John Doyle (hurler)
Encyclopedia
John Doyle was an Irish
sportsperson and politician, hailed as one of the best defenders in hurling
and his county's most iconic player upon his death. He played hurling
with his local Holycross-Ballycahill
club from the 1940s until the 1970s and was a member of the Tipperary
senior inter-county team from 1949 until 1967. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game and is one of only a handful of players to have won All-Ireland
medals in three separate decades.
Doyle’s status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. His haul of eight senior All-Ireland medals is a record which he jointly holds with Christy Ring
. Doyle was also the first hurler to win ten Munster Championship
titles, a record which was later equalled by Jimmy Barry-Murphy
. His tally of 11 National Hurling League
medals is a record which has never been equalled. Doyle held the record for most Championship appearances (54) by a Tipperary player until overtaken by Brendan Cummins
in 2009.
Doyle has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. In 1964 his hurling prowess earned him the prestigious Texaco Hurler of the Year
award. He was later honoured in 1984 when he was named, by popular opinion, in the left corner-back position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century
. He was named in the right corner-back position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
in 1999. In 2009 he was named in the Sunday Tribune
's list of the 125 Most Influential People In GAA History.
, County Tipperary
in 1930. An only child, whose mother died six weeks after his birth, he was raised by his father on the family farm. Doyle was educated at Gaile national school in Moycarkey Borris, and later attended Thurles
CBS
. From an early age he showed a great interest in hurling
, and it was in secondary school that his skills were further developed and nurtured by the Christian Brothers.
forwards as Paddy Barry
(Cork) and Jimmy Smyth
(Clare) have gained legendary status with the passing years. He holds a unique record in that he was never substituted in 19 years of inter-county championship and national league hurling, ample proof of his renowned durability.
Individually, his mastery of the shoulder-to-shoulder charge, allied to an above average number of deliveries out of defence marked him apart. Collectively, with fellow inner-defenders, Michael Maher
(Holycross) and Kieran Carey
(Roscrea), he completed a very formidable trio as Tipperary
's last line of defence for a ten year period from the late 1950s. Their marshalling territory in front of goal was famously known as "Hell's Kitchen" because of the often tempestuous nature of the exchanges which greeted the dropping ball arriving from mid-field. Their engagements with Cork in the Munster Championship
and Kilkenny
and Wexford
in the All-Ireland
series were among the most thrilling episodes of hurling play in the mid-century. They were past masters at 'holding-off' the forwards, which was a legal ploy designed to afford protection to the goalkeeper, thus allowing him ample time and space to 'catch and clear'. This was an integral and important part of their defensive strategy which paid rich dividends through many campaigns. This was a period when goalkeepers were legitimate targets for in-rushing forwards who were then allowed to charge the custodian with impunity, not a welcoming prospect for most goalkeepers intent on keeping an eye on a fast approaching sliothar. However, a succession of Tipperary
goalkeepers enjoyed maximum protection from the 'Kitchen' staff who repelled all invaders, employing ample strength and muscle as the occasion required. Doyle considered Ned Wheeler
(Wexford) and Eddie Keher
(Kilkenny) his strongest opponents and is quoted as saying that tackling Wheeler was like colliding with a tree.
with his local Holycross-Ballycahill
club. Although not regarded as one of the most successful clubs in the Tipperary SHC
, Doyle still had much success with the side. In 1948 he won his first county title with the club. Incidentally it was also the club’s very first county title. Two more followed for Doyle in 1951 and 1954.
. That year his side reached the All-Ireland
final, however, they were beaten by Dublin
. The following year he was back again with the Tipp minors who this time comfortably defeated Galway
to win the All-Ireland. It was these performances that brought Doyle to the attention of the senior selectors, and he was quickly slotted in to the senior team.
Doyle made his senior debut in 1949 at the beginning of a glorious era for Tipperary hurling. That year he won his first Munster
title before having a huge victory over Laois
to claim his first All-Ireland
medal. In 1950 Doyle began the year by winning the first of a record ten National Hurling League
titles with Tipp. He later won his second provincial title before converting it into his second All-Ireland medal following a 1-point win over Kilkenny
. In 1951 Doyle captured his third Munster title in-a-row. Once again this was converted into his third All-Ireland medal in-a-row, following a huge victory over Wexford
.
1952 began well for Doyle when he won his second National League medal. Later in the Munster semi-final Tipp secured their 15th consecutive championship win, a record which still stands today. It looked as if Doyle’s side would cruise to further Munster and All-Ireland titles, however, Cork put a stop to this with a victory in the Munster final. The next few years proved frustrating for Tipperary in the Munster championship, however, Doyle added to his National League medal tally in 1954, 1955 and 1957.
