John Joe Doyle
Encyclopedia
John Joe ‘Goggles’ Doyle (1906-?) was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Newmarket and with the Clare
senior inter-county team from 1926 until 1938. Doyle is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have won an All-Ireland
medal.
with his local club in Newmarket and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1925, the first of a famous three-in-a-row for Newmarket. Doyle captured another set of back-to-back county medals in 1930 and 1931. He won his sixth and final county championship title in 1936.
senior inter-county team in 1926 when he made championship debut. Clare’s campaign finished early that season; however, in 1927 Doyle’s side reached the Munster final. Cork provided the opposition on that occasion and went on to win the game by 5-3 to 3-4.
1928 saw Clare take on Cork for the second consecutive year in the Munster final. That year Doyle’s side nearly pulled off a shock result, however, both sides finished level after recording 2-2. The replay was not a happy game for Clare as Cork trounced them by 6-4 to 2-2.
Two years later in 1930 Doyle was back in the provincial decider. Tipperary
were the opponents on that occasion, however, Clare failed to make the breakthrough once again. A score line of 6-4 to 2-8 gave victory to Tipp.
In 1932 Doyle was appointed captain of the Clare senior hurling team. For the fourth time in six years Clare reached the Munster final. Once again, Cork, a team that had defeated Doyle’s side on many occasions, provided the opposition. The game itself saw Clare triumph for the first time since 1914. A score line of 5-2 to 4-1 gave Doyle his first Munster
medal. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final was an exciting affair with Clare emerging victorious over Galway
by 9-4 to 4-14. This victory allowed Clare to advance to the All-Ireland final where Kilkenny
provided the opposition. In a low-scoring but tense game Clare’s Tull Considine scored two goals and was foiled for what would almost certainly have been a third. These goals were negated by Kilkenny’s three goal-scoring heroes Matty Power
, Martin White
and Lory Meagher
. The final score of 3-3 to 2-3 gave victory to Kilkenny.
Clare went into decline following this game as Limerick
emerged as the dominant force in Munster. In 1938 Doyle was back and played in his final provincial final. Waterford
provided the opposition on that occasion and, once again, Clare almost escaped with the victory. Waterford, however, went on to win the game by 3-5 to 2-5. Doyle retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played for his province in 1929 as Munster defeated Leinster
to win the Railway Cup. It was the first of three successive Railway Cup medals for Doyle. He won a fourth and final medal in 1934.
celebrated its centenary year in 1984. Throughout the year a series of special events were held while special team selections were also named. While a special GAA Hurling Team of the Century
was named, a special team of players who never won an All-Ireland
medal was also selected. Doyle’s brilliance as a player was recognised when he was picked in the left corner-back position on that team. Six years later in 1990 Doyle’s reputation was further cemented when he was the recipient of the prestigious GAA All-Time All-Star
award. Past winners of the award included Mick Mackey
, Jack Lynch
and Jim Langton
.
1995 was a special year for 89-year-old Doyle and for Clare hurling. That year’s Munster final saw Clare captain Anthony Daly
bridge a sixty-three-year gap since Doyle captained Clare to the provincial crown. Doyle was also present in Croke Park
as Clare later defeated Offaly
to win their first All-Ireland title since 1914.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Newmarket and with the Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
senior inter-county team from 1926 until 1938. Doyle is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have won an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal.
Club
‘Goggles’ Doyle played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club in Newmarket and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1925, the first of a famous three-in-a-row for Newmarket. Doyle captured another set of back-to-back county medals in 1930 and 1931. He won his sixth and final county championship title in 1936.
Inter-county
Doyle first came to prominence for the ClareClare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
senior inter-county team in 1926 when he made championship debut. Clare’s campaign finished early that season; however, in 1927 Doyle’s side reached the Munster final. Cork provided the opposition on that occasion and went on to win the game by 5-3 to 3-4.
1928 saw Clare take on Cork for the second consecutive year in the Munster final. That year Doyle’s side nearly pulled off a shock result, however, both sides finished level after recording 2-2. The replay was not a happy game for Clare as Cork trounced them by 6-4 to 2-2.
