Michael Walsh (Kilkenny hurler)
Encyclopedia
Michael Walsh is a former Irish
sportsperson. He was the goalkeeper
on the Kilkenny
senior hurling
team from 1991 until 1996.
in 1961. The son of the legendary Kilkenny
goalkeeper Ollie Walsh
, he would also go on to have much success as a sportsperson in his own right. Walsh played his club hurling with his local Dicksboro
club. He had much success at underage level and won a Kilkenny Intermediate county title in 1991. The club subsequently joined the senior ranks and Walsh won a senior county title in 1993.
and he first came to prominence in 1984 when he played as a wing-forward in an Oireachtas game. Two years later in 1986 he moved to the position of goalkeeper when he won an All-Ireland
medal with the Kilkenny junior hurling team. In 1987 he played in goal for the senior team in the opening three rounds of the National Hurling League
. A mistake in the third game lead to Clare
scoring a goal and Walsh was dropped from the panel. In spite of this he won another All-Ireland junior title in 1990.
In the autumn of 1990 Walsh’s father, Ollie Walsh
, was appointed manager
of the Kilkenny senior hurling team. He gave his son a chance to play in that year’s National Hurling League, and Walsh Jr. later became the first-choice goalkeeper on the senior team. Some have said that the only reason that Walsh was on the team was because his father was the manager. He was nearly thirty years-old at the time and there were other younger contenders for the position. In spite of this criticism Walsh went on to have a very successful career as a goalkeeper with Kilkenny. Later in 1991 Walsh won his first senior Leinster
title with Kilkenny, however, his side were beaten by Tipperary
in the All-Ireland final. In spite of this he was still presented with an All-Star award for his great display in the championship.
In 1992 Walsh won his second Leinster title before later claiming his first senior All-Ireland
medal following a win over Cork. The following year he captured his third consecutive Leinster title before making his third consecutive appearance in an All-Ireland final. In the final Kilkenny beat Galway
by 2-17 to 1-15 and Walsh collected his second All-Ireland medal. He finished off the year by also winning a second All-Star. Over the next few year Offaly
emerged as the dominant team in Leinster as Kilkenny began to slide. Walsh did win a National Hurling League
medal in 1995, however, there was no more championship success.
In March 1996 Walsh’s father died. This was a major blow for Walsh as his father had been a huge influence on his career. He continued to play but he retired following Kilkenny’s defeat to Wexford
in the Leinster quarter-final.
senior hurling team, however, he had little success there.Micheal is a hurling anzalsyt for KCLR Radio and has recently been appointed Kilkenny Under 21 manager for 2008.
for Kilkenny City A.F.C.
at schoolboy, youth, junior and senior level. In the early 1980s Walsh also received offers from both Waterford United and St. Patrick’s Athletic
. He also captained the Republic of Ireland
at youth level. He later served Kilkenny City A.F.C.
as their schoolboys general manager and at one stage ran 20 teams.
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 was the goalkeeper
Goalkeeper
In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal...
on the 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...
senior 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...
team from 1991 until 1996.
Club
Michael Walsh was born in the Dicksboro area of KilkennyKilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
in 1961. The son of the legendary 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...
goalkeeper Ollie Walsh
Ollie Walsh
Patrick Oliver Walsh , better known as Ollie Walsh, was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1972 and subsequently served as manager of the team from 1990 until 1995...
, he would also go on to have much success as a sportsperson in his own right. Walsh played his club hurling with his local Dicksboro
Dicksboro GAA
Dicksboro is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Kilkenny, Ireland.-History:Dicksboro GAA Club, founded in 1909, takes its name from a townsland about one mile west of the city on the Ballycallan road...
club. He had much success at underage level and won a Kilkenny Intermediate county title in 1991. The club subsequently joined the senior ranks and Walsh won a senior county title in 1993.
Inter-county
Walsh had no All-Ireland success at either minor or under-21 levels with KilkennyKilkenny 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...
and he first came to prominence in 1984 when he played as a wing-forward in an Oireachtas game. Two years later in 1986 he moved to the position of goalkeeper when he won an All-Ireland
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...
medal with the Kilkenny junior hurling team. In 1987 he played in goal for the senior team in the opening three rounds 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...
. A mistake in the third game lead to Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
scoring a goal and Walsh was dropped from the panel. In spite of this he won another All-Ireland junior title in 1990.
In the autumn of 1990 Walsh’s father, Ollie Walsh
Ollie Walsh
Patrick Oliver Walsh , better known as Ollie Walsh, was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1972 and subsequently served as manager of the team from 1990 until 1995...
, was appointed manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
of the Kilkenny senior hurling team. He gave his son a chance to play in that year’s National Hurling League, and Walsh Jr. later became the first-choice goalkeeper on the senior team. Some have said that the only reason that Walsh was on the team was because his father was the manager. He was nearly thirty years-old at the time and there were other younger contenders for the position. In spite of this criticism Walsh went on to have a very successful career as a goalkeeper with Kilkenny. Later in 1991 Walsh won his first senior Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster 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 Leinster in Ireland....
title with Kilkenny, however, his side were beaten by 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...
in the All-Ireland final. In spite of this he was still presented with an All-Star award for his great display in the championship.
In 1992 Walsh won his second Leinster title before later claiming 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 Cork. The following year he captured his third consecutive Leinster title before making his third consecutive appearance in an All-Ireland final. In the final Kilkenny beat 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,...
by 2-17 to 1-15 and Walsh collected his second All-Ireland medal. He finished off the year by also winning a second All-Star. Over the next few year Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
emerged as the dominant team in Leinster as Kilkenny began to slide. Walsh did win a 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...
medal in 1995, however, there was no more championship success.
In March 1996 Walsh’s father died. This was a major blow for Walsh as his father had been a huge influence on his career. He continued to play but he retired following Kilkenny’s defeat to 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...
in the Leinster quarter-final.
Post-playing career
In retirement from playing Walsh has maintained a keen interest in the game. In 2001 he became manager of the CarlowCarlow GAA
The Carlow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Carlow GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Carlow and the Carlow inter-county teams.-Gaelic football:...
senior hurling team, however, he had little success there.Micheal is a hurling anzalsyt for KCLR Radio and has recently been appointed Kilkenny Under 21 manager for 2008.
Soccer
Walsh, along with his two brothers Billy and Ollie, also played soccerFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
for Kilkenny City A.F.C.
Kilkenny City A.F.C.
Kilkenny City A.F.C. was an Irish football club. The club played in the First Division of the League of Ireland until 18 January 2008 when they announced that they resigned their position in the league citing “lack of finance, poor results and paltry attendances”.The club hails from Kilkenny and...
at schoolboy, youth, junior and senior level. In the early 1980s Walsh also received offers from both Waterford United and St. Patrick’s Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
. He also captained the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
at youth level. He later served Kilkenny City A.F.C.
Kilkenny City A.F.C.
Kilkenny City A.F.C. was an Irish football club. The club played in the First Division of the League of Ireland until 18 January 2008 when they announced that they resigned their position in the league citing “lack of finance, poor results and paltry attendances”.The club hails from Kilkenny and...
as their schoolboys general manager and at one stage ran 20 teams.