Jimmy Walsh

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Jimmy Walsh
irish = Séamus Breathnach
fullname = Jimmy Walsh
placeofbirth = Carrickshock
countryofbirth = County Kilkenny
dob=
height =
nickname =
county = Kilkenny
province = Leinster
club = Carrickshock
clposition = Half-forward
clubs=
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Kilkenny
icposition = Half-forward
icyears = 1930s
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 8
icallireland = 4
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Jimmy Walsh (1911 – 1977) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Carrickshock and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1930s.

Playing career

Club

Walsh played his club hurling with his local Carrickshock club and enjoyed much success. In 1931 he won his first, and the club's first, senior county title. The club contested the next four county finals, however, they lost on every occasion. Carrickshock returned in 1938 and Walsh collected a second county medal. He added four more county honours to his collection in 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1943.

Inter-county

Walsh first came to prominence as a member of the Kilkenny senior hurling team in 1932. In spite of it being his first year at senior inter-county level he was still appointed captain for the year. Walsh subsequently won his first Leinster medal in 1932 before he leading his team out in Croke Park for the All-Ireland final. ‘The cats’ defeated Clare by a goal on that occasion and Walsh, as captain, captured his first All-Ireland medal. He won a National Hurling League medal at the start of 1933 before winning a second consecutive provincial title. Once again, Kilkenny qualified for the All-Ireland final . On the day Limerick were defeated by Kilkenny and Walsh added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1934, however, the team returned in 1935 and Walsh won a third Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a repeat of the 1933 final and Kilkenny ended as the victors by a single point with Walsh collecting his third All-Ireland title.

1936 saw Walsh winning a fourth provincial medal and Kilkenny qualified for yet another All-Ireland final appearance. For the third time in four years Kilkenny faced Limerick in the championship decider, however, unlike the other two appearances Limerick were the winners. In 1937 Kilkenny continued their provincial dominance and Walsh picked up a fifth Leinster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final ‘the Cats’ faced Tipperary, however, victory went to the Munster men on an impressive score line of 3-11 to 0-3. Kilkenny lost their provincial title in 1938, however, the team returned in 1939 with Walsh, once again as captain, winning a sixth Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final against Cork has gone down in history as the famous ‘thunder and lightning’ final as a huge downpour interrupted play. In the end victory went to Kilkenny by a single point, and Walsh won his fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1940 he won a seventh Leinster medal, however, Kilkenny were subsequently defeated by Limerick in the All-Ireland final. This turned out to be Walsh’s last final appearance. Kilkenny were suspended from the championship for the following few years due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak in the county. Walsh subsequently retired from inter-county hurling.

Walsh died at Christmas time 1977.

Teams