His great granduncle, Tom Dooley, as well as his great grandfather and another great granduncle 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 two decades his father 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 his uncles Billy
Billy Dooley
Billy Dooley is a former Irish sportsperson. He played senior hurling with the Offaly inter-county team from 1991 until 1999.-Early life:...
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.
Dooley was educated at the local primary school and later attended Tullamore College. It was here that his hurling skills were first nurtured. In 2001 Dooley came on as a substitute as Tullamore College were crowned Leinster Vocational Schools Junior Hurling 'B' champions following a win over Borris Vocational School. He won an All-Ireland Vocational Schools' title in 2004 following a victory over Cork.
Club
Dooley plays his club hurling and football with his local club in TullamoreTullamore GAA
Tullamore GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. The club is concerned with both hurling and Gaelic football. The club competes in Offaly GAA competitions. The club has won three senior football championships and one senior hurling...
and has enjoyed much success at underage and senior level. He scored 2-4 in the final of the county intermediate championship in 2004, giving Tullamore a famous victory over Clonbullogue. In this grade Dooley enjoyed more success, winning a county title in 2007.
Inter-county
Dooley made his debut 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...
senior inter-county team in 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....
quarter-final defeat of Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
in 2007. He has been an ever-present feature on the starting fifteen since then, however, Offaly's hurling fortunes are still in the doldrums. Dooley has yet to line out in a Leinster final at senior level, while Offaly have failed to make the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland series for the last two years.