Jimmy Walsh (Antrim hurler)
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Walsh is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club O'Connell's and with the Antrim
senior inter-county team in the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in Belfast
, County Antrim
.
with his local O'Connell's club in Belfast and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1930 before adding two more county medals to his collection in 1932 and 1936. Walsh added another county title to his collection in 1940. It was the first of three county wins in-a-row for the O’Connell’s club. He won a seventh county medal in 1945.
inter-county team in the 1930s. Antrim, however, were the hurling standard-bearers in Ulster
and faced little competition as they participated in the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
. The explosion of World War II
meant that the GAA
suspended the All-Ireland minor and junior championships. This meant that Antrim were left without any competition.
In 1943 the team were allowed to enter the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
for the first time since 1925. Little was expected of the team that was captained by Walsh. Antrim’s first senior championship outing was an All-Ireland quarter-final with Galway
at Corrigan Park
in Belfast
. There was mild surprise when Antrim emerged as the winners by 7-0 to 6-2. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Kilkenny
travel to Belfast to take on Antrim. What transpired in Corrigan Park turned out to be one of the most shocking results in the history of the All-Ireland championship. Walsh’s side took a half-time lead of 2-2 to 1-3 and hung on in the second-half. Antrim finally came through by 3-3 to 1-6. For the first time ever a team from the northern province would compete in the All-Ireland final. Cork, the champions of the previous two years, provided the opposition as up to 50,000 people traveled to Croke Park
. The economic reality of the Emergency saw an unusual exchange take place prior to the game as Walsh presented a quantity of butter to Cork captain Mick Kennefick
, who in turn handed over tea to his opposite number. The game, however, turned into a rout. Cork took a 3-11 to 0-2 lead at half-time and went on to claim the three-in-a-row on a score line of 5-16 to 0-4.
Antrim lined out in the All-Ireland senior championship for the next few seasons, however, the team was defeated in the semi-final on each occasion. Walsh retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
sportsperson. He played hurling
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...
with his local club O'Connell's and with the Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
senior inter-county team in the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
.
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 O'Connell's club in Belfast and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1930 before adding two more county medals to his collection in 1932 and 1936. Walsh added another county title to his collection in 1940. It was the first of three county wins in-a-row for the O’Connell’s club. He won a seventh county medal in 1945.
Inter-county
Walsh first came to prominence with the AntrimAntrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
inter-county team in the 1930s. Antrim, however, were the hurling standard-bearers in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
and faced little competition as they participated in the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
. The explosion of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
meant that the GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
suspended the All-Ireland minor and junior championships. This meant that Antrim were left without any competition.
In 1943 the team were allowed to enter the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
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....
for the first time since 1925. Little was expected of the team that was captained by Walsh. Antrim’s first senior championship outing was an All-Ireland quarter-final with Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
at Corrigan Park
Corrigan Park
Corrigan Park is a GAA ground on the Whiterock Road in West Belfast that served as the main venue for Gaelic Games in Belfast until the opening of Casement Park in 1953. It was named in honour of Sean Corrigan, mentor of the Brian Óg club who were Antrim’s first hurling champions...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. There was mild surprise when Antrim emerged as the winners by 7-0 to 6-2. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw 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...
travel to Belfast to take on Antrim. What transpired in Corrigan Park turned out to be one of the most shocking results in the history of the All-Ireland championship. Walsh’s side took a half-time lead of 2-2 to 1-3 and hung on in the second-half. Antrim finally came through by 3-3 to 1-6. For the first time ever a team from the northern province would compete in the All-Ireland final. Cork, the champions of the previous two years, provided the opposition as up to 50,000 people traveled to Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. The economic reality of the Emergency saw an unusual exchange take place prior to the game as Walsh presented a quantity of butter to Cork captain Mick Kennefick
Mick Kennefick
Mick Kennefick was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Finbarr's and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1942 until 1944. Kennefick captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 1943.-Club:...
, who in turn handed over tea to his opposite number. The game, however, turned into a rout. Cork took a 3-11 to 0-2 lead at half-time and went on to claim the three-in-a-row on a score line of 5-16 to 0-4.
Antrim lined out in the All-Ireland senior championship for the next few seasons, however, the team was defeated in the semi-final on each occasion. Walsh retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.