Joe Boyle and his home from home in Tooreen have All-Ireland JHC final date

Joe Boyle - one of Inishowen’s and Donegal’s most decorated hurlers - is chasing glory this weekend on Croke Park’s hallowed turf.

The Burt clubman retired from intercounty hurling with his native Donegal two years ago and playing his club hurling with Tooreen.

This Saturday night, Tooreen, the Mayo champions, take on Monalleen from Limerick in the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Club Championship final.

The 35-year-old - a three-time Nickey Rackard Cup Championship winner and a one-time Lory Meagher Cup champion with Donegal - will line out at right half-back for the Mayo champions. Boyle captained Donegal in 2013 to their first Nicky Rackard Cup success and is a former Nicky Rackard Cup All-Star.

“It is great to be looking forward to the All-Ireland final and another big game in Croke Park,” Boyle told DonegalLive.
“I’ve played a good few times in Croke Park at this stage and while you can become familiar with it, there is still something special about walking out on the hallowed sod. We are very lucky because of Mayo’s success in the last few years. I think all but three or four of the team have played in Croke Park and know what to expect.”

Tooreen once again sauntered through the Mayo championship to complete three championships in a row and a 32nd Mayo title. The 1-14 to 2-5 win over the Keith Higgins’ powered Ballhaunis in the IHC final was Joe Boyle’s second Mayo winners’ medal having won 10 at home with Burt.

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Killimor from Galway were conquered on Tooreen’s way to back to back Connacht crowns and Tooreen overcame Leitrim Fontenoys - the Down and Ulster champions - in the All-Ireland semi-final.

“That was a big win for us,” Boyle said. “We won by 1-18 to 1-14. It was a really tough physical game and they scored a late goal after we had opened up a good lead. That was a big result after losing to Naas, who went on to win the All-Ireland last year’s semi-final. It also meant a first All-Ireland appearance for the club.”

Boyle got home for a few days at Christmas but the break was cut short due to All-Ireland preparations.

“I got up home for three days, which was a bit shorter than normal,” he said. “But you are not in an All-Ireland final every day. The whole place has gone mad here since we qualified for the final. There are flags up all over the parish. It is a rural club and the only thing people want to talk to you when you go to the shops is hurling and the final.”

Monaleen the Limerick and Munster champions stand between Boyle and another major Celtic Cross to add to his vast treasure trove of trophies and medals already garnered.

“Coming out of Limerick and Munster they are obviously a good side,” he said. “From what we hear they may have a few lads that are in the Limerick senior squad. They are obviously going to be tough opponents but that is what you expect when you get to an All-Ireland final.”

Ballybofey-based Garda Ciaran Finn, who is from Mayo, was a member of the 2020 Nickey Rackard Cup winning Donegal panel when they defeated Mayo in the Croke Park final, 3-18 to 0-21. Tooreen is Finn’s home club but he will miss the final due to an ACL injury.