Tony Boyle is enjoying life on the sideline with the Donegal minor ladies'

Donegal legend Tony Boyle has always been known for cutting his teeth with the green and gold of Donegal or the red and white of Dungloe in the full-forward line. 

But now he is enjoying life on the sideline with the ladies’ teams at club and county level, as he watches his daughters pass through the successful underage ranks. 

Last weekend the 1992 All-Ireland winner was on the sideline with Declan McDermott’s Donegal minor side who overcame Armagh in Burt in what was a hotly contested match that saw the home team emerge victorious on a scoreline of 3-12 to 2-10. 

And while Boyle is no stranger to coaching on the sideline with club and county down through the years, seeing the current county minor side progress - of which his daughter Ulitah is one of the central cogs in the team – is where his passion currently lies.  

“I always enjoy being on the line watching the girls, obviously I always want them to do well, but it’s something I really enjoy being a part of,” Boyle said. 

“You can see there against Armagh, it was heartbeating stuff right to the end, but it was a massive second half performance and we were really happy with the final outcome.” 

And while Armagh briefly took the lead in the dying minutes of the match, despite Donegal leading throughout, it was full-forward Ava Walsh who secured victory for the home side when she slotted home Donegal’s third goal to give her side a comfortable lead. 

“I don’t think we did ourselves justice in the first half because we had a massive breeze in our favour and we were getting into great positions, but we just couldn’t put the scores on the board or get our composure,” the Dungloe man said. 

“But at the same time, in the second half, Armagh put it up to us and the girls had real character to see the game out and get a five-point win. 

“We spoke at half-time about just steadying ourselves. We were able to get into great positions and our build-up play was fantastic in the first half, but we were just panicking on the final shot, mainly because of that stiff cross-field wind which played a massive role. 

“But in the second half, I think we definitely showed more composure and were able to get the scores, but to be honest we probably left a few more scores behind us in the second half. 

“But overall, we showed great character, which is so important because even after Armagh got their second goal and even took the lead, our heads never dropped, and we pushed on to regain the lead, which was great.” 

After leaving the men’s game as a coach, Boyle has seen the progression of ladies’ football over the past few years in Dungloe, with the club going from strength to strength in terms of success, and he is now hoping to see that at county minor level. 

“When I finished up playing, I managed the Dungloe senior men’s team as well as the minor team. I think I was there with the boys for eight years in total, and when I’d go home, I’d be getting stick that I have five daughters and I’m not helping them out, so I got involved with the ladies five years ago at club level and now I’m here which I’m loving every minute of,” the All-Ireland winner said. 

“You can see yourself, the level of skill and fitness in ladies' football now is unreal. It’s up and down, it’s end-to-end, and in fact, I feel it can be more enjoyable than watching the men’s games, which over the last few years has become very cynical. 

“We’re just always coaching the basic skills of football which is what I enjoy at this level. I’m delighted my own daughter is involved and that she’s playing midfield. I think she got her running ability from her mother . . . you’d have never seen me out around the middle of the field. 

“I would say in terms of GAA, my passion is with the ladies’ game now because it’s come on so much as a game. I’ve been involved with a group of girls for years and now they’re in their last year of minor football and it’s been great because we’ve been so successful the whole way up in Dungloe. 

“The next step is to bring these girls through to senior football in Dungloe and keep them playing with the club so hopefully the future is bright.”