Joyce first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor team in 2004. He won a Leinster medal that year following a heavy 1–15 to 1–4 defeat of Dublin. [8] The subsequent All-Ireland decider on 12 September 2004 pitted Kilkenny against Galway. Richie Hogan proved to be the hero for Kilkenny,as his point,a minute into injury time,earned "the Cats" a 1–18 to 3–12 draw. [9] The replay a week later was also a close affair,with Galway just about holding off the Kilkenny challenge. A 0–16 to 1–12 victory gave Joyce an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal. [10]
By 2006 Joyce had linked up with the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won a Leinster medal that year following a 2-18 to 2-10 defeat of Dublin before later lining out in the All-Ireland decider against Tipperary on 10 September 2006. A last second opportunist goal by Richie Hogan saved Kilkenny and secured a 2-14 apiece draw. [11] The replay a week later was another close encounter,however,Paddy Hogan's first half goal helped Kilkenny claw their way to the title. The 1-11 to 0-11 victory gave Joyce an All-Ireland medal. [12]
After surrendering their provincial and All-Ireland crowns the following year,Joyce won a second Leinster medal in 2008 following a facile 2–21 to 2–9 defeat of Offaly. [13] Old rivals Tipperary provided the opposition in the All-Ireland decider on 14 September 2008. Tipperary whittled down a six-point half-time deficit to just two with minutes to go,however,Kilkenny hung on to win by 2–13 to 0–15 and secure the Grand Slam of championship titles. [14] It was also a second All-Ireland medal for Joyce.
Joyce was also a key member of the Kilkenny intermediate for a number of seasons. He won his first Leinster medal in this grade in 2006 following a 2-20 to 0-8 trouncing of Wexford. [15] On 26 August 2006 Kilkenny faced Cork in the All-Ireland decider,however,a 3-15 to 1-18 defeat was Joyce's lot on that occasion.
Two years later in 2008 Joyce captured his second Leinster medal following a 4-26 to 3-15 trouncing of Dublin. On 30 August 2008 Kilkenny faced Limerick in the All-Ireland decider. A 1-16 to 0-13 victory gave Joyce an All-Ireland medal in that grade. [16]
Joyce won a third Leinster medal in 2011 following a 2-19 to 2-8 defeat of Wexford in the provincial decider. [17]
Senior
Joyce first linked up with the Kilkenny senior team in 2009 when he was a member of the extended training panel. He spent two years in this capacity before becoming a member of the match-day panel in 2011. He was an unused substitute during Kilkenny's successful Leinster and All-Ireland campaigns that year. [18] [19] In spite of not playing,Joyce was still presented with winners' medals.
2012 began well for Joyce as he made his debut during the National Hurling League. He ended the campaign with a winners' medal following a 3–21 to 0–16 demolition of old rivals Cork. [20] Kilkenny were later shocked by Galway in the Leinster decider,losing by 2–21 to 2–11,however,both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland decider on 9 September 2012. [21] Kilkenny had led going into the final stretch,however,Joe Canning struck a stoppage time equaliser to level the game at 2–13 to 0–19 and send the final to a replay for the first time since 1959. [22] The replay took place three weeks later on 30 September 2012. Galway stunned the reigning champions with two first-half goals,however,Kilkenny's championship debutant Walter Walsh gave a man of the match performance. The 3–22 to 3–11 Kilkenny victory gave Joyce a second All-Ireland medal and his first on the field of play. [23]
Kilkenny's dominance showed no sign of abating in 2013,with Joyce winning a second league medal following a 2–17 to 0–20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider. [24]
In 2014 Joyce collected his third successive league medal,as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary. [25] Joyce subsequently secured his first Leinster medal on the field of play,as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "the Cats" a 0–24 to 1–9 defeat of Dublin. [26] On 7 September 2014 Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all time,the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game,however,his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw. [27] The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2–17 to 2–14 victory. [28] It was Joyce's third All-Ireland medal overall.
Joyce won a third Leinster medal in 2015 following a 1-25 to 2-15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider. [29] It was Kilkenny's 70th provincial title. Kilkenny and Galway later renewed their rivalry when they faced each other again in the All-Ireland final on 6 September 2015. The team struggled in the first half,however,a T. J. Reid goal and a dominant second half display,which limited Galway to just 1-4,saw Kilkenny power to a 1-22 to 1-18 victory. [30] It was Joyce's fourth All-Ireland medal overall.
Kilkenny retained the Leinster title in 2016,with Joyce claiming a fourth winners' medal following a 1-26 to 0-22 defeat of Galway. [31] Kilkenny subsequently qualified for an All-Ireland final meeting with Tipperary on 5 September 2016. While just two points separated the sides at the interval,Tipperary completely outplayed Kilkenny for the second half. A total of 2-21 for their inside forward line of Séamus Callanan,John McGrath and John O'Dwyer helped them to a huge 2-29 to 2-20 victory. [32]
After disappointing league and championship campaigns in 2017,Joyce announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 26 October 2017.
