Trevor on Rathnew, Wicklow and darts
The Rathnew job, Wicklow then and now, and darts
HE IS arguably one of the best footballers Wicklow has ever produced. He played in 15 Senior club finals, winning 11 and, in 2001, he led Rathnew to a Leinster Senior club football title.
A dominating presence from his usual position of centre half forward, he was a very good dead ball kicker and was very consistent as well, and, many would argue, he was one of the most talented players of his generation in Rathnew.
The man is Trevor Doyle, and on Thursday night I sat down with him to discuss what has been a remarkable career.
Trevor began playing football at the age of seven and since then his will to win has never faltered. From his earliest days he possessed a ruthless competitive streak that has remained with him throughout his career.
“I started playing when I was seven. My father played for Rathnew, my mother was from Newtown. Her brother, Pat Davis, played in goal for them when they won the championship. That's where it all came from”. Starting off, Mosey Coffey had a big influence on Trevor's career. “I was best friends with Mosey's son, Darren, so Mosey had a big influence on me and so did my parents”.
Throughout his career he has always had a fierce competitive streak and he puts that down to his mother.
“She always had a fierce competitive streak, she would never let anything get the better of her and I was the same. I always wanted to win and never wanted any team to get the better of us, but sure, listen, I think everyone in Rathnew is like that, it's in us.
“I played with Rathnew at all levels from underage level to Minor to Junior and then with the Seniors. There were six or seven lads who played with me all my life. Darren, Mark, and Ronan Coffey and a few others, that definitely helped us when we got to the Seniors, we knew each other inside out”.
Trevor has 10 Senior medals to his name but, for him, the highlight of his career was leading Rathnew to a Leinster title in 2001.
“That was a special year for me, but more importantly, for Rathnew, it was great for the village, it put us on the map, we were now a team to be feared,” he said.
“We had been putting a good run together in Leinster for a few years before winning so to make the breakthrough was great,” he added.
That Rathnew team enjoyed a golden era in the late 90s and a lot of that had to do with the fact that eight of the starting 15 had been playing together from a young age.
“We almost became telepathic, we knew what each other would do. I could always predict where Tommy Murphy would send the kick out.
“People thought we were good footballers so it was easy but my God it wasn't easy, Mosey trained us and we trained hard, we put the work in to get where we were,” said Trevor.
The Rathnew man spent three years training Rathnew after his playing days had slowed down considerably and when Wicklow came calling for Harry Murphy's services, Doyle took over the reigns in the village for one season.
“I had been training them with Harry for three years so it felt natural to go on and manage them. I had learnt a lot and felt I could do the job. My career with the senior panel was winding down and it felt like the right thing to do.
“I was there for a year, it didn't work out, a new crowd came in, I didn't like what they wanted to do. Listen, that's football, I have moved on, the club have moved on.
“I'm playing Intermediate for Rathnew now. It's the one medal I don't have and I want to win it,” he said.
“I'll give it my all to try and win it and if it happens it happens. I'd love one. The bottom line is that it just didn't work out; sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. It's in the past now. Rathnew is, and always has been, a great club,” he added.
Management is not something Trevor would consider again at the moment though.
“I fell out with the G.A.A for a bit after what went on with the club. I had a few chances this year to do a bit but it wasn't for me. I did a bit with Wicklow.
“Listen, I think this county doesn't want to progress. Harry is doing a great job, so is Mick Murray. I don't think lads are giving them the commitment though. They are definitely not giving him the same commitment that they gave Mick O'Dwyer, that's a given.
“It's divided, lads are giving their all for their clubs but when they put on the county jersey it's different.
“It's divided at County Board level as well though, I believe some of them don't want Harry there,” he said.
“Wicklow have some great players, don't get me wrong, and Harry is doing a great job. We were great against Carlow but poor against Leitrim. Now I know Leighton was missing. He is a great footballer, a great leader, and we didn't have that against Leitrim”.
But nobody can take away from the fact that Trevor had an excellent career with Wicklow and even today he speaks incredibly fondly of those days. But there is also a hint of regret.
“I loved it, I loved playing for Wicklow. I loved putting on the jersey. I played with some great footballers. Mick Murtagh, Fergus Daly, Hugh Kenny, Kevin O'Brien, Billy Kenny, Con Murphy, Robert McHugh, Pat Baker, and Peader Byrne. All great footballers.
