CONOR DOYLE – GAA Football

Leaders come in various forms. The football award winner is one of those kind of players who lets his football do the talking and in the process brings those nearest with him. 2025 was a marquee year for the Rathvilly man where he was all but an automatic choice on the Carlow senior football team while his Rathvilly club regained the Carlow SFC title.

On the intercounty front, he featured in all of Carlow’s O’Byrne Cup, seven national league, Leinster championship and three Tailteann Cup games. He registered 0-15 and was the fourth highest scorer on the Carlow team. There were many great moments but he played a major part as Carlow eked out a draw against Laois away from home in the Tailteann Cup. His long-range kicking from the ground was exceptional and when Carlow were struggling, Conor’s accuracy from distance lifted those around him. He scored five points (three frees and a 45) and helped create a platform where his county could fight back. In the end his side caught Laois with two late goals. With the new rules, the earlier one-pointers would translate to two-pointers and Carlow would have run out easy winners.

Yet dead ball accuracy is only a very small part of his game. In a central position, much of what he does for Rathvilly and Carlow determines their fortunes.

From the outset of the Senior Football Championship, it was a slow burn for his club. A 50% record in the group stages saw them into the quarter-finals. It was then they let rip and a typical break out of defence by this year’s award winner helped Rathvilly score a vital goal in the semi-final against Old Leighlin.

The rest is history. It might have taken a replay against Palatine but Doyle played a major part as Rathvilly took a coveted senior football title.