Seán Doherty, who famously captained Dublin to All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) glory in 1974, has passed away at the age of 78.

Born in Wicklow in 1946, Doherty made his mark in Gaelic football playing for clubs including Ballyboden Wanderers, Ballyboden St Enda’s, and St Anne’s. He notably led Ballyboden Wanderers to a Dublin Junior Football Championship title in 1968.

However, Doherty will be most fondly remembered for his achievements at inter-county level. A commanding and elegant full-back, he ended an 11-year All-Ireland drought for the capital when he lifted the Sam Maguire Cup following Dublin’s 0-14 to 1-06 victory over Galway at Croke Park in 1974.

His stellar performances that year earned him a place on the All-Star team, and he would go on to enjoy further success with Dublin, adding five Leinster titles and two National Football League titles to his name. He also played a pivotal role in securing back-to-back All-Ireland SFC titles in 1976 and 1977.

Doherty’s final appearance in the sky blue jersey came in the 1978 All-Ireland final, where Dublin were defeated by arch-rivals Kerry. He retired from inter-county football in 1979, but his influence on the game endured.

In 1989, Doherty returned to the Dublin senior set-up as joint-manager, working alongside Gerry McCaul and Tony Hempenstall, further solidifying his legacy within Dublin GAA.