Former Dublin goalkeeper and manager Paddy Cullen has died at the age of 80 after a long illness.
One of the best-known figures in the game, the O'Connell Boys clubman enjoyed 13 years between the sticks for the Boys in Blue after making his debut in 1966.
He won three All-Ireland titles and four All-Star awards as part of the swashbuckling 'Heffo's Army' that rejuvenated the game in the capital.
Many believe his penalty save from Galway's Liam Sammon in the 1974 decider - Dublin won 0-14 to 1-06 - paved the way for the start of a glorious era for the squad as they went on to win two of the next three All-Ireland titles, while reeling off six successive Leinster titles.
He retired in 1979 after Dublin's crushing defeat to Kerry.
Bidding for a third successive All-Ireland title, Kevin Heffernan's side were leading by a point late in the first half when Cullen was adjudged to have picked the ball off the ground.
While his goalkeeper was protesting his innocence, team-mate Robbie Kelleher handed the ball to Kerry free-taker Mikey Sheehy, who spotted his opportunity and audaciously kicked the ball over a back-pedaling Cullen into the empty goal.
"Paddy dashed back towards his goal like a woman who smells a cake burning," Con Houlihan famously wrote in his match report as Kerry dashed the three-in-a-row hopes.
It wasn't Cullen's last act for the Dubs, however, as he returned for his swansong in 1979.
A sixth successive All-Ireland final was reached, but the Kingdom romped to victory in the decider. Cullen's performances throughout the season were recognised when he picked up his fourth and final All-Star award.
Cullen later turned to management and succeeded Gerry McCaul in the Dublin hotseat in 1990. He guided the Dubs to their first league title in 13 years in 1991 against a Kildare side managed by the great Mick O'Dwyer.
Dublin would go on to win two Leinster titles and reach the 1992 All-Ireland final, where Donegal secured Sam Maguire for the first time on a scoreline of 0-18 to 0-14. It was Cullen's final game in charge.
Cullen celebrated his 80th birthday last November and is survived by his wife Ann and children Liz, Anthony and Andrew.
Mikey Sheehy and Cullen's former Dublin team-mate and great friend Alan Larkin both paid tributes to the goalkeeping great on RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
"I first met Paddy in 1972," Larkin explained. "I was only 20 years of age and it was my first game with Dublin in the National League against Cork, down in the Mardyke.
"Paddy was the first person I met in the old Kingsbridge, now known as Heuston Station. He took me under his wing and so started a lifelong friendship, right up until I last spoke to him on Tuesday."
Back row, from left: Stephen Rooney, Anton O'Toole, Robbie Kelleher, Jimmy Keaveney, Tony Hanahoe, Paddy Cullen, John McCarthy, Alan Larkin, Bobby Doyle.
Front row, from left: Brian Mullins, George Wilson, Paddy Reilly, Sean Doherty, David Hickey and Gay O'Driscoll.
Cullen's role in the team as a uniting and galvanising force couldn't be underestimated, according to the former Dublin centre-back.
"He was sort of the inspirational figure behind it," Larkin said. "He gave a sense of great belief.
"One of the lads remarked last night in our WhatsApp group that we were training hard in Parnell Park in 1974, unknown before in Dublin, and we were in the flight path of Aer Lingus flights going over Parnell Park.
"He used to often say during the summer, "that will be us next year, heading to the States". Little did we know we were all going there the following year.
"We've had such a strong bond with this group over the last 50 years.
"Last year, it was great to see him as we celebrated the golden jubilee of our success of 1974 with a luncheon in Croke Park and Paddy was, thankfully, fit enough to join us on the day
"It was amazing how many of the players all gravitated towards him because they saw him as one of the inspirational figures of our team and responsible for so much of the good that has come through that team."
Sheehy remembers the the rivalry between Dublin and Kerry at the time fondly, as he does Cullen.
"There was a great rivalry in that era," he said. "I suppose it was a special era for the GAA in the 70s and the 80s and Paddy was a huge part of that. He was a character.
"I always thought when Paddy was togged out in goal, he was an imposing figure, and a fine, handsome man.
"He was always immaculately dressed on the field and off the field any time you met him.
"He had the socks pulled up and this dark blue jersey, and he was just a very flamboyant keeper."
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