Lenihan pays tribute to friend, mentor

FORMER Lions manager Donal Lenihan yesterday said that Mick Doyle had played a hugely influential role on his career both as a player and coach.

Doyle was the first Irish coach to make Lenihan national captain, and the two enjoyed a tight working relationship, which included the 1987 World Cup when the Kerry native was hospitalised after a heart attack.

"When Mick took over as Irish coach in 1985, people were wondering what he was doing," Lenihan said, as the Irish side Doyle inherited had just suffered a championship whitewash the year before.

"That great team that captured the Triple Crown, most of it was gone. But Mick saw it as an opportunity.

"And it is an incredible achievement that within one year, we won the Triple Crown and came within a point drawing 15-15 with France of winning the Grand Slam. He changed Irish rugby, because at the time it was very much forward-orientated, but Mick saw some special talent in the team and changed things."

Lenihan considers Doyle to have been ahead of his time as a coach.

"I think it is a lasting tribute to him as a coach, that those tries the team scored, when they were shown in the run-up to this year's Triple Crown, the quality of those tries had stood the test of time.

"He instilled a level of confidence into that team, and a level of camaraderie that still exists, so that now, when any of those players meet up 19 years later, there is still a sense of togetherness among them, even if they haven't seen each other in years. That came from the kind of atmosphere that Mick generated as coach," the Irish Examiner columnist said.

Lenihan last met Doyle at the launch of a documentary on the life and times of Con Houlihan in Castleisland.

"Most of all, I will always remember his warmth. I was delighted to spend the day in Mick's company that day. He was a great character off the field. He always wanted to be involved with the players and just wanted to be seen as one of the lads. He always created an environment where people could enjoy themselves."

During Ireland's Triple Crown success in the spring, Lenihan and a number of his former team-mates were making tentative arrangements to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the '85 Triple Crown next year.

The sad thing is Doyle won't be there to help them celebrate.

"It is terrible to think Mick won't be there with us next year in the celebrations."