The sticky Lucozade hands trick to grasping Sam Maguire – John Joe Doherty's story

The 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final stands as one of the defining moments in Donegal sporting history. 

For an older generation of supporters, the 0-18 to 0-14 victory over Dublin at Croke Park secured the county's first All-Ireland title and reshaped its football identity forever.

For many, it remains the most significant sporting day of their lives. Entering the final as underdogs, Donegal carried both expectation and doubt, yet they produced football of exceptional quality, marked by composure, intelligence and a fierce team spirit that defined the occasion.

Recently, John Joe Doherty met with Eamonn Coyle to reflect on his life in football, from his upbringing in Glencolmcille to that unforgettable September afternoon in 1992 and the years that followed. 

John Joe, corner back with Naomh Columba, was an All-Ireland U-21 winner in 1987, a 1990 Ulster champion, an All-Ireland senior medal winner in 1992, and a 1993 All-Star winner. 

After his playing career, he served as Donegal senior manager from November 2008 until June 2010. What follows is a considered and reflective account of that conversation.

Reflections on a journey from Glencolmcille to All-Ireland Glory
This interview provides a personal and honest account of John Joe’s journey from a rural upbringing in Carrick, Glencolmcille to All-Ireland success in 1992. He reflects on family support, early mentors, defining criticism, pre-match nerves, key tactical moments, and the reality of life after victory.

The discussion captures not only the pride of achievement, but also the discipline, sacrifice and inner resolve that brought Sam to Donegal for the first time.

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John Joe was born into a typical Donegal farming family. He enjoyed the benefits of a close-knit household, sharing his childhood with five sisters and four brothers. Work on the farm and the bog was hard and expected; it was simply part of daily life. 

John Joe Doherty and Eamonn Coyle in Donegal Town

Throughout it all, he never missed training, and on the occasional evening, his mother relieved him of manual work so he could attend Gaelic training, a practical support that ensured his commitment never wavered.

John Joe maintains that his footballing career was shaped by several people. He is particularly keen to acknowledge the strong and lasting influence of his schoolteacher Finian Mac an Bhaird and Paddy Beag Gillespie. As young schoolboys, Finian coached them three times weekly, instilling structure, discipline and consistency, while Paddy Beag coached and managed the U14 Naomh Columba team in 1982.

On one occasion, playing against Gaoth Dobhair, Paddy unexpectedly produced a bottle of Lucozade, a rare luxury in the early 1980s. 

What appeared to be a simple treat quickly turned into a lesson in psychology when Paddy poured a small drop over their fingers, telling them the sugary liquid would help them hold onto the ball. The gesture stayed with him, reinforcing belief as much as skill.

Both Barry Campbell and Jimmy White also played a decisive role in JJ’s development, providing steady guidance, honest appraisal and high standards that strengthened both his technical ability and competitive mindset.

During John Joe’s career club football was intense and dominant and Brian McEniff had a huge network of scouts scattered all over the county. Whilst Brian couldn’t attend every game, every Sunday night he would know exactly how every player that mattered to him performed. Hence, John Joe explained that if one didn’t perform at club level there would be no hope of wearing the Donegal shirt.

Walk through the final itself - the atmosphere before throw-in, the key moments during the match, and when you knew Donegal had won it.

John Joe explained that he was not selected until Sunday morning in Lucan when Martin Shovelin failed a fitness test. Before that decision, John Joe felt Donegal had reached the highest level in Gaelic football and, regrettably, he would not be part of it. 

Once selected, however, he knew he could not and would not fail his county. The atmosphere at Croke Park was electric. He was delighted to be starting, but quietly nervous.

When the match began, the opening 10 minutes were disastrous. Dublin stormed ahead and at one stage, he felt there was no way back. Chances were missed and the game was chaotic, with momentum entirely against Donegal.

The turning point came when Charlie Redmond missed a penalty. John Joe felt fortune had intervened. From that moment, Donegal were given a second chance and they seized it. The team settled, gained control, and remained composed until Tommy Sugrue blew the final whistle.

“The build-up to the game and the match itself were so intense that, psychologically, my mind simply could not process the magnitude of what we had achieved,” John Joe recalls. “It went blank and, for the first time in my life, I felt numb.

“I walked around the pitch quietly, shaking hands and embracing well-wishers. I was there with the rest of the players and supporters, but it took a while for the moment to register, and even now I can still recall how unreal it felt that Sunday afternoon.

 “The people of Donegal were deeply grateful and appreciative of the success, and from that moment onwards, they held us in high regard. That respect opened doors. Many of us secured good employment. I obtained a position in sales, travelling the length and breadth of the county, before eventually setting up my own business in 2012. For those opportunities, I owe a significant debt of gratitude to the people of Donegal.”

Taking Advice on Board
John Joe recalls a setback, a criticism, that shaped him more than any victory. He said: “In October 1987, I was travelling home to Carrick from a training session in Donegal Town, along with Martin McHugh. Martin asked how I felt I was getting on as a member of the Donegal panel. I replied that I thought I was doing fine, an assessment he clearly questioned.

“When I asked what he meant, Martin told me plainly that if I was serious about securing and holding my place on the team, I would have to physically toughen up. At the time, I took it as criticism. Looking back, it was exactly the lesson I needed. It forced me to reassess my approach and raise my standards.

“Given the calibre of forwards, I would be expected to mark; toughening up was not optional, it was essential. That conversation helped cement my position on the team more than any early success ever could.”

“Did I what?,” John Joe added when asked if he ever struggled with self-doubt or anxiety before major matches.

“I never won the first ball in any competitive game I played, including the 1992 All-Ireland final. However, I knew that if I did not win the second or third ball, I would not be long joining the supporters on the sideline.

“As an ambitious Gaelic player, I dreaded the thought of being taken off or letting the team down. That fear was real. The nerves before a big game were intense, but they also sharpened me. They forced me to focus, to react quicker, and to make sure the next contest was mine. In that sense, anxiety became a driver rather than a weakness.

“During my career, I came up against some highly skilled and determined players, including Mickey Linden, James McCartan, Greg Blaney, Anthony Tohill, Tony Scullion and Maurice Fitzgerald. Each brought a different challenge and demanded full concentration.

“However, the player who caused me the most dread was Tyrone’s Peter Canavan. His movement, sharpness and ability to create space made him extremely difficult to contain. I am just glad that I did not face him on too many major occasions.

“On the back of winning an All-Ireland medal, I was regularly invited to take part in radio interviews, particularly with Radio na Gaeltachta. Most were conducted over the telephone. I was usually called live about 15 minutes before my scheduled slot and would often find myself listening to lively discussions on farming, fishing, planning and other current affairs.

“With a strong personal interest in those topics, I often hoped the conversation might carry forward and that I would be asked for my views. It never happened, and I found that frustrating, as I felt I could have contributed meaningfully beyond football alone.”

Beyond the Medal, The Character Behind the Triumph
This conversation reveals far more than a sporting triumph. It traces the making of a player shaped by rural discipline, honest criticism, inner doubt and collective belief. The 1992 victory did not happen in isolation; it was forged through team-based hard standards, uncomfortable truths and relentless focus. John Joe’s reflections show that while medals define careers publicly, it is character, sacrifice and resilience that truly define them privately.

John Joe Doherty and Noel Hegarty at Pairc na nGael, Glencolmcille 

John Joe told his story in recognition and appreciation of the entire 1992 panel, the followers and the sterling work of the Donegal supporters club, whose commitment underpinned that success. 

However, he wishes to pay special tribute to his lifelong friend and playing partner, Noel Hegarty, whose unwavering support and friendship on and off the field formed an integral part of that shared achievement.