‘Write the Slip’: The day a young Tony Boyle decided he was going on against Armagh

Tony Boyle is going along to Saturday evening’s eagerly awaited Ulster final meeting of reigning Ulster champions Donegal and current All-Ireland holders Armagh.

The 1992 All-Ireland winning full-forward and former All-Star has lost track of the number of times he has headed for St Tiernach’s Park on Ulster final day or any other day Donegal are playing at the famous old ground.

But he has no problem remembering his first provincial decider. That was the 1990 final meeting of Saturday evening’s protagonists, Donegal and Armagh. 

“I was on the subs bench for that game. Brian McEniff had called me into the panel after the National League,” Tony recalls this week.

“I had spent the year before in America and only returned home just before Christmas.

“Back then, the National League was split before and after Christmas. Three games were played before it and the remaining four were played in the early part of the following year.

“Half the league was over by the time I came home that Christmas.

“I played for the U-21s and then, at the end of the league, Brian called me into the panel. Noel Hegarty, Frank Ward and Mark McShane also got the call. But I was the only one that stayed.

“I played in a number of challenge games for the seniors but I did not get any game time in the Ulster games against Cavan and Derry on the way to the final.

“I was disappointed that I did not get because I was mad keen to play. I was only 20 at the time.

“And so I was on the subs bench again for the final. I remember it well. It was a boiling hot day in Clones. St Tiernach’s Park was heaving. There was a massive crowd.

“I had not experienced anything like it before. It was also my first ever Ulster final, of any description. 

“I had never been to a final as a supporter either. I was probably away playing soccer anytime Donegal were playing in Ulster finals and big games.

“Though I had never experienced anything like it before, the atmosphere and the occasion didn’t faze me.

“I was just mad keen to play. It was a close and tight game and with 20 minutes or so to go, Brian gave me the call: ‘You are going on for Tommy Ryan.’ 

“Tommy, I thought, must have picked up a knock or an injury. I was warming up, running up and down the sideline.

“After a couple of minutes I went to Brian and asked him, ‘Am I going on now?’ He never answered me. He just kept watching the game.

“A short while later, I asked Brian again, ‘Am I going on now?’ Again, he never answered me - he just kept watching the game.

“There and then I decided the time is going by and I might not get on at all. So I went to Noreen Doherty, the county secretary at the time and said to her, ‘Noreen, write out a slip because I’m going on for Tommy Ryan.’ 

“And Noreen duly handed me a substitute slip! I ran on and handed it to the referee and got stuck in.

“My first action was to play the ball soccer-style and the second time I touched the ball again, I skidded in and stopped the ball from going out wide and Declan Bonner won the ball and kicked the game’s winning point.

“We won 0-15 to 0-14 and I drew great satisfaction. Even though I was only in a short time, I had contributed to the victory with laying back the ball for the winning point.

“I was happy I had played my part and Brian and the selectors were happy with me too.

“And I made my first start in the All-Ireland semi-final against that mighty Meath side. 

Donegal, dispute putting it up to teh Royals that day, eventually caved down the stretch as teo late goals sent Meath through on a scoreline of 3-9 to 1-7. 

Tony Boyle went on to play in two more Ulster finals, winning one and losing the other.

In 1992, though being forced out of the final against Derry after a clash with Anthony Tohill, he, by that stage, was a central player in the Donegal attack.

And he played an influential role in Donegal’s march to that ‘92 provincial final and subsequent road to the county’s first All-Ireland title.

Injury sidelined Boyle for the entire 1993 campaign and he was absent for that infamous washout final against Derry.

An injury-time Joe Brolly goal in Derry’s 1-7 to 0-8 1998 Ulster final victory over Donegal denied Tony Boyle a third Ulster Celtic Cross and another crack at another All-Ireland crown.

And he brought the curtain down on his Donegal career in 2001, 11 years and 107 games later in Donegal’s All-Ireland Qualifier defeat by Kildare in Newbridge.

And Brian McEniff has never said a word about Tony’s decision to replace Tommy Ryan in that 1990 Ulster final against Armagh.

Looking ahead to Saturday evening’s showdown and the clash of Donegal and Armagh, Boyle says the margins remain wafer-thin.

“I would not be surprised if it took extra-time to separate the sides, whatever about penalties.

“I think Armagh are a better side than last year and I know they have their share of injuries and high-profile absentees.

“But I will be very surprised if a number of those lads that missed the Tyrone and the Antrim games will not be back on Saturday evening.

“I think as a consequence of the injuries, Kieran McGeeney has unearthed a few gems and Armagh, as a squad, are stronger as a result.”

Likewise, the former star is hoping to see a number of Donegal’s walking wounded in recent weeks back on board too.

“Hopefully, we will have Jason McGee and Caolan McGonagle back. They are two key men for us. “Caolan has really grown into the centre half back role and he drives forward out of defence and has been very effective and is an extra dimension to our play. 

“Jason was one of our leading players in last year’s Ulster campaign. He is a big man and has a huge presence in the middle of the field.  I certainly will feel more optimistic if they are both on the field.

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“We also need to get Oisin Gallen into the game and on the ball more. I don’t know if he was carrying an injury or just has suffered a dip in form. But we will need Oisin going well on Saturday evening.”

And on the big debate - should Michael Murphy start or be held in reserve and sprung from the bench in the second half?

The former All-Star forward is firmly in the must-start camp. 

“Michael has such a physical presence. For me, he must start. I know the Armagh men will have the red carpet out for him but he will be well able to deal with that.“It’s going to be a real tactical battle as well. And as I mentioned earlier, don't rule out extra time.”