Dick Doyle (Wexford hurler)

Richard ‘Dick’ Doyle (1879–1946) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Castlebridge and with the Wexford senior inter-county team in the early 1900s. Doyle captained Wexford to their first All-Ireland title in 1910.

Biography

Dick Doyle was born in Castlebridge, County Wexford in 1879. He grew up on the family farm and later worked on the land himself. In his youth Doyle was regarded as a strong athlete, and he quickly started playing hurling with his local team.

Dick Doyle died in July 1946 aged 67.

Playing career

Club

Doyle played his club hurling with his local Castlebridge side. He enjoyed little success with the club because the Wexford county championship was suspended on a number of occasions during the height of Doyle's playing career.

Inter-county

Doyle started playing hurling with the Wexford inter-county team in the early 1900s. He was captain of the team in 1909 as Wexford were defeated by Laois following an exciting Leinster semi-final.

Doyle retained the captaincy of the team in 1910 with Wexford reaching the Leinster final for the first time in almost a decade. Dublin provided the opposition on that occasion as Doyle played a real captain's role. He scored a remarkable 3-1, enough to secure a 3-3 to 1-1 victory for his county. It was Doyle's first Leinster medal. Due to timetabling issues Kilkenny actually represented Leinster in the early stage sof the All-Ireland series. Wexford, however, were back for the All-Ireland final with Limerick providing the opposition. The first-half was an exciting affair with Limerick having a goal disallowed. At the interval Wexford led by 6-0 to 3-1. The second-half saw a fierce onslaught by Limerick who had another goal disallowed. Doyle's side hung on to claim a 7-0 to 6-2 victory. Not only was it Doyle's first All-Ireland medal but iy was also the first time that Wexford won the championship. It would be forty-five years before the county won its second.

Teams

References

• Brendan Fullam, Captains of the Ash, (Wolfhound Press, 2004).