079 1979 Team

Submitted by Your Library on Mon, 16 May, 2011

Posted in

The Jacks Are Back The Dubs in the 1970s

Dublin, All-Ireland Finalists, 16 September 1979

Kevin Heffernan was back as team manager for the 1979 season and set about re-invigorating the Dublin team. A new full-back line of Mick Kennedy, Mick Holden, and Dave Foran was installed. Former Dublin minor Jim Ronayne was given valuable game time. The 1979 season is best remembered for Dublin's stunning victory over Offaly in the Leinster Final on 29 July 1979. Offaly were physical from the outset and set about trying to intimidate the Dublin team. After David Hickey was decked by Richie Connor, tempers reached a boiling point. Jimmy Keaveney was sent off just before half-time and, with thirteen minutes left on the clock, Dublin were five points behind. Dublin clawed back the scoreline until the last minute of the game when Brian Mullins - in one of his greatest ever performances - set up Bernard Brogan who scored a wonder goal. Dublin won 1-08 to 0-09. Dublin had won their sixth consecutive Leinster title - a feat previously achieved by Wexford (1913-1918) and Kildare (1926-31). For Dublin supporters, the 1979 Leinster Final ranks with any game Dublin played against the Kingdom. The match was 'immortalised' by the Wolfe Tones' '14 Men' song that miraculously climbed the charts.

The Dubs squeaked passed a highly fancied Roscommon team in the semi-final while, more ominously, in the other semi-final Kerry destroyed Monaghan 5-14 to 0-07. Dublin were confident that their tough run to the final would stand to them on the day.

The final, played two weeks before Pope John Paul II touched down at Dublin Airport, was an anticlimax. Kerry dominated throughout, despite playing most of the second half with fourteen men after Paidi O'Shea was sent off. Dublin's new short-passing tactic backfired as they were continually pressurised into mistakes by the fast, industrious Kerry players. Kerry's midfield pairing of Sean Walsh and Jack O'Shea dominated. The game was practically over at half-time with the scoreboard reading 1-07 to 0-03. Despite the best efforts of Tommy Drumm, Anton O'Toole, and Bobby Doyle and a second-half goal from substitute Jim Ronayne, Kerry easily won the day. Unlike the 1978 final, there was no controversy. The Kingdom were the better team.

The Road To Croker 1979:

Leinster SFC Quarter-Final - Dublin 4-16 Louth 0-04

Leinster SFC Semi-Final - Dublin 3-13 Wicklow 2-07

Leinster SFC Final - Dublin 1-08 Offaly 0-09

All-Ireland Semi-Final - Dublin 0-14 Roscommon 1-10

All-Ireland Final - Dublin 1-08 Kerry 3-13

Dublin All-Stars 1979: Paddy Cullen, Tommy Drumm, Bernard Brogan

This image is taken from the match programme for the 1979 All-Ireland Final is copyright of Cumann Luthchleas Gael/Gaelic Athletic Association.

Jacks Are Back - About | Image Gallery