John Doyle (12 February 1930 – 29 December 2010) was an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-back at senior level for the Tipperary county team.
Born in Holycross, County Tipperary, Doyle first played competitive hurling whilst at school in Thurles CBS. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Tipperary minor team. He made his senior debut in the 1947-48 National League. Doyle went on to play a key part for Tipperary during a hugely successful era for the team, and won eight All-Ireland medals, ten Munster medals and eleven National Hurling League medals.
As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team for fifteen years, Doyle won six Railway Cup medals. At club level he won three championship medal with Holycross–Ballycahill.
For almost fifty years Doyle, together with Christy Ring, held a unique record as the only players to win eight All-Ireland medals on the field of play. This record was subsequently surpassed by Henry Shefflin. His record of National League medals has yet to be equalled.
Throughout his career Doyle made 54 championship appearances, a Tipperary record which stood until 9 August 2009 when it was surpassed by Brendan Cummins. His retirement came following Tipperary's defeat by Kilkenny in the 1967 championship.
Doyle is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game. During his playing days he won two Cú Chulainn awards, as well as being named Texaco Hurler of the Year in 1964. He has been repeatedly voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including at left corner-back on the Hurling Team of the Century in 1984 and the Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000. He was a Fianna Fáil senator from 1969 to 1973.
Playing career
Colleges
Doyle's hurling skills were honed during his schooling at Thurles CBS. Regarded as too good for CBS Primary School team, he was drafted into the secondary school's under-15 Croke Cup team in 1942. Doyle played at wing-forward as Thurles CBS won the championship that year.
Club
Doyle played his club hurling with Holycross–Ballycahill and his career spanned three decades. He made his senior championship debut in 1947.
In 1948 he played in his first championship decider with Lorrha providing the opposition. Doyle was singled out for particular praise while Philip Maher at centre-forward had the game of his life. After leading at half-time, Holycross took complete control in the second half and powered to a 4–10 to 2–4 victory. It was Doyle's first championship medal.
After failing to reach the same heights over the following two seasons, Holycross–Ballycahill reached the championship decider again in 1951. Clonoulty–Rossmore provided little opposition and Doyle collected a second championship medal following a 5–15 to 1-4 trouncing.
Doyle's team failed to retain their title once again, and it was 1954 before the team reached another championship decider. A comprehensive 6–5 to 2–3 defeat of Roscrea gave Doyle his third and final championship medal.
Minor
After having his presence requested for trials for the Tipperary minor team in May 1946, Doyle was an automatic choice at corner-back for the subsequent championship campaign. A 5–6 to 4–2 defeat of Cork in the provincial decider gave him his first Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland decider pitted Tipperary against Dublin for the second year in succession. Tipp looked destined for victory when, with just a minute left to play, Paddy Kenny sent over a free to give the team a one-point lead. The resultant puck-out posed an immediate goal threat. After being shouldered in the chest, Doyle ended up in the goal's rigging and Dublin scored to secure a narrow 1–6 to 0–7 victory.
Tipperary retained their provincial crown in 1947, with Doyle collecting a second Munster medal following a 2–4 to 1–2 defeat of Waterford. He later lined out in a second All-Ireland decider, however, Galway provided little opposition. A 9–5 to 1-5 trouncing gave Doyle an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.
In 1948 Doyle was a senior figure with the Tipperary minor team and was appointed captain for the year. After huge victories over Limerick and Cork, Doyle's side were the red-hot favourites for the Munster crown. A remarkable 3–6 to 0–3 defeat by Waterford was the result, in what was Doyle's final game in the minor grade.
Senior
Three-in-a-row
Doyle made his senior debut in a National Hurling League defeat of Kilkenny in February 1948. Although still a minor, his appearance was brief and he was later released from the senior panel.