Tommy Doyle (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Tommy Doyle was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Thurles Sarsfields
and with the Tipperary
senior inter-county team from the 1930s until the 1950s. He is regarded as one of Tipperary’s greatest-ever hurlers.
with the famous Thurles Sarsfields
club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title
in 1935 and, coincidentally, it was the club’s first county title also. The rest of the 1930s saw Doyle win further county medals in 1936, 1938 and 1939. The 1940s saw him win county honours in 1942, 1944, 1945 and 1946, while Doyle captained Thurles Sarsfields to a ninth county medal in 1952.
medal with Tipperary
in 1933 and he quickly joined the senior team. He won a Munster
title in 1937 and later played in his first All-Ireland final. The game was played in FitzGerald Stadium
, Killarney
and Tipp trounced Kilkenny
by 17-points. As a result Doyle won his first senior All-Ireland
medal. Three years later Tipperary were excluded from the championship because of anoutbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the county. As a result of this Cork were declared Munster champions and wnet on to win the All-Ireland title. In the delayed Munster final Tipp agained their revenge on Cork and Doyle collected a second Munster medal. In 1945 Doyle won a third Munster title which allowed him to make a second All-Ireland final appearance. Once again Tipp accounted for Kilkenny and Doyle won a second All-Ireland medal.
Four years later in 1949 Doyle was 34 years-old and was contemplating giving up inter-county hurling. On his way home from posting a letter to the county board announcing his retirement Doyle bumped into selector John Joe Callanan
. Callanan told Doyle that the regular corner-back was ill, and asked Doyle if he would take his place and mark the great Christy Ring
. Doyle agreed and he produced perhaps the greatest display of marking in the history of the game, hoding the legendary Ring scoreless through 150 minutes of championship hurling. Tipp defeated Cork and Doyle went on to win a fourth Munster medal. The Munster champions later played Laois
in the championship decider and Doyle, the man who nearly retired, collected a third All-Ireland medal. 1950 saw Doyle add a National Hurling League
medal to his collection. He later won a fifth Munster title and subsequently played in another All-Ireland final. That day Tipp continued their hoodoo over Kilkenny and Doyle won his fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1951 Tipp continued their provincial dominance and Doyle added a sixth and final provincial medal to his ever-growing collection. The men from the Premier County later went on to defeat Wexford
in a thrilling championship decider, giving Doyle his fifth and final All-Ireland medal. He won a second National League medal in 1952 and subsequently retired from inter-county hurling.
Doyle also won Railway Cup medals with Munster
in 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948 and 1950.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. 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 Thurles Sarsfields
Thurles Sarsfields GAA
Thurles Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling club located in the town of Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland. The club was founded in 1881...
and with 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 the 1930s until the 1950s. He is regarded as one of Tipperary’s greatest-ever hurlers.
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 the famous Thurles Sarsfields
Thurles Sarsfields GAA
Thurles Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling club located in the town of Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland. The club was founded in 1881...
club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
in 1935 and, coincidentally, it was the club’s first county title also. The rest of the 1930s saw Doyle win further county medals in 1936, 1938 and 1939. The 1940s saw him win county honours in 1942, 1944, 1945 and 1946, while Doyle captained Thurles Sarsfields to a ninth county medal in 1952.
Inter-county
Doyle first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in the early 1930s. He won an All-IrelandAll-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...
medal 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...
in 1933 and he quickly joined the senior team. He won a 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 in 1937 and later played in his first All-Ireland final. The game was played in FitzGerald Stadium
FitzGerald Stadium
Fitzgerald Stadium is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Killarney, Ireland, and is the home championship venue for the Kerry senior football team....
, Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
and Tipp trounced 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...
by 17-points. As a result Doyle won his first senior 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. Three years later Tipperary were excluded from the championship because of anoutbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the county. As a result of this Cork were declared Munster champions and wnet on to win the All-Ireland title. In the delayed Munster final Tipp agained their revenge on Cork and Doyle collected a second Munster medal. In 1945 Doyle won a third Munster title which allowed him to make a second All-Ireland final appearance. Once again Tipp accounted for Kilkenny and Doyle won a second All-Ireland medal.
Four years later in 1949 Doyle was 34 years-old and was contemplating giving up inter-county hurling. On his way home from posting a letter to the county board announcing his retirement Doyle bumped into selector John Joe Callanan
John Joe Callanan
John Joe Callanan was an Irish sportsman. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Thurles Sarsfields in Tipperary and Collegians in Dublin. He also played hurling at inter-county level with both Tipperary and Dublin in the 1920s and 1930s...
. Callanan told Doyle that the regular corner-back was ill, and asked Doyle if he would take his place and mark the great 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 agreed and he produced perhaps the greatest display of marking in the history of the game, hoding the legendary Ring scoreless through 150 minutes of championship hurling. Tipp defeated Cork and Doyle went on to win a fourth Munster medal. The Munster champions later played 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:...
in the championship decider and Doyle, the man who nearly retired, collected a third All-Ireland medal. 1950 saw Doyle add 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...
medal to his collection. He later won a fifth Munster title and subsequently played in another All-Ireland final. That day Tipp continued their hoodoo over Kilkenny and Doyle won his fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1951 Tipp continued their provincial dominance and Doyle added a sixth and final provincial medal to his ever-growing collection. The men from the Premier County later went on to defeat 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 a thrilling championship decider, giving Doyle his fifth and final All-Ireland medal. He won a second National League medal in 1952 and subsequently retired from inter-county hurling.
Doyle also won Railway Cup medals with Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948 and 1950.