Two years later in 1930 Doyle was back in the provincial decider. Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
were the opponents on that occasion, however, Clare failed to make the breakthrough once again. A score line of 6-4 to 2-8 gave victory to Tipp.
In 1932 Doyle was appointed captain of the Clare senior hurling team. For the fourth time in six years Clare reached the Munster final. Once again, Cork, a team that had defeated Doyle’s side on many occasions, provided the opposition. The game itself saw Clare triumph for the first time since 1914. A score line of 5-2 to 4-1 gave Doyle his first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
medal. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final was an exciting affair with Clare emerging victorious over Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
by 9-4 to 4-14. This victory allowed Clare to advance to the All-Ireland final where Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
provided the opposition. In a low-scoring but tense game Clare’s Tull Considine scored two goals and was foiled for what would almost certainly have been a third. These goals were negated by Kilkenny’s three goal-scoring heroes Matty Power
Matty Power
Matty Power was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Dicksboro and Garda. Power was also a member of the Kilkenny and Dublin senior inter-county team in the 1920s and 1930s. He is regarded as one of Kilkenny’s greatest-ever...
, Martin White
Martin White (hurler)
Martin White was an Irish hurler who played as a centre-forward for the Kilkenny senior team.White made his first appearance for the team during the 1931 championship and became a regular member of the team until his retirement following the conclusion of the 1938 championship...
and Lory Meagher
Lory Meagher
Lorenzo Ignatius Meagher , better known as Lory Meagher, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Tullaroan and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1924 until 1937...
. The final score of 3-3 to 2-3 gave victory to Kilkenny.
Clare went into decline following this game as Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
emerged as the dominant force in Munster. In 1938 Doyle was back and played in his final provincial final. Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
provided the opposition on that occasion and, once again, Clare almost escaped with the victory. Waterford, however, went on to win the game by 3-5 to 2-5. Doyle retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
Provincial
Doyle also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played for his province in 1929 as Munster defeated Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
to win the Railway Cup. It was the first of three successive Railway Cup medals for Doyle. He won a fourth and final medal in 1934.
Post-playing career
In retirement from playing ‘Goggles’ Doyle maintained a keen interest in the game as he came to be regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. Long after his playing days were over the Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
celebrated its centenary year in 1984. Throughout the year a series of special events were held while special team selections were also named. While a special GAA Hurling Team of the Century
GAA Hurling Team of the Century
The Hurling Team of the Century was chosen as part of the Gaelic Athletic Association's centenary year celebrations in 1984 to comprise, as a fifteen-member side divided as one goalkeeper, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwardss and three full-forwards, the best hurling players of...
was named, a special team of players who never won an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal was also selected. Doyle’s brilliance as a player was recognised when he was picked in the left corner-back position on that team. Six years later in 1990 Doyle’s reputation was further cemented when he was the recipient of the prestigious GAA All-Time All-Star
GAA All-Time All-Star Award (Hurling)
The GAA All-Time All-Star Award in Hurling was an award given on an annual basis to a sportsperson who had made a long-running and considerable contribution to the sport of hurling in Ireland...
award. Past winners of the award included Mick Mackey
Mick Mackey
Michael ‘Mick’ Mackey was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the famous Ahane club from 1930 until 1948 and was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team from 1930 until 1947. Mackey is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game...
, Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
and Jim Langton
Jim Langton
Jim Langton was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1954. Langton's inclusion on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium mark him out as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:Langton played his...
.
1995 was a special year for 89-year-old Doyle and for Clare hurling. That year’s Munster final saw Clare captain Anthony Daly
Anthony Daly (hurler)
Anthony Daly is an Irish hurling manager and former player. He is the current manager of the Dublin senior hurling team....
bridge a sixty-three-year gap since Doyle captained Clare to the provincial crown. Doyle was also present in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
as Clare later defeated Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
to win their first All-Ireland title since 1914.