Joe Salmon
Encyclopedia
Joe Salmon is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
at various times with his local clubs Liam Mellows
in Galway and Glen Rovers
in Cork. Salmon also played with the Galway
senior inter-county team from 1949 until 1964. He is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have won an All-Ireland
medal.
with his local Meelick Eyrecourt club and enjoyed some success. He also played with the famous Glen Rovers
club in Cork. In all Salmon collected five county championship medals.
minor inter-county team in the 1940s. He lined out in the All-Ireland final of 1947, however, Tipperary
were the victors on that occasion.
Salmon later joined the Galway senior team, however, Galway hurling was in the doldrums at the time. The fact that the county faced no competition in Connacht
meant that the team went straight into the All-Ireland series every single year. This was not a happy hunting ground for the county.
Salmon first tasted success with Galway in 1951. That year his side reached the finals of the National Hurling League
. Galway defeated Wexford
and New York
giving Salmon a coveted National League medal.
Two years later in 1953 Galway defeated a star-studded Kilkenny
team in the penultimate stage of the championship. This victory allowed Salmon's side to advance to the All-Ireland final where Cork provided the opposition. The game itself is remembered as one of the ugliest championship deciders ever and is clouded in controversy due to the injury to the Galway captain, Mick Burke
. Galway lost the game by 3-3 to 0-8. After the match at the Gresham Hotel
in Dublin a fight broke out when another Galway player struck Cork's Christy Ring
. The following morning another fight broke out when another member of the Galway panel attempted to hit Ring. The fights, however, ended just as quickly as they had started.
Five years later in 1958 Galway were given a bye into the All-Ireland final in an effort to improve the standard of hurling in the county. Tipperray provided the opposition on that occasion.Liam Devaney
, Donie Nealon
and Larry Keane
all scored goals for Tipp in the first-half, while Tony Wall
sent a 70-yard free untouched to the Galway net. Tipp won the game by 4-9 to 2-5.
This defeat saw Galway enter the Munster Championship
in 1959. It was not a happy hunting ground for the county. Salmon retired from inter-county hurling in 1964.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition, however, he never won a Railway Cup medal.
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...
at various times with his local clubs Liam Mellows
Liam Mellows GAA
LIam Mellows GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Galway in Ireland. The club is primarlily concerned with the game of hurling.-Hurling:*Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championships:** 1970*Galway Senior Hurling Championships:...
in Galway and Glen Rovers
Glen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
in Cork. Salmon also played with the 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,...
senior inter-county team from 1949 until 1964. He is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have won an 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.
Club
Salmon 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 Meelick Eyrecourt club and enjoyed some success. He also played with the famous Glen Rovers
Glen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
club in Cork. In all Salmon collected five county championship medals.
Inter-county
Salmon first came to prominence with the GalwayGalway 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,...
minor inter-county team in the 1940s. He lined out in the All-Ireland final of 1947, however, 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...
were the victors on that occasion.
Salmon later joined the Galway senior team, however, Galway hurling was in the doldrums at the time. The fact that the county faced no competition in Connacht
Connacht Senior Hurling Championship
The Connacht Senior Hurling Championship was the premier "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Connacht in Ireland. The series of games were organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and were played during the summer months.Over the last number of years the...
meant that the team went straight into the All-Ireland series every single year. This was not a happy hunting ground for the county.
Salmon first tasted success with Galway in 1951. That year his side reached the finals of the 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...
. Galway 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...
and New York
New York GAA
The New York County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or New York GAA, is one of the county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in the New York metropolitan area...
giving Salmon a coveted National League medal.
Two years later in 1953 Galway defeated a star-studded 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...
team in the penultimate stage of the championship. This victory allowed Salmon's side to advance to the All-Ireland final where Cork provided the opposition. The game itself is remembered as one of the ugliest championship deciders ever and is clouded in controversy due to the injury to the Galway captain, Mick Burke
Mick Burke
Michael "Mick" Burke is an English former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He represented both England and Great Britain whilst playing club football for Widnes....
. Galway lost the game by 3-3 to 0-8. After the match at the Gresham Hotel
Gresham Hotel
The Gresham Hotel is a hotel in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Located on O'Connell Street, the hotel is a Dublin institution. This landmark building has recently been refurbished.-History:...
in Dublin a fight broke out when another Galway player struck Cork's 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...
. The following morning another fight broke out when another member of the Galway panel attempted to hit Ring. The fights, however, ended just as quickly as they had started.
Five years later in 1958 Galway were given a bye into the All-Ireland final in an effort to improve the standard of hurling in the county. Tipperray provided the opposition on that occasion.Liam Devaney
Liam Devaney
Liam Devaney is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Borrisoleigh and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.-Club:...
, Donie Nealon
Donie Nealon
Donie Nealon is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Burgess in Tipperary and UCD in Dublin and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1958 until 1969.-Club:Nealon played his club hurling with his local Burgess-Youghlarra club,...
and Larry Keane
Larry Keane
Larry Keane is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Thurles Sarsfields and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.-References:...
all scored goals for Tipp in the first-half, while Tony Wall
Tony Wall
Tony Wall is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Thurles Sarsfields and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1953 until 1967...
sent a 70-yard free untouched to the Galway net. Tipp won the game by 4-9 to 2-5.
This defeat saw Galway enter the Munster Championship
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....
in 1959. It was not a happy hunting ground for the county. Salmon retired from inter-county hurling in 1964.
Provincial
Salmon also lined out with ConnachtConnacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition, however, he never won a Railway Cup medal.