“My own club mates as well. Darren Coffey and Mark Coffey. Hugh Kenny was a great defender, one of the best I have played with or against but Mark was exceptional as well, very close to Hugh.
“I always wanted to play for Wicklow, I was committed to the cause and always wanted to win for them. Listen, I loved football and I would have went anywhere to play football.
“It just didn't work out though; I don't think we worked as a team. In the end I became disillusioned; lads were not giving the commitment, opting out and coming back in at Christmas. It's still the same today.
“Baltingass were winning when we were coming up and then we started winning. We played with great players, don't get me wrong. We gave 110 per cent, so did they. It just didn't work for some reason. It didn't click.
“Lads looked great for their clubs but when they put on the intercounty jerseys it just wasn't the same. Whether it was commitment or whatever?” he added.
When I was preparing for the interview I came across an online poll that had Trevor in the greatest starting 15 to play for Wicklow. When I said it to him he burst out laughing.
“I don't know about that, I'd be happy with it. Peter Keogh did a thing and he only had me in at 48, I definitely wasn't happy with that. Football is all a matter of opinion though”.
At this stage I was fascinated to be getting into the mind of a man who was a legend to me growing up. Then his phone rings. He has to go training at 8pm. He plays Division 3 soccer as well.
“Listen, it's just me, I always want to win. I play a bit of soccer as well, it's the same with that, I hate losing. I think it's a Rathnew thing. We are all the same”.
We then had a bit of a chat about the G.A.A in general and I asked him about his take on the new rules in the game and what he thought of them.
“I'm baffled with them, I played a game against Barndarrig last week and this new advantage rule caught me out. It's meant to be five second's but the referee appeared to be confused. Maybe he didn't know how to implement it but there is confusion”.
“I think the black card is a great idea. Last year you saw Tyrone when they were on the back foot, pulling lads down and taking the yellow card. If you do that now you get the black card. It's a great idea”. I mentioned to Trevor that I was at this year's All-Ireland club finals. “It was a great club final. For the life of me I can't understand why Diarmuid Connolly isn't playing for Dublin.
“He is a fantastic footballer, he has power and strength and two great feet. For me he is the best footballer in Ireland at the moment. It was great for Mossy as well, wasn't it. He got a bit of a raw deal with Dublin.”
Our chat about the G.A.A was nearly coming to an end but I couldn't leave the subject without getting his advice for young players taking up the game now.
“Enjoy it. Train hard, train as you would want to play. Have respect for your team mates and opponents. Have respect for the referees. God knows I had plenty of run-ins with them in the past but they have a job to do”.
Trevor has also been making a name for himself in the darting world this year as a member of the Doyle's team that to date have not lost a game in the second division.
“I love darts; there was always a board at home. I played a bit for Dowling's when I was 17. Lyndon Byrne managed us and we won the second division league and the Wicklow Cup.
“I couldn't commit though because of the Gaelic. I always wanted to go back at them but this was the first year I got a chance.
“My brother Robert (Rosie) was on to me about playing and I said I would. I played the first night and Eamon 'Notcher' Hughes asked me to stay for the season and I committed, I am a man of my word.
“We have a good team. Martin Connor is a bit of a legend in Wicklow darts and he has been a great help. Paddy Byrne, John Sayer, Rosey, Notcher, Eamonn Doyle and Dave Duffy. All great players”.
“I won the second division singles this year and it was special, I had never played in a tournament like that before and it gave me a great buzz.
“People say darts is not a sport because of the drink but I don't drink and I get the same competitive edge out of it as I would from the Gaelic and the soccer.”
“There are some great people in darts. Shane 'Logger' Byrne is a great talent. I have great time for the organisers. Din Keogh, Owen Brennan and Dave Corcoran. It's hard to please everyone but they keep the game going in Wicklow.
“I can't wait to play in the first division next year. I am looking forward to it.”
And so my chat with one of Wicklow's greats came to an end. Words like 'passion', 'dedication', 'commitment', and having the 'love' of the game have all been used to describe him throughout his career and, no doubt, many would also throw the words 'controversial' an 'confrontational' into the mix as well.
But then, the good ones are usually all of the above, aren't they?