Willie John Daly
Encyclopedia
Willie John Daly is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Carrigtwohill
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s.
, County Cork
in 1925. One of five children, he was the son of a point-to-point jockey. Daly grew up next door to the Carrigtwohill Gaelic Athletic Association
grounds, giving him a love of hurling
from an early age. He later worked with the Electricity Supply Board
in Midleton
.
with his local Carrigtwohill
club. His first winners’ medal with the club was in the Junior B grade in 1941. He later won several East Cork junior titles with ‘Carrig’ as well as a county junior title
in 1948. The following year Daly played a key role in helping Carrigtwohill win the county intermediate title.
medal with the county’s junior team in 1947 and was later drafted into the senior squad in time for that year's All-Ireland final against Kilkenny
. Daly came on as a substitute in the game, however, Cork lost by a point. It would be 1952 before he won his first Munster
title, as Cork broke Tipperary
’s provincial dominance. Daly later won his first senior All-Ireland
medal following a win over Dublin
.
In 1953 Daly captured his second Munster medal before later winning a second consecutive All-Ireland medal following a win over Galway
in one of the dirtiest championship deciders ever played. 1954 was a special year for Cork’s hurlers as the team were aiming for a third All-Ireland victory in-a-row, while Christy Ring
was hoping to become the first player to win eight All-Ireland medals. After a third Munster victory in-a-row Daly later captured his third All-Ireland medal in-a-row as Cork defeated Wexford
. Two years later in 1956 he won his fourth provincial title, however, Cork were later beaten by Wexford in a classic All-Ireland final against Wexford.
In 1957 Daly’s side were beaten in their first championship outing by an up-and-coming Waterford
team. The following year Daly and six other players were dropped from the senior hurling panel. In retirement he later served as a selector on victorious Cork teams in the 1970s.
to win the All-Ireland title in 1952.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
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 Carrigtwohill
Carrigtwohill GAA
Carrigtwohill GAA is a Gaelic Football and hurling club based in the parish of Carrigtwohill in Cork, Ireland. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Imokilly board competitions. In 2011 the Senior hurling team won a first county title in 93 years...
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s.
Early & private life
Willie John Daly was born in CarrigtwohillCarrigtwohill
Carrigtwohill, officially Carrigtohill , is a village in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland with a population of 4,869 . It is located east of Cork city, bypassed by the N25 road and is part of Metropolitan Cork. Carrigtwohill is one of the fastest growing towns in Ireland. It is a major...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1925. One of five children, he was the son of a point-to-point jockey. Daly grew up next door to the Carrigtwohill Gaelic Athletic Association
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...
grounds, giving him a love of 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...
from an early age. He later worked with the Electricity Supply Board
Electricity Supply Board
The Electricity Supply Board , is a semi-state electricity company in Ireland. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concern in a liberalised and competitive market...
in Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
.
Club
Daly 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 Carrigtwohill
Carrigtwohill GAA
Carrigtwohill GAA is a Gaelic Football and hurling club based in the parish of Carrigtwohill in Cork, Ireland. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Imokilly board competitions. In 2011 the Senior hurling team won a first county title in 93 years...
club. His first winners’ medal with the club was in the Junior B grade in 1941. He later won several East Cork junior titles with ‘Carrig’ as well as a county junior title
Cork Junior Hurling Championship
The Cork Junior Hurling Championship is the third tier championship for hurling clubs in Cork. The winners of this championship compete in the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in the following year. This championship is often considered the most difficult championship to win, since more teams...
in 1948. The following year Daly played a key role in helping Carrigtwohill win the county intermediate title.
Inter-county
Daly’s performances for his club brought him to the attention of the Cork inter-county team. He won an All-IrelandAll-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...
medal with the county’s junior team in 1947 and was later drafted into the senior squad in time for that year's All-Ireland final against 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...
. Daly came on as a substitute in the game, however, Cork lost by a point. It would be 1952 before he won his first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster 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 Munster in Ireland....
title, as Cork broke 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...
’s provincial dominance. Daly later won his first senior 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 following a win over Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
.
In 1953 Daly captured his second Munster medal before later winning a second consecutive All-Ireland medal following a win over 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,...
in one of the dirtiest championship deciders ever played. 1954 was a special year for Cork’s hurlers as the team were aiming for a third All-Ireland victory in-a-row, while Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
was hoping to become the first player to win eight All-Ireland medals. After a third Munster victory in-a-row Daly later captured his third All-Ireland medal in-a-row as Cork defeated Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
. Two years later in 1956 he won his fourth provincial title, however, Cork were later beaten by Wexford in a classic All-Ireland final against Wexford.
In 1957 Daly’s side were beaten in their first championship outing by an up-and-coming Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
team. The following year Daly and six other players were dropped from the senior hurling panel. In retirement he later served as a selector on victorious Cork teams in the 1970s.
Trivia
Daly is the last surviving member of the Cork team that beat DublinDublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
to win the All-Ireland title in 1952.