Joe Boyle helps Tooreen to Connacht IHC three-in-a-row

Former Donegal hurling star Joe Boyle was instrumental in helping adopted club Tooreen to a third Connacht IHC title on the bounce. 

The Burt man lined out at wing back for the Mayo champions who were pushed right to the wire by their Galway rivals Killimor in last weekend’s decider. However, in the end, Tooreen edged over the line 0-22 to 1-15.  

“That’s my second season with the club so I’ve been really fortunate,” said Boyle. “It’s a serious standard of hurling. We’d a very good win over Four Roads from Roscommon earlier in the competition and we overcame St Gabriel’s from London (in the semi-final), 1-17 to 1-12. 

“They were a top, top side. You really didn’t know what to expect. Gabriel's had former Kilkenny and Offaly players in their line-up. But we really delivered on the day.”

Boyle is well settled in Mayo now. Initially, he was travelling up and down the road to remain part of both the Donegal and Burt set-ups. But, in the end, he decided something had to give. 

“I’d been down here a few years before I finally decided to transfer to Tooreen. The commuting just became too much. It was a tough decision. But honest to god, as soon as I joined up with Tooreen, things really took off.

“Between the travelling and so on, I actually didn’t really know that many people in the locality, even at that stage. But a few weeks into it with Tooreen, that all changed. Maria, who is from Mayo, jokes that I know more people here now than her!

“So yeah, the GAA remains a great way to sort of build those quick bridges, even at my age. Tooreen, it’s a great group of lads and a brilliant club. It’s really given me a new lease of life.” 

Next on the agenda for Tooreen is an All-Ireland semi-final clash with either Armagh’s Middletown or Down’s Liatroim Fontenoys. That pair meet in the Ulster decider this Sunday. And there is no doubt the Mayo champions will be interested spectators there. 

“Aye, listen, of course the management will look to take advantage of that,” said Boyle. “The All-Ireland semi-final isn’t taking place until the weekend before Christmas - December 17/18. 

“We got to the same juncture last season but were edged out by something like five on the day by an excellent Naas side. 

“That game didn’t take place until after Christmas. And they went on to win it. They made it all the way to the Leinster semi-finals this season, at senior level. So that shows just how strong they were. 

“So we’d love to go one better this time out. Again, it won’t be easy, regardless of who we’re going to face. But it’s definitely exciting.”