Walking off after semi-final win against MacCumhaill’s was special - James Boyle

When a regular corner-back is making a run out of defence he is more often than not urged to find a forward. But if you are James Boyle, your manager is more likely to be urging you to keep going and have a shot.

Boyle is a regular scorer for Gaoth Dobhair and clipped a very valuable score to take the Ulster club final against Scotstown in 2018 to extra-time where the Magheragallon men triumphed and made history.

Boyle is also a natural freetaker but despite all that, he will have a corner-back jersey when Gaoth Dobhair face up to Naomh Conaill on Sunday next in the county final.

“2018 was a special year for the club and it was my first county final too. I was lucky enough to get on  and score the equalising point in the final. I scored a point in the quarter-final against Cargin too. It’s not too often a corner-back gets on the scoreboard.

“I’ve always liked to argue that I’m a forward but no manager believed me anyway.”

Boyle is a product of the Tom Beag Gillespie team and it was there that he was given the freedom to score. “Tom Beag, our underage manager, put a lot of confidence in me and also the fact that we had no other left footers when I was 13,14. It was me or a right footer.

“Some of my best memories as a footballer were with that team from U-14s all the way up. And to cap it off with the Ulster U-21 was great for us and Tom Beag.”

James is now a primary school teacher working in south Dublin in Gaeilscoil Shliabh Rua and he says despite the fact it can be a disaster getting through the M50 on a Friday evening, he loves returning each weekend to his native place.

On Sunday next his Gaoth Dobhair side will go into the final as underdogs and he agrees that the spotlight has been on Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s over the last few years.

“Personally, we’re happy to be in the final. There were a lot of people who didn’t think we would win last weekend even (against MacCumhaill’s). It’s great to be in the final and hopefully we can put it up to Glenties.”

The Gaoth Dobhair have the chance to add to their 15 senior crowns but he knows it will be tough.

“Naomh Conaill have been the toast of county football for the last few years. They are littered with county players, past and present and rightly so they go in as favourites. But it’s a county final, anything can happen on the day.”

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There are plenty of role models for Boyle in the Gaoth Dobhair squad, among them Odhrán Mac Niallais and the McGees.

“Odhrán, he’s a savant when it comes to Gaelic football.  I would know him pretty well; I get the pleasure of marking him in training now and again. You never know what he is going to do next, he is capable of that moment of brilliance, so it is great to have a man like that on the team.”

And with the McGees closing in on 100 club championship games, he says: “It is some achievement. Since they have come in they have been really key players, they will go down in the history books of Gaoth Dobhair. I grew up watching the two McGees and they are neighbours of mine as I’m a Dore man myself. It’s been a dream come true to get to play with them.

“There will be no slacking with the two of them about, absolutely nothing.”

Boyle will stick to his normal routine on county final day. “You try to keep the same rituals, the same walk-throughs. Everybody has the same pre-game meal. I have small things, the left boot goes on first, the left wrist tape goes on first, small little things.

“Once the boots go on, you are really focussing on the job you are supposed to be doing.”

But being in the final is special for Boyle: “After walking off the last day and we got to see all the Gaoth Dobhair people who stayed to watch us walk off the field, that was one of the best moments I’ve had all year. To see the joy it brought them  and to hear everything that’s going on at home.

“So it is great to give them that opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it.”

James will be looking out for brother Mikey, who is part of the Reserve team on Sunday and he says it will be a big day for mum and dad and also for brother Sean, who will be home from London for the big day.

“It takes getting to a county final to get him home now,” quips James.