The Late Matty Doyle A sad moment in sporting history was witnessed in Borris recently when GAA players donned the Carlow and Ballymurphy jerseys and formed a guard of honour for a football legend from the famous 1944 team. Hundreds turned up to the funeral of the late Matty Doyle, Ballinagrane, Borris, who passed away at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Carlow on July 26th, 2005. Born on November 1, 1918, at 86 Matty was one of the last five surviving members of the Carlow '44 team that won the Leinster Championship. Fellow team member Ted Joyce from Borris, led the guard of honour at the funeral, which accompanied Matty's remains from Joyce's Funeral Home to the church. A true sporting champion, Matty played football with Ballymurphy where he won two senior championship medals. He was also the winner of a junior championship medal with Ballinkillen in 1940. However, his greatest achievement would have undoubtedly been when he lined out in the Carlow strip in 1944, creating football history in the county. What many people might not have released was that Matty was also a keen hurler and won a medal with Cournellan when they beat St Mullins in a county final. His brother, Paddy recalled a man that was a true perfectionist in everything he put his hand to. The Doyle brothers ran the family farm together in Ballinagrane and were noted in Leinster as prize cattle and sheep breeders. In fact, winning prizes at shows was one of the great interests in Matty's life. "One of the greatest sources of pride in his life was a tractor he bought in 1958. It was a Ford Major Power Lift and it was his pride and joy. "He'd nearly get up in the middle of the night just to look at it," Paddy recalls. Matty was educated at Borris National School and then went on to study at Warrenstown Agricultural College in Co. Meath. He spent the most of his life working on the family farm and living with his brother, Paddy and sister, Mary. Another great pleasure in his life was the greyhounds and Matty enjoyed a lot of success as an owner and trainer. His most famous greyhound was My Snowflake, which brought him Shelbourne Park success in 1972. Linda's Hero was another greyhound owned and trained by Matty and well known at the tracks in Enniscorthy and Kilkenny. At the removal the remains were received by Fr John O'Brien PP Borris, Fr Jimmy Doyle, Naas, Fr Tom Little, Askeabennekerry, Fr Sean Kelly from Ballyine, Fr Phil O'Shea, PP Myshall, Fr Moling Lennon, PP Naas, Fr Seamus Whelan, Borris. Fr Jimmy Doyle from Naas, Co.Kildare, a cousin of Matty's was the chief celebrant at his Funeral Mass. Fr Doyle was assisted by Fr John O'Brien, Fr Howard from Myshall and Fr Sean Kelly from Ballyine, Borris. Matty is predeceased by his eldest brother Edward (Ned) and youngest brother Joe, who died in Canada. He is survived and will be deeply missed by his brother Paddy, sister Mary, niece Bernardette Doyle ( Canada), relatives, neighbours and his wide circle of friends from the GAA, greyhound racing circles and from the farming community. May he rest in Peace. Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist August 19th 2005 Tweet

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