By Michael Devlin

The wealth of tributes pouring in from across the GAA community following the sad news of Anton O’Toole’s passing only serve to underline the huge admiration the Dublin great was held in.

O’Toole sadly lost his battle to illness aged 68, but his reputation as one of Dublin’s greatest ever players has long been cemented.

Affectionately known as ‘The Blue Panther’, he was revered by Dublin fans throughout this career in the seventies and early eighties, a golden era for the county’s footballers.

Under legendary manager Kevin Heffernan, O’Toole played in six All-Ireland finals in a row from 1974 to 1979. Four of those were against the fabled adversary of the time, Kerry, in a rivalry that is regarded as one of Gaelic football’s greatest ever.

O’Toole won four All-Ireland medals as part of the iconic ‘Heffo’s Army’ team. After making his senior debut in in 1972, he picked up Celtic Crosses in 1974, ’76, ’77 and ’83, along with eight Leinster SFC titles and two National Leagues in a career spanning 13 years in the sky blue jersey.

A forward renowned for his style and grace, O’Toole’s foraging solo runs enthralled the Hill 16 masses, and he won three successive All Stars from 1975 to 1977. For his 1976 award for the right half forward position, he was officially cited for “his great manoeuvrability and elusiveness, his daring and enterprise in his county’s attack.”

Former team-mate and fellow Dublin icon Jimmy Keaveney fondly remembers O’Toole knack for being able to elude opposition despite a supposed over-reliance on his left foot.

“He was an extraordinary footballer, and the amazing thing about him was he could only kick the ball with his left foot. Opponents knew that, but they could still never catch him!

“He was a tremendous footballer. Very reliable, a great fielder of the ball, you could play him in midfield or anywhere. Even by relying only on a left foot, he was still deadly.

“The name ‘Blue Panther’, I think that was the papers, they put that name on him. As far as we were concerned, we knew him only as ‘Tooler’, not the ‘Blue Panther’. I don’t think he liked being called that anyway!” Keaveney recalls with humour.

“He could play in any team, he was that sort of a player. If you were setting up a forward line, ‘Tooler’ would be a key man. He was a great leader of players, a great footballer, and it’ll be a sad loss, especially in Dublin football.

“In the 1970’s, he was one of the main people responsible for the success of the team, there’s no doubt about that. He got us out of more trouble. It’s sad to see him pass away.”

More recently, O'Toole managed his club Templeogue Synge Street to the Dublin intermediate club title in 2008. The club issued a poignant statement this morning which read: “On behalf of the Executive and membership of Templeogue Synge Street GAA Club we would like to express our deep sadness at the passing of our clubmate Anton O’Toole.

“Our sorrow however, is also matched by the enormous sense of pride that we feel and the honour that it was to have had him wear our jersey and to call him one of our own.

“He was the Blue Panther: a Hill 16 hero, a Gaelic football legend and a national sporting treasure due to his prolific role in the iconic Dublin teams of the 70s and 80s.

“To us, in Synge Street Past Pupils GFC and later Templeogue Synge Street GFC he was just Anton or maybe ‘Tooler’, but always an inspirational figure who was the living embodiment that actions speak louder than words. Fame and adulation were never things to be craved in his eyes.

“Being able to make a difference, make a contribution and play a part big or small for the cause - be it club or county - was what mattered.

“Anton did all of these things - be it with Synger or Dublin - and did so with a grace and a humility that he also brought to the brave battle he waged against illness in recent times.”

Alan O'Brien, chairman of Templeogue Synge Street GAA, added his sentiments: "Anton put us on the map as a club. He was a great player and an inspirational figure who epitomised what hard work and determination could achieve.

"He was hugely admired not just by the Dubs but by football fans everywhere and his contribution to that golden era of GAA history is well known. 

"He was someone that people enjoyed meeting because you felt better for it. Because he was never in bad form, always looking ahead and for all the success that he enjoyed at inter-county level he was always there to answer the call when the club needed him.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his brother Peter and sisters Nuala and Mary and family and many friends.

"Ar laoch. Go dtuga Dia suaimhneas síoraí dá anam."