After leading at half-time, Holycross took complete control in the second half and powered to a 4–10 to 2–4 victory. It was Doyle's first championship medal. After failing to reach the same heights over the following two seasons, Holycross–Ballycahill reached the championship decider again in 1951. Clonoulty–Rossmore provided little opposition and Doyle collected a second championship medal following a 5–15 to 1-4 trouncing. Doyle's team failed to retain their title once again, and it was 1954 before the team reached another championship decider. A comprehensive 6–5 to 2–3 defeat of Roscrea gave Doyle his third and final championship medal. Minor After having his presence requested for trials for the Tipperary minor team in May 1946, Doyle was an automatic choice at corner-back for the subsequent championship campaign. A 5–6 to 4–2 defeat of Cork in the provincial decider gave him his first Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland decider pitted Tipperary against Dublin for the second year in succession. Tipp looked destined for victory when, with just a minute left to play, Paddy Kenny sent over a free to give the team a one-point lead. The resultant puck-out posed an immediate goal threat. After being shouldered in the chest, Doyle ended up in the goal's rigging and Dublin scored to secure a narrow 1–6 to 0–7 victory. Tipperary retained their provincial crown in 1947, with Doyle collecting a second Munster medal following a 2–4 to 1–2 defeat of Waterford. He later lined out in a second All-Ireland decider, however, Galway provided little opposition. A 9–5 to 1-5 trouncing gave Doyle an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal. In 1948 Doyle was a senior figure with the Tipperary minor team and was appointed captain for the year. After huge victories over Limerick and Cork, Doyle's side were the red-hot favourites for the Munster crown. A remarkable 3–6 to 0–3 defeat by Waterford was the result, in what was Doyle's final game in the minor grade. Senior Three-in-a-row Doyle made his senior debut in a National Hurling League defeat of Kilkenny in February 1948. Although still a minor, his appearance was brief and he was later released from the senior panel. On 26 June 1949 Doyle made his senior championship debut in a Munster quarter-final replay against Cork. He impressed in that extra-time victory and was retained for the semi-final defeat of Clare, during which he had a mixed game. Doyle was dropped for