Wattie Dunphy
Encyclopedia
Walter 'Wattie' Dunphy was an Irish
hurler
who played as a centre-back for the Kilkenny
senior team.
Dunphy made his first appearance for the team during the 1922 championship
and became a regular player over the next decade. During that time he won one All-Ireland
winner's medal and four Leinster
winner's medals. In 1922 Dunphy captained the team to the All-Ireland title.
At club level, Dunphy played with Mooncoin and won six county championship winners' medals in a career that spanned three decades.
Dunphy also won a Railway Cup winners' medal when he was chosen as captain on the first Leinster
inter-provincial championship-winning team.
, County Kilkenny
, Dunphy was the second eldest son of a family of ten born to Richard and Elizabeth Dunphy. He received a national school education locally, however, like many of his contemporaries he later left school to work on the family farm.
The Dunphy brothers all shared a passion for hurling and many lined out for both club and county: Joe, who before entering the priesthood played for Kilkenny in the late 1920s; Eddie, who played in the All-Ireland finals of 1922 and 1926; William, who was a substitute on the defeated All-Ireland team of 1935 and Richard, whose hurling was confined to his club.
Two of Dunphy’s nephews later lined out for their native-county of Kilkenny. Dick Dunphy was the goalkeeping understudy to the legendary Ollie Walsh
throughout the 1960s while Joe Dunphy Jnr.
captained Kilkenny to back-to-back All-Ireland
titles at minor level in 1961 and 1962 before later lining out at senior level.
In 1916 he won his first club championship winners' medal following a victory in a replay over fierce rivals Tullaroan
.
The club championship was severely hampered over the next six seasons, however, on its resumption Mooncoin faced defeat in the finals of 1923 and 1926.
Mooncoin emerged as a major force in club hurling in the late 1920s, winning three successive county championships between 1927 and 1929. Dunphy captained the side for the last two of these victories.
That great Mooncoin team began to break up by the 1930s, however, Dunphy continued to play for the team well into his forties. He captured two more club championship winners' medals in 1932 and 1936, a full twenty years since his first championship title. It was Mooncoin's last county title for almost thirty years.
senior team in the early 1920s. In 1922 he was captain of the side when he captured his first Leinster
title following a defeat of Dublin
. Dunphy later lead his men out in Croke Park
for an All-Ireland final meeting with Tipperary
. With three minutes left to play Tipp were leading by three points, however, Paddy Donoghue and Dick Tobin
of Kilkeny scored two decisive goals to seal a 4-2 to 2-6 victory. Dunphy captured his sole All-Ireland
medal that day and had the hnour of accepting the trophy on behalf of his team. It would be forty-five years before Kilkenny would beat Tipp in the championship again.
Dunphy won a second Leinster medal in 1923, however, Galway
defeated the reigning All-Ireland champions at the semi-final stage of the championship. 1925 saw Dunphy win a third provincial title, however, Galway put an end to Kilkenny’s championship hopes at the All-Ireland semi-final stage once again. In 1926 Kilkenny defeated Offaly
to give Dunphy his fourth and final Leinster medal. He later lined out in a second All-Ireland final with Cork providing the opposition on this occasion. Snow covered Croke Park on the day of the final as Cork went on to win the game on as core line of 4-6 to 2-0. Dunphy’s involvement with the Kilkenny team ended in 1930.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. In 1927 he captained Leinster to a 1-11 to 2-6 victory over Munster
in the inaugural final of the Railway Cup. That game is remembered as one of the finest contests in the history of hurling. Dunphy also lined out for Leinster in 1928 and 1930; however, victory went to Munster on both occasions.
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...
hurler
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...
who played as a centre-back for 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 team.
Dunphy made his first appearance for the team during the 1922 championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1922
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1922 was the 36th series of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition...
and became a regular player over the next decade. During that time he won one 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....
winner's medal and four 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....
winner's medals. In 1922 Dunphy captained the team to the All-Ireland title.
