Boyle grateful for brief glimpse of the high life

BACK in 1992, when they won the All-Ireland for the first time, the composition of the Donegal team was such that it rewarded players nearing the end of their careers and held out the promise of further glory for those starting out on theirs.

But, like Derry a year later and Armagh in 2002, Sam Maguire never again returned in triumph and, among the 19 counties which have won titles in the 127 years of the association, these are the only three confined to single successes.

Tony Boyle is a member of that exclusive club. While he won an Ulster medal in 1990, his first year, apart from 1992 the county failed to claim another trophy by the time he retired in 2001.