Tim Flood (hurler)

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Tim Flood
irish = Tadgh Ó Maoltuile
fullname = Tim Flood
placeofbirth = Cloughbawn
countryofbirth = County Wexford
bday=8
bmonth=1
byear= 1927
height =
nickname =
county = Wexford
province = Leinster
club = Cloughbawn
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Wexford
icposition = Forward
icyears = 1950s-1960s
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 6
icallireland = 3
nhl = 2
clupdate =
icupdate =

Tim Flood (born 8 January, 1927 in Cloughbawn, County Wexford) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Cloughbawn and with the Wexford senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.

Playing career

Club

Flood played his club hurling with his local Cloughbawn club and enjoyed many victories. He first tasted success in 1946 when the club captured the county junior hurling title. Three years later in 1949 Flood plyed a key role as Cloughbawn captured their first senior county title. He added a second county medal to his collection in 1951.

Inter-county

Flood first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Wexford senior hurling team in the early 1950s. In 1951 a new Wexford team emerged, a team that would become one of the greatets of the decade. That year Flood won his first Leinster medal following a victory over Laois in the provincial decider. He later lined out in his first All-Ireland final with Tipperary providing the opposition. The Tipp forwards ran riot scoring 7-7 to Wexford’s total of 3-9. Tipp’s Tony Reddin gave an absolute exhibition of goalkeeping skills as he fought off the challenge of Wexford's star player Nicky Rackard. Three years later in 1954 Flood captured a second Leinster title before later lining out in his second championship decider. Cork provided the opposition on this occasion as a record crowd of almost 85,000 people turned up at Croke Park. The game ended with a victory for 'the Rebels' and a record eighth All-Ireland medal for the legendary Christy Ring.

In 1955 Wexford completed a provincial double with Flood collecting his third Leinster medal following a victory over Kilkenny in a replay. He subsequently lined out in his third All-Ireland final, however, he had yet to end up on the winning side. Galway, who had been given a bye to the final without ever playing a game, provided the opposition. At half-time the men from the West lead by 2-5 to 2-3 courtesy of two goals from 18-year-old schoolboy Paddy Egan. Wexford turned things around in the second-half and sealed the deal with a 3-13 to 2-8 win. Flood had finally captured his first All-Ireland medal. In 1956 Wexford continued their dominance with Flood collecting a first National Hurling League medal. He later won his fourth Leinster title as Wexford defeated their great rivals Kilkenny for a second year in-a-row. This victory lead to a subsequent All-Ireland final meeting with Cork, the team that defeated Wexford just two years previously. Once again a huge crowd of over 83,000 people packed into Croke Park to witness history in the making. Cork’s legenfary Christy Ring was hoping to capture a record-breaking ninth All-Ireland medal while Wexford were hoping to complete a famous two-in-a-row. The game turned on one important incident as the Wexford goalkeeper, Art Foley, made a miraculous save from a Ring shot and cleared the sliothar up the field to set up another attack. Wexford went on to win the game on a score line of 2-14 to 2-8 giving Flood his second All-Ireland medal.

Wexford surrendered their provincial crown the following year, however, the team returned in 1958 with Flood collecting a second National League title. Two years after in 1960 he won his fifth Leinster title as Wexford got the better of Kilkenny once again in the provincial decider. Flood later lined out in a fifth championship decider with Tipperary. It was only the third ever meeting between these two sides in the championship. Tipp were the red-hot favourites and a certain over-confidence seemed to creep in. The game ended in remarkable circumstances as the crowd invaded the pitch with a minute to go, mistaking the referee’s whistle for the end of the game. When the crowd were finally moved off the pitch Tipperary continued playing with only twelve men, however, Wexford won the game on a score line of 2-15 to 0-11 giving Flood a third All-Ireland winners' medal. Wexford surrendered their provincial crown to Dublin in 1961, however, the team bounced back in 1962 with Flood collecting his sixth provincial title. The team later squared up to Tipperary in the All-Ireland final, however, Wexford were not the force of old and the side got off to possibly the worst start ever by a team in a championship decider. After just ninety seconds the Leinster champions were down by 2 goals, however, the game turned out to be much closer than people expected. Tipp eventually secured the win on a score line of 3-10 to 2-11. This defeat brought the curtain down on Flood's inter-county career.

Province

Flood also lined out with Leinster in the inter-provincial hurling championship. Munster were the kingpins of the series of games throughout the 1950s and 1960s, however, Flood captured Railway Cup medals in 1954 and 1956.

Teams

ources

* [http://homepage.eircom.net/~cloughbawngaa/Tim%20Flood.htm Profile of Tim Flood]