Dowling Cup win was emotional occasion for Tullamore player and family steeped in Offaly GAA history

Tullamore panel member Jay Sheerin proudly holds the Dowling Cup on Sunday after their dramatic Senior Football Championship final win over Ferbane with his uncle, John Dowling and mother Betty Sheerin on the left and uncle Declan Dowling and brother Ryan Sheerin on the right – the Dowling Cup is a particularly evocative prize for the Dowling and Sheerin families as it is steeped in their family history.

John, Betty and Declan are children of one of Tullamore GAA's most cherished gentlemen and workers, the late Billy Dowling, a former club president, player of note, who won senior football medals in the 1950s, and a lifelong club foot soldier in a variety of capacities - Billy was a brother of former GAA president, the late John Dowling, who gave decades of service as Tullamore GAA secretary, an All-Ireland football and hurling final referee, Offaly GAA secretary, Leinster Council chairman, GAA president (1988-1991), Tullamore GAA chairman and finally Offaly GAA president, before passing away in 2002 with Billy living until 2021 when he passed at 91 years of age. The two were also founding members of Tullamore Harriers in 1953, though GAA was their true calling.

The Dowling Cup was donated to Offaly GAA as the trophy for the Offaly Senior Football Championship in 1954 by brothers of Billy and John, who had emigrated to America, Mick, Joe and Christy Dowling. Fittingly Tullamore were the first winners of it in 1954 with Noel McGee becoming the first man to lift it while Billy Dowling was centre back on that fine team, winning a second medal in 1956.

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Jay's proud parents Seamus and Betty enjoyed the whole occasion and no doubt their thoughts turned to Billy, who would have been so proud to see a grandson follow in his footsteps by collecting a medal. Jay will now be bidding to win his place on the Tullamore senior team next year and is well capable. A utility player, at home in defence and attack, he has played minor and U20 football for Offaly, was very comfortable on the Tullamore senior team in the league this year and was excellent as they captured the first half of an important double in the Intermediate Football Championship.