Tony attracts a huge crowd
Launch of autobiography
MORE THAN 700 people attended the launch of the autobiography of Wexford’s All-Ireland winning hero of 1968, Tony Doran, in the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy on Monday of last week.
‘A Land of Men and Giants’ tells the story of the great Buffers Alley full-forward through his onfield exploits in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, a time when the legend wearing the number 14 jersey manned the edge of the square with the tall order of plundering goals.
Described by Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, with whom he had many a battle on the edge of the square, as having ‘the heart of a lion, and the strength of an ox’, this outstanding sportsman drew followers from throughout Wexford and beyond to the launch of a fitting story remembering one of the longest careers ever experienced in Wexford hurling.
Born in Boolavogue in 1946, Doran first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of 17 when he first linked up with the Wexford Minor team before later joining the Under-21 side, and it was fitting that the audience was taken through his distinguished inter-county and club career by former playing colleagues Tom Dempsey and Dave Bernie.
Doran joined the Wexford Senior panel during the 1964-’65 National League, and went on to play a key part on the team over the next two decades.
He won one All-Ireland medal and four Leinster titles, while he was an All-Ireland runner-up on three occasions.
As a member of the Leinster team he won seven Railway Cup medals, while he also has three provincial club medals.
He won an All-Ireland club medal with Buffers Alley while he is the holder of twelve county championship medals in a career that spanned 30 years.
His career tally of 41 goals and 57 points marks him out as Wexford’s second-highest championship scorer of all time, coming in behind the legendary Nickey Rackard.
Throughout his inter-county career Doran made 40 championship apperances for Wexford, while his retirement came following the conclusion of the 1984 championship.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest forwards of his era, he was chosen as full-forward on the All-Ireland club hurling silver jubilee team in 1996.
He is also the holder of two National League medals, an All-Ireland Under-21 hurling championship from 1965, Leinster Under-21 hurling in 1965 and 1966, and All-Ireland and Leinster Minor hurling championships in 1963.
He was also a former Texaco hurler of the year, an All Star winner in 1976, and Cú Chulainn award recipient in 1967.
He has also been inducted into the Croke Park hall of fame.