‘For Heffo, it was always about the team’
This, after all, was a life worth celebrating.
Then, in another poignant if subtle moment, Brian Mullins, one of the pall-bearers and once one of Mr Heffernan’s midfielder warriors, caressed the wood as if to say “that’s for you, Heffo”.
Outside afterwards, Mickey Whelan, Mr Heffernan’s great friend, offered a bittersweet smile. “They did him proud,” he whispered.
He was talking of his and Mr Heffernan’s St Vincent’s clubmates Tony Hanahoe and Pat Gilroy who gave fitting eulogies to the Dublin GAA giant.
Mr Whelan, who was reportedly coaxed by Mr Heffernan into returning to Dublin management alongside Mr Gilroy in late 2008, had earlier offered one of the prayers of the faithful.
Mr Heffernan knew his friend still had something to offer and three years later, at the age of 70, he became an All-Ireland winning coach.
Great to see Heffo get such a good send off #legend #ardheisdegoraibhaainmdilis #GAA #jacksareback
— Ferg Donnelly (@FergDonnelly) January 29, 2013
As Mr Gilroy articulated in his three-minute tribute (its brevity in honour of Mr Heffernan, who liked to keep things short and sweet), the late man’s knowledge and advice was sage.
“He created a very healthy legacy, such as how to carry success,” said Mr Gilroy. “He was very humble. He never sought the limelight or accolades. For him, it was always about the team.”
Mr Heffernan’s most famous captain, Mr Hanahoe, regaled mourners with how the Dublin players and management devised their ambitious and, as it turned out, successful, plans to conquer Ireland in “a drafty, little galvanised hut sustained by nothing but Chrissy Robinson’s tea, Marietta biscuits, and sheer determination”.
Saw a bit of heffo's funeral...I'd say there's some great story's about him #Hill16HasNeverSeenTheLikesOfHemosArmy #Legend #RIP
— Gaz hickey (@gazhickey) January 29, 2013
Mr Hanahoe also spoke of what team Mr Heffernan might now be able to put together in heaven. Having met him last Tuesday, three days before the 83-year-old passed away, Mr Hanahoe recounted: “I could nearly read his mind. He was wondering where he was going and he was picking his next squad.
“I could see him saying: ‘I’ll have Lar Foley, Paddy Bawn Brosnan, Enda Colleran, Páidí Ó Sé, Tim Kennelly. They’re the backs. Des Foley, John Timmons, [Seán] Purcell, [Oliver] Freaney, Dermot Earley, Frankie Stockwell, I’ll build around the rest.”
The presence of two Kerry players from the 1970s in Heffo’s heavenly team represents the great loss the county had endured over the last eight years from Mr Kennelly in 2005 to John Egan and Mr Ó Sé last year.
In comparison, the Dublin team, their great rivals of the decade, have got off lightly, Mick Holden the only player from that time no longer alive. The rest were all there yesterday to honour their leader.
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of #KevinHeffernan along with Micko he brought Gaelic Football to a different level #RIPHeffo
— Brendan Boylan (@BrendanBoylan) January 25, 2013
Kerry legends, Mikey Sheehy and Eoin “Bomber” Liston, commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, former GAA director general Liam Mulvihill, and ex-Galway manager Liam Sammon, who worked alongside Mr Heffernan in management on the 1986 International Rules tour to Australia, were all in attendance.
GAA president Liam O’Neill represented the association in an official capacity.
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