Jimmy Doyle

Jimmy Doyle

James 'Jimmy' Doyle (born 1939 in Thurles, North Tipperary), is a former Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with Thurles Sarsfields GAA club from 1956 until 1975 and was a member of the Tipperary GAA senior inter-county team from 1957 until 1973. Doyle is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game.

Doyle’s status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for sixteen years he won six All-Ireland titles, nine Munster titles, seven National Hurling League titles and eight Railway Cup titles with Munster. His tally of 18 goals and 176 points from 39 championship games marks him out as one of the top ten scorers of all-time. Doyle was Tipperary’s all-time top scorer until 2007 when his record was surpassed by Eoin Kelly. In retirement from playing he took charge of the Laois senior hurling team, however, he enjoyed little success as a manager.

Doyle has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. In 1965 his hurling prowess earned him the prestigious Texaco Hurler of the Year award. He was later honoured in 1984 when he was named, by popular opinion, in the right corner-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century. He was named in the left corner-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium in 1999.

Doyle has been described as perhaps the greatest stylist among Munster hurling forwards. Although lacking the physical strength of Mick Mackey or the amazing burst of speed that Christy Ring had, Doyle became renowned for his skill and for the delicacy of his touch. No matter what speed the sliothar came to him he was able to kill it stone dead or double on it first time with precision. His ability to curve a ball, a skill more associated with Brazilian soccer players, also set him apart from other forwards as a supreme hurling artist.