Jimmy Doyle facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Séamus Ó Dúil | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Right wing-forward | ||
| Born | 20 March 1939 Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland |
||
| Died | 22 June 2015 (aged 76) Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland |
||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
|
1956–1975
|
Thurles Sarsfield's | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Tipperary titles | 1 | 10 | |
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
|
1957–1973
|
Tipperary | 39 (18–176) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 9 | ||
| All-Irelands | 6 | ||
| NHL | 7 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 21:05, 9 August 2013. | |||
Jimmy Doyle (born James Doyle on March 20, 1939 – died June 22, 2015) was an amazing Irish hurler. He played as a forward for the Tipperary senior team. Many people think he was one of the greatest hurlers ever!
Jimmy was born in Thurles, County Tipperary. He started playing hurling when he was just a kid at Thurles CBS school. He joined the Tipperary minor (underage) team when he was only fourteen. He made his first appearance for the senior (adult) team in 1957. Jimmy was a huge part of Tipperary's success during his time. He won six All-Ireland medals, nine Munster medals, and seven National Hurling League medals. He even captained the team to All-Ireland wins in 1962 and 1965.
Jimmy also played for the Munster team for twelve years. With them, he won eight Railway Cup medals. For his local club, Thurles Sarsfield's, he won ten county championship medals.
When he retired, Jimmy Doyle was Tipperary's top scorer of all time. His record stood for many years. His father, uncle, and brother also played hurling for Tipperary and won All-Ireland titles. Jimmy played in 39 championship games before he retired in 1973. After playing, he became a coach and manager for other teams.
Jimmy Doyle received many awards for his incredible skills. He won three Cú Chulainn awards and was named Texaco Hurler of the Year in 1965. He was chosen for the Hurling Team of the Century in 1984 and the Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000. This shows how highly people thought of him!
Contents
Jimmy Doyle's Hurling Journey
School Days and Club Success
Jimmy Doyle went to Thurles CBS school and played hurling there. In 1956, he helped his school win the Dr. Harty Cup, a big championship for colleges.
He played club hurling for Thurles Sarsfield's for three decades. He started by winning four minor (underage) championship medals in a row from 1954 to 1957.
By 1956, at just sixteen, Jimmy joined the Thurles Sarsfield's senior team. He won his first county championship medal that year. This started a very successful time for him and his club. He won more championship medals in 1957, 1958, and 1959.
In 1960, his hurling team didn't win the championship. But Jimmy still won a football championship medal with the Thurles Croke's team!
Thurles Sarsfield's then bounced back in 1961. Jimmy won his fifth hurling championship medal. This began another great period for the team. He won more medals in 1962, 1963, and 1964, bringing his total to eight.
In 1965, Jimmy's team made history by winning their fifth championship in a row. This gave him his ninth championship medal. Almost ten years later, in 1974, Jimmy, as captain, won his tenth and final championship medal. What an achievement!
Playing for Tipperary Minors
Jimmy was only fifteen when he first played for the Tipperary minor hurling team in 1954. He started as a goalkeeper. That year, he won his first Munster medal. Tipperary reached the All-Ireland final but lost to Dublin.
After that game, Jimmy wanted to play as a forward instead of a goalkeeper. His wish came true! In 1955, he won another Munster medal. In the All-Ireland final, he scored an amazing 2 goals and 8 points, helping Tipperary win the game. This gave him his first All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.
In 1956, Jimmy won his third straight Munster medal. Then, Tipperary played Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Jimmy scored 2 goals and 3 points, helping his team win their second All-Ireland medal in a row.
In 1957, Jimmy was made captain of the Tipperary minor team. He won a record fourth Munster medal. In the All-Ireland final, Tipperary beat Kilkenny again. This win gave Jimmy a record-breaking third All-Ireland minor medal, and he got to lift the cup!
Tipperary Senior Team: Early Wins
Jimmy joined the Tipperary senior team in 1956, while still playing minor. He won a National Hurling League medal in 1957. He made his senior championship debut in June 1957.
In 1958, Jimmy won his first Munster medal. Tipperary then beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final, with Jimmy scoring 1 goal and 8 points. They went on to win the All-Ireland final against Galway. This gave Jimmy his first All-Ireland medal. He was also the top scorer in the championship that year.
Jimmy won another National League medal in 1959. In 1960, Tipperary won the National League again. Jimmy also won his second Munster medal, scoring 1 goal and 8 points in a tough game against Cork. Tipperary reached the All-Ireland final but lost to Wexford. Even so, Jimmy was the championship's top scorer again. He also won his first Oireachtas medal.
Tipperary Senior Team: Dominance
In 1961, Jimmy won his fourth National League medal and his third Munster medal. But he broke his ankle in the Munster final. He worked hard to recover, even walking miles every evening. For the All-Ireland final against Dublin, he needed injections to numb his ankle. Despite the pain, he played and Tipperary won by a single point! This was Jimmy's second All-Ireland medal. He was also the top scorer in the championship for the third time.
In 1962, Jimmy was captain of the Tipperary team. He won his fourth Munster medal. Tipperary faced Wexford in the All-Ireland final. Tipperary won, but Jimmy had to be carried off the field with a broken collarbone. He couldn't lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup himself, but it was his third All-Ireland medal. He was the top scorer again!
