final. Following this victory Heffernan unexpectedly resigned as manager of Dublin, being replaced by Tony Hanahoe who acted as player-captain-manager. Heffernan returned as manager in 1979 but, after claiming a sixth consecutive Leinster title, lost out to Kerry in the All-Ireland final. Much of the Dublin team fell by the wayside after 1980 but Heffernan built a new team centred on midfield stalwart Brian Mullins and, in another memorable match remembered mainly for its unsporting conduct, a twelve-man Dublin team to victory over a fourteen-man Galway in the All-Ireland Final of 1983. Played in atrocious conditions the referee sent off four players, three of which were from Dublin, and their win saw the team being dubbed 'the twelve apostles'. In January 1986 Heffernan stepped down as Dublin manager. Retirement and death Following his retirement from inter-county management Heffernan continued to have a keen involvement in Gaelic football. In 1984, the GAA's centenary year, he was named in the left corner-forward position on the GAA's Football Team of the Century before later managing Ireland to victory over Australia in the International Rules Series in 1986. In 2000, Heffernan's status as one of the greatest players of all-time was further cemented when he was named in the left corner-forward position on the GAA's 'Football Team of the Millennium.' He also continued his involvement with the St Vincent's club. In 2004, at the age of 74, Heffernan was in charge of the club's under 15 hurling team, which, with a late free from Oliver McElvaney, won a memorable championship final against Cuala, having defeated Ballyboden in the semi-final. This particular St Vincent's team had never beaten either of those clubs before, showing that Heffernan's management touch had not deserted him. In 2006, he trained the club's minor hurling team. In 2005, Heffernan was granted the Freedom of the City of Dublin, placing him in a pantheon that includes U2, Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton. He was also among the 25 recipients of the Irish Examiner GAA President's Awards for 2006. The ceremony which was presented by the former GAA president Seán Kelly, took place on 31 March 2006. Heffernan was a consultant to the management of the Dublin minor football team for 2007. His appointment received overwhelming approval from the Dublin County Board and he was working with the Dublin minor boss Timmy McCarthy and his managerial colleagues John Archibald and John Lowndes