Martin a very shrewd judge
Enniscorthy stalwart named best hurling team in 1982
SEAN NOLAN certainly chose wisely when he sought two shrewd judges to select their best Wexford football and hurling teams for the 1982 county yearbook.
Seamus Keevans was an obvious candidate, and we featured his selection last week. Seán grew up on the Island Road in Enniscorthy, so he had a short journey to make when he needed somebody to focus on the small ball.
Martin Doyle, from nearby Irish Street, was one of the town’s favourite sons, a man commanding the utmost respect from anyone with an interest in the G.A.A.
And before I re-produce his contribution to the yearbook, I feel it’s important to explain his huge influence on the promotion of hurling for the younger generation.
As Martin said in journalist Seán Whelan’s excellent 1984 book, ‘Just A Memory’, football was ‘top dog’ in the Cathedral town when he was growing up in the late thirties and early forties.
Hurling played second fiddle, but Martin was part of a small group, that also included Jack Carley, future longtime county Chairman Seán Browne, and ‘Fat John’ Murphy, with a real interest in promoting the game.
Eventually, the youngsters from the various town clubs who enjoyed the game united under one banner, and it led to a steady flow of under-age championship successes.
Martin himself captained the Emmets to the 1943 Minor title, beating Glynn by 6-4 to 6-0 in the final played in Oylegate on September 4 of that year.
And he was the main mentor with the famed P.H. Pearse’s, who swept the boards by claiming Juvenile hurling honours in 1944 and 1946, plus a Minor double in ’46 and ’47.
By the onset of the fifties, with Wexford’s revival well under way, the game was thriving in Enniscorthy, and Martin was one of the main men responsible for making that happen.
Along with those under-age wins since 1943, St. Aidan’s won the Junior crown in 1945, and added Senior success at the first attempt in ’46 before retaining their title twelve months later.
Several hurlers who had taken their first tentative steps in the game under Martin’s tutelage went on to power Wexford’s rise to the top in the decade that followed.
And his own contribution to the game he loved never dimmed, as he served as a mentor with All-Ireland winning county Minor hurling teams in the sixties as well as managing the Seniors to their last National League crown in 1973.
Martin was also a selector when Rapparees last won the county Senior title in 1978, and his beloved Enniscorthy came to a standstill to mourn his loss when he passed away after a long illness in January of 2007.
Just to give some additional context for the younger readers, his grandson, Kevin Foley, is one of the stars of the current Wexford team.
While Martin was a traditionalist in terms of how the game should be played, he matched that with a keen eye for innovation, so I’m sure he would have warmed to Kevin’s sweeping role!
His family has contributed in rich measure to the fabric of life in Enniscorthy, not just in G.A.A. but in a wider everyday context.
Martin’s wife, Maeve, hails originally from St. John’s Villas in the town, and she was a good friend of my late grandmother who was a one-time neighbour.
I saw a lovely photograph of Maeve on Facebook last week, observing social distancing while her great-granddaughter called to say hello.
The Doyles reared five children on Irish Street, all of whom carried on the proud family links to the G.A.A.
The late Pádraig was the type of diligent worker usually very hard for clubs to find, an outstanding servant of the Rapparees who continued playing at Junior level beyond his 50th birthday.
His brother, Jim (better known as Jim Bob), is a long-time resident of Carnew and a stalwart of the famed Emmets just over the Wicklow border – ironic, really, given that Martin captained a team of the same name to that Minor title in 1943.
Martin and Maeve’s three daughters also share that passion for our national games. Maria (Nolan) served as Rapparees-Starlights club Secretary for many years, and is currently involved with Cáirde Loch Garman.
Jacqui (Murphy) is married to Dickie, All-Ireland referee, while Terri (Foley), Kevin’s mother, sadly lost her husband, Michael, to illness at a very young age in 2007.
Michael was a powerful presence on the hurling field and a gentle giant outside the white lines. He represented Wexford in hurling at Minor, Under-21 and Senior levels, and had the distinction of featuring at left corner-back in Liam Griffin’s first-ever game at the helm – a 6-14 to 2-10 National League win against Kerry in New Ross on October 9, 1994.
With Martin and his family background outlined, now it’s time to hear from the man himself. This is what he wrote when asked to name his best Wexford hurling team in 1982:
‘When I was asked to do this particular article for the year book I undertook to do it with a certain amount of trepidation.