In 1958 Tipperary had bounced back and Doyle collected his fourth Munster medal. Once again this was converted into a fourth All-Ireland medal following a huge win over Galway in the final. In the meantime Tipperary captured two more National League titles in 1959 and 1960. It would be 1960 before Tipp wrested back their Munster crown from Waterford
with Doyle capturing his fifth provincial title. In the final Tipp faced Wexford, thus beginning a great rivalry between the two counties that would last for the entire 1960s. Unfortunately Doyle ended up on the losing side in that final. In 1961 it was National League medal number eight and Munster medal number six for Doyle. In the All-Ireland final Tipp faced Dublin
, however, in spite of being red-hot favourites, Doyle’s side were lucky to clinch victory by a single point bringing his All-Ireland medal tally up to five.
In 1962 Tipp were still the kingpins of Munster hurling with Doyle capturing a seventh provincial medal at corner-back. In the subsequent All-Ireland final the second instalment of the Tipperary-Wexford rivalry resulted in a win for Tipp and a sixth All-Ireland medal for Doyle. Two years later in 1964 Tipperary were once again invincible to all attack. In the National League Doyle claimed his ninth title and in Munster Doyle captured his eighth medal. In the All-Ireland final Kilkenny
were the favourites to retain the title, however, Tipperary completely swept them off the field and won by 14-points. It was Doyle’s seventh All-Ireland medal and he was quickly closing in on Christy Ring
’s record of eight All-Ireland medals.
In 1965 the year began well when Doyle captured his tenth and final National League medal. He subsequently captured his ninth Munster title. In the All-Ireland final Wexford were once again waiting for Tipp, however, victory went to Doyle’s side and he captured a record-equalling eighth All-Ireland medal. Two years later in 1967 the chance for Doyle to capture an unprecedented ninth All-Ireland medal presented itself. Tipp breezed through the Munster championship with Doyle capturing his tenth and final medal. In the All-Ireland final Tipp’s opponents were Kilkenny. The omens were good as Kilkenny hadn’t beaten Tipperary in the championship since 1922. On the day, however, Kilkenny were the stronger side and Doyle was denied his ninth medal. Time had finally caught up with him, so he retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
Although Doyle holds the same number of All-Ireland medals as Christy Ring
, he still regards the Cork man as the greatest hurler of all-time. He has admitted, to his own great credit, that it was his team-mates who won the eight medals for him but it was Ring who won the eight medals for his team-mates.
As well as his All-Ireland and National League victories Doyle also won five Railway Cup medals, six Oireachtas medals and two Cu Chulainn awards in 1963 and 1964.
’s Hurling Team of the Century and the Hurling Team of the Millennium.
candidate at the 1969 general election
for the Tipperary North constituency, but was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann
on the Agricultural Panel. He served until 1973 when he lost his seat.
Taoiseach
Brian Cowen
was among those who paid tribute saying "He was an immense hurler and an incredibly decent man, his love of the GAA was matched by his concern for his country and his own community, he was a Tipperary legend and a proud Irishman".
Doyle was buried at Holy Cross Abbey outside Thurles on 31 December 2010.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson and politician, hailed as one of the best defenders in hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and his county's most iconic player upon his death. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Holycross-Ballycahill
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the areas of Holycross and Ballycahill five miles outside Thurles in mid County Tipperary, Ireland.-History:...
club from the 1940s until the 1970s and was a member of the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
senior inter-county team from 1949 until 1967. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game and is one of only a handful of players to have won All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medals in three separate decades.
Doyle’s status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. His haul of eight senior All-Ireland medals is a record which he jointly holds with Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
. Doyle was also the first hurler to win ten Munster Championship
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
titles, a record which was later equalled by Jimmy Barry-Murphy
Jimmy Barry-Murphy
James "Jimmy" Barry-Murphy is a former Irish hurler, Gaelic footballer and association footballer and is the current manager of the Cork senior hurling team...
. His tally of 11 National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medals is a record which has never been equalled. Doyle held the record for most Championship appearances (54) by a Tipperary player until overtaken by Brendan Cummins
Brendan Cummins (Tipperary hurler)
Brendan Cummins is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with Ballybacon-Grange and Gaelic football with Ardfinnan. A former dual player at the highest level, Cummins has been a member of the Tipperary senior hurling team since 1995...
in 2009.
Doyle has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. In 1964 his hurling prowess earned him the prestigious Texaco Hurler of the Year
Texaco Hurler of the Year
The Texaco Hurler of the Year is a hurling award, created in 1958, that honours the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence. The award is part of the Texaco Sportstars Awards, in which Irish sportspeople from all fields are honoured....
award. He was later honoured in 1984 when he was named, by popular opinion, in the left corner-back position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century
GAA Hurling Team of the Century
The Hurling Team of the Century was chosen as part of the Gaelic Athletic Association's centenary year celebrations in 1984 to comprise, as a fifteen-member side divided as one goalkeeper, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwardss and three full-forwards, the best hurling players of...
