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Jason Sherlock
Jason Sherlock
Jason Sherlock
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Key Information

Jason Sherlock
Personal information
Native name
Iasan Scorlóg (Irish)
Born (1976-01-10) 10 January 1976 (age 50)
Dublin, Ireland
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Sport
SportGaelic football
PositionFull forward
Clubs
Years Club
2007–present
 ?–2007
 St Oliver Plunketts ER
Na Fianna
Club titles
Dublin titles 3
Leinster titles 1
Inter-county**
Years County Apps (scores)
1995–2010
 Dublin 62 (Championship)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 7
All-Irelands 1
All Stars 0
**Inter County team apps and scores correct as of (16:31, 18 August 2006 (UTC)).

Jason Sherlock (born 10 January 1976 in Dublin) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played at senior level for the Dublin county team between 1995 and 2010. He played most of his club football for Na Fianna in Glasnevin in the northern suburbs of Dublin. Sherlock was on the Na Fianna team which won the Dublin Championship in 1999, 2000 and 2001. In January 2007, he transferred to the nearby St. Oliver Plunkett GAA.

Early life

[edit]

Sherlock was born and raised in Finglas on the northside of Dublin, the son of an Irish mother and a father from Hong Kong.[1] He was educated at St. Vincent's C.B.S.

Playing career

[edit]

Sherlock made his debut for Dublin in their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning year, 1995, at the age of 19. He was responsible for crucial scores in the All-Ireland semi-final and final against Cork and Tyrone respectively.

Sherlock also played professional football for UCD and signed for Shamrock Rovers in August 1998[2] becoming the club's top goalscorer in his first season. While at UCD he scored 31 League of Ireland goals and made one appearance for the Republic of Ireland U21s.

During this time he played basketball before eventually deciding in 2003 to concentrate on football only; since then he has regained his place on the Dublin team. He was part of the 2005 Leinster Senior Football Championship-winning side that defeated Laois, scoring a total of two points in the final. He finished the 2005 Leinster and All-Ireland Championship with a total of one goal and six points compared to his total of one goal and one point in the 2005 National Football League. He finished the 2006 National Football League with one point due to a lack of first-team football. He scored the vital goal in the 2006 Leinster Final against Offaly and his experience was a telling factor throughout the game.

He was nominated for an All Star Award for his 2006 performances in the half forward line. Sherlock was rumoured to be seeking a transfer from Na Fianna to local rivals Plunkett's.[3] Sherlock is now playing with St Oliver Plunketts.[4]

Sherlock was on Dublin's winning team for the 2008 O'Byrne Cup winning team which defeated Longford in the final. He proved to be the hero of the game by coming on as a substitute and scoring two goals to steal victory against Longford in the dying moments of the game.[5]

Dublin went on to win the Leinster championship for the fourth successive time, but were defeated by Tyrone in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Following Dublin's shattering defeat at the hands of Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final on 3 August 2009, Sherlock was thinking about hanging his boots up but Pat Gilroy persuaded him to stay. Despite his planned retirement Sherlock was considering giving the 2010 inter-county championship another go. In May 2010, Gilroy decided to call time on Sherlock after spending 15 years on the panel. [citation needed]

Sherlock announced his retirement from football on 1 June 2013.[6]

He was seen in a funny video with members of An Garda Síochána during the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York, much to the amusement of onlookers. [7]

National League appearances

[edit]

Championship appearances

[edit]

Coaching career

[edit]

In November 2022, Sherlock was announced as performance coach of the Westmeath senior footballers, working under the management of Dessie Dolan.[8]

Honours

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jason Sherlock

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Jason Sherlock (born 10 January 1976) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer, international, and coach, renowned for his contributions to as a forward and later as part of the management team that secured multiple titles. Of mixed Irish and Chinese heritage, Sherlock was born in to an Irish mother from and a father, Denis Leung, who left the family when Jason was three years old; he grew up facing due to his , which he later addressed in his 2017 Jayo: The Jason Sherlock Story.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 1 </grok:render> Sherlock burst onto the inter-county scene in 1995 at age 19, scoring a crucial goal in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork and helping win the that year, marking him as the first mixed-race player to achieve this honor. He played for the Na Fianna club and represented from 1995 until 2010, and also competed in for the Irish national team as a top prospect, while featuring in soccer for UCD in the League of . Nicknamed "Jayo" for his charismatic style, he earned acclaim as one of the GAA's early superstar talents, though he later reflected on periods of self-doubt and perceived career "failure" amid more losses than wins. Post-retirement, Sherlock transitioned to coaching, serving as forwards coach under Jim Gavin from 2015 to 2018 and contributing to Dublin's four consecutive victories (2015–2018); he departed the setup in 2019 ahead of their successful pursuit of a fifth title, and in October 2025 joined the Roscommon senior football management team. In addition to his sporting legacy, he completed an MBA from in 2014 and featured in the 2018 RTÉ documentary Jayo, exploring his heritage and reconciliation with his father's memory after the latter's murder in in 1995.

