Legend Doran joins hall of fame
THE LEGENDARY Tony Doran was one of four newcomers inducted into the G.A.A. Hall of Fame last week to bring the group up to 42.
Tony joined John Connolly (Galway), the late Dermot Earley (Roscommon) and John O’Keeffe (Kerry) to become the latest quartet honoured in a special ceremony at the Croke Park Museum.
They were formally acknowledged by G.A.A. President Aogán O Fearghail.
The great Wexford full-forward had a long and distinguished career at inter-county un- der-age and Senior levels, winning All-Ireland titles at Minor (1963), Under-21 (1965) - the year he joined the Senior squad - and the 1968 All-Ireland Senior final when a memorable comeback against Tipperary brought the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to the Model county.
During a 19-year career he played in three further All-Ireland finals, but lost on each occasion to Cork, although Wexford did win two National League titles.
He was honoured with the Texaco Hurler of the Year award in 1976 and played with Wexford up until the centenary year of 1984.
There was an extraordinary conclusion to his playing days when, well into his 40s, he helped Buffers Alley to an All-Ireland Club title in 1989.
Born in 1946, Tony first started to play competitive hurling in the newly inaugurated Nickey Rackard Rural Schools League in 1956. While attending national school in Boolavogue, he played with Monageer-Boolavogue.
The highlight of that first year’s competition in which they eventually lost at the semi-final stage to Rathnure was when they played Ballyoughter in the quarter-final and the great Nickey Rackard himself refereed.
As a hurler, one could describe Tony as inspirational, as he presented himself as one of the great full-forwards for any full-back to come across.
Nowadays he is a loyal follower of Buffers Alley teams in all grades.