‘I recognise it as an almost impossible task and, like the controversy currently engulfing the All-Star selectors, I too will hardly please everyone.
‘I stress that the selection hereunder is my personal opinion based on certain personal likes and dislikes in a player. I would certainly have been proud to have had the chance to prepare them for a Leinster championship.
‘It is very difficult to pick an all time Wexford hurling team and, as my memories are only from 1940, I will try and remember the players in their best positions. And even at that it is hard to get away from the teams of the fifties though we had other good teams in 1944, 1962 and ’68.
‘It’s hard for me not to select Arty Foley for goal as I made him a goalkeeper. He was equally as good at left half-forward.
‘He has that never-to-be-forgotten save from Christy Ring to secure his “immortality”, but my vote for goalkeeper must go to Pat Nolan, not alone for his consistency and brilliance but for his consistent brilliance over twenty years.
‘I would be happy with either Billy or Bobby Rackard at right full-back but my vote goes to Billy, while others like Ned Colfer, Tom Neville, Nick Boggan and John Mitchell will have support.
‘The full-back position must go to Nick O’Donnell, even to the exclusion of good men like Dan Quigley and Eddie Kelly. O’Donnell was, perhaps, ahead of his time for he was a magnificent hurling full-back in an era when size and weight in that position counted for more possibly than ability.
‘The left corner-back I just had to give to Joe Bailey of New Ross. He just had to be in my team. Some will say he was more suited to the right, while other favourites like Mick O’Hanlon and Mick Morrissey will find favour.
‘I would select Jim English as the best right half-back. His covering, tenacious play and sweet striking win him the vote over Sam Thorpe and Vinny Staples.
‘The centre-back position goes to Bobby Rackard. Billy Rackard, Dan Quigley and Mick Jacob will find favour with others and no doubt any of them would fit the bill on any team. My vote goes to Bobby, though I may be over-influenced by displays like the ’54 All-Ireland.
‘To perhaps the most skilful and consistently brilliant hurler of the modern age, I give the position of left half-back. Mick Jacob, I believe, would make any team and in heading a “cast” of such as Mick Morrissey, Colm Doran and Willie Murphy, he has earned his place.
‘The vote for midfield goes to the partnership of Jim Morrissey and Ned Wheeler. They would have commanded regular places on any team, and I place them just ahead of Seamus Hearne and Phil Wilson.
‘I would choose the skilful Harry O’Connor as my right half-forward at the expense of Paddy Kehoe, Jimmy O’Brien and Eamonn Kiely.
‘Padge Kehoe was a certainty for the No. 11 spot though the contribution to Wexford hurling made by Martin Quigley in that jersey should not be forgotten.
‘Enniscorthy sharpshooter Paul Lynch would have been at home in any of the half-forward positions, and he just beats Seamus Quaid (R.I.P.) and Tim Flood for the left half spot.
‘In the right corner I put the one and only Nick Rackard, simply because I had to make a place for Tony Doran and, as Nickey had hurled in many other positions I give him the right corner as against players like Tom Dixon, Tom Ryan, ‘Hopper’ McGrath and Billy Keilthy.
‘At full forward I name Tony Doran, having regard to Rackard, John Cummins and Patsy Boggan. Doran’s record is remarkable, his pedigree as a goal getter and maker in no doubt. A great pity he did not have adequate corner men.
‘The left corner position must go to Tim Flood. I feel we have left many a game behind us – including a couple of All-Irelands – because we did not have a Tim Flood in the team and we lacked the sharpness to convert the half chance he gloried in.’
MARTIN DOYLE’S HURLING TEAM: Pat Nolan (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
Billy Rackard (Rathnure)
Nick O’Donnell (St. Aidan’s)
Joe Bailey (Geraldine O’Hanrahans)
Jim English (Rathnure)
Bobby Rackard (Rathnure)
Mick Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh)
Jim Morrissey (Camross/St. Martin’s)
Ned Wheeler (Faythe Harriers)
Harry O’Connor (St. Aidan’s)
Padge Kehoe (St. Aidan’s)
Paul Lynch (Shamrocks)
Nickey Rackard (Rathnure)
Tony Doran (Buffers Alley)
Tim Flood (Cloughbawn)