Early life

Family and upbringing

Jason Sherlock was born on 10 January 1976 in , . He has mixed heritage, with an Irish mother from and a father, Denis Leung, originally from , which made him the first mixed-race winner of the All-Ireland title in 1995. His father left the family when Jason was three years old, after which he was raised primarily by his mother, Alice, and extended family including his grandmother Kathleen and uncles in a three-bedroom semi-detached house amid a working-class community in the area on the northside of . During his childhood in , Sherlock experienced due to his Asian features, facing and taunts in a largely monocultural at the time, which left lasting emotional impacts. His early exposure to sports came through local community activities in , where he participated enthusiastically in , soccer, , and even hurling on nearby fields and estates, helping him build skills and seek acceptance among peers.

Education

Jason Sherlock attended St. Vincent's C.B.S. in , , for his secondary education, where he first engaged in competitive sports including , , and soccer. During his time at the school, Sherlock developed his athletic skills through involvement in various school teams, honing his abilities in alongside his pursuits in and soccer. His early participation in these sports laid the foundation for his future athletic career, with becoming a particular passion that saw him represent at multiple youth levels. Sherlock's youth was marked by encouragement from his mother and , which complemented his school-based sports development. Following , his path shifted toward , with no further formal higher education pursued at that stage.

Playing career

Club Gaelic football

Jason Sherlock began his senior club career with the Na Fianna club in around 1995, shortly before his breakthrough at inter-county level. Playing primarily as a forward, he contributed significantly to the team's attacking play during a period of resurgence for the Glasnevin-based side, which had not won a title in two decades prior to his arrival. Under the management of Pillar Caffrey, Sherlock helped Na Fianna secure three consecutive titles from 1999 to 2001, marking the club's first such streak since the . The 1999 victory came in a hard-fought final against St. Brigid's, where Na Fianna prevailed with a late surge to claim the county crown. Building on this success, the team advanced to the that year, defeating Sarsfields in the final to win the provincial title and secure Na Fianna's only such honour during Sherlock's tenure. These achievements highlighted Sherlock's role in revitalizing the club post-Dublin's 1995 triumph, where he had starred at county level. His club performances often complemented his inter-county commitments, allowing him to balance local and representative duties through the early . In January 2007, Sherlock transferred to the nearby St. Oliver Plunketts E.R. club, seeking a fresh challenge after 12 years with Na Fianna. He continued playing as a forward for Plunketts until his retirement in 2013, at age 37, having helped the club maintain competitive presence in senior competitions during a transitional phase in his career.

Inter-county Gaelic football

Jason Sherlock made his senior inter-county debut for the county team in 1995 during the , where he came off the bench in a victory over Louth and quickly established himself as a key contributor. That year, at just 19 years old, he played a significant role in 's drive to the title, providing crucial scores in the semi-final against Cork and the final against Tyrone, which won by 1-10 to 0-12. His emergence as a dynamic corner-forward, renowned for his explosive speed, skillful scoring ability, and flair on the pitch, earned him widespread acclaim and the "Jayo" among fans. Over his inter-county career spanning to 2010, Sherlock showcased his consistency and importance to the team through numerous appearances. He was part of seven Senior Football -winning sides in , 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, often delivering pivotal performances in high-stakes matches. His club successes with Na Fianna provided a strong foundation that supported his development at the inter-county level. Despite the early triumph, endured a prolonged period of underachievement nationally after , with multiple early exits and no further titles until 2011, following Sherlock's departure from the panel. Sherlock later reflected on the frustrations of this era, describing his overall inter-county career as a "failure" due to the lack of additional major honors beyond the 1995 success, despite his personal commitment and contributions over 16 years. He retired from inter-county football in 2010 after a 15-year tenure, having become an enduring icon for Dublin supporters.

Key Championship Appearances in Finals

DateCompetitionOpponentScore (Dublin first)ResultVenue
30 July 1995Leinster SFC FinalMeath1-18 – 1-8WinCroke Park, Dublin
23 June 2002Leinster SFC FinalKildare2-13 – 2-11WinCroke Park, Dublin
10 July 2005Leinster SFC FinalLaois0-14 – 0-13WinCroke Park, Dublin
9 July 2006Leinster SFC FinalOffaly1-15 – 0-09WinCroke Park, Dublin
8 July 2007Leinster SFC FinalLaois3-14 – 1-14WinCroke Park, Dublin
13 July 2008Leinster SFC FinalKildare2-12 – 0-16WinCroke Park, Dublin
12 July 2009Leinster SFC FinalKildare2-18 – 1-12WinCroke Park, Dublin
17 September 1995All-Ireland SFC FinalTyrone1-10 – 0-12WinCroke Park, Dublin
Note: The above table highlights Sherlock's appearances in major finals; comprehensive records of all games are maintained by the GAA, with additional National League appearances exceeding 50 across divisions.

