Pádraic Joyce

infobox GAA player


name=Pádraic Joyce
placeofbirth=County Galway
countyofbirth=Ireland
bday= 1
bmonth=4
byear=1977
feet=6
inches=0
nickname=
sport=Gaelic football
code=Football
county=Galway
province=Connacht
club=Killererin
clposition= Full-Forward
clubs=Killererin
clyears= 1996 - Present
clapps(points)=
clcounty= 3
clprovince=0
county= Galway
counties= Galway
icposition =Full-forward/Centre Half-forward
iccounty =Galway
icyears =1997-Present
icapps(points) = ??? (???)
icprovince =6
icallireland =2
nfl =0
allstars =3
icupdate = May 2008
clupdate = May 2008|

Pádraic Joyce (Irish: "Padraic Seoige" ) is a current inter-county Gaelic football player for Galway. He plays his club football with Killererin.

Playing career

County

Pádraic won his first All-Ireland Senior Football title with Galway in 1998. Galway beat Mick O'Dwyer's Kildare in the all-Ireland final in front of 65,886 fans at Croke Park by 1-14 to 1-10. Pádraic was then awarded an all-star in for his performances in 1998. Joyce's next all-Ireland was to come in 2000 when Galway faced Kerry at Croke Park. The game finished at 0-14 a-piece and the game was forced to a replay, thanks to Padraic's late free in the end, his sixth point overall. Kerry won the replay by 0-17 to 1-10 in front of 64,094 at a packed Croke Park. Despite the disappointment of losing in the final, Joyce got some glory by being awarded his second all-star award. Galways All-Ireland Senior Football Championship success in 2001 was the most successful year for Joyce. Galway had an impressive 0-17 to 0-08 victory over Leinster's Meath in the final in Croke Park. Joyce scored an amazing 0-10 in the final. Overall, he scored 3-45 in the Championship, 16 points clear of his nearest challenger, Ger Heavin. In recognition of his performances for Galway he was awarded the Texaco Footballer of the Year award and an All Star in 2001.

He has won the Connacht Senior Football Championship on six occasions in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008. Joyce is currently playing with Galway in the 2008 all Ireland football championship.

Club

Joyce first won his first Galway Senior Football Championship medal with Killererin in 1999 by beating An Cheathrú Rua after a replay by four points. 2001 proved to be his next attempt at winning the Galway championship, they lost the final to Annaghdown in the final by two points. His next final came again in 2003 against Caltra although Killererin lost by 0-15. In 2004 Killererin finally won the county championship again by beating Salthill-Knocknacarra in the final by a goal.

International Rules

Joyce was a regular member of the Irish International Rules squad for many years. Arguably his finest moment in the series was 2004 edition where Joyce captained the team to a record 132-82 victory over Australia. Joyce was fanatastic in both tests against their Aussie counterparts and their record victory was much deserved.

Joyce retired from the playing side in 2005 but maintained a role within the team as part of Sean Boylan's set-up, as Connacht selector.

On 6th August 2008, Joyce stepped down from the Irish International Rules management set-up as Connacht selector, citing his commitment to the Galway footballers as his reason to step down.

Joyce also ruled out playing in the series again, having last lined out as captain in Australia three years ago.

"I have notified Sean Boylan I wouldn’t be taking part. I just don’t have time for it," I haven’t time to be looking at games now that Galway are still involved. I just want to give my all to Galway for the last couple of years that is in it."

External links

* [http://www.galwaygaa.ie/ Official Galway GAA Website]
* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Galway/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=44468]