In 1964, Jimmy won his fifth National League medal and his fifth Munster medal. In the All-Ireland final, Tipperary played Kilkenny. Tipperary won easily, 5 goals and 13 points to 2 goals and 8 points. This was Jimmy's fourth All-Ireland medal, and he was the top scorer once more. He also won more Oireachtas medals and Cú Chulainn awards.
In 1965, Jimmy was captain again. Tipperary won the Munster championship easily. They then beat Wexford in the All-Ireland final. This gave Jimmy his fifth All-Ireland medal, and this time he got to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup! He also won more National League and Oireachtas medals, and was named Texaco Hurler of the Year.
Tipperary Senior Team: Later Years
In 1967, Jimmy won his seventh Munster medal. Tipperary played Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final but lost.
In 1968, Jimmy won his seventh National League medal and his eighth Munster medal. Tipperary reached the All-Ireland final against Wexford but lost in a close game.
By 1971, Jimmy's career was nearing its end. He had back problems and injuries. He came on as a substitute in the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. Tipperary won a high-scoring game, 5 goals and 17 points to 5 goals and 14 points. This was Jimmy's sixth All-Ireland medal! It was amazing because he had won medals in three different decades.
Jimmy kept playing for Tipperary for two more years. But injuries like broken fingers, ankles, and early arthritis made it hard. In 1973, the team's regular goalkeeper had to leave. Jimmy, even though he was a forward, played in goal for two games! He retired from inter-county hurling shortly after.
Playing for Munster
Jimmy also played for the Munster team in the Railway Cup competition. He first played for them in 1958 and won his first Railway Cup medal. Munster had a very successful time, and Jimmy won four Railway Cup medals in a row by 1961.
In 1963, Jimmy was captain of the Munster team. They won the Railway Cup again after a replay, and Jimmy lifted the cup. He won his sixth Railway Cup medal in 1966, again as captain.
In 1969, Jimmy won his seventh Railway Cup medal. In 1970, in his twelfth year playing for Munster, he won his eighth and final Railway Cup medal.
Coaching Career
After retiring from playing, Jimmy Doyle became a coach.
Coaching Portlaoise
In 1980, Jimmy became a coach for the Portlaoise senior hurling team. In 1981, his team won the Laois Senior Hurling Championship. This was his first win as a coach. Portlaoise then won four championships in a row, from 1981 to 1984!
Coaching Laois
In 1985, Jimmy was appointed coach of the Laois senior hurling team. He helped them improve, even beating his home county of Tipperary in a league game.
Recognized as a Legend
Jimmy Doyle was honored many times for his incredible career.
In 1984, he was chosen for the Hurling Team of the Century. In 2000, he was named on the Hurling Team of the Millennium. He was also on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century and the Munster Hurling Team of the Millennium.
In 2008, a TV show called Laochra Gael featured Jimmy Doyle's life. In 2009, he carried a special torch into Semple Stadium as part of the GAA's 125th birthday celebrations. In 2012, a road in his hometown of Thurles was named "Jimmy Doyle Road" in his honor.
After he passed away in 2015, many famous hurlers and commentators shared their memories of him. Christy Ring, another hurling legend, once said that if Jimmy Doyle had been stronger, no one would ever question who the best hurler was. Eddie Keher, a rival player, called him "brilliant" and a "gentleman." Everyone agreed he was one of the very best to ever play the game.
Personal Life
Jimmy Doyle was one of six children. His father, Gerry, was a shoemaker and had also played hurling for Tipperary. His uncle, Tommy, won five All-Ireland medals with Tipperary.
Jimmy went to Thurles CBS, but he wasn't very interested in schoolwork. He spent his time practicing hurling with his sheepdog, Pal. He learned how to control the sliotar (the hurling ball) by playing with his dog.
After school, Jimmy worked as a shoemaker with his father. Later, he worked at the Assumption Hospital in Thurles.
Jimmy Doyle passed away suddenly at his home in Thurles on June 22, 2015.
Honours and Awards
Jimmy Doyle won many titles and awards during his amazing career:
- With Thurles CBS:
* Dr. Harty Cup: 1956
- With Thurles Sarsfield's (Club):
* Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship (10 times): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1974 * Tipperary Minor Hurling Championship (4 times): 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
- With Thurles Croke's (Football Club):
* Tipperary Senior Football Championship: 1960
- With Tipperary (County Team):
* All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (6 times): 1958, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1971 * Munster Senior Hurling Championship (9 times): 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971 * National Hurling League (7 times): 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1968 * Oireachtas Cup (7 times): 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970 * All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (3 times): 1955, 1956, 1957 * Munster Minor Hurling Championship (4 times): 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
- With Munster (Inter-Provincial Team):
* Railway Cup (8 times): 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1970
Coaching Honours
- With Portlaoise:
* Laois Senior Hurling Championship (4 times): 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
Individual Awards
- Hurling Team of the Millennium
- Hurling Team of the Century
- Munster Hurling Team of the Millennium
- Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century
- Texaco Hurler of the Year: 1965
- Cú Chulainn Awards (3 times): 1963, 1964, 1965
- GAA Hall of Fame Inductee: 2013
