Michael Doyle (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Michael Doyle is a retired Irish
hurling
manager
and former player. He played hurling
with his local club Holycross-Ballycahill
and was a member of the Tipperary
senior inter-county team from 1982 until 1987. Doyle later served as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team from 2002 until 2003.
, County Tipperary
in 1958. He was born into a family that had a strong hurling
tradition. His father, John Doyle
, played hurling with Tipperary
between 1949 and 1967. He won a record eight All-Ireland
and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. Like his father, Michael Doyle followed his father into inter-county hurling.
with Holycross-Ballycahill
. He enjoyed some success at under age levels and won a senior county championship
title in 1990.
minor hurling panel in the mid-1970s. In 1976 he won a Munster minor title, before later winning an All-Ireland
title with the minor side. He quickly graduated onto the Tipp under-21 team where he enjoyed further success. Doyle won a Munster under-21 title in 1978, before adding a second in 1979. This second win was subsequently converted into an All-Ireland
title. Doyle was captain of the side for this victory.
Doyle quickly joined the Tipperary senior panel, however, the county’s hurling fortunes were in the doldrums at the time. In spite of this he still won a National Hurling League
title in 1979. In 1984 Tipp looked set for their first Munster Championship
victory since 1971, however, Doyle became the villain of the game when he lost the sliothar which ultimately lead to Cork’s winning score. Three years later in 1987 Doyle was the hero of the Munster final. He came on as a substitute and scored two goals to clinch victory for Tipp. In spite of this Doyle found it difficult to nail down a permanent place on the team. He shared in Tipp’s All-Ireland
victory in 1989 before subsequently retiring from inter-county hurling.
as manager
of the Tipperary
senior hurling team. He had little success as manager of his native-county and he resigned after just one championship season. Doyle later served as manager of the Carlow
hurling team.
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...
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...
manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and former player. 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 club 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:...
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 1982 until 1987. Doyle later served as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team from 2002 until 2003.
Early life
Michael 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 1958. He was born into a family that had a strong 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...
tradition. His father, John Doyle
John Doyle (hurler)
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...
, played hurling with 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...
between 1949 and 1967. He won a record eight 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....
and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. Like his father, Michael Doyle followed his father into inter-county hurling.
Club
Doyle played his club 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 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:...
. He enjoyed some success at under age levels and won a senior county championship
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
title in 1990.
Inter-county
Doyle’s hurling skills were quickly spotted and he joined the 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...
minor hurling panel in the mid-1970s. In 1976 he won a Munster minor title, before later winning an 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...
title with the minor side. He quickly graduated onto the Tipp under-21 team where he enjoyed further success. Doyle won a Munster under-21 title in 1978, before adding a second in 1979. This second win was subsequently converted into an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
title. Doyle was captain of the side for this victory.
Doyle quickly joined the Tipperary senior panel, however, the county’s hurling fortunes were in the doldrums at the time. In spite of this he still won a 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...
title in 1979. In 1984 Tipp looked set for their first 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....
victory since 1971, however, Doyle became the villain of the game when he lost the sliothar which ultimately lead to Cork’s winning score. Three years later in 1987 Doyle was the hero of the Munster final. He came on as a substitute and scored two goals to clinch victory for Tipp. In spite of this Doyle found it difficult to nail down a permanent place on the team. He shared in Tipp’s 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....
victory in 1989 before subsequently retiring from inter-county hurling.
Managerial career
In 2002 Doyle took over from Nicky EnglishNicky English
Nicholas J. English , better known as Nicky English, is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Lattin-Cullen and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1982 until 1996...
as manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
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 hurling team. He had little success as manager of his native-county and he resigned after just one championship season. Doyle later served as manager of the Carlow
Carlow GAA
The Carlow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Carlow GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Carlow and the Carlow inter-county teams.-Gaelic football:...
hurling team.