Dooley enjoyed a successful playing career at club level with Seir Kieran and is the only Offaly player ever to have won three All-Ireland titles.
In 1985 Seir Kieran qualified for their first county championship decider in over thirty years and Dooley was one of the key forwards.
Seir Kieran won the senior club league for the first time and also qualified for a second successive county final beating Kimmitty in the semi-final.
After failing to make it two county titles in-a-row in 1989, Dooley's club lost championship deciders to Birr in 1991 and again in 1994.
St Rynagh's provided stiff opposition in the county final, however, Seir Kieran looked to be heading towards their second championship ever.
Seir Kieran won the replay a week later and Dooley secured his second county championship title and was captain of the side.
The game developed into a tight affair, however, Birr pulled away in the last ten minutes to secure a 0–14 to 2–4 victory.
A fourth championship decider in succession beckoned for Dooley's side in 1998 with old rivals St. Rynagh's providing the opposition.
This game ended in a draw, and the replay saw Dooley pick up a fourth county championship winners' medal following a 1–11 to 0–8 victory.
Two years later in 1984 Dooley made his senior championship debut, playing against Wexford in the provincial decider.
Dooley came on as a substitute to collect his fourth provincial winners' medal as his team defeated Kilkenny by 3–15 to 4–9.
The significance of this victory was not lost on Offaly as the entire team gave the Antrim players a guard of honour and a standing ovation as they left the field.
Dooley missed the 1990 championship campaign, however, in 1991 he added a National Hurling League medal to his collection.
Dooley was told by the management team to take a point; however, he lashed the ball into the Limerick net to reduce the deficit.
Four minutes from the end, substitute Éamonn Taaffe first timed a long range free straight into the net to give Clare a one-point lead.
It looked as if Offaly's championship hopes were in disarray, however, they overcame Antrim in the All-Ireland quarter-final and qualified to meet Clare in the semi-final.
Dooley's side won the third game and qualified to play Kilkenny in the final in a repeat of the provincial decider.
On that day Brian Whelahan, despite suffering from flu, started in defence and was later moved to full-forward where he scored 1–6.
It was a successful move as Dooley proved instrumental both on and off the field in helping the club to take their first ever senior county championship title.
He steered Seir Kieran to two league titles and a first senior championship win Just two years after his inter-county career drew to a close, Dooley took charge of the famous Toomevara club in Tipperary.
[13] Shortly before taking up this post, Dooley's brother, Johnny, was appointed manager of the Westmeath senior hurling team.
[14] After trouncing Laois by 4–22 to 2–12 in the provincial quarter-final, Offaly qualified to play reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny.
A 2–24 to 0–12 defeat was Offaly's lot on that occasion, as Dooley's side were banished to the All-Ireland qualifiers and a tough assignment against Limerick.
In 2009 Dooley's side built on their progress by reaching the division 2 final of the National Hurling League.
The All-Ireland qualifiers route beckoned again, however, Cork trounced Dooley's side and brought their championship campaign to an end.
Offaly's side were regarded as underdogs for their next game against Galway, however, the men from the 'faithful county' nearly pulled off the shock of the championship.
He won an All star award in 1998 and was selected at left corner forward on the Leinster hurling team of the last 25 Year (1984–2009).