Jimmy Walsh
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Walsh was an Irish
hurler
who played as a left wing-forward for the Kilkenny
senior team from 1932 until 1944.
Walsh made his first appearance for the team during the 1932 championship
and became a regular player over the next decade. During that time he won four All-Ireland
winner's medals, seven Leinster
winner's medals and one National Hurling League
winners' medal.
At club level, Walsh enjoyed a successful career with Carrickshock
, and is one of only four players to have won six county club championship winners' medals with the club.
with his local Carrickshock
club and enjoyed much success. In 1931 he won his first, and the club's first, senior county title. The club contested the next four county finals, however, they lost on every occasion. Carrickshock returned in 1938 and Walsh collected a second county medal. He added four more county honours to his collection in 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1943.
senior hurling team in 1932. In spite of it being his first year at senior inter-county level he was still appointed captain for the year. Walsh subsequently won his first Leinster medal in 1932 before he leading his team out in Croke Park
for the All-Ireland final. ‘The cats’ defeated Clare
by a goal on that occasion and Walsh, as captain, captured his first All-Ireland
medal. He won a National Hurling League
medal at the start of 1933 before winning a second consecutive provincial title. Once again, Kilkenny qualified for the All-Ireland final . On the day Limerick
were defeated by Kilkenny and Walsh added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1934, however, the team returned in 1935 and Walsh won a third Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a repeat of the 1933 final and Kilkenny ended as the victors by a single point with Walsh collecting his third All-Ireland title.
1936 saw Walsh winning a fourth provincial medal and Kilkenny qualified for yet another All-Ireland final appearance. For the third time in four years Kilkenny faced Limerick in the championship decider, however, unlike the other two appearances Limerick were the winners. In 1937 Kilkenny continued their provincial dominance and Walsh picked up a fifth Leinster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final ‘the Cats’ faced Tipperary
, however, victory went to the Munster men on an impressive score line of 3-11 to 0-3. Kilkenny lost their provincial title in 1938, however, the team returned in 1939 with Walsh, once again as captain, winning a sixth Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final against Cork has gone down in history as the famous ‘thunder and lightning’ final as a huge downpour interrupted play. In the end victory went to Kilkenny by a single point, and Walsh won his fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1940 he won a seventh Leinster medal, however, Kilkenny were subsequently defeated by Limerick in the All-Ireland final. This turned out to be Walsh’s last final appearance. Kilkenny were suspended from the championship for the following few years due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak in the county. Walsh subsequently retired from inter-county hurling.
Walsh died on December 26, 1977.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
hurler
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
who played as a left wing-forward for the Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
senior team from 1932 until 1944.
Walsh made his first appearance for the team during the 1932 championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1932
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1932 was the 46th series of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition...
and became a regular player over the next decade. During that time he won four All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
winner's medals, seven Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
winner's medals and one National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
winners' medal.
At club level, Walsh enjoyed a successful career with Carrickshock
Carrickshock GAA
Carrickshock is an Irish Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 when the teams from Hugginstown and Knockmoylan were amalgamated....
, and is one of only four players to have won six county club championship winners' medals with the club.
Club
Walsh played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Carrickshock
Carrickshock GAA
Carrickshock is an Irish Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 when the teams from Hugginstown and Knockmoylan were amalgamated....
club and enjoyed much success. In 1931 he won his first, and the club's first, senior county title. The club contested the next four county finals, however, they lost on every occasion. Carrickshock returned in 1938 and Walsh collected a second county medal. He added four more county honours to his collection in 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1943.
Inter-county
Walsh first came to prominence as a member of the KilkennyKilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
senior hurling team in 1932. In spite of it being his first year at senior inter-county level he was still appointed captain for the year. Walsh subsequently won his first Leinster medal in 1932 before he leading his team out in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
for the All-Ireland final. ‘The cats’ defeated Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
by a goal on that occasion and Walsh, as captain, captured his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal. He won a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medal at the start of 1933 before winning a second consecutive provincial title. Once again, Kilkenny qualified for the All-Ireland final . On the day Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
were defeated by Kilkenny and Walsh added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1934, however, the team returned in 1935 and Walsh won a third Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a repeat of the 1933 final and Kilkenny ended as the victors by a single point with Walsh collecting his third All-Ireland title.
1936 saw Walsh winning a fourth provincial medal and Kilkenny qualified for yet another All-Ireland final appearance. For the third time in four years Kilkenny faced Limerick in the championship decider, however, unlike the other two appearances Limerick were the winners. In 1937 Kilkenny continued their provincial dominance and Walsh picked up a fifth Leinster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final ‘the Cats’ faced Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
, however, victory went to the Munster men on an impressive score line of 3-11 to 0-3. Kilkenny lost their provincial title in 1938, however, the team returned in 1939 with Walsh, once again as captain, winning a sixth Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final against Cork has gone down in history as the famous ‘thunder and lightning’ final as a huge downpour interrupted play. In the end victory went to Kilkenny by a single point, and Walsh won his fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1940 he won a seventh Leinster medal, however, Kilkenny were subsequently defeated by Limerick in the All-Ireland final. This turned out to be Walsh’s last final appearance. Kilkenny were suspended from the championship for the following few years due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak in the county. Walsh subsequently retired from inter-county hurling.
Walsh died on December 26, 1977.