Doyle has been some servant to Down
July 01, 2014
Down's Liam Doyle. INPHO
He doesn't get too many headlines these days but Liam Doyle has been a tremendous servant to Down GAA.
Almost unnoticed, Doyle ghosted onto the Pairc Esler pitch on Sunday and slotted over two points as the Mourne County easily defeated Leitrim in the first round of the SF Qualifiers.
The brilliant centre back first burst onto the scene back in 1999 when he captained Down to Ulster and All-Ireland minor football championship glory.
His lengthy senior career has been greatly disrupted by injury (cruciate, quad, hamstring, you name it...) but he has kept plugging away without picking up any notable silverware or without any real hype.
After missing two-and-a-half years in the county colours - including an All-Ireland final appearance against Cork in 2010 - Doyle made a typically low-key return in January 2011 and, alongside Benny Coulter, continues to represent that all-conquering '99 minor side at senior level with great credit.
Doyle - son of 1968 All-Ireland-winning centre back Willie - plays his club football with Liatroim Fontenoys so at least there was one Leitrim winner in Newry at the weekend!
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