Joe Dooley

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Joe Dooley
irish = Seosamh Ó Dulaoích
fullname = Joseph Dooley
placeofbirth = Clareen
countryofbirth = County Offaly
dob = 1963
height =
nickname =
county = Offaly
province = Leinster
club = Seir Kieran
clposition = Half-forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Offaly
icposition = Half-forward
icyears = 1982-2000
icapps(points) = 50
icprovince = 6
icallireland = 3
allstars = 1
clupdate =
icupdate = Joe Dooley (born 1963 in Clareen, County Offaly) is an Irish hurling manager and former player, currently in his first season as manager of the Offaly senior inter-county team. He played hurling with his local club Seir Kieran and with the Offaly senior inter-county team for 19 years from 1982 until the 2000. Dooley is the only Offaly player to have played in six senior all-ireland finals winning three All-Ireland medals.

Early life

Joe Dooley was born just outside Clareen, County Offaly in 1963. The eldest 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 two decades Joe and his brothers Billy and Johnny formed the backbone of the Offaly senior hurling team. His son Shane made his champioship debut in 2007.

Playing career

Club

Dooley, along with his four brothers, played club hurling 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 and one Junior Hurling Medal in 2006. Dooley also won five club league medals. He captained his club to win the 1995 championship. He was selected Offaly Hurler of the year in 1995 and 1996. He was also a very successful colleges player winning five leinster A colleges medals with the Presentation Brothers College in Birr and He also played in two senior All-Ireland A Colleges Finals.

Inter-county

Dooley played with the Offaly minor and under-21 inter-county hurling teams in the early 1980s, but had little success. He joined the senior panel in March 1982 and became a regular player in the National Hurling League campaigns. Two years later in 1984 Dooley made his senior championship debut, playing against Wexford. He was a member of the panel when Offaly went on to win the Leinster title that year, however, in the subsequent All-Ireland final his side were defeated by Cork in Semple Stadium.

The following year Dooley claimed his first Leinster medal as a full member of the team. This was later converted into an All-Ireland medal following a victory over Galway. In 1988, 1989 and 1990 Dooley captured three more provincial medals, however, Offaly were defeated on each occasion in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final. There was some consolation in 1991 when Dooley helped Offaly to win its very first National Hurling League title.

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 second All-Ireland title. The Dooley's 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.

Three years later in 1998 Offaly and the Dooley's claimed another All-Ireland title over Kilkenny, having lost the Leinster final to the same team. Joe Dooley finished off the year by winning his first All-Star award. In 2000 the old foes of Offaly and Kilkenny met again in both the Leinster and All-Ireland finals, however, this time Kilkenny emerged victorious in one of the most one-sided All-Ireland finals in decades.

In March 2001 Dooley decided to retire from both club and inter-county hurling.

Managerial career

During his playing career Dooley at the age of 24 managed and coached his club Seir Kieran to win their first ever senior hurling titles in 1988. In retirement from playing Dooley has maintained a strong interest in the game as a coach. He served as manager of his native Seir Kieran, Tullamore and Tipperary side Toomevara, with varying degrees of success. In October 2007 Dooley was appointed manager of the Offaly senior hurling team. Shortly before taking up this post Dooley's brother, Johnny, was appointed manager of the Westmeath senior hurling team.

2008: First season

Dooley's first championship game in charge saw his Offaly side take on Laois in the Leinster quarter-final. Offaly won that game by 4-22 to 2-12 setting up a Leinster semi-final clash with All-Ireland champions Kilkenny. While few people expected Offaly to cause an upset Dooley's side played well in the first-half. 'The Cats' powered back in the second-half and secured a comfortable victory in the end. Offaly's next game was an All-Ireland qualifier against Limerick. While Offaly were very much the underdogs going into the game Dooley's side trounced Limerick by 3-19 to 0-18. Offaly's next game was an All-Ireland phase 4 qualifier against Waterford in {Semple Stadium. In spite of giving a good account of themselves Dooley's side were beaten by a very experienced Waterford outfit, however, there was casue for optimism due to two very good championship performances.

Teams