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MANUS BOYLE
(Former Donegal footballer)
When the final whistle blew in the 1992 All- Ireland football final, Donegal forward Manus Boyle had no idea how many points he'd scored. It wasn't until one of his team-mates came up to him and said "nine points, what were you at?" that he realised what he'd done.
"I was kicking the ball well off the ground and I got a few opportunities from play. It was one of those days," explains Boyle. "I wasn't keeping count I was just getting the job done, that's the type of person I am."
Donegal beat Dublin by four points and Boyle's favourite football memory came from that day.
"I'll never forget the free that I had to kick into Hill 16 about 15 or 20 minutes into the game. Paul Curran was standing a few yards from me and he was giving me the eyes and waving his arms. I hit it alright and it went over. We'd heard so much about the Hill and I'd always loved the thought of driving one down the middle."
Boyle's background is in fishing not sport. He lives in Killybegs, his mother comes from Ringsend in Dublin and his father hails from Rutland Island. There was very little football in his family but that didn't have any effect on Boyle. He joined the local GAA club and also played soccer and basketball. In fact, at 46 he still plays for Killybegs, and lined out for the senior team only a week ago.
"So many young people have left that the numbers aren't there anymore. Killybegs isn't a big parish, it hasn't a big population. We have a good club but the only disappointment we have is that we have a number of players that are home now from travelling and playing for the club that we felt would have been good enough to play for their county."
Boyle makes sports nets, in particular the ball-stop nets common behind the goals at sports clubs, and is a carpenter by trade. He's married to Anne and they have four kids. They'll all be in Croke Park today hoping the Sam Maguire will be brought back to Donegal.
"I'm expecting a very tight game and I'm hoping in my heart Donegal win. I know it won't be easy for them," he says.
"I'd love that group of lads who've dedicated themselves to their county to experience the same thing that I did 20 years ago."
