1. Doyle’s stunning Tipperary minor hurling career started at the age of 14
Three-year minor careers may be more commonplace over the last decade but Doyle enjoyed four inter-county campaigns as a minor and reached an All-Ireland final in each of those seasons.
He started out as a 14 year-old in goal when they lost to Dublin in the 1954 decider before picking up three winner medals in the following three seasons.
Doyle’s prowess was encapsulated by the fact that he was on the bench in 1957 for a minor game because he was wanted by the Tipperary senior team for a clash later that day with Cork.
He was brought on late during the minor match to help Tipperary win before lining out from the start for the senior side.
2. He was a senior National League champion as a minor and an All-Ireland champion in his first year out of minor
In 1957, Doyle picked up a league medal when Tipperary defeated Kilkenny while still being eligible for minor hurling.
Free from the underage ranks, he didn’t have to wait long for his first All-Ireland senior medal when Tipperary defeated Galway by 4-9 to 2-5 in 1958.
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3. By the time Doyle hung up his inter-county boots, he’d collected six All-Ireland senior medals
The 1958 triumph was the first of six experiences of September glory for Doyle. He won further medals in 1961 against Dublin, 1962 against Wexford, 1964 against Kilkenny, 1965 against Wexford and finally in 1971 against Kilkenny.
4. He’s part of a select group to twice captain his county to All-Ireland senior glory
For those 1962 and 1965 triumphs, Doyle skippered the team and lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup. It’s a feat not to be dismissed lightly as only Galway’s Conor Hayes, Kilkenny’s Liam Fennelly and Clare’s Anthony Daly have achieved such a feat since.
Jimmy Doyle passes the torch to Munster Council Chairman Jimmy O'Gorman at the 2009 Munster final. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
5. Doyle won a combined 16 trophies between the National League and Munster senior hurling championship
Doyle featured in a hugely successful era for Tipperary hurling, amassing a treasure trove of medals. He won National League medals in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965 and 1968.
And on the Munster senior stage, Doyle was celebrating in 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968 and 1971.
6. He was an exceptional player at club level for Thurles Sarsfields
Doyle hurled in an era where there was no St Patrick’s Day All-Ireland club showpieces or Munster club odysseys through the winter months. As a book of evidence on his club exploits, his return on the Tipperary scene is convincing.
He won 10 Tipperary senior hurling medals with Thurles Sarsfields along with four county senior hurling titles. Doyle’s final medal came in 1974 and fitting he was captain on that occasion.
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7. There were plenty other competitions that Doyle conquered during his GAA career
The Dr Harty Cup, the Railway Cup, the Oireachtas competition and even the Tipperary senior football championship were all GAA events where Doyle climbed to the winners’ podium. In all he won 44 honours for his county and province, and 30 honours for his club.
8. Nationally Doyle’s hurling excellence has continued to be remembered
In 1984 Doyle was right corner-forward on the Hurling Team of the Century and by 2000 his standing had not diminished as he was selected at right half-forward on the Hurling Team of the Millennium.
Closer to home he was named as right half-forward on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Millennium.
Babs Keating Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
9. And amidst the deluge of tributes, an anecdote about Christy Ring stands out
Babs Keating was speaking on RTÉ Radio One this morning to Sean O’Rourke, when he spoke about a hurling discussion himself and the late Christy Ring had.
‘I used to have lunch with Christy once a fortnight. This particular day in Mallow, a few people came over to talk about hurling. They threw a question at me, ‘who is the best hurler ever in your opinion?’.
“I wouldn’t answer in Christy’s presence but we were walking out afterwards to the car and Christy walked beside me, shrugged his shoulders and said: ‘Do ya know Babs, if Jimmy Doyle was as strong as you and I… no one would ever ask who was the greatest hurler’.
“Probably the greatest the compliment that was ever paid to any hurler.”
9 facts that prove why Tipperary's Jimmy Doyle was a hurling great
1. Doyle’s stunning Tipperary minor hurling career started at the age of 14
Three-year minor careers may be more commonplace over the last decade but Doyle enjoyed four inter-county campaigns as a minor and reached an All-Ireland final in each of those seasons.
He started out as a 14 year-old in goal when they lost to Dublin in the 1954 decider before picking up three winner medals in the following three seasons.
Doyle’s prowess was encapsulated by the fact that he was on the bench in 1957 for a minor game because he was wanted by the Tipperary senior team for a clash later that day with Cork.
He was brought on late during the minor match to help Tipperary win before lining out from the start for the senior side.
2. He was a senior National League champion as a minor and an All-Ireland champion in his first year out of minor
In 1957, Doyle picked up a league medal when Tipperary defeated Kilkenny while still being eligible for minor hurling.
Free from the underage ranks, he didn’t have to wait long for his first All-Ireland senior medal when Tipperary defeated Galway by 4-9 to 2-5 in 1958.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
3. By the time Doyle hung up his inter-county boots, he’d collected six All-Ireland senior medals
The 1958 triumph was the first of six experiences of September glory for Doyle. He won further medals in 1961 against Dublin, 1962 against Wexford, 1964 against Kilkenny, 1965 against Wexford and finally in 1971 against Kilkenny.
4. He’s part of a select group to twice captain his county to All-Ireland senior glory
For those 1962 and 1965 triumphs, Doyle skippered the team and lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup. It’s a feat not to be dismissed lightly as only Galway’s Conor Hayes, Kilkenny’s Liam Fennelly and Clare’s Anthony Daly have achieved such a feat since.
5. Doyle won a combined 16 trophies between the National League and Munster senior hurling championship
Doyle featured in a hugely successful era for Tipperary hurling, amassing a treasure trove of medals. He won National League medals in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965 and 1968.
And on the Munster senior stage, Doyle was celebrating in 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968 and 1971.
6. He was an exceptional player at club level for Thurles Sarsfields
Doyle hurled in an era where there was no St Patrick’s Day All-Ireland club showpieces or Munster club odysseys through the winter months. As a book of evidence on his club exploits, his return on the Tipperary scene is convincing.
He won 10 Tipperary senior hurling medals with Thurles Sarsfields along with four county senior hurling titles. Doyle’s final medal came in 1974 and fitting he was captain on that occasion.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
7. There were plenty other competitions that Doyle conquered during his GAA career
The Dr Harty Cup, the Railway Cup, the Oireachtas competition and even the Tipperary senior football championship were all GAA events where Doyle climbed to the winners’ podium. In all he won 44 honours for his county and province, and 30 honours for his club.
8. Nationally Doyle’s hurling excellence has continued to be remembered
In 1984 Doyle was right corner-forward on the Hurling Team of the Century and by 2000 his standing had not diminished as he was selected at right half-forward on the Hurling Team of the Millennium.
Closer to home he was named as right half-forward on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Millennium.
9. And amidst the deluge of tributes, an anecdote about Christy Ring stands out
Babs Keating was speaking on RTÉ Radio One this morning to Sean O’Rourke, when he spoke about a hurling discussion himself and the late Christy Ring had.
‘I used to have lunch with Christy once a fortnight. This particular day in Mallow, a few people came over to talk about hurling. They threw a question at me, ‘who is the best hurler ever in your opinion?’.
“I wouldn’t answer in Christy’s presence but we were walking out afterwards to the car and Christy walked beside me, shrugged his shoulders and said: ‘Do ya know Babs, if Jimmy Doyle was as strong as you and I… no one would ever ask who was the greatest hurler’.
“Probably the greatest the compliment that was ever paid to any hurler.”
Tipperary-Clare minor hurling clash postponed as mark of respect to the late Jimmy Doyle
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GAA Jimmy Doyle Premier RIP Tipperary