Pádraic Joyce

Joyce played for the Killererin club, making his senior debut at the age of 15 in 1992.[3] His father Paddy was part of the club's team that secured promotion from the Galway Junior Football Championship (JFC) to the Galway Senior Football Championship (SFC) in 1968.[3] His uncle Billy was part of the 1970s teams that won the club's first Galway SFC titles.[3]

Pádraic Joyce, along with his brother Tommie and cousin Nicholas (Billy Joyce's son) all played critical parts in Killererin's late twentieth-century revival.[3] The club spent 21 years without a Galway SFC until 1999, when it defeated An Cheathrú Rua later adding three more Galway SFCs in 2004, 2007 and 2010, each of which Joyce was part.[3]

Joyce won his first Galway SFC medal with the club in 1999, defeating An Cheathrú Rua by four points after a replay. 2001 was his next appearance at the final stage of the Galway SFC, but a penalty miss in the second half from his cousin, Nicky Joyce, proved crucial as the club lost to Annaghdown by two points. Two more years passed before Killererin returned to the final, in 2003 against Caltra, but a Michael Meehan-inspired Caltra team won by a margin of 15 points. However, the following year, Joyce and Killererin secured the title for the fourth time in the club's history, defeating Salthill-Knocknacarra by a goal in the final. Despite having had an injury, Joyce played the entire game and scored three points.[4] Joyce won his third county medal in 2007, with a two-point defeat of Milltown (appearing at this stage for the first time since 1987).[5][6] Killererin defeated Corofin 1–10 to 1–07 in the 2010 county final.[7] In doing so, Joyce won his fourth county medal.

He won a Leinster Interfirm Senior Football Championship Medal with MCR Manpower Services in 2007.

His county senior FC final scoring record is as follows: 1999 vs An Cheathrú Rua: 0–02; 1999 vs An Cheathrú Rua (replay): 0-05; 2001 vs Annaghdown: 0–07; 2003 vs Caltra: 0-02; 2004 vs Salthill-Knocknacarra: 0–03;[4] 2007 vs Milltown: 0–06; 2010 vs Corofin: 0–03.

He came out of retirement at the end of 2014 to help Killererin win a relegation play-off, then began full training again ahead of the 2015 season, which he said would be his last.[3]

However, he was still winning medals with his club after being appointed as Galway senior manager in 2019.[8]

Joyce was an important member of the IT Tralee team that won a Sigerson Cup in 1997.[9]

He was an All-Ireland Minor Football Championship runner-up in 1994 and won two Connacht Minor Football Championship and Connacht Under-21 Football Championship medals.[1]

Joyce won his first All-Ireland SFC title with Galway in 1998.[10] He scored his team's only goal at the beginning of the game's second half, dummying past the goalkeeper before scoring into an empty net.[11] Years after retiring as a player, Joyce spoke about that goal to RTÉ: "The night before the final, we were sat in the room in the Berkeley Court Hotel and Match of the Day (an English television programme about sport) came on. Alan Shearer was going through on goal, Newcastle v Leicester, he feigned to shoot and he went left. Donnellan was sitting across the room from me, with a bottle of tae in one hand, a chicken sandwich in the other and he managed to muster the words out, 'Oh, you'll do that tomorrow when I pass it to you and go around the keeper'. The following day, Michael got the ball and passed it in. I'll never forget looking at the Hogan Stand, the ball coming down and I says, the bottle of tae… Alan Shearer… round the goalie. It's amazing that all that imagery was in the mind."[11] Galway defeated the Mick O'Dwyer-managed Kildare by a scoreline of 1–14 to 1–10 in that game, at Croke Park. Joyce was then awarded an All Star in for his performances in 1998.

2000 brought his second All-Ireland SFC final when Galway faced Kerry at Croke Park. The game finished at 0–14 a-piece, meaning a replay was scheduled. Joyce scored six points overall but it was not enough, Kerry winning the replay by a scoreline of 0–17 to 1–10. Despite losing the final, Joyce was given his second All Star Award.

Galway's All-Ireland SFC title win in 2001 was the most successful year for Joyce. Galway had a 0–17 to 0–08 victory over Meath in the final at Croke Park. Joyce's contributions in the second half proved vital, though he was quiet in the first half.[12] He scored 0–10 in that game, five from that total kicked off his right foot, the other five kicked off his left, and scoring nine of the ten points in the game's second half.[11] Overall, he scored 3–45 in the championship, sixteen points clear of his nearest challenger, Ger Heavin. In recognition of his performances for Galway he was awarded the 2002 Texaco Footballer of the Year award and another All Star.[13]

He won the Connacht Senior Football Championship as a player on six occasions: in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008. He scored a goal and three points in the last of those wins, against Mayo.[14]

In November 2012, Joyce confirmed his retirement from inter-county football after spending fifteen years on the panel.[15]

Joyce was a regular member of Ireland's international rules football squad for many years. Arguably his finest moment in the International Rules Series came during the 2004 edition, when Joyce captained the team to a 132–82 victory over Australia.[4][16] He scored a goal (six points) and one over (three points) in the first test and a goal and two overs in the second test.[17] Joyce excelled in both tests against the Aussies and secured a record victory.

Joyce retired from the playing side in 2005 but maintained a role within the team as part of Seán Boylan's set-up, as Connacht selector. On 6 August 2008, Joyce stepped down from the Irish international rules football management set-up as Connacht selector, citing his commitment to the Galway footballers. Joyce also ruled out playing in the series again, having last lined out as captain in Australia three years previously. "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."