Dick Doyle (Kilkenny hurler)
Dick Doyle (1884 – 16 March 1959) was a famous Irish sportsperson who played hurling for Mooncoin and Kilkenny in the 1900s. He is regarded as one of Kilkenny's greatest ever players.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Risteard Ó Dúghaill | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Born |
1884 Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, Ireland | ||
| Died |
16 March 1959 (aged 73) Carrick-on-Suir, County Waterford, Ireland | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| Mooncoin | |||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1903–1913 | Kilkenny | 34 | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 8 | ||
| All-Irelands | 7 | ||
Playing career
Club
From a young age Doyle showed exceptional talent at the game of hurling and he quickly joined his local Mooncoin club. He won his first senior county title in 1906 and added two more in 1908 and 1913. Long after his inter-county career had ended Doyle finished off his club career by winning three consecutive county titles in 1916, 1917 and 1918.
Inter-county
Doyle's first appearance outside of Mooncoin was not for Kilkenny but for his province. He was a spectator at a Railway Shield game at Carrick-on-Suir when some of the Leinster team had failed to turn up. Although aged only 17 he was called in and began his hurling career. Doyle made his debut for Kilkenny in 1903 and captured a Leinster title. Kilkenny were later defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland 'home' final. In 1904 Doyle won his second Leinster medal before later winning his very first All-Ireland medal following a victory over Cork. The following year he won a third provincial title before adding a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. In 1907 Doyle captured a fourth Leinster medal as well as a third All-Ireland medal following yet another victory over Cork. He won his fourth All-Ireland medal in 1909 following a comfortable victory over Tipperary.
In 1911 Kilkenny were named All-Ireland champions without having to play in the final, thus giving Doyle his fifth All-Ireland medal. In 1912 he captured yet another Leinster title. Doyle later collected his sixth All-Ireland medal. In 1913 Kilkenny completed the three-in-a-row with Doyle collecting an eighth Leinster medal and a record seventh All-Ireland medal. He remains one of only a handful of Kilkenny players to win seven All-Ireland medals on the field of play. This record was later surpassed by Christy Ring of Cork and John Doyle of Tipperary.
Dick Doyle died in 1959.