Association football

Jason Sherlock began his association football career with (UCD) in the League of Ireland, where he played as a forward from 1994 to 1998. During this period, he made 110 appearances and scored 31 goals, contributing to the team's promotion to the Premier Division in his debut season. In 1998, Sherlock transferred to Shamrock Rovers, another prominent club, where he remained until 1999. He recorded 31 appearances and 8 goals in that time, showcasing his scoring ability in competitive matches. Despite these contributions, Sherlock did not win any major trophies or individual awards during his professional soccer tenure. His early exposure to the professional environment of the provided valuable athletic development, honing skills that later informed his transition to dominance in .

Basketball

Sherlock represented in basketball at youth and senior international levels, earning caps for the national team during his early career. Regarded as one of the country's top prospects, he played competitively while balancing his and soccer commitments, including a sports scholarship offer in the United States that he declined.

Coaching career

Roles with Dublin

Jason Sherlock transitioned to coaching with Dublin following his retirement from inter-county playing in 2010, joining the county's development squads in 2013. In these early roles, he managed a Dublin minor team and served on the development committee, focusing on talent identification, player engagement in both hurling and football, and creating pathways for young athletes to advance to senior levels. His efforts helped lay the groundwork for Dublin GAA's structured systems, which expanded participation—such as squads of over 60 U15 players and 90 U14 players—and fostered a consistent supply of high-caliber talent. Sherlock advanced to the senior team in 2015 as forwards coach under manager Jim Gavin, a role he fulfilled through 2019. He contributed significantly to the team's tactical preparation and forward line execution, supporting Dublin's achievement of five consecutive titles from 2015 to 2019. Throughout this tenure, his philosophy centered on organized skill development, drawing from innovative techniques like drills to enhance creativity and precision in play. Influenced by his own career, marked by a 1995 All-Ireland win but also periods of underachievement that instilled resilience, Sherlock integrated player psychology into his . He prioritized building relationships to motivate athletes, encouraging them to embrace feedback and view setbacks as opportunities for growth, much like the mental fortitude he developed personally. By around , these principles continued to shape Dublin's structures, promoting holistic player improvement beyond technical skills.

Roles with other counties

In November 2022, Jason Sherlock joined the Westmeath senior football team as a performance coach under manager Dessie Dolan. He continued in this role through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, contributing to the team's preparations for and campaigns. Earlier that year, in July 2022, Sherlock was a leading candidate for the Monaghan senior football managerial position following the departure of McEnaney, but he ultimately declined the role, citing that it did not suit his circumstances at the time. On 30 October 2025, Sherlock was appointed to the Roscommon senior football management team for the 2026 season under new manager Mark Dowd, alongside selectors Iain Daly and John Rogers. This role marked his latest inter-county coaching engagement outside , building on his prior experience in high-performance coaching. Throughout his coaching career, Sherlock has advocated for improved player welfare in the GAA, particularly highlighting the escalating demands on inter-county players and managers in 2025 media discussions. He emphasized the need for better balance to prevent burnout, drawing from his extensive background in team preparation.

Honours

Gaelic football

Jason Sherlock won one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal with in 1995. He secured seven Leinster Senior Football Championship titles during his inter-county career with , in the years 1995, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. At club level with Na Fianna, Sherlock claimed three medals, achieving a three-in-a-row from 1999 to 2001. Na Fianna, with Sherlock on the team, also won the in the 1999/2000 season following their Dublin title victory. Sherlock received no GAA All Star awards, though he was nominated in 2004 as Dublin's sole representative on the shortlist. Notably, Sherlock holds the distinction of being the first mixed-race player to win an , achieving this milestone in 1995 at age 19.

Association football

Jason Sherlock began his association football career with University College Dublin (UCD) in the League of Ireland, where he played as a forward from 1994 to 1998. During this period, he made 110 appearances and scored 31 goals, contributing to the team's promotion to the Premier Division in his debut season. In 1998, Sherlock transferred to Shamrock Rovers, another prominent League of Ireland club, where he remained until 1999. He recorded 31 appearances and 8 goals in that time, showcasing his scoring ability in competitive matches. Despite these contributions, Sherlock did not win any major trophies or individual awards during his professional soccer tenure. His early exposure to the professional environment of the League of provided valuable athletic development, honing skills that later informed his transition to dominance in .

