Shane Dooley

Shane Dooley (born 1986 in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling and Gaelic football with his local club Tullamore^[1] and has been a member of the Offaly senior hurling team since 2007.^[2]

Biography

Shane Dooley was born in Tullamore, County Offaly in 1986. He was born into a family that was steeped in hurling history. His great granduncle, Tom Dooley, as well as his great grandfather and another great granduncle had all played with Offaly in the junior All-Ireland finals in 1929 and 1923 respectively. Similarly, for two decades his father Joe^[3] and his uncles Billy and Johnny formed the backbone of the Offaly senior hurling team.

Dooley was educated at the local primary school and later attended Tullamore College. It was here that his hurling skills were first nurtured. In 2001 Dooley came on as a substitute as Tullamore College were crowned Leinster Vocational Schools Junior Hurling 'B' champions following a win over Borris Vocational School. He won an All-Ireland Vocational Schools' title in 2004 following a victory over Cork.

Playing career

Club

Dooley plays his club hurling and football with his local club in Tullamore and has enjoyed much success at underage and senior level. He scored 2-4 in the final of the county intermediate championship in 2004, giving Tullamore a famous victory over Clonbullogue. In this grade Dooley enjoyed more success, winning a county title in 2007.

Inter-county

Dooley made his debut with the Offaly senior inter-county team in the Leinster quarter-final defeat of Laois in 2007. He has been an ever-present feature on the starting fifteen since then, however, Offaly's hurling fortunes are still in the doldrums. Dooley has yet to line out in a Leinster final at senior level, while Offaly have failed to make the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland series for the last two years.

He has also played football with Offaly. He played Under 21 before being brought into the senior panel in the 2013 season.

Inter-provincial

Dooley also had the honour of lining out for Leinster in the Interprovincial Championship. He secured a winners' medal in this competition in 2012 following a 2-19 to 1-15 defeat of Connacht.

References