A PROUD DAY FOR DOYLE
Eddie all set to lead Village on Sunday
MANY a defender has struggled to get to grips with Eddie Doyle and it is a feeling he came to understand in the first few months of his life with son Sean. Balancing night feeds and an intense GAA schedule was tough at first but – just like his free kicks – he soon came to master it.
Doyle now dreams of waking up on Monday morning with a picture of his seven-month old son sitting proudly in Miley but there is the small matter of St. Patrick’s to contend with first.
Being captain has added to the occasion for Doyle somewhat but it will be business as usual come throw-in time.
‘Obviously it would be a little bit more special (being captain) but it doesn’t change the outlook on it.
‘A win on Sunday would be the same as any other year - that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
There’s always been a great rivalry between ourselves and Pat’s but you just have to beat the team in front of you in a final no matter who it is.”
Has there been any special pre-match craic between the two sides? ‘Sure I never would’ve had any contact with them anyway!’, insists Doyle.
A young man like Doyle might wilt when captaining the likes of Leighton Glynn, Damien Power and James Stafford to name a few but men like that make Doyle’s the easiest job in the world.
‘It’s something you dream of (being captain) when you’re younger coming up through the ranks. They’re all great in fairness to them. They’re 100 per cent behind me and that’s one thing that I can’t complain about at all.
They give me a lot of help because a lot of them would be a lot more experienced than myself.
‘There’s 15 to 20 leaders in that dressing room. It definitely makes it an easy job for me.
‘The hunger never dies. The more you win, the more you want.”
One of those leaders is Paul Merrigan, who labelled
Doyle the best points kicker in the county. A modest
Doyle replied ‘ah thanks very much’ when informed.
Harry Murphy will be hoping Doyle has his shooting boots with him on Sunday and the pair have formed a strong bond over the years.
‘It’s great. He gave me my chance in 2009 and I haven’t looked back since. He’s been great to me. I wouldn’t have a bad word to say about him. His experience alone is brilliant and he’s stubborn but he gets a lot out of us. He’s a great manager.
‘I’ve a good relationship with him. It’s a good working relationship; sometimes you wouldn’t know
(what he’ll be like) he might be hard on you but he means very well. He always means well’.
One day Eddie might be cheering on Sean as he jogs out for Rathnew in a county final but for now, he wants to make his son proud.