Michael John Flaherty
Encyclopedia
M. J. 'Inky' Flaherty was an Irish
sportsperson. He played inter-county hurling
for Galway
from 1936 to 1953, and was a noted boxer. Flaherty trained the Galway hurling team in the 1950s, and again in the 1970s, leading the side to league success in 1975. Starting out playing hurling for his beloved Liam Mellows, Flaherty went on to spend most of his inter-club days representing Ballinasloe in both hurling and Gaelic football
. Also contributing as a coach and referee, his lifelong dedication to the GAA was recognised in 1989 when he was presented with a GAA All-Time All-Star Award
. The currently uncontested Connacht Senior Hurling Championship was named in his honour.
in Galway city, Inky played in his first county championship final for Liam Mellows in 1935. Only 17 years old, he scored 3 goals, helping Mellows to their first county senior hurling title. After moving to Ballinasloe in 1940 for work purposes, Flaherty joined St. Brigid's hurling team, Ballinasloe, which made the transition to senior level that same year. With Ballinasloe he reached another county championship final in 1943, but was denied the win by his former club, Liam Mellows. He finally got a county hurling medal with Ballinasloe when they won the championship in 1951.
title in 1951 in New York
. He also won a Railway Cup(Inter-provincial) medal with Connacht
in 1947.
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 inter-county 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...
for 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,...
from 1936 to 1953, and was a noted boxer. Flaherty trained the Galway hurling team in the 1950s, and again in the 1970s, leading the side to league success in 1975. Starting out playing hurling for his beloved Liam Mellows, Flaherty went on to spend most of his inter-club days representing Ballinasloe in both hurling and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
. Also contributing as a coach and referee, his lifelong dedication to the GAA was recognised in 1989 when he was presented with a GAA All-Time All-Star Award
GAA All-Time All-Star Award (Hurling)
The GAA All-Time All-Star Award in Hurling was an award given on an annual basis to a sportsperson who had made a long-running and considerable contribution to the sport of hurling in Ireland...
. The currently uncontested Connacht Senior Hurling Championship was named in his honour.
Club
A native of BohermoreBohermore
Bohermore is located in the area of Galway city, Ireland. The name is derived form the Irish literally meaning "the big road".There is a large cemetery located in Bohermore known as the 'new cemetery'. The cemetery contains two mortuary chapels, one Catholic and the other Protestant...
in Galway city, Inky played in his first county championship final for Liam Mellows in 1935. Only 17 years old, he scored 3 goals, helping Mellows to their first county senior hurling title. After moving to Ballinasloe in 1940 for work purposes, Flaherty joined St. Brigid's hurling team, Ballinasloe, which made the transition to senior level that same year. With Ballinasloe he reached another county championship final in 1943, but was denied the win by his former club, Liam Mellows. He finally got a county hurling medal with Ballinasloe when they won the championship in 1951.
Inter-county
Flaherty played inter-county hurling for Galway from 1936 to 1953, captaining the side to a National Hurling LeagueNational 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...
title in 1951 in 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...
. He also won a Railway Cup(Inter-provincial) medal with Connacht
Connacht 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 1947.