One of the great philosophical questions that follows mankind to the grave is 'what have you achieved in your lifetime'. Very few of us end up with anything to crow about. Jimmy Doyle wasn't in that category. Tipperary GAA is mourning the death of the Thurles man who was acknowledged far and wide as one of hurling's greats.
Thankfully in his lifetime Jimmy would have been aware of the fact that his place in sporting history is secure as he was named Hurling Right Full-Forward of the Century and the Millennium.
Born in Thurles, Co. Tipperary on the 20th of March 1939, Jimmy grew up near to Thurles Sportsfield, now Semple Stadium. Following in the footsteps of his late father Gerry, Jimmy began his hurling career in goal where he won his first Munster Minor medal for Tipperary in 1954. Having lost the All-Ireland final to Dublin, Jimmy had his mind made up goals was no longer for him.
In an indication of the unwritten code of respect in Irish sport Kilkenny All Star Henry Shefflin joined in the tributes.
RIP to the great Jimmy Doyle. By all accounts 1 of the most skilful hurlers in a time of hard men. #GAA
— Henry Shefflin (@ShefflinHenry) June 23, 2015
One of my favourite stories to emerge of Jimmy's career went like this. The Thurles native is said to have played the All Ireland final of 1961 with an ankle broken in 2 places getting 3 injections before the match and three more at half time.
The premier won the match by a point and Doyle hit 9 points. That's some going.
In one of many golden spells, Jimmy won his first of three All-Ireland Minor Medals the next year in 1955 following up in ’56 and as captain in ’57. At the same time with his beloved Thurles Sarsfields Club he collected four county minor hurling titles from ’54 to ’57 as well as a Dr. Harty Cup Medal with Thurles C.B.S. in ’56. Indeed such was his prowess, Jimmy was already a star on the Tipperary Senior team by the time his Minor career had ended.
His senior career with Tipperary started with a debut in the 1957/58 National League and continued up until his retirement after the 1973 Championship. In what was a hugely successful period for Tipperary Hurling, Jimmy played a lead role as part of successful Tipperary teams. In that time he won six All-Ireland Senior Hurling medals, nine Munster Hurling medals and seven National Hurling League medals. Jimmy also captained the team to All-Ireland victory in 1962 and 1965 and was an All-Ireland runner-up on three occasions.
He went on to win eight Railway Cup medals with Munster, while at club level he won 10 Tipperary County Championship medals with Thurles Sarsfields.
In all Jimmy Doyle made 39 Championship appearances for Tipperary and was top scorer for the Championship in 1958, ’60, ’61, ’62 and ’64. By the time his retirement came round, he was Tipperary's all-time top scorer with a career tally of 18 goals and 176 points.
This was a record which stood until 2007 when Eoin Kelly edged out in front. Jimmy was named as the GAA’s Hurling Right Full-Forward on the Team of the Century in 1984 and was named in the same position on the Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000.
He was named at Right Half-Forward on the Tipperary Team of the Millennium in 1999. Ahead of all of these he was Texaco Hurler of the Year in 1965. Thurles Town Council paid tribute to Jimmy Doyle as they officially opened the “Jimmy Doyle Road” in his honour in 2012, a road many a supporter now travels on their way to Semple Stadium.
Tipperary County Board Chairman Michael Bourke paid tribute to the late Jimmy Doyle on hearing of his untimely passing, saying: "The name of Jimmy Doyle will never and should never be forgotten. He was the ultimate sticks-man, a master of his craft not alone of his own age but for all ages. He inspired countless hurlers who wanted to be Jimmy Doyle and who craved the genius he bore with such humility and grace. "Tipperary and Thurles has lost one of its greatest sons the likes of whom we may never witness again. As Tipperary County Chairman, I am privileged to have known Jimmy Doyle, a man of immense hurling ability, who held a huge pride in a sense of place, of who he was and where he was from. His majestic talent was the catalyst of many a Tipperary victory and to him Tipperary will forever be deeply indebted. On behalf of Tipperary County Board we extend our heartfelt condolences to the extended Doyle family on the sad passing of their beloved Jimmy.” The stats below speak for themselves.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Jimmy Doyle - Roll of Honour
6 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Medals 1958, ’61, ’62 (captain), ’64, ’65 (captain), ’71
9 Munster Senior Hurling Medals 1958, ’60, ’61, ’62 (captain), ’64, ‘65 (captain), ’67, ’68, ’71
7 National Hurling League Medals 1957, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’64, ’65 (captain), ’68
3 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Medals 1955, ’56, ’57 (captain)
4 Munster Minor Hurling Medals 1954, ’55, ’56, ’57 (captain)
8 Railway Cup Hurling Medals 1958, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’63 (captain), ’66 (captain), ’69, ’70
10 Tipperary County Senior Hurling Medals ~ Thurles Sarsfields 1956, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64 (captain), ’65, ’74 (captain)
13 Mid Tipperary Senior Hurling Medals 1956-’64, ’68, ’69, ’73, ’74
4 County Minor Hurling Medals 1954, ’55, ’56, ’57
2 County Junior Hurling Medals 1955, ’56
1 County Senior Football Medal 1960
1 Dr. Harty Cup Hurling Medal ~ Thurles CBS 1956
7 Oireachtas Medals 1960, ’61, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’68, ’70
Right Full-Forward on the Hurling Team of the Century 1984
Right Full-Forward on the Hurling Team of the Millennium 2000
Right Half-Forward on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Millennium 1999
Texaco Hurler of the Year 1965
