Stars pay tribute to Tipp legend Doyle

TIPPERARY stars and officials paid tribute to John Doyle yesterday.

Holycross-Ballycahill club chairman Tom O’Dwyer said: “John is a legendary figure in Tipperary hurling. He will be remembered as a fierce competitor and an uncompromising defender. In 1948, he led our club to a very first county title.

“He was also a great administrator at club and county level.”

GAA Presidential candidate Con Hogan added: “John was one of the true legends of the game of hurling, an iconic figure to us in our youth. John made up part of the famous Tipp’ full back line with Mick Maher and Kieran Carey, on arguably one of the greatest teams of all time in the 1960’s. I will remember him with great affection as he was a great character off the field as well as on it. And his two sons — Johnny and Michael — also played for Tipperary.

“It is the passing of a legend and he was one of only two players to win eight All-Ireland medals on the field. He was always very humble about that and he often said that Christy Ring won them for Cork but that Tipperary won them for him. But in fact, John Doyle was a very fine hurler and played a lot of his time at wing back for Tipperary.

“That’s a fact not always portrayed about him. The caricature of him is as a tough, uncompromising, stopping hurler but he was a very fine player.”

GAA Director General Páraic Duffy led the tributes to Doyle from Croke Park last night.

The Monaghan native said: “The news has come as a shock.

“I knew that John hadn’t been in great health in recent years.

“He was one of the great hurlers and characters of all time and a fine administrator as well.

“My late father would have known John better than I did but I would have met John on several occasions. He will be remembered as one of the great defenders in the history of hurling and he made a huge impact on the GAA.”

GAA President Christy Cooney said: “I wish to express my sincere sympathies and those of the whole of the GAA to the family of the late John Doyle who has sadly passed away.

“John made an immense contribution to the Association over the course of his life. This spanned from his remarkable success on the hurling field with eight All-Ireland medals sharing the honour with Christy Ring, right up to his contribution at national level.

“He is regarded as one of the best defenders ever to grace the game.”

An emotional Jimmy Doyle smiled and remarked: “The man above must be looking for a corner back up there. We played on All-Ireland teams together and for Munster in Railway Cups.

“He was one of the greatest back men of all time. He wouldn’t have been on those Tipperary teams if he wasn’t. If you weren’t hurling well with your club, you were gone and John was a brilliant club hurler, along with Michael Maher of Holycross.

“I thought they were great men. I was only a young fella but I hurled with John Doyle and Michael Maher and I consider myself fortunate to have done so. It’s breaking my heart that John is gone but the man above wants us all eventually and when he calls you, you’ll go.”

1964 was arguably his finest year in a Tipperary jersey when he was voted hurler of the year. He is survived by his wife Anne, his two sons and five daughter.