At club level, Dunphy played with Mooncoin and won six county championship winners' medals in a career that spanned three decades.
Dunphy also won a Railway Cup winners' medal when he was chosen as captain on the first Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
inter-provincial championship-winning team.
Personal life
Born in Luffany, MooncoinMooncoin
Mooncoin is a town situated in the far south of County Kilkenny, in Ireland, just 10 km from Waterford City on the main Waterford to Limerick road...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Dunphy was the second eldest son of a family of ten born to Richard and Elizabeth Dunphy. He received a national school education locally, however, like many of his contemporaries he later left school to work on the family farm.
The Dunphy brothers all shared a passion for hurling and many lined out for both club and county: Joe, who before entering the priesthood played for Kilkenny in the late 1920s; Eddie, who played in the All-Ireland finals of 1922 and 1926; William, who was a substitute on the defeated All-Ireland team of 1935 and Richard, whose hurling was confined to his club.
Two of Dunphy’s nephews later lined out for their native-county of Kilkenny. Dick Dunphy was the goalkeeping understudy to the legendary 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...
throughout the 1960s while Joe Dunphy Jnr.
Joe Dunphy
Joe Dunphy is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Mooncoin and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1966.-References:...
captained Kilkenny to back-to-back All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
titles at minor level in 1961 and 1962 before later lining out at senior level.
Club
Dunphy enjoyed a highly successful club hurling career with Mooncoin that spanned more than twenty years.In 1916 he won his first club championship winners' medal following a victory in a replay over fierce rivals Tullaroan
Tullaroan GAA
Tullaroan is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the village of Tullaroan in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1884 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling. Tullaroan is the most successful club in the history of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling...
.
The club championship was severely hampered over the next six seasons, however, on its resumption Mooncoin faced defeat in the finals of 1923 and 1926.
Mooncoin emerged as a major force in club hurling in the late 1920s, winning three successive county championships between 1927 and 1929. Dunphy captained the side for the last two of these victories.
That great Mooncoin team began to break up by the 1930s, however, Dunphy continued to play for the team well into his forties. He captured two more club championship winners' medals in 1932 and 1936, a full twenty years since his first championship title. It was Mooncoin's last county title for almost thirty years.
Inter-county
Dunphy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the 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...
senior team in the early 1920s. In 1922 he was captain of the side when he captured his first 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 following a defeat of 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...
. Dunphy later lead his men out in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
for an All-Ireland final meeting with 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...
. With three minutes left to play Tipp were leading by three points, however, Paddy Donoghue and Dick Tobin
Dick Tobin
Richard "Dick" Tobin was an Irish hurler who played as a right corner-forward for the Kilkenny senior team from 1916 until 1925.Tobin made his first appearance for the team during the 1916 championship and became a regular player over the next decade. During that time he won one All-Ireland...
of Kilkeny scored two decisive goals to seal a 4-2 to 2-6 victory. Dunphy captured his sole 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 that day and had the hnour of accepting the trophy on behalf of his team. It would be forty-five years before Kilkenny would beat Tipp in the championship again.
Dunphy won a second Leinster medal in 1923, however, 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,...
defeated the reigning All-Ireland champions at the semi-final stage of the championship. 1925 saw Dunphy win a third provincial title, however, Galway put an end to Kilkenny’s championship hopes at the All-Ireland semi-final stage once again. In 1926 Kilkenny defeated 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...
to give Dunphy his fourth and final Leinster medal. He later lined out in a second All-Ireland final with Cork providing the opposition on this occasion. Snow covered Croke Park on the day of the final as Cork went on to win the game on as core line of 4-6 to 2-0. Dunphy’s involvement with the Kilkenny team ended in 1930.
Provincial
Dunphy also lined out for LeinsterLeinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. In 1927 he captained Leinster to a 1-11 to 2-6 victory over 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:...
in the inaugural final of the Railway Cup. That game is remembered as one of the finest contests in the history of hurling. Dunphy also lined out for Leinster in 1928 and 1930; however, victory went to Munster on both occasions.