. He was named in the right corner-back position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
The GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium was announced by GAA President Seán McCague at a special dinner at Croke Park on 24 July 2000. The initiative was sponsored by An Post who issued special commemorative stamps of the Millennium team members. The team was chosen to comprise, as a...
in 1999. In 2009 he was named in the Sunday Tribune
Sunday Tribune
The Sunday Tribune was an Irish Sunday broadsheet newspaper published by Tribune Newspapers plc. It was edited in its final years by Nóirín Hegarty, who changed both the tone and the physical format of the newspaper from broadsheet to tabloid. Former editors include Conor Brady, Vincent Browne,...
's list of the 125 Most Influential People In GAA History.
Early life
John Doyle was born in HolycrossHolycross
Holycross is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is in the barony of Eliogarty. Unusually, the civil parish straddles two counties and the baronies of Eliogarty and of Middle Third . It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.The village developed around the...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1930. An only child, whose mother died six weeks after his birth, he was raised by his father on the family farm. Doyle was educated at Gaile national school in Moycarkey Borris, and later attended Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
CBS
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
. From an early age he showed a great interest in hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
, and it was in secondary school that his skills were further developed and nurtured by the Christian Brothers.
Doyle's style
Possessed of a strong physique and a long stride, Doyle was famed for his dependable close defensive play, marked by his ability to execute long clearances from very tight entanglements in his corner-back position. His tussles with such illustrious MunsterMunster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
forwards as Paddy Barry
Paddy Barry (Sarsfield's)
Paddy Barry was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Sarsfield's and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1947 until 1964. Barry is regarded as one of Cork’s greatest-ever hurlers....
(Cork) and Jimmy Smyth
Jimmy Smyth (hurler)
Jimmy Smyth is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Ruan and with the Clare senior inter-county team from 1948 until 1967. Smyth is regarded as one of the greatest hurlers never to have won an All-Ireland medal.-Early life:Jimmy Smyth was born in Ruan near Ennis,...
(Clare) have gained legendary status with the passing years. He holds a unique record in that he was never substituted in 19 years of inter-county championship and national league hurling, ample proof of his renowned durability.
Individually, his mastery of the shoulder-to-shoulder charge, allied to an above average number of deliveries out of defence marked him apart. Collectively, with fellow inner-defenders, Michael Maher
Michael Maher
Michael Maher , is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Holycross-Ballycahill club and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1966.- References :...
(Holycross) and Kieran Carey
Kieran Carey
Kieran Carey was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Roscrea and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.-Club:...
(Roscrea), he completed a very formidable trio as Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
's last line of defence for a ten year period from the late 1950s. Their marshalling territory in front of goal was famously known as "Hell's Kitchen" because of the often tempestuous nature of the exchanges which greeted the dropping ball arriving from mid-field. Their engagements with Cork in the Munster Championship
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
and Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
and Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
in the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
series were among the most thrilling episodes of hurling play in the mid-century. They were past masters at 'holding-off' the forwards, which was a legal ploy designed to afford protection to the goalkeeper, thus allowing him ample time and space to 'catch and clear'. This was an integral and important part of their defensive strategy which paid rich dividends through many campaigns. This was a period when goalkeepers were legitimate targets for in-rushing forwards who were then allowed to charge the custodian with impunity, not a welcoming prospect for most goalkeepers intent on keeping an eye on a fast approaching sliothar. However, a succession of Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
goalkeepers enjoyed maximum protection from the 'Kitchen' staff who repelled all invaders, employing ample strength and muscle as the occasion required. Doyle considered Ned Wheeler
Ned Wheeler
Ned Wheeler is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Faythe Harriers and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1949 until 1965.-Club:...
(Wexford) and Eddie Keher
Eddie Keher
Edward Peter Keher , better known as Eddie Keher, is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game....
(Kilkenny) his strongest opponents and is quoted as saying that tackling Wheeler was like colliding with a tree.
Club
Doyle played hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Holycross-Ballycahill
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the areas of Holycross and Ballycahill five miles outside Thurles in mid County Tipperary, Ireland.-History:...
club. Although not regarded as one of the most successful clubs in the Tipperary SHC
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
, Doyle still had much success with the side. In 1948 he won his first county title with the club. Incidentally it was also the club’s very first county title. Two more followed for Doyle in 1951 and 1954.
Inter-county
In 1946 Doyle played his first matches at minor level for TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
. That year his side reached the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
final, however, they were beaten by Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. The following year he was back again with the Tipp minors who this time comfortably defeated Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
to win the All-Ireland. It was these performances that brought Doyle to the attention of the senior selectors, and he was quickly slotted in to the senior team.
