Offaly All Ireland senior football champions 1971. Front l-r: Sean Cooney, Tony McTague, Willie Bryan, Eugene Mulligan, Martin Heavey, Jody Gunning. Back l-r: Paddy McCormack, Mick O'Rourke, Murt Connor, Kieran Claffey, Nicolas Clavin, Sean Evans, Martin Furlong, Mick Ryan, Kevin Kilmurray.

There is sadness in Offaly football circles following the passing of double All-Ireland winning defender Martin Heavey.

The Rhode clubman, who had been in ill-health for some time, was one of the stars of the legendary Offaly team that won back-to-back Sam Maguires in 1971 and '72. Heavey didn't play minor or U21 for the Faithful, but his senior career (1967 to '73) coincided with a golden spell in which he also collected three Leinster SFC medals in '71, '72 and '73.

In addition, the no-nonsense wing back won three Offaly SFC medals with his beloved Rhode in 1966, '67 and '69, and later served as club secretary and treasurer. He also served as an Offaly senior selector under both Paddy McCormack ('The Iron Man from Rhode') and Eugene McGee in '76 and '77 respectively.

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