In January, we all learned about the passing of GAA legend Kevin Heffernan.
Heffo, as he was popularly known, helped transform Dublin as a footballing county through his management in the 1970s.
Former Meath player Liam Hayes joined Joe Molloy on Off The Ball to discuss the life and times of the man to whom Dublin GAA owes a great deal.
He has written a book called Heffo - A Brilliant Mind: A Biography of Kevin Heffernan which traced the life and times of a "private, complex, driven and ambitious" man.
Heffo won 21 county titles with St Vincent's as a "Colm Cooper type player" but his inter-county career had many low points and just a single All Ireland.
"He had been part of a Vincent's and Dublin team that had literally reinvented Gaelic football. But he probably felt he was owed more. He left many traumatic defeats to Kerry behind him and the trauma of the 1955 All Ireland final when Dublin lost to Kerry despite being hot favourites, and the 1957 Leinster final defeat to Louth. He never forgave himself and it shaped the manager he was," explained Hayes.
Heffo also emerged at a time when Dublin GAA was populated by players from other counties and provinces.
"Many people didn't support the Dublin football team. When they won the All Ireland in the early 40s, there were only 30,000 at Croke Park. When Roscommon won in '43 and '44, there were 70,000 people. Dublin had no following because it wasn't a Dublin team. They wore the blue jersey but under that jersey there were many parishes and counties. Vincent's decided to end that and build a Dublin team populated only by Dublin men. Dublin followed suit."
In 1973, Heffo guided his Dublin team, who had become a laughing stock, to an All Ireland title for the first time since 1963, in his first year in charge.
"First of all, he took command of the sideline and put an end to the days when he had to have a committee around him. After that he decided to build a football team that was fitter and tougher than anyone else. He ran them off their legs. It was brutal in terms of the training but there was also the mental aspect. The players used to squeeze into the old hut in Parnell Park and they would stay there until Kevin let them go. He was like a chef, knowing when it's just done. He wouldn't call a halt until every man had spoken. Some of the Dublin players would tell you that they were terrified of the demands of the team meetings."
Heffo also brought in aspects from basketball which he played at Trinity College and also from Leeds United contemporary Don Revie.
