It came as no surprise to Donegal supporters watching last Sunday's National Football League semi final at Croke Park that Donegal's best player over the hour should be the youngest. At 21 years of age, Tony Boyle has matured into an accomplished full forward with almost frightening speed. It's not 12 months yet since his first full appearance in a Donegal jersey and in that short time he has gained more experience of Croke Park than some Donegal players have chalked up in a career. On August 15th last, Tony was picked to play at full forward against one of the most experienced full backs in the country, Mick Lyons. Aside from the final result, a Meath victory fashioned in a frantic final 12 minutes, it was a successful Croke Park debut against such a respected opponent. Neither Croke Park nor Mick Lyons would leave him in awe. An abiding memory will be one of those rare instances in gaelic football - Mick Lyons on his hands and knees near the sideline, the youngster having shrugged off his challenge. However, tactically Mick Lyons played a clever game. It was clear he respected Boyle and in the heady atmosphere of the Meath dressingroom a very tired but relieved Mick Lyons told me as much: "He didn't show any signs of nerves out there, he was fast to the ball and I rate him very highly." It was a gracious comment from the Summerhill clubman who has monitored and mastered some of the best full forwards in the game. Mick Lyons is one of the few full backs since that game to hold Boyle to a single point. But Boyle's emergence as a regular Donegal full forward had its origins in hard graft. A student at Sligo Regional Technical College (with whom he won a Division Three Higher Education League medal this year), Tony first came to prominence with the Donegal under 21 team in early 1990. In a province where this particular grade of football is taken very (too?) seriously, Boyle was carrying a rather ordinary under 21 side. But his football origins go back to the very basics of the GAA, as a ten year old he won a county championship medal with the now defunct Rosses Rovers - the club Packie Bonner played with - and three years later he won an Óg Sport title with Dungloe. Under the tutelage of now county selector Naul McCole, a primary school principal in Keadue, Tony Boyle's early exertions as a gaelic footballer were taken note of. Naul, like Liam Reilly who is involved with Dungloe GAA club, knew that Boyle's temperament was right. That easy going Donegal way that some would relate to Daniel temperament or Packie Bonner is mentioned, seems to be associated to people from that part of Donegal and under pressure on a football field, it's quite an asset if it can be combined with football flair. Success followed the Óg Sport title. He won two Ulster Vocational School titles with Donegal, the first semi-final in 1986 saw defeat by Kerry who went on to win the competition outright. A year later Kerry defeated Donegal in the final. With his club he won a minor league medal in 1987 and is very much a part of the scene there, returning the 150 mile round trip time and again to be at training with his club. Indeed, when on secondment last summer with the Hospicare Engineering firm in Colloney, County Sligo, the extra distance travel didn't cost him a thought. "Tony on the field will give you everything. He made two points for us in the Ulster final when he came on for Tommy Ryan. One of them I'll never forget and it sums him up. The ball was heading aimlessly towards the endline and Tony kept chasing it. He used his soccer skills to slide onto the ball and retrieve and we got a valuable point. "But off the field it's the same. He's easy to talk to at training, knows what you want, will do it and maybe bring in his own ideas. His greatest asset is his courage," said Brian McEniff, the Donegal manager when I asked him to sum the player up. Courage is the key word. On the field he will go for the hospital pass, off it he has seen his fair share of hospital. Prior to Christmas he underwent an operation on his right knee. Despite his tender years Boyle has always had cartilage trouble - he may have to have the other knee operated on - and in the mid winter league break, like Donegal midfielder Anthony Molloy, he had surgery in an attempt to finally resolve the difficulty. His recovery rate was remarkable. Prior to recommencement of the National League, Boyle was named at full forward by Jim Nestor and Mick Breslin in the Sligo RTC side to play Dundalk RTC in a Division Three Higher Education semi final. Sligo based Garda Brian Tuohy, himself a regular corner back for Donegal until sidelined for the past year with an injury, watched Boyle on behalf of Brian McEniff. Sligo struggled against a determined Dundalk but Boyle, not fully fit, turned the game and stole the show with a breathtaking point from the wing. He was ready to return to the big time. Speaking to Tony Boyle you are immediately struck by his alertness. Against Offaly in the National League quarter final he punched to the net to save Donegal's bacon. Afterwards on North West Radio he told me he really didn't know where the ball was going after it left his fist. "I just went up, shot and I didn't know it was a goal until I heard the roar of the crowd." From experience there are few players who would be so honest. The future for Tony Boyle and Donegal looks bright. At last it would appear Donegal have found a target man at full forward. Because of Boyle's ability to win possession, Donegal's short passing game has changed somewhat in this current league campaign. More and more half backs and midfielders are delivering the ball early if at times inaccurately to Tony Boyle. His scoring rate justify's the tactic. But what of his hopes for the future? "All I want to do is hold down the full forward position. We have a good draw in the Ulster Championship this year but we must remember that no game in this province is easy," he stated. Were there a role model for youngsters to emulate I think Tony Boyle would fit the bill. Scorer of 2-7 in the National Football League series, Tony Boyle is set for a bright future with Donegal. 1991 may well be this year. Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 3rd May 1991 Tweet

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