Grecians' passing style is the perfect fit for Doyle-Hayes

AS far as debuts go, Jake Doyle-Hayes certainly enjoyed a good one when he helped run the show in Exeter City's 4-1 thrashing of Blackpool.

- STUART JAMES [e-mail]

The 26-year-old Irishman was thrown in from the start after signing from Sligo Rovers for an undisclosed fee at the beginning of August and showed everyone what he was about with a composed display in the middle of midfield.

Neat and tidy in possession, always available to take the ball and knitting City’s play together with consummate ease, it was easy to forget this was his first game. But the transition from Ireland to Devon has been pretty straightforward for the boy from Ballyjamesduff.

“I have settled in well, my family is settled in and it has been really good. They are a good group of lads and it is easy to fit in,” he said, reflecting on his start to life with the Grecians.

“My debut against Blackpool was a really enjoyable game. We played really well as a whole group, but the last game was tough. I thought we played well in stages but we weren't up to the standards we set ourselves the week before, so we need to get back to that. Overall, it's been an enjoyable start.”

Few would have heard of Doyle-Hayes when he signed for the Grecians with his career starting in his home country before he moved across the Irish seat at the age of 15 to sign for Aston Villa.