Josie Gallagher
Encyclopedia
Josie Gallagher was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Gort
and with the Galway
senior inter-county team from 1942 until 1954. Gallagher is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have won an All-Ireland
medal.
with his local club in Gort
, however, he enjoyed little success. His playing days coincided with a downturn in the club's fortunes.
senior inter-county team in the 1940s. Galway hurling was in the doldrums at the time. The fact that the county faced no competition in Connacht
meant that Galway went straight into the All-Ireland series every single year. This was not a happy hunting ground for the county.
Gallagher 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 Gallagher a league title.
Two years later in 1953 Galway defeated a star-studded Kilkenny
team in the penultimate stage of the championship. This victory allowed Gallagher'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.
Gallagher's inter-county hurling career ended in 1954.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He won his sole Railway Cup medal in 1947 as his side defeated Munster
.
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...
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 Gort
Gort GAA
Gort GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Gort, County Galway, Republic of Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling...
and 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 1942 until 1954. Gallagher 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
Gallagher 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 club in Gort
Gort GAA
Gort GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Gort, County Galway, Republic of Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling...
, however, he enjoyed little success. His playing days coincided with a downturn in the club's fortunes.
Inter-county
Gallagher 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,...
senior inter-county team in the 1940s. 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 Galway went straight into the All-Ireland series every single year. This was not a happy hunting ground for the county.
Gallagher 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 Gallagher a league title.
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 Gallagher'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.
Gallagher's inter-county hurling career ended in 1954.
Provincial
Gallagher 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. He won his sole Railway Cup medal in 1947 as his side defeated Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
.