From Dubai to Donegal - Paul 'Yank' Boyle home and in search of Oscar Traynor glory

Donegal League star player Paul 'Yank' Boyle is a man who has been on many journeys in his life, and this weekend he will partake in another when his side host the Leinster League in the Oscar Traynor Cup with the hope of advancing to the semi-final of the competition. 

The second leg of the Donegal and Inishowen Leagues Oscar Traynor Cup tie finished level at Diamond Park in Ballyare three weeks ago, which sealed progression to the next round of the competition for John Francis Doogan's team with a 4-3 aggregate win. 

It’s an area of unknown territory for Boyle, the Donegal League has rarely, in recent seasons, overcome their counterparts from Inishowen, but also because he has been living in Dubai for almost a decade. 

However, since returning a year ago, the Annagry man has engrossed himself back into Donegal sport with Keadue Rovers and Naomh Mhuire GAA club. 

“I think the frustrating thing about the way the Oscar Traynor is organised in our area is that either us or the Inishowen League has to be eliminated early doors, because both sides are really strong,” Boyle said reflecting on their last match. 

“On the last game we played against them, it was a hard enough match to approach considering we had a one-goal lead, because we knew Inishowen were going to have to go for it to bring it back level, where we could sit back a little and defend that lead. 

“We knew if we kept our composure then we were through, but there was still that thing in the back of our mind to go for it and just play football and match the opposition, rather than play cautiously. 

“Now, we probably were a bit cautious, Inishowen threw everything at us. Although we never created any chances in that game, we defended well and that saw us over the line against a very good team.” 

An Eddie O’Reilly goal was all the side needed in a 1-1 draw to advance to the next round, but on the match as a whole, it’s one that ‘Yank’ Boyle and his teammates took personal satisfaction from considering the number of defeats they suffered from the Inishowen side down through the years. 

“No doubt there was a bit of personal satisfaction in beating that Inishowen side because they were such heavy favourites,” said Boyle. 

“I played on an Oscar Traynor team, I would say over 10 years ago, and I would say that since then, there have been very, very few teams that have gone to Inishowen and beaten them. 

“We as a side have nothing but respect for Inishowen. They have got the upper hand on his down through the years, so eventually when that break finally comes, you get a lot of satisfaction from it, especially when you deserve the victory like we did.” 

The landscape of Donegal football is a very different world from Boyle’s time in Dubai where he played for Dubai Irish alongside fellow Donegal man Mark Forker. 

During his time there, his side played friendlies against Qingdao Huanghai, the club of Yaya Toure, while Forker lined up against former Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane, who was then with ATK of the Indian Super League - the club where Carl McHugh from Lettermacaward played. 

However, Boyle missed out on his chance to rub shoulders with the Ireland legend, due to an injury sustained during GAA training. 

“I was out in Dubai for seven years, I remember that night when a few of the lads got to play with Robbie Keane, I went to GAA the night before and I ruptured ligaments in my ankle, so I missed that opportunity unfortunately,” said Boyle. 

“I remember Keane was playing for ATK at the time and Teddy Sheringham was manager of that side, so I was gutted I missed that opportunity, but that’s life. 

“I came home last year, I believe there’s a shelf life on everything and a lot changed for me in that time, I had a baby girl, and I just thought the time was right to come home and get back involved in local sport.  

“In terms of how things have changed, I noticed how strong the junior league has got in soccer, and I suppose we don’t need to talk about how different the GAA landscape is now from the one I left when I went to Dubai, but happy to be back involved in both.”