Tony Doran
Encyclopedia
Tony Doran is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling with Wexford
in the 1960s and 1970s.
, County Wexford
in 1946. He was educated locally and first started playing hurling
in the Nicky Rackard
Under-14 League. Doran later joined the famous Buffer's Alley club where his skills were nurtured and developed further. In 1954 he made his first trip to Croke Park
to see Nick O'Donnell
lead Wexford
to victory in the All-Ireland final. These great All-Ireland triumphs of the 1950s inspired Doran and he soon began playing for Wexford himself.
with Buffer's Alley club in Wexford
. He had much success with the club, winning numerous Wexford SHC and Leinster
titles, as well as an All-Ireland
club title in 1989. Doran continued playing with the club until 1993, when he retired after a county junior hurling final at the age of 47.
medal in 1963, following a great win over Limerick
. Two years later in 1965 Doran had graduated onto the under-21 side. That year he won another All-Ireland
medal after a defeat of Tipperary
. In 1966 Doran made his senior debut with Wexford and won a National League. He subsequently won his first Leinster
title, before later playing in the All-Ireland final against Tipperary. The game itself is remembered as one of the great reversals in hurling history as Wexford were behind by 8-points at half-time. Doran scored two goals in the second-half to clinch victory for Wexford and to claim his first senior All-Ireland
medal. Poaching goals was his forte, his modus operandi was to soar high, catch the sliother and head for goal, which inevitably resulted in a net-shaker or a free.
Two years later in 1970 Doran won his second Leinster title, however, a few weeks later victory went to Cork in a high-scoring, 80-minute All-Ireland final. For the next five years Kilkenny
and Wexford met every year in the Leinster final, however, Wexford lost all five finals. In 1976 Wexford finally got the better of Kilkenny and Doran claimed his third Leinster title. In the All-Ireland final, however, Cork were victorious over Wexford once again. In spite of this, Doran’s performance throughout the championship earned him the accolade of Texaco Hurler of the Year
. In 1977 Doran captured his fourth provincial title, however, Cork once again accounted for Wexford in the All-Ireland final.
Doran continued hurling with Wexford into the 1980s, however, by this stage Offaly
had emerged as a new team to challenge Kilkenny. He never won another Leinster title with Wexford, and retired from inter-county hurling following the loss of the 1984 Leinster final to Offaly.
Railway Cup team. He played in the forward line between 1971 and 1975 when Leinster won a record five Railway Cup titles in-a-row. Doran won further Railway Cup medals in 1977 and 1979.
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 hurling with Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
in the 1960s and 1970s.
Early life
Tony Doran was born in BoolavogueBoolavogue
Boolavogue, also spelt Boolavoge or Boleyvogue , is a village 5 miles northeast of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, Ireland. It is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns....
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
in 1946. He was educated locally and first started playing 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...
in the Nicky Rackard
Nicky Rackard
Nicholas Rackard better known as Nicky or Nickey Rackard, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Rathnure club and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1956...
Under-14 League. Doran later joined the famous Buffer's Alley club where his skills were nurtured and developed further. In 1954 he made his first trip to Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
to see Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Éire Óg in Kilkenny and St. Aidan’s in Wexford. He was also a member of both the Kilkenny and Wexford senior inter-county teams from 1947 until 1962...
lead Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
to victory in the All-Ireland final. These great All-Ireland triumphs of the 1950s inspired Doran and he soon began playing for Wexford himself.
Club
Doran 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...
with Buffer's Alley club in Wexford
. He had much success with the club, winning numerous Wexford SHC and Leinster
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
titles, as well as an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club title in 1989. Doran continued playing with the club until 1993, when he retired after a county junior hurling final at the age of 47.
Inter-county
By the early 1960s Doran was playing minor hurling with his native county. He won an All-IrelandAll-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 in 1963, following a great win over 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...
. Two years later in 1965 Doran had graduated onto the under-21 side. That year he won another All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medal after a defeat of Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
. In 1966 Doran made his senior debut with Wexford and won a National League. He subsequently won his first 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....
title, before later playing in the All-Ireland final against Tipperary. The game itself is remembered as one of the great reversals in hurling history as Wexford were behind by 8-points at half-time. Doran scored two goals in the second-half to clinch victory for Wexford and to claim his first senior 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....
medal. Poaching goals was his forte, his modus operandi was to soar high, catch the sliother and head for goal, which inevitably resulted in a net-shaker or a free.
Two years later in 1970 Doran won his second Leinster title, however, a few weeks later victory went to Cork in a high-scoring, 80-minute All-Ireland final. For the next five years 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...
and Wexford met every year in the Leinster final, however, Wexford lost all five finals. In 1976 Wexford finally got the better of Kilkenny and Doran claimed his third Leinster title. In the All-Ireland final, however, Cork were victorious over Wexford once again. In spite of this, Doran’s performance throughout the championship earned him the accolade of Texaco Hurler of the Year
Texaco Hurler of the Year
The Texaco Hurler of the Year is a hurling award, created in 1958, that honours the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence. The award is part of the Texaco Sportstars Awards, in which Irish sportspeople from all fields are honoured....
. In 1977 Doran captured his fourth provincial title, however, Cork once again accounted for Wexford in the All-Ireland final.
Doran continued hurling with Wexford into the 1980s, however, by this stage 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...
had emerged as a new team to challenge Kilkenny. He never won another Leinster title with Wexford, and retired from inter-county hurling following the loss of the 1984 Leinster final to Offaly.
Province
In the 1970s Doran played alongside his Kilkenny opponents on the LeinsterLeinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
Railway Cup team. He played in the forward line between 1971 and 1975 when Leinster won a record five Railway Cup titles in-a-row. Doran won further Railway Cup medals in 1977 and 1979.