Doyle made his senior debut in 1949 at the beginning of a glorious era for Tipperary hurling. That year he won his first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
title before having a huge victory over Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
to claim his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal. In 1950 Doyle began the year by winning the first of a record ten National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
titles with Tipp. He later won his second provincial title before converting it into his second All-Ireland medal following a 1-point win over Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. In 1951 Doyle captured his third Munster title in-a-row. Once again this was converted into his third All-Ireland medal in-a-row, following a huge victory over Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
.
1952 began well for Doyle when he won his second National League medal. Later in the Munster semi-final Tipp secured their 15th consecutive championship win, a record which still stands today. It looked as if Doyle’s side would cruise to further Munster and All-Ireland titles, however, Cork put a stop to this with a victory in the Munster final. The next few years proved frustrating for Tipperary in the Munster championship, however, Doyle added to his National League medal tally in 1954, 1955 and 1957.
In 1958 Tipperary had bounced back and Doyle collected his fourth Munster medal. Once again this was converted into a fourth All-Ireland medal following a huge win over Galway in the final. In the meantime Tipperary captured two more National League titles in 1959 and 1960. It would be 1960 before Tipp wrested back their Munster crown from Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
with Doyle capturing his fifth provincial title. In the final Tipp faced Wexford, thus beginning a great rivalry between the two counties that would last for the entire 1960s. Unfortunately Doyle ended up on the losing side in that final. In 1961 it was National League medal number eight and Munster medal number six for Doyle. In the All-Ireland final Tipp faced Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
, however, in spite of being red-hot favourites, Doyle’s side were lucky to clinch victory by a single point bringing his All-Ireland medal tally up to five.
In 1962 Tipp were still the kingpins of Munster hurling with Doyle capturing a seventh provincial medal at corner-back. In the subsequent All-Ireland final the second instalment of the Tipperary-Wexford rivalry resulted in a win for Tipp and a sixth All-Ireland medal for Doyle. Two years later in 1964 Tipperary were once again invincible to all attack. In the National League Doyle claimed his ninth title and in Munster Doyle captured his eighth medal. In the All-Ireland final Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
were the favourites to retain the title, however, Tipperary completely swept them off the field and won by 14-points. It was Doyle’s seventh All-Ireland medal and he was quickly closing in on Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
’s record of eight All-Ireland medals.
In 1965 the year began well when Doyle captured his tenth and final National League medal. He subsequently captured his ninth Munster title. In the All-Ireland final Wexford were once again waiting for Tipp, however, victory went to Doyle’s side and he captured a record-equalling eighth All-Ireland medal. Two years later in 1967 the chance for Doyle to capture an unprecedented ninth All-Ireland medal presented itself. Tipp breezed through the Munster championship with Doyle capturing his tenth and final medal. In the All-Ireland final Tipp’s opponents were Kilkenny. The omens were good as Kilkenny hadn’t beaten Tipperary in the championship since 1922. On the day, however, Kilkenny were the stronger side and Doyle was denied his ninth medal. Time had finally caught up with him, so he retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
Although Doyle holds the same number of All-Ireland medals as Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
, he still regards the Cork man as the greatest hurler of all-time. He has admitted, to his own great credit, that it was his team-mates who won the eight medals for him but it was Ring who won the eight medals for his team-mates.
As well as his All-Ireland and National League victories Doyle also won five Railway Cup medals, six Oireachtas medals and two Cu Chulainn awards in 1963 and 1964.
Sporting retirement
In retirement from inter-county hurling Doyle continued to work on his farm in Holycross. His status as one of the greatest players of all-time was further enhanced in 1984 and again in 2000 when he was named on the Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
’s Hurling Team of the Century and the Hurling Team of the Millennium.
Political career
In later years he entered politics. He stood unsuccessfully as a Fianna FáilFianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
candidate at the 1969 general election
Irish general election, 1969
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed...
for the Tipperary North constituency, but was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
on the Agricultural Panel. He served until 1973 when he lost his seat.
Death
Doyle died on 28 December 2010 at the age of 80. He is survived by his wife Anne, seven children and fifteen grandchildrenTaoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
was among those who paid tribute saying "He was an immense hurler and an incredibly decent man, his love of the GAA was matched by his concern for his country and his own community, he was a Tipperary legend and a proud Irishman".
Doyle was buried at Holy Cross Abbey outside Thurles on 31 December 2010.
Player
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
:- Winner (8): 1949, 1950, 1951, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965
- Munster Senior Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
:- Winner (10): 1949, 1950, 1951, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967
- National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling LeagueThe National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
:- Winner (11): 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965
- All-Ireland Minor Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
:- Winner (1): 1947
- Munster Minor Hurling ChampionshipMunster Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
:- Winner (2): 1946, 1947
Munster
- Railway Cup:
- Winner (8): 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966
External links
- Brendan Fullam (1991), Giants of the Ash
- Séamus J King (1996), A History of Hurling