References

  1. https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/jason-sherlock-now-at-ease-after-confronting-complicated-past-1.3738756
  2. https://www.irishstar.com/sport/gaa/jayo-wanted-accepted-before-becoming-31872456
  3. https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/25-years-on-one-word-from-the-summer-of-95-still-stands-the-test-of-time-jayo/39087238.html
  4. https://www.dublinonly.com/jason-sherlock-dublin-profile/
  5. https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2009/0803/252816-matchtracker/
  6. https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/when-i-finished-with-dublin-in-2010-i-felt-like-a-loser-jason-sherlock-opens-up-on-retirement-blues/41983804.html
  7. https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/jason-sherlocks-dublin-departure-confirmed-as-peter-keanes-kingdom-face-first-major-test/37798040.html
  8. https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1031/1541534-roscommon-confirm-sherlock-addition-to-management-team/
  9. https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1219/1018112-sherlock-bares-soul-on-camera-in-effort-to-find-peace/
  10. https://www.rte.ie/sport/post/103015460/
  11. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jason-sherlock/profil/spieler/710713
  12. https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/paul-kimmage-success-and-acceptance-at-the-centre-of-jason-sherlock-story/36249221.html
  13. https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0908/1163999-i-found-it-crazy-when-they-were-picking-the-ball-up/
  14. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/sherlock-calls-on-gaa-to-take-lead-on-racism-1.1567462
  15. https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0614/1147366-sherlock-you-cant-gauge-racism-in-gaa/
  16. https://www.irishecho.com/2012/7/sherlock-recalls-humiliating-racial-abuse
  17. https://issuu.com/obrienpress/docs/jasonsherlock
  18. https://www.the42.ie/jason-sherlock-jayo-3676601-Nov2017/
  19. https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/how-jason-sherlock-uses-basketball-to-forge-dublins-dynasty-ppzs273sj
  20. https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40261685.html
  21. https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/gaelic-football/gaelic-football-news/jason-sherlock-reveals-shame-over-13792097
  22. https://www.rte.ie/archives/2020/0720/1154413-dublin-star-jason-sherlock/
  23. https://www.the42.ie/des-mackin-na-fianna-5893135-Oct2022/
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  26. https://leinstergaa.ie/leinster-gaa/archive/leinster-gaa-roll-honour/football-champions-roll-honour/aib-leinster-g-club-football-champions/
  27. https://www.sportsfile.com/id/031706/
  28. https://www.balls.ie/gaa/jason-sherlock-helicopter-na-fianna-dublin-final-shamrock-rovers-524080
  29. https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/gaa-club-transfers-that-shocked-the-county-jason-sherlock-242887
  30. https://www.newstalk.com/sport/sherlock-retires-728112
  31. https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/there-was-my-age-how-i-played-how-i-looked-jason-sherlock-on-the-summer-that-changed-his-life-forever/39370248.html
  32. https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/watch-jubilee-1995-all-ireland-sfc-final
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  34. https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/fingal/jayo-drops-in-to-windsor-airside-renault/37804639.html
  35. https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/sherlock-calls-time-on-the-boom-boom-years/29314005.html
  36. https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/1025/915148-i-saw-my-career-as-a-failure/
  37. https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/jason-sherlock-retires-from-gaelic-football-1.1414729
  38. https://www.dublingaa.ie/news/flashback-dublin-v-meath-1995-leinster-football-final
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  40. https://obrien.ie/asset/23786/1/Jason_Sherlock_TG.pdf
  41. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20461678.html
  42. https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/jason-sherlock-relished-coaching-role
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  44. https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/jason-sherlock-joins-dublin-football-backroom-as-forwards-coach-5327
  45. https://www.the42.ie/dublin-footballers-basketball-3600209-Sep2017/
  46. https://www.the42.ie/jason-sherlock-westmeath-5923110-Nov2022/
  47. https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/jason-sherlock-to-return-to-westmeath-backroom-team-for-2024-season/a425143020.html
  48. https://www.bbc.com/sport/gaelic-games/62289836
  49. https://www.thesun.ie/sport/gaa-football/9399076/jason-sherlock-says-taking-the-monaghan-managerial-position/
  50. https://www.roscommonherald.ie/sport/gaa/mark-dowd-confirms-county-senior-football-management-team_arid-76003.html
  51. https://www.thesun.ie/sport/15709645/jason-sherlock-dublin-gaa-inter-county-managers-jarlath-burns/
  52. https://www.balls.ie/gaa/jason-sherlock-gaa-inter-county-issue-638184
  53. https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/fingal/sherlock-dublins-sole-nominee-for-all-star/27773604.html
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