Ivan Heffernan

Ivan Heffernan is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Ballina Stephenites,^[1] as well as the Mayo county team, which he captained. He is originally from Ballina, County Mayo.^[2]

Heffernan was goalkeeper on the Mayo team that won the 1974 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship.^[1][2] He was Mayo captain for the Connacht Senior Football Championship.^[3]

Heffernan also played for UCD during the 1970s.^[2] He was goalkeeper on the UCD team that won the 1974 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship title.^[4] He also won two Sigerson Cup titles.^[3]

Heffernan's family have made several contributions to sport. A son, Dave, plays rugby union for Connacht.^[2] Ballina R.F.C.'s pitch is named after his father.^[2] A brother Niall also played for Mayo, managed Ballina Stephenites to several Mayo Senior Football Championship titles and managed the Mayo under-20 football team.^[2][5][6]

Heffernan also played rugby union, and captained Ballina R.F.C. to the 1985 Connacht Junior Cup and Connacht Junior League.^[3] He was later appointed as Ballina's Director of Rugby for the 1st and 2nd XVs.^[3] In 2017, the club appointed him to its management team.^[3]