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 the subsequent Munster decider against Limerick, however, on the day of the game he was a late addition to the starting fifteen. After trailing at the interval, Tipp eventually triumphed by 1-16 to 2-10, giving Doyle his first Munster medal. On 4 September 1949 Tipperary and Laois faced off in the All-Ireland decider and Doyle was playing at left corner-back. In a one-sided affair Tipp completely overpowered the Leinster champions on a score line of 3-11 to 0-3, giving Doyle his first All-Ireland medal.